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Dear Neighbor,
Happy Birthday, Oregon! Today, February 14, we celebrate the anniversary of our state joining the Union in 1859 as the 33rd state. Our motto, She Flies With Her Own Wings, embodies the independent, resilient spirit I see in each of you. Thank you for your continued engagement in the legislative process—your voice truly makes a difference.
We’re now four weeks into the 2025 Legislative Session, and I’ve been working tirelessly to address the issues that matter most to our communities. As Chair of the House Committee on Emergency Management, General Government, and Veterans (H-EMGGV), my focus is on ensuring our state remains prepared, responsive, and supportive—especially for our veterans and those facing and preparing for emergencies. I’m proud to share that our committee is making meaningful progress.
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
March 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.
Power to the People: January 2025 Recap
Thank you to everyone who attended our Power to the People gathering on February 7! Here’s a quick recap of some key topics we discussed:
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Refugee Support: Community member Judy is connecting us with efforts to support our refugee neighbors, who face challenges amid USAID shutdowns and rising deportation pressures. If you’d like to help, email Tommy Jarvis, my Community Engagement Manager, at Tommy.Jarvis@oregonlegislature.gov, and we’ll connect you.
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Combating Human Trafficking: I’ve introduced comprehensive legislation to fight modern slavery in our community. This package includes measures to:
- Strengthen state laws to prosecute traffickers
- Increase felony classifications for promoting or compelling prostitution
- Enhance penalties for unlicensed massage parlors linked to trafficking
- Expand the enforcement powers of the Oregon Massage Therapy Board
- Boost funding for nonprofits working to reduce demand and support victims.
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Revitalizing NE Sandy Blvd: We’re exploring ways to support local businesses, reduce vacant properties, and revitalize NE Sandy Blvd. A group of neighbors is already interviewing businesses and brainstorming solutions. Want to join the conversation? Reply to this email!
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Milepost 5 & Affordable Housing Advocacy: I’m drafting legislation to establish an Ombudsman Office to help hold landlords accountable, when they’re getting funding from the Oregon Housing and Community Services Department (OHCS).
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Civil Commitment Reform: Oregon’s laws on civil commitment need urgent reform. We had an insightful discussion on this topic, and I’ll continue working to ensure fair and just mental health interventions.
Recent Town Hall Recap
On February 6, I joined State Senator Khanh Pham and State Representative Willy Chotzen for a virtual town hall where we responded to attendees’ questions; we tackled major concerns including education, housing, labor, and state budgeting. Here are a few highlights:
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Education: I stressed the urgent need for increased investment in public education. Budget cuts in Portland Public Schools are hitting our teachers and staff the hardest, and I’m committed to ensuring that funds reach students and educators—not get lost in administrative overhead.
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Labor Rights: With a rising number of labor strikes in Oregon, fair negotiations are essential to avoid disruptions in essential services. I’m pushing for policies that protect workers’ rights and support job stability.
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Housing Affordability: The Oregon Housing and Community Service Agency currently lacks the enforcement power needed to hold developers accountable. I’ve seen the impact firsthand at Milepost 5 in House District 45—a once-affordable housing complex now in disrepair despite state subsidies. That’s why I’m advocating for a housing ombudsman to ensure residents have safe, truly affordable housing, no matter their income.
Your input is invaluable. Please stay engaged and continue advocating for policies that support working families, fair wages, and equitable access to education and housing.
Recent Capitol & Community Engagements
I believe that staying connected means being present both in our community and on the Capitol floor. Here’s a closer look at what I’ve been up to over the past few weeks:
Community Events
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Jeff Merkley’s Town Hall – January 26: I had the privilege of attending Jeff Merkley’s town hall, where I took the opportunity to listen, learn, and exchange ideas with fellow Oregonians. It was especially inspiring to share the experience with Congresswoman Maxine Dexter, whose insights further enriched our conversation on the challenges and opportunities facing our state.
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VDLI Festival and Show at McDaniel High School: I was delighted to join community members at the VDLI Festival and Show. It was a joyful day filled with vibrant conversations and shared smiles—moments like these remind me of the strong community spirit we all share.
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Arts Caucus: I attended the Arts Caucus kickoff this week with other legislators. Arts and culture spaces are key to improving our cities and city centers across Oregon.
Legislative Actions
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House Floor Speech Recognizing Oregon as a Sanctuary State – February 11: On February 11, I delivered a heartfelt speech on the House floor to recognize Oregon as a Sanctuary State. This was an important moment for me, as it reaffirmed our commitment to inclusivity and the safety of all community members. The speech was a powerful reminder that every Oregonian deserves dignity and protection, regardless of their background.
You can see part of my speech here:
https://www.instagram.com/rep.thuytran/reel/DF-3B-xyGMT/
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Testimony on HB2950 – February 12: On February 12, I testified before the House Committee on Agriculture, Land Use, Natural Resources, and Water regarding HB2950, a bill focused on Land Use Goal 1. My testimony emphasized the need for sustainable community planning and responsible land use practices to preserve Oregon’s natural beauty and ensure a vibrant future for our communities.
Lobby Days & Constituent Engagement
Engaging directly with residents and constituents is at the heart of my work. Recently, I’ve dedicated time to meet with community members on lobby days—listening to your concerns, ideas, and suggestions for how we can make Oregon even better. These face-to-face interactions not only inform my legislative priorities but also ensure that your voices are heard at every level of government.
 
My 2025 Legislative Priorities
In addition to supporting the House Democratic Agenda, I’m prioritizing the following issues:
Emergency Preparedness
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HB 3450 – Long-Term Planning for the Critical Energy Infrastructure (CEI) Hub (Personal Bill):Directs the State Department of Energy to work with local partners to develop a long-term plan for the CEI Hub, ensuring we have access to the fuel we need, while adjusting for a lower need for liquid fuel, working with the neighbors to envision alternative/ additional uses for the site.
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HB 2151 – Seismic Risk Mitigation (Committee Bill): Expands the purposes for which funds in the Seismic Risk Mitigation Fund may be used, strengthening our state’s resilience against seismic events.
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HB 2949 – Financial Assurance for Bulk Oils and Liquid Fuels Terminals (Personal Bill): Mandates that owners or operators of bulk oils and liquid fuels terminals must carry enough insurance to repay the communities where they’re located in the event of a catastrophic situation, promoting environmental safety and accountability.
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HB 2152 – Fuel Storage Safety (Committee Bill): Instructs the State Department of Energy to develop and implement a Statewide Geographic Diversity of Fueling Stations for Disaster Reserves Priority Action Plan, ensuring fuel availability during emergencies across our state, ensuring our communities have access to critical fuel reserves, even if the CEI Hub, which currently stores 90% of Oregon’s fuel, explodes.
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Bill TBD – Invest in Disaster Relief Volunteer Training (Pending Bill Drop): More details will follow in our next newsletter!
These initiatives are all about strengthening Oregon’s infrastructure and preparedness. You may have noticed many of my priorities focus on the CEI Hub—I’ve been working closely with experts and community members across the region to secure our energy future. I’m especially proud to continue this work alongside former Senator Dembrow.
Veteran Healthcare Access & Suicide Prevention
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HB 2537 – Establish the Veterans Waiver Program (Committee Bill):This bill creates a program within the Oregon Health Authority to provide medical assistance to low-income veterans and close the gap for those who don’t qualify for OHP, but also don’t qualify for VA services,ensuring we are taking care of our veterans proactively and ensuring they have access to mental and substance healthcare they need.
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HB 2538 – Veterans Cultural Competency Training for Physicians & Physician Associates (Committee Bill): Requires the Oregon Medical Board to offer continuing education for physicians and physician associates on suicide prevention and veterans cultural competency, ensuring our healthcare providers are well-equipped to support veterans.
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Bill TBD – Temporary Firearm Holding (LC 3285, Pending Bill Drop): This proposal would allow veterans to temporarily and voluntarily surrender firearms during crises—with the ability to reclaim them once they are out of mental health crisis. You might recall my 2024 effort with HB 4096; as I said then, I will not give up on this lifesaving work.
Community Safety & Criminal Justice Reform
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HB 3062 – Healthy Communities Act (Land Use Goal 9 Modernization): Requires local governments ,Before approving industrial development, to study and mitigate its impacts on nearby sensitive areas and hold an additional public hearing— working with communities to keep our neighborhoods safe and affordable.
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HB 2639 – Criminal Record Expungement Reform (Committee Bill): Streamlines the process for setting aside convictions, dismissals, contempt of court findings, and guilty except for insanity judgments, making it easier for individuals to reintegrate into society, so they’re not prevented from finding gainful employment, housing, loans, etc.
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Bill TBD – Cracking Down on Illegal Massage Parlors (Pending Bill Drop)
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Bill TBD – Remove Statute of Limitations for Sexual Abuse Survivors (LC 1154, Pending Bill Drop)
Oregon House Democrats’ Agenda
As we move forward in the 2025 session, I proudly support our House Democrats’ agenda, which focuses on:
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Fighting for an Affordable Oregon: Lowering costs for housing, childcare, healthcare, and utilities while cracking down on corporate greed and price gouging.
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Making Government Work: Ensuring that state agencies deliver efficient, accountable services—from education and transportation to mental health care.
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Keeping Oregonians Safe: Addressing crime, homelessness, gun violence, and emergency preparedness, including wildfire prevention.
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Protecting Basic Rights & Freedoms: Defending reproductive rights, environmental protections, and inclusivity across our communities.
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Delivering a Roadmap Forward: Promoting clean energy, reducing emissions, and building a sustainable, vibrant future for Oregon.
A Collaborative, Future-Focused Vision
My priorities not only reflect the needs of our communities here in District 45 but also align seamlessly with our House Democratic Agenda. Here’s a closer look:
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Keeping Oregonians Safe & Delivering a Roadmap Forward: In my role as Chair of H-EMGGV, I’m focused on safeguarding our communities from both natural and man-made emergencies. HB 3450, for example, directs the State Department of Energy to develop an energy storage transition plan for our Critical Energy Infrastructure Hub. Along with HB 2151 and HB 2152, these measures ensure that our infrastructure is resilient in times of crisis. HB 2949 further promotes environmental safety and accountability, protecting both our communities and our natural resources.
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Fighting for an Affordable Oregon & Making Government Work: Affordable, quality services are the backbone of a strong community. With initiatives like the Healthy Communities Act (HB 3062), we’re ensuring that industrial development is carefully planned to protect neighborhood safety and livability. At the same time, HB 2639 streamlines the criminal record expungement process, offering individuals a clear path to rehabilitation and reintegration.
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Protecting Basic Rights & Supporting Our Veterans: Our veterans have given so much for our state, and they deserve nothing less than top-notch support. HB 2537 establishes a Veterans Waiver Program to help low-income veterans access the medical care they need, while HB 2538 will ensure our healthcare providers receive the training necessary to address the unique challenges faced by veterans. And our pending Temporary Firearm Holding initiative remains a vital, life-saving effort to prevent suicides during crises.
Throughout my time in office, I’ve listened to your concerns and worked closely with community leaders to build a resilient energy future, enhance community safety, and support comprehensive veteran care. By aligning our legislative efforts with the House Democratic Agenda, we’re fighting for affordable housing, effective government, and robust safety measures—all while laying out a clear roadmap for a sustainable future.
Connect With Me & My Committee 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. My team and I welcome constituents to visit my office—together, we can make meaningful progress for our community. To schedule a meeting, please email me at Rep.ThuyTran@oregonlegislature.gov.
I’m proud to chair the House Committee on Emergency Management, General Government, and Veterans. I also serve on:
- House Committee on Judiciary
- House Committee on Conduct
- Joint Committee on Interstate 5 Bridge
- Joint Committee on Ways and Means Subcommittee on General Government
In addition, I serve as the House Co-Chair of the Oregon Veterans Caucus.
Thank you for staying informed and involved. Your voices fuel this work, and I encourage you to keep sharing your thoughts, concerns, and ideas. Together, we can continue making Oregon a better place for all.
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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