|
Replies to this message are sent to an unmonitored mailbox.
To contact me, please click here: Sen.JaneenSollman@oregonlegislature.gov
Friends and Neighbors,
Upcoming Events
Community Conversation - Saturday January 18th
Join me at Ava Roasteria in Hillsboro on Saturday, January 18th at 10:00 am, for a Community Conversation. Come share your thoughts and questions and meet fellow community members. Learn about the upcoming 2025 Legislative Session and issues I will be working on. I look forward to seeing you there.
Joint Town Hall - Wednesday, January 29th at 6:00 - 7:30PM
Join me, along with Representatives Susan McLain and Nathan Sosa for a Joint Town Hall to talk about the 2025 Legislative Session. We look forward to seeing you on Wednesday, January 29th from 6:00-7:30PM at the Hillsboro Civic Center Auditorium.
Register to attend by clicking on the flyer below, using the QR code, or following this link: www.tinyurl.com/mclainsosasollman
Legislative Updates
Organizational and Training Days
Session begins on Tuesday, January 21st. We spent part of this week at the Capitol, getting organized and attending required trainings. On Monday, my honored guest at Governor Kotek's State of the State Address was Forest Grove Superintendent, Dr. Suzanne West. Other meetings and trainings kept the SD 15 team busy. We are ready and excited for session to begin!
2025 Legislative Session Information
The Oregon Legislative Website and the Oregon Legislative Information System (OLIS) have an abundance of resources to use for following along with the Legislative Session. Visit www.oregonlegislature.gov to find out:
Find many more ways to explore and engage by visiting the "Get Involved" tab.
Policy Spotlight
SB 548: End Child Marriage in Oregon
Senate Bill 548 is a policy I learned about at the NCSL Legislative Conference this summer. This bill will increase the minimum legal age of marriage to 18 in the State of Oregon. Senator David Brock Smith and myself are Co-Championing this legislation along with a large number of bipartisan and bicameral legislators signed on in support. Thank you to Unchained At Last for your advocacy and work to bring this policy to Oregon.
Listen. Learn. Act.
Foundations For A Better Oregon Legislative Summit
The Foundations For A Better Oregon 2025 Legislative Summit took place in Salem on Wednesday this week, the theme was "Accelerating and Sustaining Progress for Oregon Children and Education." I was happy to be asked to be a panelist in their "From Dollars to Outcomes: Building the Bridge from K-12 Funding to Student Success" session. As a former school board member, mom of two educators, and a legislator, I have a perspective of respect, admiration, and passion on the subject of education. As the new co-chair of the Ways and Means Subcommittee on Education, I know the importance of investing our state dollars for student success outcomes. We know and have seen of stories of success from across Oregon. I have personally witnessed programs of excellence from Banks, Forest Grove, Hillsboro, Beaverton and in Eastern Oregon schools. Accountability in education was a key theme of Governor Kotek's State of the State Address on Monday and I look forward to digging in, raising awareness of those success stories, and helping make investments of resources in areas that most need it and that will help benefit all of our students.
Out and About for Senate District 15
PCC Legislative Reception
Portland Community College hosted a reception with students, educators, legislators and others this week, to get together ahead of the start of session and hear their priorities for the 2025 legislative session. It was great to meet students and hear their passion about what policies are most impactful to them and how we can help all students succeed.
Westside Economic Alliance Legislative Reception
Tuesday night, I participated on a panel of legislators at the Westside Economic Alliance's 2025 Legislative Reception. We shared information about policies we are bringing forward and heard from members about their priorities for session. Topics of discussion were transportation, land use, semiconductor and advanced manufacturing ecosystem, healthcare, workforce and education. It was a good opportunity to hear from local business about their needs and how we can continue to collaborate as the session progresses.
Providence Nurses Strike
Oregon Nurses Association nurses, Providence doctors...and yes, families, dogs and cats all came out to stand for fair wages and staffing levels. I urge Providence St. Vincent Medical Center, and statewide Providence hospitals, to come to the table and discuss the proposal in front of them. I hope they both come to a fair agreement soon, patient care is on the line.
Civics Learning Project - We the People Regional Competition
Last weekend I participated as a judge at the Civics Learning Project's We the People Regional Competition. The high school students knocked it out of the park! This is my second time judging this competition and it was such a blast and honor. These kids were mind-blowingly amazing!
Forest Grove High School CTE
I had a fantastic day exploring Forest Grove High School's Career Technical Education programs last Friday. Things have really come a long way since 1987, when I graduated from FGHS! CTE is showing results. The standard graduation rate at Forest Grove High School is 84%. Students taking at least two CTE classes have a 95% graduation rate. We went all through the school and ended at the Viking House. I am always so inspired to see students find their passion in pathways.
Senate District 15 - Small Business Spotlight
Piccolo Mondo Toys
Piccolo Mondo means "Small World" in Italian. It's our goal to not only provide a fun experience for children to play, but also to encourage cultural awareness by highlighting different countries each month. We strive to have a wide variety of products from around the world including educational toys, books, puzzles, stuffed animals and classic wooden toys.
We are a local, family owned business with three stores in Oregon. Our locations include: Bethany Village Centre in NW Portland, Progress Ridge TownSquare in Beaverton and Historic Downtown Hillsboro on E Main Street. We specialize in innovative toys for all ages that encourage creative play and stimulate the imagination. Family games, arts and crafts, building and construction, puzzles, books, science, pretend play, dolls, trains and wooden toys represent a handful of the many categories we offer.
Stop by to see the cool new toys arriving everyday or shop online at your convenience!
~Piccolo Mondo Toys
Visit Piccolo Mondo Toys in Hillsboro at 263 E Main Street, Hillsboro, OR 97123 and check out their website here for further information.
|
Community Outreach
Martin Luther King, Jr., National Day of Service
Shared from Americorps MLK Day of Service
The act of giving back is one of the most powerful gifts you can give your community. On the 30th anniversary of MLK Day, commit to making a difference in your community. Serving on MLK Day can be an entry point to a lifetime of fulfillment, gratitude, and advocacy for change.
Build connections and friendships that you can carry with you for years to come through service: Americorps.gov/Volunteer
Select Your Favorite Ideas for the Hillsboro 2035 Community Plan Update!
Shared from the City of Hillsboro
Seeding School Gardens - Event for Washington County Garden Educators and Coordinators
2025 Oregon Civics Bee
All 6th, 7th and 8th grade students in Oregon are eligible to participate in the Bee, which will take place in Salem in spring 2025. Follow the link to learn more.
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
| 
