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Friends and Neighbors,
Legislative Updates
House Bill 3631 - Right To Repair
One of my top priority bills this session is SB 542, the Right to Repair bill. With the Senate ending its fifth week of not meeting quorum (which means we need 2/3 of members present to conduct business - since there are 30 Senators, 20 need to be present), Representative Courtney Neron has agreed to use one of her priority bill concepts to get this bill introduced on the House side as HB 3631, and it has amazing support right out of the gate with over 30 sponsors! While it may be a long shot to successful passage this session, based on time left to complete business, I am committed to keeping the momentum and conversation for the Right to Repair movement going. My core belief is if you own it, you should be able to fix it at a reasonable cost. Oregonians are ready for #RightToRepair. Other states are beginning to pass meaningful repair policies related to consumer electronic products, including New York and Minnesota, and most recently, a right to repair bill passed unanimously through the California Senate. We have crafted a strong policy here in Oregon and our office will continue to work on moving this forward. This should not be a partisan issue, it isn’t in other states.
Week 21 Floor Speeches and Performances
Week 21 Committee Snaps
Senate Committee on Housing and Development
An Informational Hearing was held on the following:
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- Rental Housing Preservation
- Foreclosure Counseling and Home Repairs
Joint Ways and Means Subcommittee on Public Safety
Work Sessions were held on the following:
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HB 2054: Relating to the status of district attorneys in the Public Employees Retirement System.
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SB 321: Relating to crime
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SB 337: Relating to public defense
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SB 5532: Public Defense Services Commission Budget Bill
Joint Ways and Means Committee
The full Ways and Means Committee met on Wednesday evening and today at 9:30am. View the agendas and watch at the links below:
Senate District 15 - Small Business Spotlight
Zesti Food Carts - Forest Grove
Zesti Food Carts in Forest Grove has a wonderful variety of food trucks in a great community space. Visit their website here and read their 'About Us' story below.
Zesti for us means a place where the senses come alive in the garden as well as on the plate, offering a wide variety of foods to choose from.
Our family just like yours, looked for a place where everyone could choose their favorite foods. Well, here it is! Zesti Food Carts in beautiful Forest Grove came together in our appreciation for good food, and our LOVE for food that is shared with others.
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Out and About in Salem and Senate District 15
Equity in Community Corrections Training
Earlier this morning, I spoke at the opening of the Community Corrections Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Training Conference. As the Co-Chair of the Joint Ways & Means Subcommittee on Public Safety, I have deep appreciation that the Community Corrections community and their partners are prioritizing EDI training. This is an area the state continues to invest in and supports all the agencies’ efforts to center EDI as part of their mission. With those investments it is critical to have consistent alignment of core values with the state’s and industry’s priorities.
Pictured with Washington County Community Corrections Director Nate Gaoiran and Lake County Community Corrections Director Jake Greer
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Forest Grove Viking House
Last weekend I visited the Open House for the Viking House. This home highlighted another work of craftsmanship by Forest Grove High School students, teachers and local partners. The Viking House program has been building homes in Forest Grove since 1975. As a Class of '87 FGHS proud graduate, I'm proud this program still continues. I spoke with two students, James and Charlie, and while they both said they were still figuring out what they wanted to do after high school, both young men agreed the skills they learned on this project were important life skills.
Learn more about FGHS Viking House here.
Latino Cultural Festival in Hillsboro
Last Saturday was a beautiful day to celebrate our diverse community at the Latino Cultural Festival hosted by the Hillsboro Hops! There were so many wonderful things to enjoy, including music, food, Futsal, entertainment, vendors and time spent with friends and neighbors.
Hillsboro Pride Festival
The City of Hillsboro's Pride Event last weekend was a beautiful celebration of friends, families, rainbows, love and hugs. My heart was full seeing all the love and cheer being spread to all who attended.      
Celebrate Pride All Month Long at Community Events
Project Pride
Take pride in Hillsboro’s parks! Everyone is welcome to volunteer with Hillsboro Parks & Recreation.
In honor of Pride Month, people of all ages and identities are invited to beautify Shadywood Park together from 9 am to 12 pm on Saturday, June 10. This is a free event. Pre-registration required.
Register online for Project Pride.
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Hillsboro Pride 5K & Celebration
Bring the family and celebrate Pride!
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Party: 4:30 to 8 pm
- Live Music
- Vendors
- Food Truck
- Sidewalk Chalk
- All Ages Activities
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5K Run or Walk: 6 pm
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Find Your Pronouns
Date: Wednesday, June 14, 2023, 2:00PM–3:00PM
Location: Forest Grove City Library 2114 Pacific Ave
Forest Grove OR 97116
Pronouns are the words we often use to talk about a person when we’re not using their name. These might be he/him, she/her, they/them or other pronouns.
Join us to make a pin you can add to your backpack or clothes that will let people know right away which pronouns you prefer at the moment. Using felt, embroidery, and maybe a touch of hot glue you can make a pin that is just as unique as you!
For Teens/Tweens.
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Find Your Colors
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Date: Wednesday, June 28, 2023, 2:00PM–3:00PM
Location: Forest Grove City Library 2114 Pacific Ave
Forest Grove OR 97116
Make your own rainbow using the art of macramé to make an adorable wall hanging. Pick your colors to make a rainbow as unique as you are!
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Community Outreach
High School Graduations
It is high school graduation season- such an exciting time for graduating high school seniors and their families! When I was a Hillsboro School Board Member, this was a highlight of the year. Handing diplomas to students in their moment, as they cross the stage, was such an honored responsibility. See the graduation schedules for Senate District 15 area high schools below. Hillsboro School District graduations are also being streamed live online. Watch here.
Hillsboro School District Graduation Schedule:
- Tuesday, June 6, 6 p.m. – Hillsboro Online Academy (at Hare Field)
- Wednesday, June 7, 7 p.m. – Oak Street Campus (at Hilhi)
- Thursday, June 8, 7 p.m. – Hillsboro High School (at Hillsboro Stadium)
- Friday, June 9, 7 p.m. – Liberty High School (at Hillsboro Stadium)
- Saturday, June 10, 10 a.m. – Century High School (at Hillsboro Stadium)
- Saturday, June 10, 2 p.m. – Glencoe High School (at Hillsboro Stadium)
Forest Grove High School:
- Saturday, June 10, 10 a.m. - Forest Grove High School Basinski Center
Westview High School:
Juneteenth Celebration in Hillsboro
 Shared from Washington County Chamber of Commerce
Date: June 17, 2023, 12:00 pm – 6:30 pm
Location: Jerry Willey Plaza, 943 NE Orenco Station Loop, Hillsboro, OR 97124
Free Admission | Open to the Public
Juneteenth, officially called Juneteenth National Independence Day, is a federal holiday celebrating the emancipation of four million enslaved African Americans. Observed annually on June 19th, the celebration originated in Galveston, Texas, when Union soldiers arrived on June 19, 1865, and Galveston’s residents finally learned that slavery had been abolished. The following year, on June 19, the first official Juneteenth celebration took place in Texas. Festivities throughout the United States typically included prayer and religious services, speeches, educational events, family gatherings and picnics, and festivals with music, food, and dancing.
Black pioneers in Oregon annually celebrated Grand Emancipation Day on January 1st in Oregon as early as 1863. Clara People, a Kaiser shipyard worker, brought the Juneteenth tradition to Oregon in 1945. Building on those legacies, the Black Advisory Business Council, in collaboration with other community groups, will celebrate Juneteenth 2023 on Saturday, June 17th. The Juneteenth celebration will include food, music, speakers, and Black-owned business vendors.
Find more information here.
Nominate a Neighbor
From Pamplin Media Group
All of our communities have Amazing Neighbors who are doing incredible work to improve the lives of others. This year, help the Pamplin Media Group recognize these everyday heroes and share their inspirational stories with our readers.
Amazing Neighbors is part of our ongoing series honoring exceptional people in our communities. Want to read some good news? Click here to read about last year's winners and learn more about how Pamplin Media Group builds stronger communities through trusted, local journalism. Learn more about how you can subscribe here.
Amazing Neighbors honors the everyday heroes in our communities who touch the lives of others through their hard work and dedication. They are our friends, our neighbors and our coworkers. They are all around us — the first responder whose efforts save lives every day, the retiree who delivers hot meals to elderly shut-ins, the dad who continues coaching youth sports even after his own children have grown up.
We hope that by telling their stories, others will also be inspired to service.
Help us share these amazing and inspirational stories. If you or your business would like to learn more about how you can sponsor an Amazing Neighbor in your community, contact our president Brian Monihan, bmonihan@pamplinmedia.com.
Help us tell their stories by nominating a neighbor now!
Double Up Food Bucks
Spring is arriving and farmers markets are opening! Shopping at a farmers market is a great way to find the freshest food for your family, while supporting our local farmers and small businesses. One program that helps make farmers markets affordable and accessible for all is Double Up Food Bucks. This program matches SNAP benefits, dollar for dollar, for the purchase of fresh fruits and vegetables. Double Up is also available at participating small grocers, farm stands, and Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) programs. Check the map here for locations that participate in our district. Happy eating!
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Additional Resources
What’s happening around town in Senate District 15? – Event Calendars
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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