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Dear Neighbor,
The 83rd Oregon Legislative Assembly is officially underway! It’s an honor to return to Salem and serve our district for another biennium. After months of quiet hallways, the Capitol is alive again with energy as lawmakers, staff, and advocates prepare for the months ahead. My team and I are diving into this session with enthusiasm, ready to tackle the opportunities and challenges before us.
This first week has been a whirlwind—offices are buzzing as everyone gets settled, technology is being updated, and the first wave of bills has been introduced. Committees will begin meeting next Tuesday, and I’m looking forward to rolling up my sleeves and getting to work. As always, my office is here to listen, collaborate, and serve. If you’d like to share your thoughts, ideas, or concerns, please don’t hesitate to reach out. Together, we can make meaningful progress for our community! My team and I always welcome constituents to visit my office and share your concerns or ideas. To schedule a meeting, please feel free to reach out at Rep.ThuyTran@oregonlegislature.gov.
I’m proud to chair the House Committee On Emergency Management, General Government, and Veterans
The other committees I proudly serve on are:
- House Committee On Judiciary
- House Committee On Conduct
- Joint Committee On Interstate 5 Bridge
- Joint Committee On Ways and Means Subcommittee On General Government
I also serve as the House Co-Chair of the Oregon Veterans Caucus.
Power to the People & Upcoming Constituent Events:
Every first Friday of the month I host our Power to the People constituent gathering event at my in-district office. I would love to see you in person on
February 7, 2025 at 5:30pm
in my district office, located at
4526 NE Sandy Blvd, Portland, OR 97213
(Rose City Vision Care)
We invite you to share your concerns and policy ideas alongside friendly neighbors.
Join us for our 1st Town Hall of the 2025 Legislative Session! Coming up on Thursday February 6th from 5-6:30pm on Zoom, this will be a virtual joint event with Sen Khanh Pham (SD 23), Rep Thuy (HD 45), and welcoming Rep Willy Chotzen (HD 46). Register at bit.ly/2025LegTownHall and share your questions and the top issues you’d like to hear more about from your legislators.
2025 Session:
As we enter the legislative session, learning a few basics about navigating the Oregon Legislative Information System (OLIS) would be helpful. This system allows you to access bills since the 2007 session in several ways: bill number, text, and sponsor.
Understanding the different types of bills is key to navigating the legislative process. Here’s a helpful breakdown:
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SB/HB (Senate Bill/House Bill): These measures create new laws, amend or repeal existing laws, appropriate funds, set fees, transfer responsibilities between agencies, establish penalties, or take other legislative actions.
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SJR/HJR (Senate/House Joint Resolution): These resolutions are used for proposing constitutional amendments, forming interim committees, directing state agencies, approving actions taken by others, or authorizing temporary actions. They can also authorize expenditures from legislative appropriations.
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SCR/HCR (Senate/House Concurrent Resolution): These resolutions address actions or procedures involving both chambers of the legislature. They’re often used to express sympathy, commend achievements, or commemorate individuals who have passed away.
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SJM/HJM (Senate/House Joint Memorial): These measures, adopted by both chambers, are used to request action from or express opinions to Congress, the President, or both.
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SM/HM (Senate/House Memorial): These are adopted by either the Senate or the House (or both, as a joint memorial) to make requests or share opinions with Congress or the President.
For more guidance, our Information Services team has put together excellent resources on how to access and navigate OLIS, the Oregon Legislative Information System. If you’re interested in diving deeper, feel free to reach out, and my team can help you.
On January 13, I had the honor of being sworn in to represent House District 45, officially kicking off the 2025 Legislative Session. As part of our opening day festivities, Governor Kotek delivered her State of the State address, reaffirming her commitment to tackling some of Oregon’s most pressing issues: housing, education, addiction, and climate. This year, she also emphasized our growing transportation crisis as a key priority, recognizing the need for viable, equitable solutions. I look forward to working closely with my colleagues and the Governor to craft policies that strengthen Oregon and improve the lives of all who call our state home.
 
As the 2025 Legislative Session gets rolling, I’d like to share the Oregon House Democrats’ agenda that I’m proud to support. Together, we’re committed to protecting what makes Oregon special, improving the lives of Oregonians, and keeping our state moving forward. Below are the five key priorities we’ll be focusing on:
Fighting for an Affordable Oregon We’re determined to make Oregon an affordable place to live, work, learn, and retire. That means addressing the cost of housing, childcare, utilities, broadband, and health care—including prescription drugs—while fighting price gouging and corporate greed. By making smart investments now, we can lower costs for hardworking families in the long run.
Making Government Work Oregonians deserve a government that delivers on its core functions: high-quality education, a reliable transportation system, and effective mental health and addiction treatment services. Whether at the DMV or applying for veterans’ benefits, everyone should feel confident our agencies are efficient and accountable. We’ll provide the oversight needed to ensure public funds truly benefit our communities.
Keeping Oregonians Safe Every Oregonian has the right to be safe. We must hold individuals accountable when crimes are committed, while also supporting victims and addressing homelessness by providing pathways to stable housing. As we confront the realities of climate change, we’ll prioritize wildfire prevention, emergency preparedness, and measures to address gun violence—ensuring our streets and sidewalks remain clean and secure for everyone.
Protecting Basic Rights & Freedoms I will always stand up for every Oregonian’s constitutional rights. From safeguarding access to healthcare and reproductive services, to protecting clean water and the lands we love, we won’t allow anyone to divide us or threaten our neighbors. Oregon’s diversity makes us stronger, and inclusivity remains a fundamental freedom we must defend.
Delivering a Roadmap Forward We’re committed to the “Oregon Way,” a spirit of collaborative, future-focused problem-solving. That means holding polluters accountable, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and ensuring our state can adapt to climate challenges. By preserving our natural beauty and building vibrant, interconnected communities, we can lay a strong foundation for Oregon’s future prosperity.
I’m excited to work alongside my fellow lawmakers and all of you to turn these goals into reality
OUT IN THE COMMUNITY
Multnomah County Legislative Breakfast:
Recently, Multnomah County hosted its 2025 State Legislative Breakfast, celebrating the strong and growing partnership between local leaders and state lawmakers. County officials highlighted the significant strides made in addressing issues like homelessness, mental health care, and economic development, emphasizing how a collective approach and shared resources can strengthen the entire community.
This gathering also offered an opportunity for open dialogue about legislative priorities, funding needs, and the best ways to serve our neighbors. Everyone in attendance—commissioners, local officials, and advocates—agreed that collaboration is key to ensuring that Multnomah County continues to thrive and that no one is left behind. I look forward to working closely with county partners in the coming session to turn these goals into meaningful, on-the-ground results.
For more information: https://multco.us/news/2025-state-legislative-breakfast-highlights-multnomah-countys-strong-and-strengthening
Welcome Rep. Watanabe:
Last Wednesday, the Washington and Multnomah County Commissioners unanimously selected Mari Watanabe to fill the House District 34 seat. She’s a longtime resident of HD 34, a Portland Community College Board Member, and brings extensive private- and public-sector experience, including serving as the first executive director of the Japanese Museum of Oregon. She spent over a decade with the Portland Business Alliance, leading Leadership Portland and Partners in Diversity, and has served on numerous boards and commissions.
In addition to making history as Oregon’s first State Representative of Japanese descent, Rep. Watanabe will serve alongside me on the House Committee On Emergency Management, General Government, and Veterans. I’m excited to see what she will accomplish for her constituents, and I look forward to working with her to make Oregon a better place for all
Other News:
New Bills Going into Effect in 2025:
I was proud to sponsor the two bills below, which went into effect a few weeks ago, on January 1, 2025. For more information and more bills going into effect, you can check out this KGW article.
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SB 1596: Right to Repair
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The "right to repair" movement has gained momentum in recent years, advocating for consumers' ability to fix their own electronic devices without relying solely on manufacturer-authorized repair centers. This new law requires original equipment manufacturers to provide both device owners and independent repair shops with access to essential tools, manuals, and diagrams. By making repairs more accessible, the law aims to lower repair costs and give consumers more freedom to maintain their devices.
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HB 4083: Divesting from Coal
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HB 4083 sets Oregon on a path to reduce its financial ties to coal. The legislation directs the Oregon Investment Council and the state treasurer to divest from coal companies and funds containing coal-related investments. Importantly, this process must avoid financial losses to the state's investment funds. An exception is made for companies that can demonstrate meaningful progress toward transitioning to clean energy.
Thank you for your continued support and engagement as we work together for the betterment of our community. This is my last newsletter for 2024, and I look forward to sharing more with you in the New Year about my policy agenda for the 2025 session.
Yours truly,
Representative Thuy Tran
House District 45
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1445
Capitol Address: 900 Court St. NE, H-285, Salem, Oregon 97301
Email: Rep.ThuyTran@oregonlegislature.gov
Website: https://www.oregonlegislature.gov/tran
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