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February, 2023
Dear Friends and Neighbors,
The new legislative session has begun. As the State Senator from District 21, I am proud to represent southeast Portland, the City of Milwaukie and Oak Grove. I’m convinced I have the most active and best-informed constituents in the State.
Following the 2023 Legislative Session
There are several ways to stay involved in the legislative process. Oregon Legislative Information System (OLIS) contains a wealth of information. You can follow individual bills, listen to committee hearings, watch the Senate and House floor sessions, and access daily publications.
One of the benefits of the COVID shutdown is that all committee hearings are live-streamed and equipped with technology to testify remotely. If you want to speak to a particular bill, you can sign up online and do so from home, without the inconvenience of traveling to Salem.
Capitol Building Construction
I love to see my constituents in Salem and hope you will stop by when you come to the Capitol; but the Capitol is a mess! You’ll find the building a maze of blocked corridors, electrical conduits, and sledgehammers. Parking is limited, but please, come anyway! My staff are friendly and always ready to help you.
 Entrance on court Street is closed Please use public entrance on State Street
Major Statewide Issues Before Us
As we begin the session, there are several big challenges:
Housing the homeless population is not just a Portland problem. Legislators across the state recognize this as a top priority. Shelter is only one need for this group of vulnerable citizens; we also need to provide adequate supportive services to help them success.
In addition to housing the unsheltered, affordable housing continues to be elusive for many Oregonians. Constructing new affordable housing, maintaining the homes we have, and keeping rent increases in check are all issues we face this session.
Yet again, we are seeking funding for the I-5 bridge replacement. The costs keep rising and we must act. The State of Washington has set aside $1 billion for this project; we need to do our part. Once commitments are made by both states, we can leverage that money for federal dollars. We have established the Joint Interstate 5 Bridge Committee, co-chaired by Sen Chris Gorsek, to lead these efforts.
Supporting the tech industry is also high on the agenda. New federal money is available for semiconductor production, and Oregon wants its share! Senator Janeen Sollman, from Washington County, is chairing a special committee to make sure Oregon is in a position to access these funds.
Of course, education funding is never enough and always a high priority. Our kids have suffered during the COVID lockdown and need to make up for lost ground. There are unique problems faced by our special needs kids, our economically vulnerable kids, as well as our Talented and Gifted students. We will need to balance these special challenges with the demands of serving ALL our students.
SE Powell Community Safety
In response to the safety concerns and many fatalities occurring along the inner SE Powell corridor (from the Ross Island Bridge to 82nd Ave) I have convened a workgroup to discuss these issues. This workgroup brings together a diverse group of stakeholders including students, teachers, parents, school administrators, industry leaders, legislators, agency staff, and community-based organizations. Our goal is to work quickly and effectively to make critical safety improvements along the corridor. Some upgrades have already been implemented, including repainting of crosswalks and installing speed indicators. Far from complete, this workgroup is meeting every other month to ensure the implementation of a shared vision of a safe street for families, bicyclists, pedestrians, and most importantly, our students.
Meet My 2023 Staff
Katie Morrison is my Chief of Staff. Katie previously worked at the Oregon Department of Forestry and with the Employment Department as their legislative coordinator. Bringing a background in natural resources and labor and business issues she joined my staff in the 2020 session and is the point person for policy issues in our office.
Zack Surmacz is new this session. He joins us after working at Community Energy Project, a non-profit in Portland serving low-income families experiencing high energy burden. Zack will be your first contact in my office—scheduling appointments and keeping up with constituent emails. He’s a “Zack-of-all-trades.”
I want to represent your views in Salem, so please contact me about issues important to YOU. By email: sen.kathleentaylor@oregonlegislature.gov or by phone: 503-986-1721.
Sincerely,
 Senator Kathleen Taylor
email: Sen.KathleenTaylor@oregonlegislature.gov I phone: 503-986-1721
address: 900 Court St NE, S-423, Salem, OR 97301
website: http://www.oregonlegislature.gov/taylor
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