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Friends and Neighbors,
Upcoming Events
Save the Dates - Spring Community Conversations
Save the dates below for upcoming opportunities to connect. Watch future newsletters for further details on locations and Zoom sign up link.
Legislative Updates
Vote Explanations
During the Legislative Session, anytime we take a vote on a bill, we also have the opportunity to file a written vote explanation. This gives a legislator the opportunity to share their thought process in voting, or additional context on a bill. Vote explanations must be turned in to the Secretary of the Senate by 5:00pm the following day of the vote. I am sharing a few of my vote explanations that I submitted this session below.
HB 4002 - Oregon Drug Intervention Plan
Not on OLIS as we missed the deadline to turn it in.
March 1, 2024
Obadiah Rutledge
Secretary of the Senate
RE: Vote Explanation for House Bill 4002 A
Secretary Rutledge,
Thank you for the opportunity to provide my vote explanation for House Bill 4002 A. Our state’s reaction to our addiction crisis should be one that is compassionate and accountable. Oregonians need access to care, we need a strong focus on youth prevention and our communities need to feel safe and secure.
We all come to this building with our own circle of lived experience. Those experiences can be our own, those of our family members, our friends, or our constituents. In my effort to witness the impacts of Ballot Measure 110 and the ripple effects of addiction disease in my district through the perspective of our first responders, I have done four law enforcement ride-alongs in the last year and a half. Two were with the Hillsboro Police Department, one with the Forest Grove Police Department, and one with the Washington County Sheriff’s Office. I also have gone on two local fire department ride-alongs with the cities of Hillsboro and Cornelius. Some of things I witnessed are ones I will never forget, including a young woman in the midst of a drug-induced state. As one human being to another, my heart hurt for what she was experiencing right on the public sidewalk on a busy street in Hillsboro, and how well the first responders involved knew her.
I have friends and coworkers with young family members who have experienced a drug overdose. At a recent community conversation I held, two out of the eight people in attendance had lost family members due to illegally manufactured fentanyl. I have tried to get a young man that I have known since birth, into treatment for substance abuse. The only place that could take him was two and a half hours away in Eugene, nowhere near where his support system is located. We all could tell the stories in our circle of addiction disease and the negative ripple effect for all involved. Oregon has historically been the state with the lowest access for treatment. We need to urgently expand access to treatment and this bill does that.
I also appreciate the focus on youth prevention in this bill. According to Mental Health America, Oregon ranks last for prevalence of youth mental illness and lower rates of access to care. This includes being among the three states with the highest prevalence of youth with at least one major depressive episode (21.13%), severe major depressive episode (19%), and substance use disorder (7.97%). Not effectively addressing the mental health concerns of our youth will lead to more addiction, and more loss of young life. Staying the course cannot be acceptable.
House Bill 4002 A threads the fine needle of a compassionate response of care with accountable results. Oregonians need more access to treatment and sobering beds. Our community members need to feel safe, and we need to save lives. For these reasons, I support House Bill 4002 A.
Sincerely,
Senator Janeen Sollman
Senate District 15
SB 1578 - State Healthcare Interpreter Portal
March 7, 2024
Obadiah Rutledge
Secretary of the Senate
RE: Vote Explanation for Senate Bill 1578
Dear Secretary Rutledge,
Thank you for the opportunity to provide my vote explanation for Senate Bill 1578. I supported this bill but did so with some trepidation that I wanted to share. I absolutely want to be sure that people seeking medical services receive interpreter services. I also want to be sure that interpreters are paid in a timely manner. However, I shared concerns in the Ways and Means Committee regarding the indeterminate fiscal analysis, specifically around the IT procurement. I have been reassured there is an ‘off the shelf’ model that will be purchased and I will be following that procurement. I worry that this bill lacks clarity to address some of the concerns that we heard in the Ways and Means Committee and on the Senate floor. I commit to following the process as this bill is enacted.
Sincerely,
Senator Janeen Sollman
Senate District 15
HB 4026 - Referenda Authority for Urban Growth Boundary Decisions
March 7, 2024
Obadiah Rutledge
Secretary of the Senate
RE: Vote Explanation for House Bill 4026
Dear Secretary Rutledge,
When Senate Bill 100 became law in 1973, Oregon established a coordinated statewide program for land use planning and created the Department of Land Conservation and Development. Over the years we have crystalized our states land use planning system to ensure Oregon has sound planning principles based on science, data, and predictability for our land use decisions. This process takes years to go through and offers Oregonians many opportunities to voice their concerns at the local, county and state levels. I voted in support of House Bill 4026, because I believe we must maintain a smart and predictable land use planning process for our taxpayers, and our municipalities.
The local process to amend a city’s urban growth boundary is complex. It takes cities many years, and hundreds of thousands of dollars to make land use decisions. This process is long, but it is intended to be that way so the public can be confident in the decisions cities make. HB 4026 does not create a new land use process, and it does not remove Oregonians right to a referendum. All HB 4026 does is clarify the confusion on whether these types of decisions are administrative, or legislative in nature.
I believe in the elector’s right to a referendum of a local government’s political decision, as given in the Oregon Constitution. However, our states land use planning system already has a statutory framework in place where Oregonians can voice their concerns about a land use decision at the local, county, and state level. Throwing in a referendum petition as the very last step in a long year’s process that cost our small cities, and taxpayers hundreds of thousands of dollars to comply with, undermines the land use system we have built over the years. If an individual does not agree with the decision made around this process, then they have every right to submit an appeal either to DLCD, or the Oregon Court of Appeals.
According to Legislative Counsel, “referendums are only available for legislative acts, and does not apply to the executive or administrative actions of local governments. Even if a decision is made by an ordinance of a legislative body, it may still be administrative for the purposes of determining whether it is subject to a referendum . . . Because land use decisions are governed by specific land use provision created under a statutory framework, even if the local code considers a significant change legislative, it is likely that a court will find it adjudicative and not subject to a referendum”.
Oregon’s land use process needs to be predictable, if it is not, then our cities will not be able to plan their growth accordingly and taxpayers may be further burdened by covering the costs of a city’s ongoing litigation fees. HB 4026 does not create a new policy for our states land use process, and it does not remove Oregonians constitutional right to a referendum. All this bill does is clarify and uphold the existing process our state has. This bill does not remove the right of a proponent to have their voice heard in local planning decisions, rather it encourages proponents to utilize the existing process by advocating at each level on whether they support or oppose a land use decision. If they are unsatisfied with the ultimate outcome, then the current process allows them to then appeal to the Oregon Court of Appeals. If a referendum is to be brought forth on a land use decision, all this bill asks is that the proposed referendum comply with existing case law and prove that the decision was legislative in nature.
Sincerely,
Senator Janeen Sollman
Senate District 15
In the News
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Oregonians will have 2-month window this spring to apply for an EV rebate, Oregon Capital Chronicle, Lynne Terry, March 18, 2024
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Oregon Legislature greenlights federal summer food program for income-eligible kids, OPB - Oregon Public Broadcasting, Alejandro Figueroa, March 15, 2024
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Advocates celebrate more state support for child care, Portland Tribune, Peter Wong, March 18. 2024
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Oregon Prescription Drug Affordability Board seeks public input about drug costs, Oregon Capital Chronicle, Ben Botkin, March 13, 2024
Here’s information about the forums:
- Portland forum: 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, April 2, Portland State Office Building, 800 N.E. Oregon St.
- Lincoln City forum: 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, April 9, Lincoln City Cultural Center, 540 N.E. Highway 101, Lincoln City.
- Woodburn forum in Spanish: 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Monday, April 15, Woodburn Public Library Multipurpose Room, 280 Garfield St., Woodburn.
- Medford forum: 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Thursday, April 25, Rogue Community College Higher Education Center, 101 S. Bartlett St., Medford.
- Bend forum: 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, April 30, Deschutes County Library, 62080 Dean Swift Road, Bend.
There will also be two online-only forums from noon to 2 p.m. on Wednesday, May 8, and from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, May 14. Go here for information about how to log in to those meetings.
Out and About in Senate District 15
Women In Public Service
On Tuesday, I participated in a panel highlighting women in public service, hosted by Just Create Community in honor of Women's History Month. It was great to hear from other women leaders and chat over coffee with community members.
Oregon Hindu Community Holi Celebration in Rock Creek
This past weekend I enjoyed a beautiful day of celebration at the Oregon Hindu Community Holi Event! I am thankful to the Hindu American Foundation for the invitation and had the most wonderful time celebrating with community. Holi is a Hindu festival that welcomes the spring season and celebrates the end of winter. The vibrant colors that are placed on everyone, are to honor that we are all one and we should celebrate love, peace and acceptance of each other. I will be returning to this event every year. My soul feels renewed!
Shamrock Feast & Fest
The Shamrock Feast & Fest, benefitting the Family Justice Center of Washington County, was a hit last weekend. Combining with celebration for St. Patrick's Day, we enjoyed beautiful weather, good food, lively dancing and music. It was a wonderful fundraise to benefit survivors.
Senate District 15 - Small Business Spotlight
Telvet Coffee - Forest Grove AND Cornelius
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March is Restaurant Month in Forest Grove and Cornelius. Enjoy coffee, tea, pastries and more at participating coffee house Telvet Coffee, and be sure to check them out at their brand new location in the Cornelius Library.
Visit TelvetCoffee.com for information on location, hours and menus.
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Community Outreach
Women’s Military History Week
Shared from ODVA Facebook
Happy Women's Military History Week! Thank you to all of the women who have proudly and bravely served in every conflict in our nation's history.
The Oregon Department of Veterans' Affairs recognizes and honors women who have served in the United States military throughout our country's history, in every branch of military service. They are the trailblazers and history-makers who played and continue to play a huge role in safeguarding the United States.
If you are a woman veteran or service member, ODVA salutes, recognizes and thanks you for your honorable service and your sacrifice. We honor your courage, your dedication and your commitment, and we pledge to ensure that your history-making contributions to our nation's security and prosperity will never forgotten.
In honor of Women's Military History Week in Oregon, the Oregon Department of Veterans' Affairs has been recognizing women who have served in the United States military throughout our country's history, in every branch of military service.
Read more at https://oregondva.com/.../odva-celebrates-women-veterans.../
Jersey Mike's Month of Giving - Benefitting Special Olympics Oregon Athletes
Additional Resources
Senate District 15 – Event Calendars
Federal Delegation Links
Education Links
Food and Housing Assistance
Next week the team is taking some time out of office and we will not be sending out a newsletter. We look forward to reconnecting in a couple of weeks.
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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