2/10/2023 Senate District 15 Newsletter

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Senator Janeen Sollman

Friends and Neighbors,

Upcoming Events

2023 Session - Virtual Joint Town Hall

Join me, along with Representatives McLain and Sosa, on Saturday, February 18th, from 10:30am-12:00pm, for a virtual joint town hall. Spanish interpretation will be provided, and we will be discuss what is coming up for the 2023 session. Register here or at the link below. We will see you there!

Únase a mí, junto con los representantes McLain y Sosa, el sábado 18 de febrero de 10:30am-12:00pm, para un ayuntamiento conjunto en línea. Interpretación en español estará disponible, y discutiremos lo que se viene para la sesión legislativa de 2023. Regístrese aquí o en el enlace de abajo. ¡Nos vemos allí!

joint town hall

This Week in Committee

Senate Committee on Energy and Environment

Public hearings were heard on the following bills:

  • SB 54: Removes provisions of property tax exemption for community solar projects that restrict exemption to proportion owned by residential customers or leased by residential subscribers.
  • SB 145: Creates sunset of tax exemption for property of certain cooperatives used to heat water by combustion of biomass.
  • SB 542: Requires original equipment manufacturer to make available to owner of consumer electronic equipment or independent repair provider on fair and reasonable terms any documentation, tool, part or other device or implement that original equipment manufacturer makes available to authorized repair provider for purpose of diagnosing, maintaining or repairing consumer electronic equipment.

Follow the links to watch the hearings or learn more about the proposed bills.

Senate Committee on Housing and Development

Public hearings were heard on the following bills:

  • SB 225: Provides that unused portion of amount of pass-through revenue bonds authorized for issuance in preceding biennium carries forward until legislation authorizing amount of pass-through revenue bonds for current biennium is enacted.
  • SB 131: Extends sunset for tax credit for affordable housing lenders
  • SB 142: Establishes sunset for continued property tax exemption for former cemetery or crematory land used for exempt low income housing.
  • SB 147: Extends sunset for exemption of single-unit housing

Work session was held for the following bills: 

  • SB 599: Requires landlord to allow dwelling to be used as family child care home, subject to conditions
  • SB 702: Allows Appraiser Certification and Licensure Board to require training on implicit bias and state and federal fair housing laws for real estate appraisers.
  • SB 496: Amends allowable purposes of Emergency Housing Account to include account moneys to be used for grants to assist pets of individuals experiencing or at risk of homelessness.

Joint Committee on Semiconductors

Why the urgency for the US and Oregon to act?

  • Chips are everywhere: coffee makers, credit cards, garage door openers, mobile phones, pacemakers, cars, navigation systems. They are fundamental to the technology we rely on: from our daily conveniences to national security and military operations.
  • The goal of the CHIPS Act is to invest in U.S. production of semiconductors to improve economic national security.
  • Currently, the top three players in the semiconductor industry are Taiwan, Korea, and Oregon, with China also rapidly growing. Taiwan producers two-thirds of the most advanced semiconductors. Since 2020 75% of new semiconductor capacity for mature nodes have been added in China. Oregon is home to 15% of the national semiconductor workforce and our industry is growing ahead of other leading states.
  • While CHIPS Act dollars are the critical catalyst for this economic opportunity, a successful application will leverage historically unprecedented federal investment in Oregon’s semiconductor industry. Oregon’s current semiconductor ecosystem is well positioned to attract growth compared to other states.

Informational hearings were held on Recommendations for Industrial Land in Semiconductor Industry and Perspectives for Investment in Semiconductor Industry and public testimony was heard. 

Joint Committee on Ways and Means Subcommittee on Public Safety

Public hearings were heard on the following bills: 

  • HB 5012: Appropriates moneys from General Fund to Department of Justice for biennial expenses of district attorneys
  • SB 5513: Appropriates moneys from General Fund to Commission on Judicial Fitness and Disability for biennial expenses
  • SB 5528: Appropriates moneys from General Fund to State Board of Parole and Post-Prison Supervision for biennial expenses.

Out and About in Senate District 15

Oregon State Capitol Visits to #S207 (Your Senate District 15 Capitol office)

This past week, I enjoyed visits from CARES Northwest, Executive Director Jennifer Gilmore-Robinson and adult care home advocates from Senate District 15. As a board member of The Family Justice Center of Washington County, I know the work that CARES Northwest does to ​provide a collaborative, community-based medical program for the assessment, treatment, and prevention of child abuse. We also must do what we can to prepare for our growing senior population the needs we will face in caring for them. 

out and about

Education Updates

National School Counseling Week

February 6th-10th is National School Counseling Week.

Please watch this Senate Floor Courtesy recognizing our school counselors across Oregon and the wonderful work they do to support our students.


Oregon School Boards Breakfast with Legislators

It was great to spend my Saturday morning with fellow legislative colleagues, students, hard-working Washington County, Oregon School Board members and Superintendents. We enjoyed catching up and learning from each other about the needs of Oregonian students and schools.

school board superintendent meeting

Intern Corner

Black History Month is an annual celebration held in the month of February when people all around the country recognize and celebrate African Americans' central role in U.S. History. Ever since 1976 when President Gerald R. Ford declared February as Black History Month.
There are many significant figures when regarding Black History Month some of which include: Toni Morrison, Maya Angelou, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Rosa Parks, and many more.

If you want to learn more you can visit https://blackhistorymonth.gov/

Anna Kindley

Black History Month

Community Outreach

teen dating awareness month

Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month

Shared from the Domestic Violence Resource Center

February is Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month. According to love is respect, 1 in 3 teens will experience physical, emotional, and/or sexual abuse from someone they're in a relationship with before they become adults. We ask that you join us by taking action to raise awareness about this issue that impacts our communities and affects teens across the country. Find information about teen dating violence, healthy relationships, how to create a safety plan with your teen, and so much more here.


Additional Resources

 Senate District 15 Links

Federal Delegation Links

Education Links

Food and Housing Assistance

Be good to yourself and each other. ❤

Onward & Upward,

Janeen

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