Representative Hoa Nguyen's January 2025 Newsletter
Oregon State Legislature sent this bulletin at 01/24/2025 10:00 AM PST
Hello and Welcome to House District 48!
Xin chào và Chào mừng đến với House District 48
In this Newsletter:
Hello friends and neighbors,
Happy new year! Wishing everyone well in 2025, and I am incredibly excited to continue working for the people and families of HD 48, and Oregon, in the 2025 legislative session.
With the 2025 long session nearly upon us, we, as always, welcome your input and encourage you to participate in the legislative process. If you want to comment on any proposed or potential legislation, or need help navigating state agencies, please reach out. You can find out contact information at the bottom of this newsletter, as well as information on our social media, newsletter, and other ways to engage. We look forward to hearing from you!
I have been working diligently as a Vice Chair on the Early Childhood and Human Services Committee, as a member of the House Education Committee, and as a member of the Joint Ways and Means Subcommittee on Education.
Two of my priority bills include the Child and Adult Care Food Program and a Scholarship for Diverse Teachers. I've also been working with the Chronic Absenteeism Workgroup and will be championing several of the policies that came out of that work.
Child and Adult Care Food Program
HB 3201 will direct the Department of Education to implement policies and procedures that increase access to healthy and culturally relevant food for children in childcare. It will establish the Child and Adult Care Food Program Supplemental Fund for the purpose of increasing access to healthy and culturally relevant food for children in childcare. And it appropriates monies to the Department of Education from the General Fund for the purpose of creating culturally specific menus.
As we know, access to nutritious food is critical for early childhood development. As many as 1 in 6 children are food insecure, with children of color experiencing it at 2-3 times higher rates, and I’m advocating for a proven system that we previously had yet has expired. The Child and Adult Care Food Program is a federal reimbursement program that was active prior to 2023 yet has expired. House Bill 3201 will bring back this program that mimics the K-12 Free and Reduced Lunch. It's a federal reimbursement for childcare providers who provide healthy meals and snacks to kids in their care. The increase in reimbursement will stabilize childcare providers' income who are already operating within thin profit margins, while increasing access to healthy meals and snacks to children in care.
Scholarship for Diverse Teachers
I have also sponsored the Double Oregon Teacher Scholar Program or HB 3200 designed to promote the education of a diverse educational force to remove barriers for underrepresented groups in education and ensure that students see themselves represented in classrooms. Representation matters in the classroom, and this policy will improve access for our children to see teachers that look like them in the classroom improving their overall ability to succeed. This bill will direct the Department of Education to allocate at least $10,000,000 from the Fund for Student Success established under ORS 327.001 to the scholarship program for culturally and linguistically diverse teacher candidates described in ORS 348.295.
Chronic Absenteeism
I have been working with a Chronic Absenteeism Work group for the past 10 months that I co-chaired with Senator Weber. We worked alongside advocates and experts in K-12 education to begin to identify the root causes of Chronic Absenteeism and solutions for mitigating this crisis. Chronic Absenteeism is a silent epidemic with profound consequences for our students and communities. Despite its subtlety, its impact is far-reaching and demands our immediate attention. Why is chronic absenteeism such a critical issue? What makes it so detrimental to our educational goals and the well-being of our youth? These questions demand the urgency of understanding this complex issue and its implications for student success. Initiative overload is a thing in school districts and one of the primary challenges we face is timeline implementations for grants. Many districts, upon receiving grants, find themselves constrained by tight deadlines and competing priorities. Without intentional planning and adequate time for implementation, our efforts may fall short of their intended impact. Structural timeline challenges hinder our ability to enact meaningful change. It's imperative that we address these concerns to ensure the efficacy of our initiatives.
It is important to note that the term chronic absenteeism coined by Hedy Chang Director of Attendance Works, has transitioned from truancy in the last decade. She states that it’s not enough to look at just unexcused absences and we must look at all reasons for absences. Anytime a student misses school, it impacts their learning and classroom community. Within my observations in the last decade, chronic absenteeism has been highest amongst the transition grades, KG, Ninth grade, and Senior. It is a time of transition, adjustment, and new challenges. I have worked within programs such as Kindergarten Readiness and 9th Grade Counts, which are essential as they provide vital support during this pivotal period.
As we delve deeper, it's crucial to evaluate the effectiveness of our investments in this area. Before we look at increasing funding, we must assess how effectively our current investments are being utilized. Initiatives like the Every Day Matters Grant and High School Success Grant. Here are some highlights from the workgroup:
- Attendance Advisory Committee bill or HB 3202 that will direct ODE to create this advisory committee to provide recommendations to the State Board of Education on how to improve chronic absenteeism in schools.
- Attendance Data Reporting or HB 3204 which will require Districts to report attendance to ODE quarterly. This will improve access to information for early intervention when students and families struggle with attendance.
- Type 20 Vehicles Bill or HB 3205 which will allow personal vehicles to be used in transporting students to school which will increase service availability for our rural communities.
- 10 Absences bill or HB 3206 that will prevent students from being disenrolled after 10 absences and standardize common attendance codes for more accurate data reporting.
- Early Warning System Bill or HB 3207 that provides funding for improvement of technology in the Early Warning System which lets schools and families know whether a student is on track to graduate.
- The Every Day Matters Study or HB 3199 requires the Legislative Policy and Research Director to conduct a study regarding policies, grant programs, support programs and other initiatives implemented in this state with the intent of improving school attendance. Directs the director to submit findings to the interim committees of the Legislative Assembly related to education no later than December 1, 2025.
While most of the Capitol building is under construction, some parts of the building will be open to the public, including committee meetings and legislative offices. All committee meetings are available (as always) for virtual viewing on the Oregon Legislative Information Site (OLIS). Members of the public can make their voices heard by submitting written testimony or by signing up for virtual or in-person testimony. You can read more about opportunities for public engagement on the Oregon Legislative website.
Here are some important dates during the 2025 session:
- Apr. 9th 1st Chamber Work Session Deadline
- May 23rd 2nd Chamber Work Session Deadline
- Jun. 29th Constitutional last day of Session, "Sine Die"
83rd Legislative Assembly Opening Day
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My fellow Democratic sophomores in the Oregon house.
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The House Floor with my fellow representatives taking the oath of office.
On January 13th, I was sworn in for my second term as the Representative for House District 48. We were also able to witness Tobias Read’s swearing in, re-elect Speaker Julie Fahey, and witness Governor Kotek’s state of the state address, as she presented her positive vision for Oregon’s future. Thank you so much to House District 48 for re-electing me to represent you in the Oregon House. I am incredibly excited to be returning to the house to continue working for everyone in my district, and by what I believe we can achieve together.
Celebrating the life and legacy of Martin Luther King, Jr.
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As we reflect on the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., we are reminded of the enduring impact of his tireless efforts in the pursuit of justice, equality, and civil rights. Dr. King's vision for a better, more inclusive America continues to inspire us all.
On Martin Luther King Jr. Day, we reaffirmed our commitment to fostering a society where every individual is treated with dignity and respect, regardless of their background while acknowledging the work that still lies ahead to achieve his dream of a truly equitable nation. Let this day continue to serve as a call to action, prompting us to engage in meaningful conversations, advocate for justice, and strive for positive change in our community. Together, we can build a future that reflects the values of equality, compassion, and unity that Dr. King championed.
In Martin Luther King, Jr.’s memory, we remember that “the arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice.” In this spirit, let us rededicate ourselves to the principles that bind us as a nation and work towards a brighter, more inclusive tomorrow.
Metro Council Legislative Breakfast at Conservation Hall at the Oregon Zoo
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Duncan Hwang represents District 6, which includes Southeast Portland and portions of Northeast and Southwest Portland.
Our office was represented at the Metro Council’s legislative breakfast on January 7th, where they debuted the Metro Council’s Legislative Priorities for the 2025 Legislative Session.
The Metro Council is advocating for Economic Prosperity by supporting legislation, including Clean Tech Task Force priorities, that advances solutions to make land inside urban growth boundaries available for industrial development and job creation through infrastructure investment, brownfield cleanup, land aggregation, and other means. They will also support efforts to recapitalize the state’s Brownfields Redevelopment Fund and Brownfields Properties Revitalization Fund to incentivize the cleanup of brownfields. The council is also focusing on regulating Firearms on Metro Properties by supporting legislation that increases Metro’s authority to regulate the carrying of firearms on Metro properties and public venues.
They will also partner with agencies to increase Housing and Homelessness Systems Alignment and support legislation that increases alignment and coordination between federal, state, regional and local housing and homelessness systems. On this agenda is also Equitable Housing and Stability where they propose they will support legislation to increase state housing funding, improve tenant protections, expand affordable home ownership options, increase home ownership for BIPOC households, provide additional tools and authority to local governments to address housing supply and affordability, advance solutions that leverage and integrate local, state and federal investments to implement comprehensive supportive housing and wraparound services, and address climate resilience for home owners and renters. Housing Production and Preservation: Support legislation that increases housing production and development and preserves existing housing, particularly affordable housing. This also includes support of legislation that provides local financing support to increase housing production such as infrastructure, predevelopment, and technical assistance.
The Council is continuing to focus on the Urban Growth Management and ensure that the Legislature establishes the policy framework and process for local land use decisions and respects the authority of local governments, including Metro, to make specific decisions on local land use matters. Oppose efforts to legislatively determine specific land use designations in the region or to distort the process of assessing land need by mandating inaccurate analysis.
We know that transportation is an important issue in House District 48. We heard that Metro Council has plans for 10 additional Bus Rapid Transit terminals extending out to 82nd avenue. This translated to faster transportation for our constituents to events, employment, and recreation in Portland. Historically, the road was owned by multiple jurisdictions making it challenging for coordination of maintenance and repair. Single ownership of the road increases the likelihood of a quicker response. The council’s Transportation Package includes the support of the passage of a transportation package that advances the JPACT priorities which will address short-term funding solutions, long-term sustainable funding, finishing what we started, safe urban arterials and streets, transit investments, and resiliency.
Finally, we look forward to supporting the council's priority of Waste Management and Waste Reduction. This involves Battery Extended Producer Responsibility where the council will support legislation that creates a battery extended producer responsibility program in Oregon. They will also support legislation that reduces food waste and prioritizes pathways of food disposal for the highest and best use. This priority also includes the support of legislation that protects the Recycling Modernization Act’s core tenants and its start date of July 1, 2025.
Joint Town Hall with Representative Valderrama and Senator Jama on January 8th
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Senator Jama, Representative Valderrama, and I speaking with constituents at Midland Library on Wednesday, January 8th.
Thank you to everyone who attended the joint Town hall with me, Representative Andrea Valderrama, and Senator Kayse Jama at Midland Library. I always enjoy the opportunity to connect with you and receive feedback about the issues and concerns affecting our constituents.
We heard loud and clear the need for affordable housing in our community, fully funded education systems, protections for our educator workforce, and affordable and accessible childcare. We will be hosting Constituent Coffees and additional Town Halls throughout the session. I look forward to seeing you and hearing how I can continue to be your voice in the Capitol.
Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Night with the Portland Trailblazers
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Celebrating Asian American Pacific Islander Night with the Portland Trailblazers.
A huge thank you to the Portland Trailblazers for bringing together me and other local leaders for their AAPI Night. I appreciated their celebration of AAPI culture through their pre-game parade with hula dancers from Ka Lei Hali’a O Ka Lokelani, as well as the lion dance performed by White Lotus Dragon & Lion Dance.
Western Legislators Academy
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From December 10-13, I joined forty-nine rising lawmakers from across the West gathered in Colorado Springs, Colorado, for the Western Legislative Academy (WLA). The WLA program provides a vital opportunity for newly elected legislators to strengthen their legislative leadership skills and build collaborative relationships in a uniquely nonpartisan environment.
I was honored to have taken part in the three and a half days of immersive training, during which we honed strategies for building consensus, navigating conflict, and refining negotiation techniques and explored how personality styles influence teamwork and leadership while forging connections that transcend political boundaries.
Resources
Mental Health Resources
With winter approaching, reduced daylight hours can have a negative impact on our individual and collective mental health. If you or someone you know is struggling and needs help, there are several resources available. Oregon’s 988 crisis hotline is available for 24/7 crisis support via phone or online chat. You can also contact your local Community Mental Health Program to find behavioral health, mental health, and addiction support.
Higher Education Scholarship Opportunities
I highly encourage all current and future students pursuing a postsecondary education in 2025-26 to apply for grants and scholarships through the state website OregonStudentAid.gov. This month, the HECC Office of Student Access and Completion (OSAC) officially opened the OSAC Scholarship Application for the next academic year. The State of Oregon has made accessing scholarships easy for Oregon students with its central site for more than 600 scholarships. Through the application, students can apply for several awards at one time. Those who submit their scholarship application by the early bird deadline of February 18, 2025, will have the chance to win a $1,000 scholarship, and the final deadline is March 3, 2025.
Health Insurance Enrollment Assistance
The Oregon Health Authority recently announced that it will offer free enrollment help to Oregonians who qualify for Medicare or buy insurance through the federal marketplace. Open enrollment for Medicare lasts through December 7, and if you’re one of over a million Oregonians who needs health insurance, the state has trained specialists that can help you navigate the enrollment process. Whether you’re renewing your coverage or applying for the first time, you can learn more about this support here or call 800-699-9075.
Benefits Assistance
While inflation is falling, basic goods are still too expensive for many working families. If you need bill assistance, the Oregon Law Center’s Public Benefits Hotline can help you identify the state and federal resources you might qualify for. If you would like to learn more about benefits like Unemployment Insurance, TANF, SNAP (formerly food stamps), Social Security, and other programs, you can call 1-800-520-5292 Monday through Thursday.
For urgent needs like rent assistance, finding food, or getting help with utility payments, you can contact 211info by calling 211, texting your zip to 898211, emailing help@211info.org, or visiting 211info.org.
Thank you for reading and please stay in touch. We want to hear from you! If you have ideas for future legislation or how we can uplift our community, please fill out this google form.
- Facebook @RepHoaNguyen
- Instagram @Rep.HoaNguyen
- Twitter @Rep_HoaNguyen
- TikTok @StateRepHoaNguyen
You can get in touch with me directly by visiting or connecting through:
- My Legislative Website
- Email at Rep.HoaNguyen@oregonlegislature.gov
- Call our office at 503-986-1448
- Visit my office in the House Chambers on the fourth floor, H-473
Trong cộng đồng,
In Community,
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1448
Capitol Address: 900 Court St NE, H-281, Salem, OR 97301
Email: Rep.HoaNguyen@oregonlegislature.gov
Website: http://www.oregonlegislature.gov/nguyen
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