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Friends and Neighbors,
Legislative Updates
The Second Special Session of 2020 was held earlier this week and much like the First Special Session, the public was involved in the process through committee meetings that took in public testimony on the proposed budget rebalances. This session also provided us an opportunity to make progress on some of the biggest issues affecting Oregonians right now, including:
- Long overdue police accountability reforms, including a chokehold ban and use of force reform;
- More than $50 million to build desperately needed affordable housing, and more than $30 million for critical water infrastructure projects in Warm Springs, Salem, and Sweet Home;
- Legislation to improve access to unemployment benefits and streamline the process for the countless Oregonians still waiting.
Below is a list of programs and services that were prioritized for preservation, as well as a package of infrastructure investments that will fund key construction projects across the state:
K-12 Education
- The K-12 State School Fund remains at $9 billion, sparing students and teachers from
devastating program cuts amid the uncertainty of the pandemic and protecting critical
investments in public education.
- Most investments from the 2019 Student Success Act continue, with $170 million for early learning programs, $246 million for statewide initiatives including the High School
Success Fund (Ballot Measure 98), and $150 million for local plans with an emphasis on supporting the social and emotional health of students.
Higher Education
- The basic support funds for community colleges and universities, the Community College Support Fund and the Public University Support Fund are protected.
- Total funding for the Oregon Opportunity Grant program, the largest state-funded, needbased grant program for college students, is maintained.
Housing
- Housing stabilization programs, including the Emergency Housing Assistance and State Homeless Assistance programs, are maintained.
- $50 million in additional bonding was approved to provide affordable housing for low
income Oregonians, as well as citizens in historically underserved communities and
communities of color, through the Local Innovation and Fast Track (LIFT) Housing
Program.
Human Services and Public Health
- Essential programs in the Oregon Health Authority and the Department of Human Services are maintained due to increased federal Medicaid resources.
- Child welfare programs will only see minimal reductions in order to maintain multibiennial investments in staffing, new programs, and legal services.
- Critical health care and public health services are maintained, including current Oregon
Health Plan benefits and eligibility, community mental health and substance use disorder services, Oregon State Hospital bed capacity, and Public Health Modernization services.
- Provider rate increases that were approved in the 2019 session affecting several agency programs are continued to strengthen the delivery of services.
- Oregon Project Independence services for both seniors and younger persons living with disabilities are maintained.
- Veterans’ services are protected by maintaining key positions in the Department of
Veterans’ Affairs and continuing services related to Veterans’ Emergency Financial
Assistance, the Veterans Crisis Line, and the Rural Veterans’ Healthcare Transportation and Veteran Educational Bridge grant programs.
Economic Development
- Lottery allocations to counties for economic development programs, which will be critical to Oregon’s economic recovery, will continue.
- Staffing and agency infrastructure at the Oregon Business Development Department are preserved, allowing the agency to focus on coronavirus relief efforts.
Infrastructure Investments
- The legislature also approved infrastructure investments, both bonding and cash grants, to support local water systems, emergency preparedness, and major renovations of public buildings to create good-paying construction jobs across the state.
Education Updates
Statewide Reopening Guidance – K-12 School Sports, Limited Return to Play
Effective Date: upon Oregon Department of Education approved school district reopening date.
Participation in physical activity is vital to the health and well-being of young people. This
guidance is intended to get youth back to physical activity in the safest manner possible. K-12
sports should proceed in accordance to the individual school’s operational plans. Refer to ODE guidance for school reopening protocols.
Schools participating in distance learning may only allow their school sports teams to
participate in:
- Training, conditioning and competition for outdoor non-contact and minimal/medium
contact sports.
- Training and conditioning for outdoor full-contact sports.
- Training and conditioning for all indoor sports.
- Training and conditioning, such as weightlifting, running drills and intra-squad scrimmaging, cannot include full contact of any kind.
Schools offering some version of in-person learning may allow their school sports teams to
participate in any indoor and outdoor non-contact and minimal/medium contact sports.
See the full guidance here.
Emergency Board Updates
Coronavirus Relief Fund Cultural Support Application Now Live
Applications are now live and open for Oregon’s Coronavirus Relief Fund (CRF) Cultural Support program. Funds allocated to the Oregon Cultural Trust will be available to Oregon cultural organizations facing losses due to the COVID-19 health crisis. The $25.9 million in funding was made available through a $50 million relief package for Oregon culture recently approved by the Emergency Board of the Oregon Legislature.
Find complete guidelines and more information here.
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Community Outreach
  2020 Census-Have You Been Counted?
Have you filled out your Census yet? It's not too late. Visit my2020census.gov to fill yours out today. Ten minutes is all it takes!
 Small Business Updates
Small businesses in the City of Hillsboro can apply to receive up to $3,500 in emergency grant funding during a third round of applications next week.
The application process will be open from Tuesday, August 18, at 9 am through Wednesday, August 19, at 4 pm on the City’s COVID-19 Business Resources webpage.
The emergency support will help offset some of the financial impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Lea esta noticia en español.
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Which businesses are eligible?
Hillsboro businesses are eligible to apply again if they received funding during the first or second round of the City’s Emergency Business Grant — or Washington County’s Emergency Business Grant.
Priority will be given to eligible businesses that have yet to receive emergency grant funding.
Businesses must be located inside Hillsboro city limits and have an active business license from the City of Hillsboro prior to applying.
How is the City helping businesses to apply?
City of Hillsboro staff will be available by phone at 503-681-6100, in English and Spanish, during normal business hours to assist business owners and entrepreneurs who need help.
To help businesses prepare to apply, previews of the application will be available in English and Spanish on the COVID-19 Business Resources webpage.
The online applications will be available in English and Spanish, as they were during the first two rounds of applications.
What small business owners need to know before applying for funds
- Visit our COVID-19 Business Resources webpage between Tuesday, August 18 at 9 am and Wednesday, August 19 at 4 pm to apply for an emergency small business grant of up to $3,500.
- See a preview of the application in English and Spanish to prepare the information needed in advance.
- City of Hillsboro staff will be available by phone at 503-681-6100 to assist small businesses and those who would like help filling out the online application in English or Spanish during normal business hours.
- Grant funds will only be awarded to businesses located within Hillsboro city limits with an active business license from the City of Hillsboro.
- Business that have applied and received funding previously are eligible to apply.
Additional Resources
House District 30 Links
Federal Delegation Links
Education Links
Utilities Assistance
Food and Housing Assistance
 I am so proud of my Co-Chair of the Committee On Ways and Means Subcommittee On Public Safety, Sen James Manning from SD7 and his floor speech on HB 4301. Please take a moment to hear of his lived experience and perspective. We can all learn from it. I humbly continue to learn each day.
 Be good to yourself and each other. ❤
Onward & Upward,
 Capitol Phone: 503-986-1430
Capitol Address: 900 Court St. NE, H-487, Salem, Oregon 97301
Email: Rep.JaneenSollman@oregonlegislature.gov
Website: http://www.oregonlegislature.gov/sollman
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