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To contact me, please click here: Rep.CourtneyNeron@oregonlegislature.gov
Dear Neighbors,
I hope your summers are drawing to a satisfying close and your back-to-school rhythms are ready to embrace the autumn. I heard the first set of Canada geese over my house the other day and saw the first hints of orange on the beautiful trees along Sherwood’s Sunset Boulevard last week. Maybe it’s the heat wave, but I’m not quite ready for pumpkin spice just yet. I am ready for a productive and busy September, though.
In this newsletter, I’ll update you on my recent legislative work, interesting events you might want to know about, and welcome your feedback as a crucial part of the work we do together. Thank you for staying informed and involved.
 Starting September 6th and running through November 6th, I’ll enter the election year "blackout period," during which I can't use state resources for mass communications. This means no newsletters or social media updates from my official platforms until after Election Day. I am still available for meetings, email and phone communication for your specific needs, just not for mass communication.
This is also why I will announce now that my next town hall will be on October 5 at the Wilsonville Library. I hope to see you there from 3-4 to catch up and connect during the interim work period leading up to the 2025 session.
Register or Update Registration: By October 15, 2024
Ballots Sent Out: Starting October 16, 2024
Election Day: November 5, 2024 (Ballots must be received by 8 p.m. or postmarked on this day)
SEPTEMBER IS ATTENDANCE AWARENESS MONTH
Recent federal data reveals that during the 2020-21 school year, at least 14.7 million students nationwide were chronically absent, a significant increase from over 8 million pre-COVID-19. Chronic absence—missing 10% or more of school days for any reason, including excused, unexcused absences, and suspensions—can severely impact students’ ability to read by third grade, succeed in middle school, and graduate high school.
UNIVERSAL SCHOOL MEALS
As the school year kicks off, the vast majority of Oregon schools will provide free breakfast and lunch to all students! This initiative is made possible through expanded federal eligibility and additional state funding. With one in six children in Oregon facing food insecurity, supporting our schools helps combat child hunger and ensures every student has a chance to thrive.
Stay tuned for more efforts in the 2025 legislative session aimed at providing free meals for all Oregon students!
We are still in the Interim period between sessions right now. Legislative days begin on September 23rd. We will convene in Salem for hearings and updates. As chair of the House Education Committee, and a member of the Early Childhood and Human Services Committee, and Higher Education Committee, I look forward to listening and learning as well as meeting with stakeholders to make edits to our bills that we plan to submit by the September 27 deadline. While my education work is focused on full funding of special education services among other topics, my work outside of education includes housing solutions, toxin reductions, nutrition programs, consumer protections, healthcare access, waste streams, and public safety. I look forward to continuing to partner with constituents and stakeholders to deliver on our concepts in 2025.
Notable legislation that has recently taken effect includes:
- On Monday, our edits to Measure 110 took effect. Originally aimed at drug decriminalization and treatment, it was revised earlier this year in a bipartisan effort to address the addiction crisis. Our legislative work reinstated some restrictions on drug possession and empowered law enforcement to address public drug use as well as enforce treatment options. The focus remains on detox and rehabilitation rather than incarceration, but adds accountability.
- Additionally, a key initiative from the 2023 session took effect: a ban on undetectable, untraceable firearms, or "ghost guns." This legislation, developed with Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum, equips law enforcement to address the threat posed by these homemade weapons that evade detection.
 Top Left: I stood with the Wilsonville Fred Meyer Kroger workers as they were on strike to demand fair labor practices. Many remembered when Fred Meyer was locally owned and treated its employees with respect, encouraging long careers and a belief in the company.
Top Right: As a former Carmen Drive Burgerville employee, I am especially excited that Burgerville has opened a store here in Wilsonville! It’s a solid company with a conscience - and often locally sourced and yummy food.
Bottom Left: Festivals are one of my favorite things about summer, and the Robin Hood Festival always takes the cake. I enjoyed walking with the Friends of the Refuge in the parade. Seeing these two get knighted was quite a treat, as well. City Councilor Taylor Giles and Mayor Tim Rosener have long histories of service to the community and were in good company of all the other new knights who have worked so hard to make Sherwood such an amazing place to live.
Bottom Middle: Many realtors, city planners, and local leaders packed a SMART bus to tour the housing innovations throughout Wilsonville. We visited a wide variety of housing options and had excellent conversations about regional needs and challenges.
Bottom Right: Anne Shevelin, President of the Board of the Charbonneau Country joined me at my most recent Charbonneau Town Hall. We appreciated the conversation and questions from the many constituents who participated, and also the fresh blueberry muffins that one of our community members baked and brought for us!
I’ve probably sent out a newsletter since the 4th of July, but this moment was a highlight when I saw my friends’ mom Mary in King City during the parade.
 We broke ground on a new Transit Oriented Development in Wilsonville. This innovative housing option will give rise to a coffee shop, welcome center, and the community food bank on the ground floor, as well as provide over 100 homes for households making 30%- 80% of the area median income. With access to the SMART busses and WES train, it will be an accessible economic solution for many working families and individuals.
 The American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) represents much of the staff at Coffee Creek Correctional Facility (CCCF) in House District 26 and Oregon’s only women’s prison. This facility also intake for all of the state’s 12 prisons. Last week, AFSCME hosted legislators for a tour, highlighting the challenges faced by both staff and incarcerated women. The visit underscored issues like understaffing, mandatory overtime, chronic stress, and the varios forms of trauma present in DOC and incarceration.
I am committed to continuing to highlight the need to improve conditions for both staff and adults in custody and support programs that build skills and reduce recidivism. Whether it is improving healthcare inside, respecting and recruiting workforce, or investing in tattoo removal and education programming, I plan to work on behalf of my constituents to improve the system in 2025.
 I volunteered at “Through A Childs Eyes”, known as TACE here in Wilsonville. Rotary plans a meaningful day when kids can come visit their moms inside Coffee Creek Correctional Facility. They play together, read together, get their faces painted, slide down the bounce house slide, eat together and connect. Keeping families connected is essential to reducing recidivism and reducing trauma for the children of incarcerated parents.
 Top Left: Many of my colleagues and I attended the Council of State Governments annual CSG West meeting held here in Oregon. We welcomed legislators from the Western States and showed off the best Oregon has to offer. Had great conversations with many, including the Daniels: pictured here are Senator D. Bonham and Rep. D. Nguyen.
Top Right: Representative Jennifer Pawlik and I became pals earlier this year at our Washington DC summit for the interstate compact for school psychologist planning meeting. We enjoyed being appointed members of the CSG West Education committee and I was honored to introduce her to my colleagues here, Rep Khanh Pham, Former Rep. Barbara Smith Warner, and Speaker Julie Fahey during our OMSI reception.
Bottom Left: My Chief of Staff Marcella Martinson and I learned so much at the PCC OMIC facility tour in Scappoose.
Bottom Middle: I continue to look for ways that our policies can ensure humane treatment of animals. From increasing spays and neuter access, to ensuring breeder and animal rescues have appropriate oversight, we have work to do. When international advocate Lily came to town, I convened animal advocates for a conversation on a potential ban on octopus farming (already passed in WA and CA) so we could discuss the right next steps for Oregon.
Bottom Right: While in Washington DC earlier this summer, Marcella and I were able to tour the White house before flying back home to Oregon. The trip to DC helped us prepare Oregon to become one of the leading states on interstate compact for licensure for school psychologists.
 I was honored to speak at the Natural Start Conference held in Portland last month. The panel and I outlined how my Outdoor Preschool Licensure bill is paving the way for Oregon programs that help give kids access to nature with partnerships on public lands. The advocates fought hard to ensure that these programs have a pathway for federal funding, which improves equity and access.
 The Summer Learning and Afterschool Programming Summit in Eugene provided an opportunity to connect with school and community organizations to discuss ways to further boost quality programming, remove barriers and inform recommendations for future programming.
 Clackamas Workforce Partnership Tour took us to AntFarm in Sandy and Gladstone’s Center for Children and Families. It was a wonderful day full of conversations about how we can recruit, train, and retain a stable and valued workforce.
 From September 15 to October 15, we honor and celebrate Latino and Hispanic Americans. Their impact and inspiration are integral to our shared community. Please take a moment to learn about some of our Oregon National Hispanic Heritage Month celebrations!
October 19-20 will be another incredible opportunity. Artists throughout Washington County will open their studios for tours and appreciation. From 10am-5pm you can travel around to the many participants and learn more about our incredible local talent. Please learn more about the participants and plan your tour at https://www.washcoart.org/.
The Joint Committee on Transportation is holding public hearings to listen to members of the community. We can anticipate a Transportation package in 2025, and now is the time to advocate for our local transportation needs. Whether your concerns are about safety, efficiency, equity, environment, or other, please share your concerns and suggestions with the legislature.
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Hillsboro Public Hearing - September 26, 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.
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Happy ValleyPublic Hearing - September 13, 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.
If you want to testify, come 30 minutes early to sign up, register for remote testimony, or submit written testimony by writing to: JCT.exhibits@oregonlegislature.gov.
Again, due to the Blackout period mentioned above, you won’t hear from me until November, I will continue to work hard on your behalf and you are more than welcome to reach out via email or give us a call at 503-986-1426.
With gratitude,
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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