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Friends and Neighbors,
Upcoming Events
End of Session Joint Town Hall with Senator Sollman and Representatives McLain and Sosa - Thursday, March 21st
Legislative Updates
HB 4002 - Oregon Drug Intervention Plan
HB 4002 passed out of the House this week and is being debated in the Senate this afternoon. The Oregon Drug Intervention Plan is a treatment plan that will give providers and law enforcement the tools they need to keep people safe and save lives. We will also be investing more than $200 million in urgently expanding treatment, prevention, and building up the connection between law enforcement and treatment. Inaction is not an option because we know that the status quo is not working. Someone is overdosing and dying every 5 hours in Oregon. This plan stays true to the will of Oregonians, providing a treatment-first approach to addiction and working to make our communities safer.
The Oregon Drug Intervention Plan will:
- Urgently expand drug treatment with the goal of making treatment more available than drugs and saving lives from overdoses.
- Prioritize prevention and education to stop kids from experimenting with fentanyl and other deadly drugs.
- Intervene on drug use, provide first responders with the tools to confiscate drugs, stop public drug use, and get people into treatment with accountability.
- Stop drug dealers, removing unreasonable standards for prosecution and enhancing sentences for dealers who target people living in shelters, those in recovery, and people in parks.
Emergency Housing Stability & Production Package
This week, the Senate passed SB 1530 and SB 1537, the Emergency Housing Stability and Production Package. Every Oregonian deserves a safe and affordable place to call home. and these bills will help address the homelessness and affordable housing crisis we have in Oregon. This package focuses on Oregon’s immediate housing and homelessness needs by funding homeless shelters, supporting renters, and boosting housing production and infrastructure. It leverages our limited state resources to make significant investments in our major homelessness relief and affordable housing goals. Funding highlights include:
- $100 million in direct allocations for shovel-ready projects within the existing Urban Growth Boundary
- $65 million for ongoing homeless shelter support
- $40 million to OHCS for rental assistance with a set aside for culturally specific organizations
- $18 million for Recovery Housing to house people recovering from drug addiction
- $10 million for land acquisition to convert buildings into affordable housing
- $3.5 million for air conditions and air filters provided on an emergency basis to at-risk individuals
- $4 million to the Residential Heat Pump Fund in DEQ
- $7.5 million to Healthy Homes, to support home repairs and improvements to lower energy usage and make homes safer
SB 1530 and SB 1537 will next move to the House for consideration. Read the full press release here.
Right to Repair Updates
SB 1596 passed out of the House Business and Labor Committee this week and will be heard on the House floor on Monday. I am proud of the broad bipartisan support this bill has gained, with 53 legislators signed on as sponsors. Links to the House Committee's Public Hearing and Work Session are below. I look forward to seeing Representative Courtney Neron carry this bill in the House and helping it over the finish line.
In the News
Week Four Committee Snaps
Senate Committee on Housing and Development
A Public Hearing and Work Session was held on the following:
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HB 4063 A - Requires Metro counties to plan for the housing needs of Metro urban unincorporated lands.
Senate Committee on Energy and Environment
A Public Hearings was held on the following:
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HB 4013 A - Prohibits the Department of Environmental Quality from enforcing the provisions of the producer responsibility program applicable to wine packaging. Sunsets on July 1, 2026.
Work Sessions were held on the following:
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HB 4015 - Permits a developer of a facility or the governing body of a local government after consulting with the developer to elect to defer regulatory authority to the Energy Facility Siting Council for the siting of a battery energy storage system.
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HB 4083 - Directs the Oregon Investment Council and the State Treasurer to make efforts to eliminate certain investments in thermal coal companies
Ways and Means Joint Committee on Public Safety
Work Sessions were held on the following:
- Department of Public Safety Standards and Training Grant - Assistance to Firefighters
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HB 4122 A - Provides that a person's participation in the Department of State Police's fingerprint retention program authorizes the department to submit the person's fingerprints to the Federal Bureau of Investigation's rap back system. Directs the Department of State Police to establish a fingerprint retention system for participation in the Federal Bureau of Investigation's Rap Back system.
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SB 1541 - Creates new circuit court judge positions in certain judicial districts.
Joint Committee on Ways and Means
The Joint Committee on Ways and Means met twice this week to hold work sessions on a variety of bills. Click on the agendas below to see the policies discussed.
Week 3 - Oregon State Capitol Visits to #S207 (Your Senate District 15 Capitol Office)
 Clockwise from Top Left: With Representative Boomer Wright, Representative Courtney Neron and Charlie Fisher at House Business and Labor Committee, Oregon Self Advocacy Coalition Members, Oregon Human Rights Commissioner and Constituent Eddie Plourde, NXT Clean Fuels CEO Chris Efird
Employment Department Updates
Frances Online: Oregon’s New Unemployment Insurance Online System
Shared from Oregon Employment Department
The Oregon Employment Department (OED) is launching a modern, easy-to-use online system for Unemployment Insurance (UI) benefits, called Frances Online. Frances Online offers features that will provide a better customer service experience for UI claimants. It’s also mobile-friendly. Claimants will be able to do a lot more things online through self-serve features, instead of waiting for a letter in the mail or calling the UI Contact Center. It’s scheduled to go live on Monday, March 4.
The migration of UI benefits to Frances Online began on Tuesday, February 27. A migration period like this is normal for any big technology project. 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. All systems and phone lines will reopen on Monday, March 4, at 8 a.m.
IMPORTANT: The last day to file a new initial UI claim was 5 p.m. on Tuesday, February 27. The last day to file a weekly UI claim for the week of February 18-24 was 5 p.m. on Wednesday, February 28. Claimants will need to wait until after 8 a.m. on Monday, March 4 to file new claims. During the migration, UI customers cannot:
- File an initial claim, file a weekly claim, restart a claim, check the status of a claim, or make changes to claim information
- Make payments
- Respond to requests for additional information
- Complete ID verification
In addition, all UI phone lines will be closed Wednesday, February 28, through Friday, March 1. OED understands this may cause an inconvenience. They are doing everything they can to make this process as easy as possible. Click here for a detailed timeline of when services will be down.
What to Expect During the Planned Service Outage
During the planned service outage, OED customers cannot:
- Create a new Frances Online account or access an existing Frances Online account (Paid Leave Oregon and Contributions & Recovery)
- File an initial claim, file a weekly claim, restart a claim, check the status of a claim, or make changes to claim information (UI and Paid Leave Oregon)
- File or amend tax reports (Contributions & Recovery)
- Make a payment (UI, Paid Leave Oregon, Contributions & Recovery)
- Apply for an assistance grant (Paid Leave Oregon)
- Respond to requests for additional information (UI and Paid Leave Oregon)
- Complete ID verification (UI and Paid Leave Oregon)
OED's WorkSource Oregon offices will be open, and helping job seekers find jobs and supporting them in other ways, but they will not be able to help people with their UI or Paid Leave Oregon claims while the systems and phones are shut down.
For a full timeline of changes to customer service during this time, as well as more information on what’s changing – and what’s staying the same – visit unemployment.oregon.gov/frances.
Senate District 15 - Small Business Spotlight
Fuel.Up Cornelius
Fuel.Up Cornelius is one of Cornelius' newest small business. They are a locally owned juice bar that serve a variety of menu items. From protein shakes, energy teas, and coffee, to waffles, donuts, and fruit bowls. Stop by 2200 E Baseline St, Suite E, Cornelius, OR 97113 to try them out. They're open sevens days a week (Mon - Sun) from 7AM-8PM. You can visit their Instagram page at @fuel.upcornelius.
Community Outreach
City of Forest Grove City Charter Community Listening Sessions:
The Charter Review Committee is hosting two Community Listening Sessions at the Community Auditorium. Join us and share your thoughts regarding the draft City of Forest Grove Charter. Session One- Wednesday, March 13 at 6:00 pm and Session Two- Wednesday, March 20 at 6:00 pm. The listening sessions provide an opportunity for public comment while engaging with the Charter Review Committee. For more information including recommendations, and a public comment form if you're unable to attend visit forestgrove-or.gov/crc.
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Forest Grove "If I were mayor..." Student Writing Contest
Mayor Wenzl & the Oregon Mayor's Association invite Forest Grove students from the 4th-12th grade, participate in the annual "If I were Mayor..." Student Contest. There are three different categories based on grade level, and each categories first place winner will receive a $100 cash prize. The first place entry from each category will be submitted to the statewide competition for an opportunity to win a prize worth $500. This contest is also open to Forest Grove students who are homeschooled.
To find the contest application form, and more information on the different categories click on this link. The Deadline to submit your entry is March 31st.
March is Women's History Month
Women’s History Month is a celebration of women’s contributions to history, culture, and society and has been observed annually in the month of March in the United States since 1987. Women’s History Month is a dedication to women’s often overlooked achievements. Abigail Adams was the first woman to serve as the second lady and the second woman to serve as the first lady of the United States. Susan B. Anthony fought for equal pay and the rights of labor and was one of the most visible leaders during the women's suffrage movement. Sojourner Truth was a former slave who became an outspoken advocate for abolition, temperance, and civil and women's rights. Rosa Parks occupies an iconic status in the civil rights movement after she refused to vacate a seat on a bus in favor of a white passenger in Montgomery, Alabama. Women have been doing amazing things since the beginning of time and Women’s History Month is a great time to celebrate their achievements.
~Former high school intern, Anna Kindley
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VA Center for Women Veterans Offering Women Veterans Fireside Chat Webinar Series in March
Shared from Oregon Department of Veterans Affairs
 PDF Digital Flyer: Center for Women Veterans Women Veterans Fireside Chat Series.pdf
In Honor of Women's History Month, the VA Center for Women Veterans cordially invites people to join the CWV's Women Veterans Fireside Chat Webinar Series with subject matter experts from the Veterans Health Administration (VHA), Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA), & National Cemetery Administration (NCA).
Some will have an opportunity to have their questions answered during the event. Please note that each date is with a different Administration and people can register for as many events as they please.
These events are part of the Women's History Month. The National Women’s History Month’s theme for 2024 celebrates “Women Who Advocate for Equity, Diversity and Inclusion.” The theme recognizes women throughout the country who understand that, for a positive future, we need to eliminate bias and discrimination entirely from our lives and institutions.
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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