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Friends and Neighbors,
Legislative Updates
Apply For Paid Family and Medical Leave Today!
Oregonians who need to take time off work to care for important personal life events can now begin applying for paid family and medical leave. Employees can apply for benefits online by visiting tinyurl.com/PaidLeaveOregon.
No one should have to choose between a paycheck and caring for yourself or your family. That’s why Democrats championed Paid Leave Oregon for Oregonians who need to take time off to care for important, personal life events. Now, Oregon is a national leader on paid family and medical leave for working families.
Offering paid leave is critical to making Oregon’s economy strong, allowing employees to keep their jobs during important life events and improving worker retention and production.
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WINS FOR WORKING FAMILIES: Child Care
Every Oregon parent wants a safe, nurturing place for their kids to go while they work – without spending an entire paycheck on it.
Oregon Senate Democrats scored major wins in 2023 for working families. Our legislation will lower the cost of child care and make it easier to access in every corner of the state.
Here are just some of the bills we passed:
- FUNDING NEW CHILD CARE PROGRAMS: House Bill 3005, which will increase the availability of child care by operationalizing a $50 million Child Care Infrastructure fund within the Oregon Business Development Department (Business Oregon) to provide financial assistance to help build and open new child care programs. Across Oregon, the costs to open, operate and expand child care services are too high for many providers. This financial boost will make it easier for new programs to open and existing programs to expand.
- BREATHING ROOM FOR WORKING FAMILIES: House Bill 3235, which delivers much-needed relief to families impacted by rising cost of living, including child care, by implementing the Oregon Kids’ Tax Credit, a fully refundable $1000 tax credit per child between the ages of 0 and 5 for families earning $30,000 or less. The Oregon Center for Public Policy estimates that nearly 55,000 children across Oregon will benefit from this credit, with a higher representation in rural communities and communities of color.
- MORE OPERATIONAL SPACE FOR PROVIDERS: Senate Bill 599, which will deliver relief in Oregon’s child care shortage by significantly expanding the operational space available to child care providers. Rural communities and communities of color who live in child care deserts and those in need of culturally appropriate care should see results from this legislation. It also supports housing providers with liability protections, ensuring these child care facilities can operate in rental properties without incurring significant cost.
- INCREASED ACCESS TO SUBSIDIZED CHILD CARE: House Bill 2683, which directs the Early Learning Council to expand access to the Employment Related Day Care program, which provides subsidized access to child care for working parents. The bill directs the ELC to establish eligibility criteria based on household income and employment status by July 1, 2027. ELC may include other criteria, such as child welfare and related services, use of homelessness or domestic violence services, or age of the parent.
- NEW OPTIONS FOR PROVIDERS AND PARENTS: Senate Bill 1040, which directs the Department of Early Learning and Care to create a pilot program to develop a sustainable model for child care micro-centers to provide affordable services in Oregon. The pilot project will include three child care facilities, and DELC will report to the legislature by September 15, 2025. It also defines child care micro-centers as child care programs that serve between 3 and 30 children for more than four hours a day.
- CHILD CARE WORKFORCE: House Bill 2991, which will help to identify and break down barriers for child care workers, by directing the Department of Early Learning and Care (DELC) to study and identify barriers to a high-quality early childhood workforce and convene a stakeholder group to provide recommendations to the Legislature regarding compensation and career development to build a robust early childhood workforce.
Wildfire Resources for Oregonians
With many communities facing threats from wildfires and weeks of high risk still ahead, Oregonians can take concrete steps to prevent, prepare, and take action if they need to respond to or recover after a wildfire. In 2023, we worked to provide more resources than ever to help Oregonians protect themselves and their families from wildfires.
Below are tips and resources on how to stay safe and recover during and after wildfire season.
PREVENTION
Keep Oregon Green: Keep Oregon Green has prevention tips for when Oregonians are out and about, at work or at home. Visit this link for fire safety and prevention tips.
Campfires and Burn Pits: Depending on where you are in Oregon and that area’s fire environment, restrictions or bans may be in effect limiting certain activities that commonly start wildfires. Check out this link and the Oregon State Fire Marshal’s webpage for more information on public fire restrictions and education materials.
Restrictions and Closures: The Oregon Department of Forestry and their partners implement restrictions pertaining to public and work related activities. Find out about restrictions and closures by visiting their webpage.
Defensible Spaces for Your Home: Creating a defensible space between your home and the wildland area around it can give your home an increased chance of surviving a wildfire. Learn more about how defensible space works at this link.
PREPARATION
Make a Plan: Make sure you and your family are prepared in case of an emergency. Visit this link to learn more about developing an emergency plan and creating a go-kit ready with supplies for health, safety and identification.
Sign Up for Emergency Alerts: Get lifesaving alerts and instructions during emergencies by signing up for alerts here.
Track Fires and Air Quality: Visit the Oregon Department of Forestry's site to track fires and air quality throughout the state. If there’s smoke in the air, you can protect your home from wildfire smoke by following these tips. Read more about what to do when there’s smoke in the air.
RESPONSE
Understanding Evacuation Levels: According to the Oregon Department of Emergency Management, Oregon follows a 3 Level evacuation notification system, each structured around the readiness need and threat level. To learn about these levels, what they mean and make the best decision to stay safe, visit this website.
Cross off the Checklist: Be prepared to evacuate by reviewing a prepared checklist that will help you feel supported and ready. Here is an evacuation checklist for homes.
Shelters: During an evacuation, you’ll need to find shelter to stay. Here are some resources to help you get started:
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Call 211 or 833-669-0554 to connect with a disaster case manager or local housing navigator
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Text SHELTER and your zip code to 43362 to search for shelters nearby.
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Text DRC and your zip code to 43362 to locate a Disaster Recovery Center.A DCR may help someone apply for FEMA assistance, find housing, and answer any questions someone has after a disaster.
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Livestock shelters: Visit this link and click on the “Animal Sheltering Dashboard” for more information.
RECOVERY
Housing and Assistance Resources: Call 833-669-0554 to connect with a disaster case manager or local housing navigator for disaster recovery resources. Visit this link to see what other assistance is available for you, including housing and food.
Returning to Property: Returning home after a wildfire can be overwhelming. Here are some resources home and business owners can use to clean up, assess damage and restore surrounding land.
Renter Wildfire Recovery: Help is also available for renters and tenants. Click here for resources to find housing, programs, and answers to frequently asked questions.
Mental Health Resources: When disaster strikes, it can feel overwhelming and sometimes our mental health can be impacted. Oregonians in need don’t have to go through this alone -- there’s help available:
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Listen. Learn. Act
Community Conversation #115
Last Friday, I held a community conversation with those in our community experiencing homelessness and some advocates. This was a great opportunity to hear directly from those with lived experiences on the issues they are facing when it comes to finding permanent housing and navigating the services available to them in Washington County. County staff also joined this event to listen to the concerns and issues our neighbors are facing.
Community Conversation #116
Thank you to those who attend our virtual Community Conversation this week! It was great to hear from each and everyone of you. Issues discussed: education, healthcare, quorum requirements, energy and environment, criminal justice system.
Senate District 15 Small Business Spotlight
Syun Izakaya - Hillsboro
Tucked in the basement of the 100-year-old former Carnegie Library in downtown Hillsboro is a sushi restaurant alive with the tastes and scents of Japan. Syun Izakaya, which opened in 1999, is modeled after the small, rustic taverns in Japan where people gather after work to drink beer, saké and shochu, and snack on small dishes. The restaurant offers many food options to create an authentic Japanese dining experience, including: sushi, tempura, grilled meat, gyoza, chicken skewers, dried fish and noodle and rice dishes. Stop by Syun Izakaya and support your locally owned businesses!
Located at: 209 NE Lincoln St, Hillsboro, OR 97124; Open Monday - Sunday
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Out and about in Senate District 15
Hops Game with Washington County Women Legislators
Several Washington County Lady Legislators joined me this week to cheer on our home team, our Hillsboro Hops! So fun! Great win! Senator Wlnsvey Campos and State Representative Maxine Dexter threw in a First Pitch! Senate Majority Leader Kate Lieber, State Representative Dacia Grayber, and Representative Jules Walters also joined. #AllHoppedUp #ItsAboutCommunity
Rise & Shine with Forest Grove/Cornelius Chamber of Commerce
Rise & Shine with Forest Grove/Cornelius Chamber of Commerce this morning at Willow & Ash on Main St. A fun store with a ton of gift ideas! https://www.willowashoregon.com/ #ShopLocal #ProudToBeSD15
Upcoming Events
Forest Grove - Coffee with a Cop
Stop by BJ's Coffee located at 2834 Pacific Ave, Forest Grove, OR 97116 this Saturday, September 9 from 9AM - 11AM to grab a cup of coffee and get to know your local law enforcement!
Hillsboro Parks & Recreation Survey
The City of Hillsboro Parks & Recreation Department needs your help creating a new vision and action plan for Hillsboro parks, facilities, and services. This new plan will be called the Hillsboro Parks System Plan, and it will guide development of parks projects for the next 15 to 50 years. This survey will include your voice in this process. The more voices that are heard, the more parks will be a community asset that everyone can access and enjoy. This survey should take about 10 minutes to complete. Your participation is entirely voluntary, and you can stop participating at any time. At the end of the survey, you can enter a raffle to win one of five $100 Visa gift cards to spend on anything you like. Click here to take the survey!
Campaign to Elect the 2024 Oregon's Kid Governor Kicks-Off
The Oregon Secretary of State invites all Oregon 5th grade students and their teachers to participate in the campaign and election of the 2024 Oregon Kid Governor.
What is the Oregon Kid Governor program?
Oregon’s Kid Governor® (ORKG) is a statewide civics program for 5th graders managed by the Oregon Secretary of State’s Office. It is an affiliate of Kid Governor®, an award-winning civics program created by the Connecticut Democracy Center (CTDC).
Timed to coincide with Election Day in November, ORKG offers each elementary school in Oregon the opportunity to enter one student candidate into a statewide election that other 5th graders vote in. Classes can nominate a classmate to run for office, vote in the election or both. Toolkits of in-class lessons guide teachers and students through the program to learn about civics, including how to vote, the Oregon Legislature, The Oregon Executive Branch, and the Oregon Supreme Court. The program is free and provides teachers with classroom toolkits to help guide their students through the curriculum.
ORKG candidates work with their classmates to create a campaign video outlining:
- Why they want to be Oregon Kid Governor
- Their leadership qualities and skills
- A community issue that they want to address and why it's important
- A 3-point plan that will help 5th graders across Oregon make a difference on that issue
From the pool of nominees, a selection committee will choose the final 7 candidates and the Secretary of State’s Office will post the videos online. During Election Week, registered classes watch and analyze the campaign videos and vote for the platform and candidate they want to support. The candidate with the most votes statewide is then named Oregon Kid Governor.
The winning candidate serves a one-year term with all the benefits and responsibilities of being Kid Governor. These duties include sharing their issue statewide with constituents, writing posts for an official blog, meeting with students and adults across the state, and participating in events with the Oregon Secretary of State’s Office.
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The current kid Governor is Lea and her platform is on promoting kindness and preventing bullying. Watch her video here.
Past governors include:
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Each Oregon school or homeschooler that chooses to participate will nominate one 5th grade student. Oregon's Kid Governors are elected by fellow 5th graders from across the state. During the week of November 6th through the 14th all participating 5th graders will view the finalists' campaign videos and will vote for their favorite nominee. The winner will be announced on or before December 1st.
During their one-year term, Oregon's Kid Governor will work with the Secretary of State's office on their campaign issue and will meet with Oregon leaders and legislators. In past years, we have had Kid Governors work on anti-bullying efforts, combating racism, and helping animals.
For more information or to register and access the lesson plans visit or.kidgovernor.org.
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Additional Resources
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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