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Hello Senate District 19 and beyond,
Not sure how it's possible, but we have finally reached the end of 2024 and soon will be putting this momentous year into the rearview mirror. I plan on taking some time over the next couple of weeks to celebrate the holidays, spend time with loved ones and reflect on what matters most in the world. I wish the same for all of you as well.
For us in and around the Oregon Capitol, the end of one year means that a new legislative session is just on the horizon.
Legislators have been working incredibly hard during the legislative interim to prepare for the upcoming session. Our Joint Transportation Committee went on a 12-stop statewide tour to better understand the state of our roads, bridges, and transit options. What's clear from that tour (and the many hours of workgroup meetings since then) is that the Legislature must act in 2025 to stabilize our transportation system and address how it is funded so ODOT and our local government partners can keep everyone safe on the roads.
Workgroups on public education funding, community safety, and many more topics have provided valuable information to legislators and our partners so we can use session to support the programs that are working for Oregonians and improve the programs that need help.
We couldn't do this work without feedback and guidance from our constituents, so to end the year, I wanted to say thank you to everyone who has emailed or called my office, attended a town hall, come to Salem for a meeting, said "hi" to me in the community, or engaged with us on social media. The Oregon Legislature is a body of Oregon citizens, elected by Oregon citizens, and we come together to work toward a better future for all Oregonians. Your voices are central to that process, so thank you.
Earlier this month we saw a flurry of activity in and around the Capitol.
Oregon Business Plan Leadership Summit
It started off at the Oregon Business Plan Leadership Summit, where I joined House Speaker Julie Fahey to talk about some of the economic priorities for session, including bringing down costs, housing, and transportation stabilization. We are in a tight budget environment this cycle and are going to have to make tough choices about how to invest limited resources across the state. I'm looking forward to working with the business community as we look to improve affordability and boost Oregon's economy.
We later celebrated the swearing-in of Senator Lisa Reynolds as the newest Oregon Senator during a small ceremony, highlighted by Governor Tina Kotek. Sen. Reynolds has a lot of legislative experience from her time in the House, and it's great to have a physician back in the Senate. I got to know Sen. Reynolds well during our walks through parks in the Metro area, and I'm excited to be working with her more in her new position.
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Interim Committee Hearings
Legislators also returned to Salem for interim committee hearings where they worked to prepare for the 2025 legislative session. In addition to participating in the critical work happening in our hearing rooms, I really enjoyed meeting with constituents and advocates, including a group of students passionate about the environment.
 It's always a blast to make time to meet with young people who are passionate about improving the world.
Wildfire Special Session
And finally, I'm very proud legislators came together for a narrow, one-day special session to allocate $218 million to the Department of Forestry and the State Fire Marshal to help pay the bills from the 2024 wildfire season.
We had a moral obligation to pay our bills to the small businesses, firefighters, and contractors who helped protect Oregonians during this historic fire season. As soon as the House and the Senate passed the bill Thursday evening, the Speaker and I signed it and sent it to the Governor so money could start heading out the door ASAP.
 The Legislature acted quickly to make sure the state could pay its bills from the 2024 wildfire season and I signed the bill as soon as it got to my desk.
As outlined well in this Statesman Journal article, Oregon could be in for a very wet and windy Christmas this year. Over the next week, the Willamette Valley could see up to 3-4 inches of rain, and the Cascades could see even more with snow in the higher elevations.
Add high winds on top of that, parts of Oregon could see power outages, coastal river flooding, and dangerous driving conditions.
If you are planning to travel during the holidays, please take appropriate precautions. Make sure you pack tire chains, have blankets and water in your vehicle, and monitor Tripcheck.com for road closures and hazards.
We might not be able to control the weather, but we can control how prepared we are for it.
Some very exciting news coming out of Senate District 19 as a few weeks ago Riverdale Grade School 5th grader Rosie was elected as Oregon's 8th Kid Governor!
Rosie was one of 22 5th graders from across the state who submitted short videos describing what they would do as Kid Governor. Rosie ran on a platform of addressing climate change and what we can all do to help; you can view her campaign video here.
Oregon became the second state in the nation to implement the Kid Governor program back in 2017. This year saw the largest participation in the program to date with thousands of Oregon 5th graders voting in elections in their classrooms.
Rosie and her cabinet will be sworn in during a ceremony at the Capitol in January. I am incredibly proud of Rosie's accomplishments and I cannot wait to see what she is able to do next year.
The Oregonian: Lower prescription costs, easier cellphone repair: These new Oregon laws take effect Jan. 1
When a school bus stops to drop off children and flashes warning lights or deploys its stop arm, drivers approaching the bus from behind always have to stop. That’s the law in all 50 states. And yet, driver surveys from a national bus driver organization find that thousands of drivers fail to do so each day.
Come Jan. 1, Oregon school districts will be allowed to equip their buses with cameras to catch and report drivers who fail to stop.
Oregon Capital Chronicle: In Multnomah County, 133 people have started new recovery program in first three months
In Oregon’s largest county, 133 people have started a new program to steer people away from drug addiction and toward recovery.
OPB: Oregon lawmakers approve rush of wildfire funds in speedy emergency session
Oregon lawmakers unleashed a flood of emergency funding Thursday, as the state grapples with its most expensive, expansive wildfire season in modern times.
Willamette Week: Portland and Multnomah County Cooperate on $700,000 Plan to Create 200 New Shelter Beds
In a show of collaboration after years of rancor, leaders from Portland and Multnomah County said today that each of the two jurisdictions had stumped up $375,000 to open 200 new overnight, emergency shelter beds to protect people from the coming La Niña winter.
Replies to this message are sent to an unmonitored mailbox.
If you would like to contact the Senate President's Office, send an email or call and either myself or a staff member will assist you. If you are a constituent coming to Salem and want to arrange a meeting, I'm always happy to meet, so please let us know well in advance as my schedule fills up quickly.
email: Sen.RobWagner@OregonLegislature.gov
phone: 503-986-1600
address: 900 Court St NE, S-201, Salem, OR, 97301
website: http://www.oregonlegislature.gov/wagner
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