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Friends and Neighbors,
Legislative Updates
What a great day for Planet A! On Wednesday, SB 543 and SB 545 passed out of the House!! A special thank you to students from Quatama Elementary School in Hillsboro and Bridger and Beverly Cleary Schools in Portland, for your letters and advocacy in support. You can see a slide show of all the letters we received at the below links.   
Two additional bills that I am a Chief Sponsor of also passed through the Senate this week and are headed to the Governor's desk.
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HCR 11: Recognizes and honors Indian community and extends congratulations and support for ongoing celebrations of India's independence.
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HB 3141: Provides that Governor's appointment of chief administrative law judge is subject to confirmation by Senate.
Week 15 Committee Snaps
Joint Committee On Semiconductors
This Wednesday we held the last planned meeting of the Joint Committee on Semiconductors. We met for the purposes of moving the semiconductor tax incentives bill, SB 5, to the Joint Committee on Tax Expenditures. They will continue to work on this issue as session progresses and members of the Joint Semiconductor Committee will continue to give feedback on the tax incentive plan. You can follow along with the progress of SB 5 by clicking "e-subscribe" on the bill's Overview page.
Joint Ways and Means Committee
On Friday, more than 200 Oregonians attended a community hearing of the Joint Ways and Means Committee in Roseburg, Oregon. People traveled from throughout Southern Oregon for the opportunity to speak to lawmakers directly about where the state should direct taxpayer dollars for the upcoming 2023-2025 biennium.
On Saturday, lawmakers toured several nonprofits in Roseburg and then visited Cooper Creek Reservoir with Lone Rock Resources to hear about the work they do with forest management in Southern Oregon
You can watch the Roseburg hearing here.
Today, we head east to the Idaho border, to Ontario for the last show on the road. You can watch the hearing tonight from 5:00-7:00pm MST, here. Or join us in person at the Four Rivers Cultural Center, 676 SW 5th Ave, Ontario, OR 97914.
 Senate Committee on Energy and Environment
Informational Hearings were held on:
- Public Utility Commission’s Perspective on the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978 - Watch here.
- Energy Facility Siting Council Overview - Watch here
Public Hearings were held on the following bills:
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HB 3055 A: Requires Public Utility Commission to establish eligibility cap for standard avoided costs rates and contracts for purchase of energy or energy and capacity from qualifying facilities at no less than 10 megawatts.
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HB 3179 A: Modifies definition of "renewable energy facility" for purposes of county permitting process for solar photovoltaic power generation facility.
Work Sessions were held on the following bills:
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HB 2530 A: Directs State Department of Energy to, where appropriate, seek and apply for federal funds, and support other applications for federal funds, to be used to support development and deployment of renewable hydrogen and green electrolytic hydrogen.
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HB 2531: Prohibits sale or distribution in this state of new screw- or bayonet-base type compact fluorescent lamps on or after January 1, 2024.
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HB 3273 A: Repeals Department of Environmental Quality's dry cleaner environmental program.
We had a Youth Voice visit the committee this week as well. 11-year old, Lyla Barrie gave a fantastic slide presentation on the harmful effects of pollution in our oceans. Watch Lyla's testimony here.
 Senate Committee on Housing and Development
A public hearing was held on the following bills:
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HB 3442 A: Authorizes local governments to allow, prohibit, require zone change for or subject to conditional use permit development of certain affordable housing on certain lands within tsunami inundation zones or 100-year floodplains.
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HB 3417 A: Expands landlord guarantee program to include landlords providing housing to tenants who have received rental assistance under specified rehousing initiative.
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HB 2127 A: Removes deadline by which City of Pendleton must apply to Land Conservation and Development Commission to become part of affordable housing pilot program.
Week 15 - Oregon State Capitol Visits to #S207 (Your Senate District 15 Capitol Office) and out and about Salem
 Students from Holy Family Catholic School, Washington County Chamber of Commerce Members and Unite Oregon advocates.
In the News
Lawmakers hope to end ‘life in a trash bag’ for foster children, Oregon Capital Chronicle
‘Why should dignity be an option?’: Nonprofit pushes bill to give luggage to foster children, KOIN.com
Oregon lawmakers vote to ban Styrofoam food containers, OregonLive.com
Oregon Legislature passes ban on foam food containers, OPB.org
Oregon bills banning Styrofoam, allowing reusable takeout containers pass House, Oregon Capital Chronicle
Upcoming Events
Join me this Sunday, April 30th, for a Community Conversation at Ava Roasteria in Orenco. We will meet at 936 NE Orenco Station Loop, Hillsboro, OR 97124 from 10:00-11:00am. I look forward to seeing you there.
Senate District 15 - Small Business Spotlight
Ridgewalker Brewing
As the summer season rolls around, a dinner out at the Ridgewalker Brewery is a perfect place to meet up with friends, coworkers and family. Located in Forest Grove, it was founded in 2016 by four friends - Justin Marble, Storm Brown and brothers Jason and Chris Cirlincione. Not only do they offer local community beer and cider, but they also create their own. A menu with a wide variety promises delicious foods from noon till 9:00pm seven days a week. They host their own events such as the Rabbit Takeover happening May 3rd or Bingo Night. You can take a look at their menu and other upcoming events at their website here.
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Community Outreach
Virtual babysitter training provided by OSU Extension
Quality child care remains in short supply in Oregon. A 2019 report from Oregon State University found that child care “deserts” existed in all 36 of the state’s counties. During the COVID-19 pandemic many youths were positioned unexpectedly to care for younger siblings, neighbor children and extended family. Dani Annala, former 4-H program coordinator for the Oregon State University Extension Service in Hood River County, had been offering a certified babysitter workshop for several years that provided teenagers with tools to successfully care for children for short periods of time. The workshops had been effective for both entrepreneurial skill-building, and has become a pathway to early child care and education careers. This training is designed to train youth in many aspects of babysitting including baby care, toddler care, healthy snacks, business tips, age appropriate games,
first aid and safety.
That's Disgusting! Sickening science for everyone
Shared from the Hillsboro Public Library
Expecting a Tax Refund? Use the Where’s My Refund Tool
Oregon taxpayers can check Where’s My Refund on Revenue Online to see their 2022 refund status.
https://www.oregon.gov/dor/programs/individuals/Pages/Where-is-my-refund.aspx
To check the status of their refund, taxpayers will need their:
- Social Security Number (SSN) or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN);
- Filing status; and
- The exact refund amount shown on:
- Line 46 of their Form OR-40, or
- Line 71 of their Form OR-40-N, or
- Line 70 of their Form OR-40-P
The Department of Revenue recommends that taxpayers wait one week after they have electronically filed their return to use the Where’s My Refund tool.
Where’s My Refund will tell taxpayers whether their refund has been issued electronically, a check has been mailed, their refund has been adjusted, there are questions about their return, or their return is being manually processed.
Taxpayers can check the status of their federal tax refunds on the IRS website. https://www.irs.gov/refunds
When to update withholding from a pay
A taxpayer should consider updates to their tax withholdings through their employer when they:
- Change jobs or income changes;
- Experience changes in personal life that will affect taxes (marriage or having children);
- Owe tax when filing a return; or
- Receive a large refund and they want to reduce withholdings.
A withholding calculator is available through Revenue Online
https://revenueonline.dor.oregon.gov/tap/_/#0
State and Federal W-4 forms are available online – to be shared with employers.
Additional Resources
What’s happening around town in Senate District 15? – Event Calendars
Federal Delegation Links
Education Links
Food and Housing Assistance
 I was happy to welcome two Hillsboro School District Educators, Megan Nace and Maricruz Acuña to the Capitol for a visit this week. They are both incredible supporters of the Hillsboro Schools Foundation. Watch the Courtesies of the Senate I gave to them on Thursday.
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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