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Senate District 24 rests on the traditional ancestral lands of the Multnomah, Wasco, Kathlamet, Clackamas, Cowlitz bands of Chinook, Talatin, Kalapuya, Molalla and many other tribes who made their homes along the Columbia and Willamette Rivers. As a former refugee from Africa, who now resides on this stolen land, I pledge to share in the struggle and fight for Native sovereignty, decolonization, and collective liberation alongside our Indigenous communities.
Senator Kayse Jama
Salaam Friends,
I hope everyone fared well during the wintry weather this month. To ensure the safety of folks as we move through winter and towards Spring, here are some cold weather resources for Multnomah County and Clackamas County, as well as a winter resource guide from Street Roots. Also, please keep in mind that 211info.org has a directory of warming centers and OHA.gov has guidance for winter weather emergencies.
With the 2025 legislative session kicking into high gear, I want to share some of my personal priority bills for this year. While I’m working to ensure that Oregon Senate Democrats deliver for all Oregonians, I’m also championing several policy bills that are deeply important to me and our East Portland community. I encourage you to stay apprised of their movement through the Senate and hope that you will share testimony on any and all of those that speak to you. Information on how to provide written or verbal (either in-person or remotely) testimony can be found here. More detailed information on sharing testimony can be found on my social media pages (listed below). You’re also welcome to reach out to my office; we are more than happy to assist you in exercising your voice.
2025 Priority Bills
SB 476: Licensing Pathway for Internationally Educated Workers
As a long-time organizer in Oregon’s immigrant and refugee community, I’ve heard for decades about the obstacles facing experienced, qualified professionals from other countries who wish to work here in Oregon. Often experts in their home country, many newly arrived Oregonians take lower-paying jobs outside their field, impacting their ability to provide for their families and serve their communities. This issue is particularly timely given our state’s workforce shortage across the behavioral health and health care sectors. Oregon has a desperate need for care workers and a latent skilled workforce—we just need to establish pathways for that workforce to become licensed.
SB 476 would do exactly that, enabling international medical graduates to earn a full license to practice medicine here in Oregon. It would also create a grant program, administered by the Department of Human Services, to assist those with backgrounds in nursing, pharmacy, counseling, mental health, and other care professions in navigating the complex licensure process for their specific field. I believe SB 476 is a win-win that ensures the long-term success of both our immigrant and refugee communities and Oregon’s health care system.
SB 1166: Rideshare Drivers Protection Package
Ride-hailing apps like Uber and Lyft play an increasingly important role in our state’s transportation infrastructure. Yet as corporate profits rise, drivers for these companies are taking home less and less of the total fare charged to customers. Rideshare drivers may also be subject to sudden deactivation, meaning they lose the ability to drive, often with no recourse to appeal such decisions. SB 1166 would establish several key protections for these vulnerable workers: a higher wage floor, a process for appealing deactivation, and increased transparency for both drivers and riders. Several states—Washington, Colorado, Minnesota, and Massachusetts—have enacted similar protections for drivers in recent years, and I hope Oregon will follow suit. All workers, regardless of who they work for, deserve a living wage, access to benefits, and due process rights upon termination.
HB 2746: Wage Range Transparency
Despite progress in countering pay inequity, unacceptable pay gaps persist in Oregon. Data shows that keeping pay ranges secret at the time of hiring disproportionately harms women and people of color. However, wage transparency laws—which require salary ranges to be listed on job postings—can help close the wage gap by giving applicants more information and a better footing in salary negotiations. These laws also help businesses attract and retain talent by promoting employee trust and loyalty. In partnership with Representative Travis Nelson (D-North Portland), I’m leading the way on HB 2746, which will require all Oregon employers to include the wage range and a general description of benefits all in job, promotion, or transfer postings. I’m hopeful that Oregon will join the wave of states that have passed wage transparency laws in recent years to address racial and gender wage gaps.
SB 149: Supporting Newly Arrived Oregonians
Folks who arrive in Oregon seeking asylum face tremendous barriers, often struggling with homelessness and hunger while navigating a complex legal system. In coordination with the Office of Immigrant and Refugee Advancement (OIRA), I’ve introduced SB 149, which will strengthen and expand case management services for migrants and asylum seekers in our state. SB 149 will ensure that our new neighbors can access basic resources like housing, employment, and legal services. Given the threats our immigrant and refugee communities are facing from the federal government, it’s imperative we invest in these supports and keep Oregon a welcoming place for all.
Other Bills I'm Sponsoring
SB 702: Flavored Tobacco Ban
Every year, thousands of Oregonians die as a result of smoking, making it the #1 cause of preventable death in our state. With flavored tobacco products being strategically marketed, under-regulated, and widely available, we are seeing rising rates of tobacco use in Oregonian youth. I am proud to announce that I am sponsoring SB 702, which would prevent the sale and distribution of flavored tobacco products. Without marketing strategies from the tobacco industry, young and vulnerable populations will be less likely to develop life-long chemical addictions to nicotine and other carcinogenic substances found in many tobacco products. To protect Oregonian youth and to reduce the death toll of smoking, it's important that we regulate the tobacco industry and pass SB 702.
HB 3118: Free Communication for Incarcerated Oregonians
The high cost of prison communications poses a significant barrier for Oregon families who want to stay in contact with their incarcerated loved ones. This session, I am sponsoring HB 3118, which would make communications for incarcerated people free and keep families connected. Research suggests that regular communication with family on the outside can help people find housing, employment, and stability upon release, reducing recidivism. You can learn more about HB 3118 here.
HB 2953: Eliminating Oregon’s Special Education Funding Cap
Oregon law currently caps the funding that school districts receive for special education services at 11%. However, the percentage of students currently receiving these services is significantly higher in most districts, leaving thousands of students without adequate resources. HB 2953 would remove this cap, ensuring that schools can meet student needs and give all Oregon kids the tools they need to succeed. HB 2953 recently had a public hearing in the House Committee on Education, which you can watch here.
DMV Update
Last month, the Mall 205 DMV Office closed. Since then, three DMV offices across Oregon have increased their hours of operation: Woodburn, Lebanon, and McMinnville. Now joining them is the Sandy office which will be open 5 days a week with the following hours:
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday: 9am - 5pm
Wednesday: 10am- 5pm
In addition to these offices expanding their hours, the DMV now has self-serve kiosks located in Fred Meyer stores across the state, as well. You can use this link to find one near you. If you’d prefer, you can schedule an appointment with an office or complete services online through DMV2U.
Defending Against Federal Threats
As another month wraps up, I want to thank you for staying engaged and standing with me in the fight for a just and safe future. Like many of you, I am alarmed by the drastic spending cuts and program interruptions coming down from the federal government. I’m angry and dismayed that federal leaders are disrupting our progress in making Oregon more affordable, safe, and equitable. However, these threats only deepen my dedication to the work I am doing in Salem. I’m committed to work with my colleagues to shield Oregonians, especially those most vulnerable to the president's attacks, from the harms leveled by the federal government. I fully support the Attorney General's several lawsuits to challenge unconstitutional executive orders.
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In times like these, your voices and advocacy are more important than ever. Let's keep showing up for each other, nurture our collective strength, and create lasting change. As always, continue to reach out to me with any questions or concerns you may have. Together, we push forward.
Senator Kayse Jama
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1724
Capitol Address: 900 Court St NE, S-223, Salem, OR, 97301
Email: Sen.KayseJama@oregonlegislature.gov
Website: http://www.oregonlegislature.gov/jama
Instagram: @SenatorKayseJama
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