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To contact me, please click here: Rep.CourtneyNeron@oregonlegislature.gov
Dear Friends and Neighbors,
Hope you all are staying cool and enjoyed some time with family and friends over the 4th of July weekend. I’ve had a wonderful time at community events, including the King City Parade and Tigard High School Drone show!
Steve and Patti Gearhart were incredibly generous to host me in their beautiful Austen-Healey for the parade route. I’m thrilled they won first place for their parade entry!!!
With King City Councilors Jan Tysoe and Marc Manelis, King City Police Chief Ernie Happala, Lieutenant Brian Sigler, and City Manager Mike Weston.
Beautiful, patriotic, and Tigard-centric elements of the first ever Tigard High School drone show for the 4th of July Community Celebration!
As you know, we are in the midst of excessive heat throughout Oregon. The National Weather Service says the most dangerous high temperatures will be today and tomorrow (Monday & Tuesday) and that the duration of this heat event will exacerbate impacts, especially for those sensitive to heat. The Oregon Health Authority has published resources to help keep everyone safe during extreme heat (see below).
I encourage you to look out for neighbors who do not have access to cooling systems, especially seniors who may not be able to leave their homes to head to a cooling center.
For more information click here: Oregon Health Authority : Extreme Heat : Get Prepared : State of Oregon
Follow this link to the National Weather Service’s HeatRisk map to look at heat risk levels here and around the country.
Each county operates cooling centers during extreme heat events. To find one near you follow this link to 211info and then click the link under your county.
Offering school breakfast and lunch to all students ensures Oregon's children have the nutrition they need to learn and thrive.
As chair of the House Committee on Education, I have continued to focus on investments that improve educational, health, and economic outcomes - and free school meals do all of these things.
I will never forget this hearing last year when we heard that hundreds more Oregon schools are newly eligible for universal meals, thanks to the USDA's expanded Community Eligibility Program: House Interim Committee on Education-Legislative Days Presentation
I will continue to focus on nutrition solutions for Oregonians and celebrate advances at the federal, state, and local level. We can all celebrate the WLWV school district announcement that helps bring down the cost of living for families at Boeckman, Boones Ferry, Cedar Oak, Lowrie, Sunset, Willamette, Wood MS, Meridian Creek MS, Riverside HS and Wilsonville HS.
Additionally, Summer EBT is a new program to support families and nutritional needs of Oregon's kids. Eligible school-aged children each get $120 for groceries at stores and farmers markets. Check eligibility at https://sebt.oregon.gov or by calling 833-673-7328. I remain focused on ensuring access to nutrition for Oregon’s most vulnerable.
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Similar to the project at our National Wildlife Refuge, Metro will be rehabilitating the Coffee Creek Wetlands. The Irrigation ditches will be returned to meandering waterways that encourage the earth to hold, cool, and clean more water. Replanting native plants, eliminating invasives like canary grass and blackberry, and encouraging a healthy ecosystem will ultimately support flora and fauna as well as sequester more carbon. I am really excited about this project and was so grateful for the opportunity to tour the worksite and learn about it with Metro project experts, Metro Councilor Rosenthal, City of Wilsonville Mayor Fitzgerald and Council President Akervall, and Councilor Linville.
While June was of course Pride Month, a time to honor the progress made in LGBTQ+ rights and recognize the ongoing work toward equality and inclusivity yet to be accomplished, we can and should show up and show our support throughout the year. Many communities celebrate outside of the month of June and a list of the Oregon celebrations can be found here. Locally, check out the beautiful mural by local artist Ren Kyles at the Parks and Recreation building in Town Center Park.
I attended The Rose City Pride Band Gay-la with my dear Twality Middle School drama teacher Mrs. Talluto on June 24. Her late husband Sam played flute with them and I was so grateful for the opportunity to sit by her side as she listened to them play again, especially Adam Eccleston’s playing Rhapsody for flute. We also ran into my friend Bev who was doing the live stream recording, which I hope you will listen to (program begins at the 12:17 mark):
Rose City Pride Bands and the Rose City Wind Symphony Presents GAY-LA
My friend Linda Talluto and me, attending the concert together. Here’s your friendly reminder to consume, produce, and support the Arts.
Thank you to everyone who attended our Coffee and Conversation morning at the Sherwood Senior Center; your presence and input made it a truly engaging event. I especially appreciated the conversations around housing, nutrition, and senior friendly communities. We talked about many specific issues and questions, but I was especially struck by the enthusiasm for Blue Zones!
Jill Zurschmeide organized a TTSD parent event to discuss school funding. It was wonderful to see so many people interested in ensuring our schools are well resourced at the Alberta Rider Elementary meeting. I am committed to being a good partner in advocating for adequate resources for our children's education.
Ways to Get Involved:
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Join or Form Advocacy Groups: Participate in local or state education advocacy groups, such as the Oregon PTA, to amplify your voice and influence policy decisions.
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Participate in school board meetings: Stay informed about budget decisions made by your local board that impact the classrooms and programs you care about.
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Stay Informed on Legislation: Keep up-to-date with proposed education bills and initiatives, and support or oppose them through communications with policymakers. Subscribe to legislator newsletters and bill updates during session to receive updates on individual bills or committees directly from the Legislature’s webpage? The next time we will be in session is January 2025.
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Participate in Public Comment Periods: Submit written or oral comments during public comment periods for proposed education regulations or policies.
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Organize Community Forums: Host or attend community forums to discuss state education policies and build a collective voice for change.
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Vote in Elections: Ensure you are registered and vote in state and local elections, supporting candidates who prioritize education policy improvements.
 I met with the Oregon PTA members at their conference and spoke about the importance of a stable CSL methodology, fully funding a modernized Quality Education Model, and lifting the distribution formula cap on Special Education funding.
In addition to serving as Chair of the K-12 Education Policy Committee, as well as on the Early Childhood and Human Services committees, I am pleased to announce my new assignment to the Higher Education Committee. I will work diligently to enhance educational opportunities for all students before they enter school, throughout our preschool to graduation programming, and after their high school completion as they prepare further for their career.
 The House Higher Education Committee held informational hearings during May Legislative Days
During Legislative Days the Higher Education Committee held informational hearings covering the impact of FAFSA delays, postsecondary research in Oregon, and tuition equity for students seeking asylum.
As the Chair of the House Education Committee I scheduled informational hearings (video here) on key educational initiatives, investments, and issues:
Summer Learning Grants HB4082 (2024):
Dr. Charlene Williams, Director of the Oregon Department of Education, along with Raquel Gwynn, Education Specialist, and Michael Elliott, Director of School Finance and Facilities, presented an update on the distribution of summer learning funding that we passed in the Feb. 2024 short session with HB 4082. They outlined the allocation process and its impact on enhancing summer educational programs across the state.
Literacy HB3198 (2023) and Imagination Library Funding:
We received an update on literacy initiatives from Pooja Bhatt, Director of the Education Initiatives from the Governor’s Office; Alyssa Chatterjee, Dept of Early Learning and Care; Dr. Charlene Williams and Jennifer Patterson, ODE; and Melissa Goff, Interim Executive Director of the Oregon Teacher Standards and Practices Commission (TSPC). Their presentation emphasized the collaborative efforts to improve literacy rates and early learning outcomes.
Cell Phone use in Schools:
Representative Emerson Levy from House District 53 (Bend), alongside Brook Mues and Ami Formica from Well Wired, and pediatrician Doreen Dodgen-Magee, led a discussion on the role and regulation of cell phones in schools. They explored the benefits and challenges of mobile device usage in educational settings and proposed potential policy adjustments.
Robotics Teams:
The committee learned about the benefits and achievements of robotics teams from Crescent Valley, Lake Oswego, and Wilsonville. Students showcased their innovative projects, demonstrating the importance of STEM education and extracurricular activities in fostering technical skills and teamwork.
 Student advocates pose with Rep Neron while in Salem advocating for Robotics programs across the state.
I have been invited to serve on the Oregon Commission on Autism. This group is dedicated to advocating for equitable state policies and providing vital support for individuals and families navigating autism throughout Oregon.
I am honored that former Speaker Dan Rayfield nominated me to serve on the Council of State Governments (CSG) Education Committee and I look forward to an engaging and informative hearing at the annual conference right here in Oregon next week. We will be focusing on student achievement both in and out of classrooms and the BARR Center K-12 approach to boosting math and reading scores while reducing absenteeism and disciplinary incidents. We will also hear about Idaho’s LAUNCH program, aimed at preparing students for in-demand careers through strategic education investments. I look forward to an informative conference and hope to see some of the legislators that I met while at a recent conference in DC.
I feel fortunate to have secured a spot on the June Industrial Waste Symbiosis tour to Denmark. We spent a week learning how Denmark is making a Green Energy Transition, with an emphasis on turning “waste” streams into “resource” streams. Invasive starfish become biofuel. Heat from the dairy warms nearby homes. Water is recycled and reused. Bakery leftovers feed baby pigs. There are so many ways their systems connect and they are only increasing these partnerships across sectors! They are a country committed to energy independence, clean energy, healthy quality of life, and everyone pitching in to ensure their systems support each other. They sort household waste into 8 different bins, bicycles abound, and the locals I met talked to me about ecological diversity and chemical free weed maintenance! It was a bipartisan group of legislators, business owners, and clean energy experts in our Oregon delegation who made the experience so fascinating. We all brought different perspectives and expertise, and I look forward to next steps in connecting Oregon’s industries to ensure reduction of fossil fuels and strategic use of existing resources. I am especially interested in reducing food waste, textile waste, and plastic waste in Oregon. Here are a few pictures of our journey:
 With Rep Helm (Beaverton), Rep Gamba (Milwaukie), and Bill Kent of COR textile recycling.
 My new friend was blow torching weeds next to a sensitive wildlife area.
 We learned a lot from powerpoints, conversations, and daily site visits to different sectors across the country.
 A presentation at the Helix Lab of Kalundborg Symbiosis.
 Bicycles abound and bike infrastructure is phenomenal in Copenhagen and throughout many cities. There is always a bike lane and a special bike stoplight.
Denmark is leading the way in Offshore Wind and while they are a small country they make some of the biggest windmills.
My marvelous Chief of Staff, Marcella Martinson, and I headed to Washington DC in late June for a conference to advance the national conversation around school psychologist licensure. Similar to our teacher licensure compact that we passed last year in Oregon, I plan to work on our next interstate licensure compact, this time for school psychologists. This interstate licensure compact will ensure that qualified school psychologists who move to Oregon will be able to work and more Oregon students may be served. We need to remove unnecessary workforce barriers where they exist. For military spouses, or potential out-of-state applicants, interstate licensure compacts maintain quality and integrity in the profession, while keeping doors open for employment. I look forward to introducing Oregon’s bill in 2025.
 Legislators and Policy experts from numerous other states attended.
 Marcella, Kristin Irwin (a PPS school psychologist and NASP delegate) and I made up our Oregon delegation.
 It was my first trip to DC and I found it awe inspiring. In the minutes around the National Association of School Psychologists conference, I managed to join a Juneteenth dance party, tour the White House, and speed through the Smithsonian Portrait Gallery. It was far too brief, but before I flew out, I woke early to jog around the grounds of our US Capitol and visit the exquisite Bartholdi Fountain. Breathtaking! I hope to return again someday.
Signing off, for now. It’s a busy summer, but I’ll try to write again soon. Stay cool everyone. This heat wave is the real deal. As I said earlier in the letter, please check on your neighbors and drink lots of water and call 211 if you need resources or information.
Until next time,
 Capitol Phone: 503-986-1426
Capitol Address: 900 Court St NE, H-281, Salem, OR 97301
Email: Rep.CourtneyNeron@oregonlegislature.gov
Website: http://www.oregonlegislature.gov/neron
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