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Hello Friends and Neighbors,

Last weekend, I shared productive and exciting conversations with members of our community at my two Constituent Coffee events held in Forest Grove and Hillsboro. Some of the topics we discussed were developments in the semiconductor industry and the urban-growth boundary, specifically Senate Bill 4, updates on the Interstate Bridge Replacement Project, road safety on Highway 47 and Fern Hill in Forest Grove and current legislation on beaver regulations. I am sending a big thank you to the managers and employees at BJ's Coffeehouse and Insomnia Coffee on 3rd and Main for graciously hosting us. To all who couldn't make it, I look forward to chatting with you at future events. We will keep you all posted with future opportunities! 

Important conversations with constituents over coffee!

BILL UPDATES

This week, I am proud to report that all of my bills made it out of committee.

Important Bill Updates

HB 2613: Appropriates $30 million from the General Fund to the Department of Environmental Quality for deposit in the Zero-Emission Incentive Fund. Declares emergency, effective on passage.  BACKGROUND: The Legislative Assembly initiated Oregon's electric vehicle rebate program with the passage of House Bill 2017 (2017). The measure initiated a 0.5 percent tax on the privilege of selling new passenger motor vehicles, intended to generate $12 million per year to provide rebates for purchase of zero-emission vehicles, with excess revenue accruing to the Connect Oregon Fund for grants to non-highway freight infrastructure projects. The measure created two separate rebate programs, which can both be received by eligible applicants. The standard zero-emission vehicle rebate program provides up to $2,500 in rebate on the purchase or lease of a new plug-in hybrid vehicle or new battery electric vehicle. The Charge Ahead Rebate program provides rebates up to $2,500 for purchase or lease of new or used battery electric vehicles, but includes requirements that the purchaser or leasee meet low- or moderate-income household criteria. Both rebate programs had been scheduled to sunset on January 2, 2024; however, House Bill 2165 repealed the sunset, doubles the maximum rebate from the Charge Ahead Oregon program from $2,500 to $5,000, and made hydrogen fuel cell vehicles that cost up to $60,000 eligible for rebates. The increased maximum amount per vehicle rebate, which is now $7,500 for applicants that qualify for both rebates, combined with a significant increase in the sale of electric vehicles in Oregon, has resulted in the program being suspended for the remainder of 2022 for lack of money available in the Zero-Emission Incentive Fund to fund the rebates. House Bill 2613 appropriates $30 million from the General Fund to the Zero-Emission Incentive Fund to allow the program to continue providing electric vehicle rebates through the two programs.

HB 3113: Appropriates an unspecified amount from the General Fund for the 2023-2024 biennium for improving safety and increasing access to walking, biking, and transit on state highways that serve as community main streets.  BACKGROUND: The Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) instituted the Great Streets program with an influx of $50 million in flexible federal transportation funds received through the federal Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (2021). The purpose of the program is to improve walking, bicycling, and transit access on main streets and urban arterials through a number of different types of projects, including intersection improvements, bicycle facilities, sidewalks, corridor refinement and planning, street trees and furnishings, lighting, lane reductions and reconfigurations, and traffic calming and speed reduction features. The first phase of ODOT's Great Streets program is to focus on state-owned and state-managed corridors, with the intent of demonstrating the efficacy of the program. Proposals are to be evaluated primarily based on potential safety improvements and improved multimodal access on state highway corridors that also serve as main streets in communities. Other factors to be considered include equity, climate mitigation, local support and engagement, opportunities to leverage additional funding, project readiness, and state of good repair status. House Bill 3113 allocates an unspecified amount to ODOT from the General Fund for use in the Great Streets program.

Bills on my Radar

HB 3101 is Oregon's effort to pass Alyssa’s Law, which is a critical piece of legislation addressing the issue of law enforcement response time when a life-threatening emergency occurs. The law calls for the installation of silent panic alarms that are directly linked to law enforcement, so in case of any emergency they will get on the scene as quickly as possible, take down a threat and triage any victims. It has been passed in states like Florida, New York and New Jersey with bipartisan support.

LC 4481 addresses the caste discrimination that remains prevalent among the South Asian diaspora, including in the U.S. Caste is a rigid system of segregation characterized by the hereditary and martial transmission of lifestyle, occupation and social and economic status. Given the growing number of South Asian people in Oregon, and the fact that caste-based discrimination affects the community, this legislative concept will address the issue of caste bias and discrimination by including a simple addition to Oregon law to prohibit caste-based discrimination across the state.

HB 3503 lifts the ban on local rent control, which sets the amount that a landlord can charge for rent, and the rate that rent can be increased each year. It successfully keeps people where they live. Oregon currently has statewide stabilization measures, but prohibits local governments from implementing their own policies. We need to reverse this ban on local rent control to help keep renters in their homes and prevent homelessness.

Below I've listed the current status for each of my bills this Session:

HB 2608 - Newborn Screening Appropriations

• Referred to Ways and Means on March 10th

HB 2609 - Eliminating Fee for Educator Preparation Providers

• Referred to Senate Education on March 30th

HB 2610 - Reduced-Risk Pest Management Study for Specialty Crops

• Referred to Ways and Means on March 23rd

HB 2611 - Part-Time Faculty Healthcare - Dental and Vision Expansion

• Referred to Ways and Means on March 23rd

HB 2614 - Transportation Network Providers and Zero-Emissions Regulations

• Passed out of Work Session to Transportation on April 3rd

HB 2615 - Veteran Eligibility for the Oregon Promise Grant

• Referred to Ways and Means on February 2nd 

HB 2617 - Newborn Screening Advisory Board Changes

• Referred to Ways and Means on March 13th

HB 2618 - Study to Determine Appropriate Caseloads for School-based Health Practitioners 

• Referred to Senate Education on March 9th

HB 2998 - Creates Oregon Soil Health Initiative 

• Referred to Ways and Means on March 23rd

HB 3080 - Modernizing Auto Sales and Allowing E-Signatures

• Public Hearing held on February 16th 

HB 3197- Washington County Urban-Growth Boundary

• Received second reading on House Floor on April 6th

HB 3300- Mental Health Regulatory Agency

• Referred to Ways and Means on April 4th

HB 3458- Portland Land Use 

• Passed unanimously in Work Session on March 30th

HB 3595- Youth and Juvenile Education

• Passed in Work Session to Ways and Means on April 3rd

Bill Spotlight

Oregon CHIPS (Senate Bill 4)

Now is the time to invest in opportunities that will provide good-paying jobs in communities across Oregon. That’s why the Oregon House of Representatives has passed Oregon CHIPS (Senate Bill 4) to help bolster Oregon’s semiconductor industry!

Oregon CHIPS (SB 4) will:

• Open the door for Oregon to leverage once-in-a-generation federal dollars to solidify our place as a global leader in the semiconductor industry.
• Create good-paying, long-term jobs in every corner of the state.
• Keep Oregon’s economy stable and competitive in the 21st Century.
• Help Oregon bolster national security and protect the United States’s supply chain for everything from credit cards to cars by onshoring critical technology supply chains.

Getting work done!

My fellow Co-Chair of the Education Budget Committee, Senator Frederick!

Alongside my colleagues in Education Budget Committee this week

ADVOCATE HIGHLIGHT

4D Recovery

On Monday, local providers in our district and members of 4D Recovery, an organization that provides a variety of recovery support services to young people in recovery from alcohol and substances, sat down and talked with me about the Measure 110-funded addiction services, housing and employment support at work in Washington County. Behavioral health providers like Bridges to Change, Forest Grove Foundation, and Sequoia Mental Health are just a few of the many that serve in our district. I am proud to have providers doing critical work in our district to bring us closer to a holistic behavioral health system that is accessible to all Oregonians. 

AROUND WASHINGTON COUNTY

Great opportunity to hear about the county's efforts to address homelessness, public health an economic development.

Upcoming State of the County Presentation 

Sending a big congratulations to our newest Cornelius Councilor, Eden Lopez- we're grateful for your leadership and we look forward to your service to our great city!

Eden Lopez fills Cornelius City Council seat after four months' vacancy

I am a strong supporter of Junior Achievement, which is a nonprofit that creates and supports financial literacy and career readiness programs for K-12 students. I am excited about their new center!

Hillsboro will host first Junior Achievement program center in Portland suburbs

SCHOOL DISTRICT UPDATES

Local opportunity to network and connect with potential employers in preparation for your post-graduation career path

Classified Job Fair

Middle school students interested in STEM should take advantage of this free opportunity to learn more

Portland State University’s Center for Entrepreneurship is offering a free STEM Enrichment Workshop for middle school students from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, Apr. 22 . Students will learn about design thinking, 3D printing, augmented reality, and social entrepreneurship. Learn more and sign up for sessions via this flyer: https://bit.ly/3KdMWTW

Adelante Mujeres offers a suite of educational programs for English and Spanish speakers in our district. Be sure to register for Spring GED classes if you still haven't!

Spring GED Classes through Adelante Mujeres

BENEFITS AND SUPPORT

If your children missed free or reduced-price meals due to school and childcare closures, you may be eligible for P-EBT benefits. Be sure to click the link below to find out more and apply

Pandemic EBT / EBT Pandémico de Oregón

Navigating healthcare enrollment process can be overwhelming and complicated at times. These workshops offer a chance to understand the process through step-by-step guidance.

Oregon Health Plan Workshops in Spanish

HSD and Project Access Now have partnered up to present workshops (https://bit.ly/434sZrb) to help families enroll in the Oregon Health Plan. The workshops will be in Spanish and offered from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Apr. 5 and 19 at McKinney Elementary School. Advance registration required: https://bit.ly/3Uc5jx5.

Talleres en español sobre el Plan de Salud de Oregón

HSD y Project Access Now se han asociado para realizar talleres (https://bit.ly/434sZrb) de ayuda para que las familias puedan inscribirse en el Plan de Salud de Oregón. Los talleres serán en español y se llevarán a cabo el 5 y 19 de abril de 6:30 p.m. a 7:30 p.m. en la Escuela Primaria McKinney. Se requiere inscribirse con anticipación: https://bit.ly/3Uc5jx5.

PUBLIC HEALTH

We spend a great deal of our time on the road, whether we are commuting to work or driving our kids to school. It is important for us to be mindful of the high risks that come with distracted driving.

Distracted Driving Awareness Month

WILDFIRE-RELATED RESOURCES

OEM has put together this list of contacts to help speed up the process of replacing these documents:

• Green cards: Phone (800)-375-5283; Website: www.uscis.gov
• Medicare cards: Phone: (800)-772-1213; (TTY) (800)-325-0778 Website: www.medicare.gov
• Military records Phone: 866-272-6272 Website: www.archives.gov/contact/
• Passport Phone: 877-487-2778; (TTY) 888-874-7793 Website: travel.state.gov
• Social Security card Phone: 800-772-1213; (TTY) 800-325-0778 Website: www.ssa.gov
• U.S. Savings Bonds Phone: 844-284-2676 Website: www.treasurydirect.gov
• U.S. tax returns Phone: 800-829-1040 Website: www.irs.gov
• Birth, death, marriage, domestic partnership, divorce certificates Phone: 888-896-4988 Website: www.oregon.gov/oha/PH/Birthdeathcertificates
• Driver’s license, auto titles and registration, ID cards Phone: 503-945-5000 Website: www.oregon.gov/odot
• SNAP (Oregon Trail Card) Website: www.oregon.gov/DHS/Assistance/Food-Benefits
• State taxes (Oregon Dept. of Revenue) Phone: 503-378-4988 or 800-356-4222 TTY: All relay calls are accepted. Website: www.oregon.gov/dor
• Real estate and property - Contact your county government.
• Credit cards - Contact your credit card company directly.
• Credit reports from Equifax, Experian, TransUnion Phone: 877-322-8228 Website: www.annualcreditreport.com
• Insurance documents - Check with your insurance agent.
• Medical records - Call your doctor or your medical insurance company; medical and prescription records are tracked electronically.

The Governor’s office has put together a Wildfire Resources page that you can access from the Governor’s home page.  It has links to many of the most important updates about the status of fires and resources for evacuees.  This website will be updated regularly.  

Legal Resources: Oregon State Bar’s Lawyer Referral Program, Oregon lawyers, through the Oregon State Bar, are partnering with FEMA and the American Red Cross to provide legal assistance on FEMA claims, contract claims, insurance claims, landlord-tenant matters and more.

The Department of Forestry’s Wildfire Response and Recovery Overview has ongoing updates about firefighting efforts, damage reports, and more.  

FEMA Updates: FEMA has provided several different Fact Sheets and resources for accessing benefits, determining eligibility and avoiding scams.

• How to Appeal a FEMA Disaster Assistance Decision
• Oregonians Affected by Wildfires: Flood Risk and Insurance; Fraud Awareness
• FEMA Rental Assistance May Be A Valuable Housing Solution for Oregon Wildfire Survivors
• Citizenship and Immigration Status Requirements for FEMA Disaster Assistance
• What to Expect When Applying with FEMA
• Disaster Unemployment Assistance Available for Oregon Wildfire Survivors
• Look Out for Disaster Fraud, Scams
• Understanding a FEMA Determination Letter, How to Appeal
• FEMA Approves Direct Housing Mission
• Apply with FEMA Even if You Have Insurance

RESOURCES FOR OUR VETERANS

Mental Health Services:

• Washington County Crisis Line | 503-291-9111
• Crisis Text Line | Text “Connect” to 741741
• Suicide Prevention Lifeline | 1-800-273-8255
• Trevor Lifeline | 1-866-488-7386

Cherry blossom trees in full bloom!

Cherry blossom trees in full bloom!

Yours truly,

Representative Susan McLain
House District 29

email: Rep.SusanMcLain@oregonlegislature.gov I phone: 503-986-1429
address: 900 Court St NE, H-489, Salem, OR 97301
website: http://www.oregonlegislature.gov/mclain