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Friends and Neighbors,
Legislative Updates
The legislative session has begun and committee hearings are in full swing. Each week, my office will share updates and highlights on what we are working on and tips for how to follow along.
Testifying in Committee
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One of the first steps in the lifecycle of a bill is to have a Public Hearing in Committee. This week, I provided testimony on several of the bills I am sponsoring. Click on the links below to watch my testimonies. |
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SCR 202 - Recognizing and honoring Paul Laruya Ramirez Sr. for his service to United States during World War II. Paul Laruya Ramirez Sr. received the U.S. Congressional Gold Medal of Honor and is the Grandfather of several of my constituents. I am proud to bring this bill forward so that Oregon may honor him as well. Click here to watch my testimony.
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HB 4029 would require training for school board members in Oregon in order to help support them in their role as an elected board member. Click here to watch my testimony.
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HB 4098 would expand the list of agencies that work with the Oregon Alcohol and Drug Policy Commission towards fulfillment of their strategic plan to help Oregonians suffering from addiction with prevention, treatment and recovery. As a member of the ADPC since 2017, this issue is very important to me. Click here to watch my testimony.
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SB 1590: Directs Department of Education, in consultation with STEM Investment Council, to develop a statewide, long-term strategic plan to provide computer science education in K-12 public schools. Link to testimony.
Subscribe to my legislative YouTube Channel for regular updates.
 Paul Laruya Ramirez Sr. and wife Librada, Congressional Gold Medal
How to Follow a Bill
There are many steps in the lifecycle of a bill as it works through the system to become a law. Utilizing the Oregon Legislative Information System (OLIS), you can easily follow along with a bill's progress. The first step is to find the bill by clicking on “Bills” in the upper right corner on the page. You can search by: Bill Number, Bill Text, or Bill Sponsor. Under the “Session” button, you can even go back and find bills from previous legislative sessions.
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Each bill with have a “main page” that serves as a launching point for information regarding that bill. (For example: SB 1590). The tabs at the top allow you to see:
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Overview – Here you can find a list of the sponsors, links to the committee assignment, Measure History and more.
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Text - Here you can view the full text of the proposed legislation.
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Analysis – Here you can see summaries of the potential financial impact and a summary of the bill.
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Amendments – Here you will find any proposed or adopted amendments for the bill.
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Testimony – Here you can find all the written testimony in support or opposition to the bill.
One especially helpful area on the Overview page is the Measure History and Scheduled Events area towards the bottom of the page. Expand those and find links to see “where a bill has been” and “what’s next.”
Once you’ve found a bill you’d like to follow, another great option is to sign up for email updates regarding the bill. Each time an event for the bill appears on the calendar, you will receive an email to let you know. You can find this link in the upper right on each bill's page.
HB 3125 from 2021 Session
In the 2021 Session I was a sponsor of House Bill 3125 that allows people to provide emergency contact information to the DMV, to be included in their record, in case someone is unable to give that information in the event of an emergency. The bill passed successfully and has now been implemented. For more information and a link to submit your emergency contacts, visit the Oregon DMV here.
HB 2498 from 2021 Session
HB 2498 provides that registered owner may request that registration card issued for vehicle include that owner, or person operating vehicle, may be deaf or hard of hearing. This bill was important to constituents of Senate District 15 and the law went into effect on January 1 of this year. I have received several communications from people that have been positively impacted by this new law and wanted to share their sentiments with you. One person wrote in that "this new action is so amazing and seriously helps reduce my stress when driving in Oregon," due to an officer already having that information when they pull up a car's registration. It is great to hear after a bill passes that it has made a difference in someone's life.
Oregon Health Authority Updates
Indoor Mask Requirement to be Lifted No Later than March 31, 2022
From Oregon Health Authority
Oregon’s current hospitalization rates remain high at more than 1,000 per day. However, case counts are dropping and health scientists predict that by late March, approximately 400 or fewer people in Oregon will be hospitalized with COVID-19. This data led to the decision to lift the indoor mask requirement on or before March 31. Mask requirements for schools will remain in place until March 31 to give children time to get fully vaccinated before masks are no longer required in schools. The mask requirement for health care workers will not be lifted March 31. Read more here.
Community Outreach
Celebrate Black History Month with the Hillsboro Library
Washington County Chamber of Commerce Highlights Black-Owned Businesses
Shared from Washington County Chamber of Commerce
This month the Washington County Chamber of Commerce and the Black Advisory Business Council are putting the spotlight on Black community leaders and Black-owned businesses that serve our community. Today we are excited to showcase Jelana Canfield and her bakery Jelana's BAKE SHOP.
Jelana's Bake Shop is a flavor-focused online bakery in Hillsboro, Oregon and the greater metro Portland Area. Established in 2019 as a family business and Hillsboro's Bronze winner for Best Bakery, Jelana's Bake Shop strives to provide low sugar high, flavor classic American treats in various dietary preferences: traditional, vegan, gluten-free, low glycemic, and GF & vegan. Their mission is to keep smiles on our community's faces while not hurting our bodies.
Jelana's Bake Shop started as a part-time labor of love and a way to share with family and friends family recipes. The concept was to provide desserts with less sugar and higher flavor profiles. However, when Jelana was laid off due to the pandemic, she and her husband went all in and turned Jelana's Bake Shop into a full-time E-commerce bakery. Becoming more knowledgeable and passionate about food, pastry, and wine, Jelana's side hustle quickly became her main career.
Jelana's Bake Shop is a FIVE-star rated bakery providing cinnamon rolls, signature cookies, custom cakes & cupcakes, dream cookie program, and designer desserts bars. Our services include gift cards, large event orders, corporate branding, covid safe pick up, in-house delivery, Uber Eats delivery, and shipping nationwide.
Learn more about how Jelana's passion turned into her career and order something sweet today by visiting: https://jelanasbakeshop.com/
National School Councilor Week
The week of February 7th – 11th is National School Councilor Week. Comprehensive developmental school counseling programs are an integral part of the educational process that enables all students to achieve success in school. School counselors are actively committed to helping students explore their abilities, strengths, interests, and talents as these traits relate to career awareness and development. Join us in recognizing the dedication and hard work of school counselors in preparing today’s students for tomorrow’s world.
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Community Pen Pal Opportunity
Starts April 5th! Would you like to be a COMMUNITY PEN PAL for Just Create Community’s new 8-week virtual partnership project with Eastwood Elementary School? Ms. Costa’s 6th Grade class is learning how to write biographies and we will use a Pen Pal structure to support the students’ project. We are hoping for 19 community members to be paired with each of the 19 students. Volunteers will write a short letter every second week over the course of 2 months, and receive a letter back from their student on alternate weeks. Project and conversation guidelines will be provided. Sign up today! Starts April 5th, runs through May 27th! To sign up, email Cindy Cosenzo at ccosenzo@justcreatecommunity.com
In 2017, Just Create Community “adopted" Eastwood Elementary to create and provide programs to engage more community members in K-12 education. Programs have included Community Greeters, Community Readers, Intergenerational After-School Cursive, Virtual Community Readers, several community donation drives, and now this 6th Grade Pen Pal Biography project. “Creating community in education.”
Additional Resources
Senate District 15 Links
Federal Delegation Links
Education Links
Food and Housing Assistance
Be good to yourself and each other. ❤
Onward & Upward,
 Senate District 15 lies on Kalapuya land. The Atfalati were the northernmost band of the Kalapuya that lived along the Tualatin River in present day Washington County. Many of the Atfalati descendants are members of the Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde Community of Oregon today. The Indigenous Peoples of this land experienced a painful history of colonial violence, sickness and removal from their land. The Atfalati are the foundation of Oregon’s past and we must honor them well into our future.
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1715
Capitol Address: 900 Court St. NE, S-207, Salem, Oregon 97301
Email: Sen.JaneenSollman@oregonlegislature.gov
Website: http://www.oregonlegislature.gov/sollman
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