We're halfway through the legislative session!

Dear Neighbor,

We’re more than halfway through the 2024 Legislative Session. I am grateful and honored to serve as your State Representative for House District 45.

As of today, February 23, the Second Chamber Work Session Posting Deadline is upon us – this means that today is the deadline for bills to have a posted work session in the “second chamber” (if it’s a House Bill, it needs to have a work session scheduled in the Senate, and if it’s a Senate Bill, it needs to have a work session scheduled in the House.)

My office welcomes constituents to come visit our office and tell us about your issues and concerns. You can contact my office to schedule a visit at: Rep.ThuyTran@oregonlegislature.gov.

During the 2024 Short Session I have been hard at work in Committee Meetings, Work Sessions, Floor Sessions, and meetings with advocates and stakeholders to serve you. The committees I proudly serve on are: 

• Joint Committee On Conduct
• House Committee On Behavioral Health and Health Care
• House Committee On Judiciary
• House Committee On Emergency Management, General Government, and Veterans - Vice-Chair
• House Committee On Conduct

Every first Friday of the month, I host a Power to the People constituent gathering at my in-district office. I would love to see you next Friday, 03/01 @5:30pm at: 4526 NE Sandy Blvd, Portland, OR 97213. We invite you to share your concerns and policy ideas alongside friendly neighbors.

My Bills This Legislative Session

This session I have been hard at work on our priority bill – HB4097 – which will modernize our expungement process and better the lives of many Oregonians. The bill is currently in the House Rules Committee awaiting a hearing. As this bill moves along in the process, I am hopeful that we can streamline the overburdened court system and unshackle the Oregonians currently eligible for expungement facing undue barriers:

This legislative session, I have Chief Sponsored or Sponsored 18 bills, including HB 4097:

Make Your Voice Heard This Legislative Session 

On February 5, the Oregon State Legislature convened for the 2024 “Short” Legislative Session, where we will be tackling big issues like housing and homelessness, the addiction crisis, community safety, and more. 

As your Representative, I serve as your voice at the Capitol. I want to hear from you, so please email or call me at 503-986-1445 to share your thoughts about the issues you care about. During the Legislative Session, there will be opportunities to testify and share your thoughts about the bills different policy committees are considering. 

This Legislative Participation Guide (available at bit.ly/Participate-ORleg) details how you can find and read bills on the Legislature’s bill database, watch committee meetings, and submit written testimony or give verbal testimony on bills. 

About the Legislative Session: During even numbered years, the Legislature convenes for a 35-day Short Session, as opposed to the 160-day long session in odd-numbered years. The Short Legislative Session began February 5 and ends by March 10, 2024. 

This session, we’ve had multiple advocates, stakeholders, and constituents visit our office, these are just a few of the meetings I’ve had so far:

On February 15, I met with students from Portland Schools where we discussed the importance of funding student health centers.

Also on February 15, my office met with advocates from the Oregon Student Association to discuss basic needs funding for Oregon students.

On February 20, I met with 350PDX, a climate group, which included some constituents, and we discussed climate priorities, including a bill I’m carrying on the floor (HB 4044, which creates a study that will generate a report on toxic fume releases).

On February 22, I met with some of my fellow Optometric Physicians during their lobby day.

Important Message for Oregonians Applying for Unemployment Insurance

The Oregon Employment Department (OED) is launching a brand-new, easy-to-use online system for Unemployment Insurance (UI) benefits. The new system is scheduled to go live through Frances Online, the same system used for Paid Leave Oregon, on Monday March 4.

The migration of UI benefits to Frances Online will begin on Tuesday, February 27. A migration period like this is normal for any big technology project; however, OED will not be able to provide customer service during the migration. This is because the old systems will go offline, and OED will not have any access to customer information.

Important Information

• New UI Claimants: File an initial UI claim before 5 PM on Tuesday, February 27.

Otherwise, claimants have to wait until March 4.

• Current UI Claimants: File a weekly UI claim for the week of February 18–24 by 5 PM on Wednesday, February 28. Otherwise, claimants have to wait until March 4.

Customer Service Impacts

Phone lines and online customer service for all UI Programs, Paid Leave Oregon, and

Contributions & Recovery will be closed on Wednesday, February 28, through Friday, March 1.

UI customers will not be able to file claims, check the status of a claim, make changes to claim information, make payments, respond to requests for additional information, complete ID verification, or contact OED customer service during this time.

What to Expect with the New System, Francis Online, after March 4

• New UI Claimants: Claimants must first create a Frances Online account before filing a claim.
• Current UI Claimants: Information about your claim will appear in your new Frances Online account.

Check unemployment.oregon.gov for more information and follow OED on social media (Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn) for important updates about the switch to the new system. Make sure to check your mail daily, review all letters and messages from the OED in the coming weeks.

Tax Season Resources

It’s tax season, and the deadline for filing is Monday, April 15. Keep reading for information on resources, credits, and deferrals available to Oregonians.

Tax Preparation Resources for Low-Income Oregonians

Free tax preparation services are available for low- to moderate-income taxpayers through a number of trusted programs. Not all locations offer free e-filing, and most services are only available during the tax filing season. Use the resources below or call 2-1-1 to find a trusted free tax preparation program near you.

• AARP Tax-Aide
  • Free services provided to anyone, with a focus on taxpayers who are over 50 years old and have low to moderate income

                     ○ Find a location here or call (888) 227-7669 to learn more

• Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA)
  • Offers free help to people who generally make $60,000 or less, persons with disabilities, and limited English-speaking taxpayers.

                     ○    Visit the IRS webpage to learn more

                     ○       OR find a location near you using the VITA site locator

• MFS-CASH Oregon
  • Virtual service is offered in addition to in-person service, mainly located in the Portland metropolitan area

○    Visit the website to see if you qualify and make an appointment or call (503) 243-7765 to learn more

• MyFreeTaxes
  • This service offered by United Way can help guide you in filing your own taxes or help prepare your taxes for you if you qualify

                     ○     To learn more, visit their website or call the help line at (866) 698-9435

Free Options for E-Filing Oregon Income Tax Returns

All Oregon resident taxpayers preparing their own returns in 2024 can file electronically at no cost using one of Oregon’s free file options.

Oregon Free Fillable Forms performs basic calculations and is ideal for taxpayers who don’t need help preparing their returns and want the convenience of filing electronically. The IRS offers a similar option for filing federal taxes electronically.

New this year, the department is also offering Direct File Oregon, which allows taxpayers to file their Form OR-40 through Revenue Online. Direct File Oregon is not currently linked with the IRS Direct File. Taxpayers will need to file a separate federal return with the IRS before filing an Oregon return with Direct File Oregon through Revenue Online.

Property Tax Deferral for Disabled and Senior Homeowners

A disabled or senior homeowner may qualify for a program to borrow from the State of Oregon to pay county property taxes. If a taxpayer qualifies for the program, the Oregon Department of Revenue will pay county property taxes on November 15 of each year.

To participate, a taxpayer must file an application with the county assessor by April 15 or pay a fee and file late from April 16 to December 1. A lien will be placed on the qualified taxpayer property, and the Department of Revenue will become a security interest holder. Learn more at the Department of Revenue’s website.

Taxpayer Advocate

If you think you are not being treated fairly, or if you have a problem or complaint, please contact the Office of the Taxpayer Advocate for assistance. The Taxpayer Advocate is here to make sure your rights as an Oregon taxpayer are protected.

Email taxpayer.advocate@DOR.oregon.gov, call 503-945-8700, or visit www.oregon.gov/dor/Pages/Taxpayer-Advocate.aspx for assistance.

Oregon Kids Credit

During the 2023 legislative session, Oregon Democrats championed the effort to create

Oregon’s first-ever state-based child tax credit through HB 3235, which is a fully refundable $1,000 tax credit per child between the ages of 0 and 5 for families earning $30,000 or less.

Oregon families can apply for this credit when they file their tax returns in 2024. 55,000 children across Oregon are expected to benefit from this credit, with higher representation in rural communities and communities of color.

More information about the Oregon Kids Credit and other tax benefits can be found on the Department of Revenue’s Tax Benefit for Families webpage.

I hope to see you at one of our upcoming constituent events, and please reach out to my office any time!

In solidarity,

Representative Thuy Tran
House District 45

Capitol Phone: 503-986-1445
Capitol Address: 900 Court St. NE, H-285, Salem, Oregon 97301
Email: Rep.ThuyTran@oregonlegislature.gov
Website: https://www.oregonlegislature.gov/tran​