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Friends and Neighbors,
Governor Updates
Governor Extends Foreclosure Moratorium to Protect Oregon Homeowners and Business Owners until December 31
Yesterday, Governor Kate Brown extended protections from foreclosure for Oregon homeowners and business owners through executive action, until December 31. Executive Order 20-37 will extend House Bill 4204’s current moratorium on foreclosures, as allowed by that legislation.
The deadline for extending the foreclosure moratorium had been set to expire today. HB 4204 required the Governor to announce an extension of the moratorium 30 days before the moratorium expired on September 30.
“Every Oregonian deserves a warm, dry, safe, affordable, and accessible place to call home,” said Governor Brown. “That’s especially true during a pandemic, when physical distancing and limiting trips away from home are critical to stopping the spread of COVID-19. Extending the moratorium on foreclosures will ensure that more Oregonians do not lose their homes this year, and that businesses can continue to provide vital goods and services to our communities.”
While EO 20-37 will provide homeowners and business owners certainty through the end of the year, it is not a long-term solution. The Governor’s Office will be working with landlords, lenders, and other stakeholders in the coming weeks to craft a solution for the Legislature to consider.
The Governor is also continuing to have conversations with community leaders and stakeholders to look at options surrounding a moratorium for evictions for renters, which does not expire until September 30.
“I’d like to thank legislators for taking action with me this summer to help Oregon renters, as well as homeowners, and business owners,” said Governor Brown. “As this crisis continues, I am confident that lawmakers will again take action to help Oregonians struggling to pay rent and mortgage payments. ”
The Legislature’s Emergency Board allocated $55 million for rent assistance through December, and $20 million for affordable housing operating support for OHCS partners. In April, the Emergency Board also allocated $12 million in emergency funding for safe shelter and rental assistance. Congress has also passed about $82 million in housing supports and other housing-related services for Oregonians, including funds for rental and utility assistance.
Legislative Updates
Public Hearings on Unemployment Insurance Benefits
This week, the Senate Labor and Business Committee will hold three hearings with the Employment Department to review the administration of Unemployment Insurance benefits, including benefits provided under the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. Follow along with the hearings by clicking the links below:
Public Testimony Options: You may provide written or oral testimony for these meetings.
Written testimony will be accepted until 5 PM on Friday, September 4. Testimony is posted online to the Oregon Legislative Information System (OLIS) as part of the legislative record and made publicly available here.
- Oral Testimony (Live Remotely)
- Phone: Registration is required. To sign up, either use the online form
OR call 833-588-4500 for assistance. Registration closes at 5 PM on Wednesday, September 2, 2020.
- Public Access Kiosk: Located at the back entrance (State Street side) of the Capitol Building for the duration of the meeting. Pre-registration is not required.
Please Note: Neither registration nor use of the public access kiosk is a guarantee that you will be able to testify during the meeting. The chair may determine that public testimony must be limited. For this reason, written testimony is encouraged even if you plan to speak.
Education Updates
Back To School
Students in Banks won’t begin Comprehensive Distance Learning until September 8th and Hillsboro and Beaverton on September 14th, but teachers are already hard at work this week. In a normal year, teachers would be preparing their classrooms, conducting in person training and team building exercises. While there’s nothing normal about this year, much of the routine is the same. Teachers are preparing their virtual classrooms and attending virtual training online. Additionally, this year teachers in Hillsboro will be reaching out to students individually before classes begin. Schools intend to remain primarily virtual until at least early November (end of the first quarter) and will reevaluate as countywide metrics change. For more individualized information, please visit the web site for your school district:
Small Business Updates
Washington County- Next Round of Small Business Grants NOW OPEN
En español
As part of its’ effort to help businesses recover from the effects of COVID-19, Washington County has re-opened the grant applications for small businesses in unincorporated Washington County. Applications will be accepted through Friday, September 4 at 5 p.m. To be eligible, a business MUST meet the following requirements:
- Be physically located in:
- Washington County outside a city; OR
- Durham, Gaston, or King City; OR
- The Washington County portion of Wilsonville
- Have been impacted by COVID-19 by:
- Closure because of the “Stay Home. Save Lives.” Executive Order; OR
- Loss of 30% or more revenue in any one month when compared to the same month the year prior
- Have been in operation since March 1, 2019
- Have 25 full-time equivalent employees or fewer over the last year
- Be a for-profit business
- Be compliant with all federal, state and local regulations and taxes
- Be registered with the state or be exempt from registration requirements
Eligible businesses MUST NOT
- Be a passive real estate holding company or other entity holding a passive investment in a small business with no operational ties to the business
- Be an adult-orient business (meaning businesses that emphasize sexually oriented products or services, for example a strip club or adult bookstore)
- Get a majority of income from gambling activities
- Have more than $5 million in gross revenue in 2019
- Be a franchise that is not individually owned (meaning owned by a person or entity who operates more than one location)
- Have previously received a grant from the county or the Washington County Visitors Association.
For more information, visit the Washington County Business Recovery page here.
Click this link to be taken to the grant application: https://mesopdx.typeform.com/to/IlKcNMVY
Green Business Leaders: Grants & Incentives - Apply Today
Thank you to Washington County "Green Business Leaders" Newsletter for sharing the following opportunities.
Do you have a project or participate in a program or organization that focuses on sustainability actions and initiatives? Check out these opportunities to support or achieve your impactful goals!
- Metro regional government has opened its 2020 Investment & Innovation grants for reducing waste through reuse, repair, compost and recycling. Grant applications accepted until September 30, 2020.
- The Oregon DEQ opened its general materials management grants focusing on reducing the environmental impacts of materials at all stages of their lifecycle. Application also in Spanish. All applications must be received by October 2, 2020 to be considered.
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Energy Trust of Oregon is offering bonus commercial incentives to help make energy-efficiency upgrades more affordable. Savings from upgrades often pay for the improvements in just a few years, meaning a faster return on investment.
Community Outreach
2020 Census-Its Not Too Late
The 2020 Census is happening now. You can respond online, by phone, or by mail.
Stay in the Know:
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Census Takers Will Be Following Up: Census takers will follow up in person with homes that have not responded to the 2020 Census. All census takers will wear masks and follow safety protocols.
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Language Support: You can answer the form online in 13 languages, including Spanish. Guides are available in 59 languages.
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You Can Still Respond: April 1 is a reference date, not a deadline to respond. When you respond online, by phone, or by mail, count everyone living in your home as of April 1.
 Upcoming Virtual Community Conversations
Order your Easy Voting Guide from Disability Rights Oregon
Information provided by Disability Rights Oregon
Do you have what you need to vote in the November 3 General Election?
For thousands of Oregonians with intellectual or developmental disabilities, one of the tools that they rely on to exercise their right to vote is our Easy Voting Guide.
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The Easy Voting Guide has key information to help you vote. Our nonpartisan Easy Voting Guide helps Oregonians:
- learn about their right to vote,
- understand what the candidates stand for, and
- learn about the ballot measures.
The Easy Voting Guide is accessible. The guide:
- is written at the 5th grade reading level,
- uses larger fonts,
- pictures, and
- plain English.
You can order a single guide or multiple copies for your group, organization, or agency.
Use this order form: droregon.org/order-evg. The deadline for ordering is September 21st.
Additional Resources
House District 30 Links
Federal Delegation Links
Education Links
Utilities Assistance
Food and Housing Assistance
This week will be the last week of COVID-19 Updates via our newsletters until after the election. We have a blackout period on sending our newsletter communications two months before an election. You can reach out to me anytime, however, by calling my office at 503-986-1430, emailing me at rep.janeensollman@oregonlegislature.gov, or following me on social media.
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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