First Official Week of Session Complete
Committees officially kicked off on Tuesday, and things have definitely picked up around the Capitol. The inbox is pinging with meeting requests, lobbyists and advocates are starting to make their rounds about bills they support and oppose, and we know it will only get busier as we progress through session. Our office was working on various projects – still getting things set for session, and had plenty of meetings for introductions and lobbying policy proposals. It really is quite a stark contrast from the interim, when the halls were quiet and very few people were working in offices! Now, the halls are bustling with members, staff, lobby, and members of the public – feeling much more the people’s capitol!
Committees have been slow to get going, but we are excited at some of collaboration we’re seeing to find solutions to some key issues impacting the district – namely some proposals to help support our rural fire districts, and some relief on utility rate hikes. It is always easy to think you have so much time to get bills dialed in, and that things like “First Chamber Deadline” are ages away, but nothing could be further from the truth. Hearings are already being scheduled for bills, and we’ll start seeing which are likely to receive work sessions soon enough. We’ll do our best to keep you informed of all the highlights (and lowlights) with these weekly communications.
If you live in House District 11, you may have received a survey mailer from our office concerning various aspects of the education policy discussions happening in and around the Legislature. We've been reading through survey responses from constituents, and wholeheartedly appreciate you taking the time to share your thoughts for what the appropriate solutions are to these systemic problems—and what they aren’t.
On a rather personal note, I do want to offer: in reading through some of these responses—as well as so many communications we receive, it can be easy for people to feel “not heard” when they hold a minority view on any given issue or political ideology (be that within the district, or across our state, or even our nation). Serving in the minority party of our state’s Legislature, I know that feeling of frustration all too well, and the temptation to feel I’m thus not represented; but being heard and represented, isn’t solely about having things your way—it’s about everyone using their voice, and the government following the will of the majority of those voices.
I can’t say it always works out that way, that our government always gets it right, or even that it makes that frustration go away; but I can assure you that in this role as State Representative, I always do my best to weigh the entirety of the feedback we receive from constituents, our communities, our local stakeholders (in this case, the concerns flagged for us by our school districts and teachers), and make the decisions I feel best represent our district as a whole. The feedback on the current state of our public education system has been varied to say the least, but no matter what someone feels is the best solution for a given problem, it is abundantly clear our district cares greatly about our young students, and wanting the best possible for them – and that makes me very proud to represent this district!
Didn't participate? You still can by scanning the QR code below or with the URL OregonHouseSurvey.com/Jami.
 
HB 3103 – Restores sustainable harvest levels for state managed forests.
HB 3150 – $1,000 tax credit for our volunteer firefighters.
HB 2531 – $7 million ask for state to foot the bill for Salem’s police and fire after the City slashed their budget.
HB 3075 – Implements the components of gun control Measure 114 through legislative action.
SB 599 – Prohibits landlords from inquiring about, disclosing information about, or rejecting an application due to a tenant's immigration status.
 
This week we want to honor our local first responders who worked in tandem with state police to rescue a lost woman in distress on Highway 20! At 9:15AM Wednesday, an Oregon State Police Fish and Wildlife Trooper encountered a vehicle on the shoulder near milepost 68 and quickly determined the person associated with the vehicle was lost and in distress. The 30-year-old female had left her vehicle for unknown reasons and walked up a nearby U.S. Forest Service road.
Linn County Search and Rescue and an OSP Fish and Wildlife K-9 team responded to assist in the search. A K-9 Scout tracked the individual and finally located her about a mile from the vehicle. Troopers not only remained with her, but they actually built a fire in the frigid conditions, and provided food and emergency blankets until search and rescue members arrived with a Sno-Cat to transport her back to the highway.
Medics from the Sweet Home Fire Department then transported her to an area hospital for medical evaluation. What an incredible team effort!
Do you know of anyone in House District 11 who deserves to be acknowledged? Send us your nominations at Rep.JamiCate@oregonlegislature.gov
LCSO Job Fair & Testing Event
Sheriff Michelle Duncan would like to remind you that the Linn County Sheriff’s Office is hosting a Hiring and Testing Event on Saturday, February 1, 2025, and spots are filling up fast! Delay no more, go to https://buff.ly/48om79r to register for your future career opportunity. The deadline to register is TODAY at 4:00pm, so truly, don't delay!
If you are interested in serving a community that appreciates their law enforcement, Linn County is the place! They offer a variety of opportunities for growth and special assignments in a positive, family atmosphere. The Linn County Sheriff’s Office currently has job openings in Patrol, Corrections, Dispatch and Nursing.
This will be an accelerated hiring event to get applicants through much of the hiring process and required tests in one day. Testing for entry level Patrol/Corrections applicants will include the physical (ORPAT) test, the written test, and an oral board interview. Testing for lateral Patrol/Corrections applicants, Dispatch, and Nursing applicants will consist of an oral board interview only.
This event will be free of charge and will be held at the Central Electric Training Center located at 33309 Highway 99E in Tangent. Check-in will be at 9:00 AM and, depending on the position applied for, will go until 3:30 PM. Lunch will be provided to all applicants.
Please visit https://buff.ly/48om79r before 4:00pm, to register and to learn more about LCSO. You will receive further instruction and attendance confirmation through a separate email. **Please check your email (including your junk email) to complete all steps in order to attend**
For questions or more information you can contact recruitment@linnsheriff.org or call (541) 967-3950.
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Fundraiser Tomorrow for Lebanon Fire District
The Lebanon Fire District invites you to join them at North Santiam Coffee Company tomorrow, January 25, from 7:30 AM–11:00AM to support the Lebanon Fire District's Stairclimb Team! They are raising funds for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) as their team of nine firefighters gears up to climb the Columbia Center in Seattle.
Come grab a coffee, donate, and help LFD fund lifesaving blood cancer research, patient support, and advocacy!
"If I Were Mayor" Student Contest in Sweet Home
The 2024-2025 "If I Were Mayor..." Student Contest has kicked off!
Students in Sweet Home between 4th and 12th grade have a chance to share their creative ideas for what they would do if they were Mayor for a day! Would you declare a city-wide ice cream day? Would you name a park after someone of local importance? Would you help coordinate a city event to help the less fortunate? The City wants to know!
- Elementary School (grade 4-5) - Posters Contest (Photo of poster can be PNG, JPEG, or PDF files)
- Middle School (grade 6-8) - Essay Contest (Word, PDF, PowerPoint or online essay format)
- High School (grades 9-12) - Digital Media Presentations (Videos only, MP4 or online video format)
A panel of local judges will select a winner from each of the above 3 age groups and send them off to compete at the State level. First place statewide winning students in each of the three categories will win $500. These students will receive their prizes at the awards luncheon held during the Oregon Mayors Association Summer Conference in Baker City at the Geiser Grand Hotel. The OMA Summer Conference will be August 14-16, 2025. Winners will be contacted in June for travel arrangements.
Submissions can be dropped off at Sweet Home City Hall during normal business hours, or emailed to cpretty@sweethomeor.gov. The deadline to enter is March 14th.
For more information, please visit the City's handy reference page:
https://www.sweethomeor.gov/citycouncil/page/if-i-were-mayor
We can't wait to find out what our students want to see in Sweet Home!
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Road Work on I-5 Southbound Near Halsey
This week, you may have seen ODOT's crew on southbound I-5 near Halsey as part of their I-5 paving project. Their crews are still wrapping up work in the northbound lanes, and nighttime single lane closures may still be needed as work in these lanes wind down.
During Construction, you can expect:
• Crews working mostly at night, Sunday through Thursday from 6 p.m. to 6 a.m.
• Some daytime work as needed.
• Single lane closures between 8 p.m. to 5:30 a.m.
• Construction noise and delays.
• A reduced speed limit to 55 mph in the work zone.
• No lane changes allowed where there are double white lines.
ODOT's schedule may change, and they encourage you to visit TripCheck.com for the most up to date information on impacts.
Oregon Firefighters Return Home from So. California
Following a two-week mobilization to Southern California to assist with the wildfire response, 17 of Oregon's 21 strike teams will soon be heading home! The teams began the demobilization process Thursday morning.
These strike teams were assigned to the Palisades and Eaton fires near Los Angeles and have spent the last two weeks working the fire lines and supporting the communities impacted by these disasters. In total, the Oregon State Fire Marshal mobilized 21 strike teams, 370 firefighters, and 105 fire engines and water tenders, marking the largest out-of-state deployment in the agency's history.
The strike teams sent to California by the State Fire Marshal were requested through the Emergency Management Assistance Compact. This compact provides help during governor-declared emergencies or disasters by allowing states to send personnel, equipment, and supplies to support response and recovery efforts in other states. The strike teams' expenses will be reimbursed directly by California.
We want to extend a heartfelt thank you to these brave men and women stepping up in a time of overwhelming tragedy, and wish those four remaining strike teams in the Los Angeles areas well as they continue their service to survivors down there.
Hello everyone,
This week was the official start of the 2025 Legislative Session! Rep. Cate has come up with another fun idea that kiddos who come to visit the Capitol will get to enjoy! It has been a busy week full of constituent work, preparing notes to constituents for Rep. Cate to sign, and making a list of bills that will require a closer look.
We have been working on some projects around the office. The Little Pioneers Free Capitol Library is now open for the public to come enjoy, we are still working on getting it on Google Maps! Also this week, Conner and I went back and forth from the House to the Senate trying to get other members on board for another other fun surprise for Capitol visitors. More on that later! We are still trying to work out all of the small details, but we should have it up and running in these next couple of weeks.
So far, I have only had the pleasure talking to a few constituents from House District 11, but each and every one of you have been very kind. I want to remind you, if you are having any issues or have any questions, please feel free to reach out to our office (503-986-1411). If you prefer to reach out to us via email, Rep.JamiCate@oregonlegislature.gov, please make sure to include your name, a brief description of the issue and a good phone number to reach you at if necessary. We are hear to serve you!
Now for the bad. So far, we have had quite a hard time with the technology here in the office. We struggled to get our printer to print off of my laptop, but luckily it was remedied by the end of the day Thursday, thanks to the amazing Erika Burnett! But that was really the beginning of the true struggle. You see, Rep. Cate likes to send out congratulatory notes to folks that make an impact on these particular little postcards. Conner has known the struggle of these little pieces of stationary for the past two years, but I am just now learning how they love to jam up the printer and smear ink all over the cards! After a long painstaking process, we finally were able to properly print over 60 cards out.
We will continue to keep you updated with what is happening here in the office and the building as the session ramps up. Thank you for reading Staffers' Corner!
- Ali Ruiz
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Task Force Report Notes Consequences of Portland-Area Tax Hikes
Oregon Business & Industry
Over the past decade and a half, the report notes, lawmakers and voters have enacted at least 20 major tax measures that affect households and businesses in Portland. As OBI’s own research has shown, Portland now has the second highest marginal income tax rate in the nation. And between 2019 and 2023, local taxes on Portland businesses have increased 82%.
How Oregon is responding to Trump's crackdown on immigration
OPB
Local and state officials around the country could also be investigated and prosecuted by the Justice Department for refusing to cooperate with immigration enforcement. But Oregon has a longstanding law that specifically prohibits officials from doing just that. Oregon’s new attorney general, Dan Rayfield, joins us to talk about all this and more.
Oregon Department of Education accused of mismanaging $3M, wrongful termination in whistleblower lawsuit
KOIN
The Oregon Department of Education is facing a lawsuit from a whistleblower, claiming the state agency mismanaged over $3 million and wrongfully terminated her after she raised concerns over the funds. The lawsuit — which was first reported by The Oregonian — was filed in Multnomah County circuit court January 15 and seeks $780,000 in damages with whistleblower and discrimination claims.
WATCH: Oregon lawmakers set legislative agenda with over 2,300 bills introduced on first day
KOIN
Democrats have a distinct advantage in this year’s legislature, with at least a 60% supermajority in both houses. This will allow them to pass revenue-raising legislation without Republican votes. The Democrats have 36 out of the 60 seats in the House and 18 out of the 30 seats in the Senate. But Democratic leadership says they will work with the Republican minority to craft the best legislation.
‘Foolishness’: Oregon Rep. Bynum denounces ‘Born Alive’ abortion bill
KOIN
The legislation bans healthcare providers from failing to “exercise the proper degree of care in the case of a child who survives an abortion or attempted abortion."
Volunteers Needed at Harrisburg Public Library
Do you have any spare time? Do you have a deep love for books? Are you wanting to help out your community?
The Harrisburg Public Library is looking for volunteers! Some opportunities are becoming a storytime helper, crafting helper, teen game night leader, and adult craft night helper. The requirements are that you must be at least 18 years of age or older, or 16 years of age with parental consent.
For questions, reach out to 541-995-6949 or email them at apelkey@ci.harrisburg.or.us.
The 2025 Legislative Session Begins!
Gearing Up for Session!
Looking Forward to the Year Ahead!
Interim Newsletter: December
Interim Newsletter: November
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