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To contact me, please click here: Sen.JaneenSollman@oregonlegislature.gov
Friends and Neighbors,
Upcoming Events
Come share your thoughts, questions, and meet fellow community members at my upcoming April Community Conversations. I look forward to seeing you there.
Join me at Godfathers Pizza in Forest Grove, Thursday, April 10th, from 6:30pm - 7:30pm, for an in person Community Conversation.
Join me online, via Microsoft Teams, Wednesday, April 30th, from 6:30 pm - 7:30 pm, for a virtual Community Conversation. Please register here to receive a virtual link to join.
Policy Spotlight
SB 1038: Relating to Standards of Time
This week, the Senate passed SB 1038, a bill regarding time changes. I joined as a sponsor of the bill and supported this bipartisan effort. How do you feel about "changing your clocks" twice a year?
Here are the facts:
- SB 1038 ensures Oregon will be in step with California and Washington, should BOTH states pass bills to make either Pacific Standard Time (PST) or Daylight-Saving Time (DST) permanent year-round.
- PST would require all 3 West Coast states to pass a bill to implement it.
- DST would require all 3 West Coast states to pass a bill, in addition to required Congressional approval.
- Nothing changes, unless all three states are on board with one time or the other - keeping us in sync.
Here is what SB 1038 does NOT do:
- It does NOT enter us into permanent PST without California and Washington doing the same.
- It does NOT enter us into permanent DST without California, Washington, and congressional approval.
Last time we tried to pass this bill, we heard that alignment was critical. I give credit to Senator Thatcher for addressing that in this bill.
In The News
Oregon Senate advances bill that could stop clock changes
Salem Statesman Journal, Dianne Lugo, March 25, 2025
"The Oregon Senate on Tuesday advanced a bill that could end the annual back-and-forth between daylight saving time for most of the state, if California and Washington join in adopting legislation or if Congress enacts a change."
Legislative Updates
Community Budget Hearing Schedule
Members of the Joint Committee on Ways and Means will attend six Community Budget Hearings across the state through the end of April to hear directly from Oregonians about their state budget priorities. Tonight's meeting will be held in Astoria (see details below).
- With limited funds, we are going to need to make tough choices about which projects and programs to fund
- These decisions must align with Oregon values and focus on key challenges facing the state
- We believe in listening to people, the importance of public engagement, and being responsive to the public
- These Community Budget Hearings will be our best opportunity to hear directly from Oregonians as we work on the budget
The upcoming Community Budget Hearing date, time and sign-up link is below and on the Ways and Means OLIS committee page:
Astoria | Friday, March 28 (5:00pm – 7:00pm) Liberty Theatre Astoria 1203 Commercial Street, Astoria, OR 97103
Members of the public can register to testify here
This Week's Testimonies and Floor Speeches
Senator Sollman Carries SCR 17- Honoring and Celebrating the life and service of Colonel Richard Kidd
Senator Sollman Holds a Public Hearing for Youth Voices- 4th Graders from Oregon Episcopal School speak to the Senate Committee on Energy and Environment
Bill Updates
Spring Break Youth Visitors to the Capitol
This week was Spring Break in Oregon and it was greatly inspiring to see young students visiting from all across Oregon. I was so impressed by the youth who came to testify in all three of my committees this week. Thank you to the students for showing up to advocate for your education, your future environment and your right to recess.
Watch my floor courtesy to our Spring Break youth visitors here.
SB 916 Vote Explanation
Last week, we debated SB 916 on the Senate Floor. I voted no on this bill and would like to share with you the reasons I did so.
I deeply value the employees across our state that keep our state moving forward. Union jobs provide stable income, benefits and a safety net that is critical to the protection of workers. As a mom of two boys that have union-stable jobs, I am grateful. I have long been a champion of the work performed by our public employees and by our classroom teachers. I did not surprise the advocates or the carrier of the bill with my opposition, I was transparent with my concerns and my ultimate position. As I stated in my floor remarks, honesty is the only way we can move problems through to resolution.
My concerns for SB 916 during these tumultuous times outweighed the benefits that the advocates said would come to be by its passage.
- The Trump Administration and the DOGE cuts are causing greater instability in our economy. This will hit our municipalities, counties, and schools the hardest.
- Tariffs will add further disruption and add considerable costs to current and new projects that our state relies on for infrastructure needs.
- When some of the advocates stated that there were other states already doing this, that was not quite the full picture. An example is that in 1967 New York passed the Taylor Law, which does not allow public workers to strike at all. This law is still in place.
- No one loves to strike, especially the workers, but when a strike happens within our public sector employees, disruption is felt deep for students, parents, those seeking justice through our courts and the services we rely on every day. With economic instability, our cities and schools may very well not be able to meet the demand for pay increases, as their own budgets will be cut.
- So my position on SB 916 boils down to this….DOGE, dollars and disruption.
Proponents of SB 916 have tried to address some of my concerns, ensuring me that in the past 25 years, less than 0.5% of negotiated contracts with school districts have led to strikes. If that is the case, then it seems to me that this bill is a solution looking for a problem.
Specifically, my concerns were to the impact this legislation could have on Oregon's schools, I believe that to be a supporter of public employees and classroom teachers is to also support policies that ensure financial stability for our cities, counties, and schools. Unfortunately, there has never been a time in recent memory where that stability is threatened to the extent we are experiencing today with federal dismantling of agencies and withholding of funds. 32% of our state budget, nearly one-third, relies on federal funding. This includes nearly $1.5 billion in education funding. Across Oregon, including right here in Washington County, which is forecasting a $20 million deficit this next fiscal year, counties, cities, and schools are scrambling just to maintain current services. Now is not the time to add more uncertainty, and more expenses, which SB 916 would certainly do.
In a time of federal uncertainty, revenue shortfalls and risky budget setting, I fear SB 916 is not the answer. For these reasons, I was a no vote on the bill.
You can watch my full floor remarks here.
Week 10 Committee Snaps
Senate Committee on Energy and Environment
Public Hearings were held on:
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SB 1062 - Relating to local authority over regulated utilities
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SB 1178 - Relating to small-scale renewable energy
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SB 1160 - Relating to the deployment of renewable energy projects
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SB 301 - Relating to boats
Work Sessions were held on:
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SB 88 - Relating to expenditures nonrecoverable from ratepayers
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SB 688 - Relating to performance-based regulation of electric utilities
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SB 355 - Relating to air curtains
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SB 929 - Relating to the Oregon Coast Trail
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SB 360 - Relating to machine-powered pesticide application devices
Senate Committee on Education
Public Hearings were held on:
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SB 312 - Relating to student data
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SB 443 - Relating to family medicine residency training programs
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SB 749 - Relating to participatory budgeting when preparing a school district budget
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SB 231 - Relating to state financial administration
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SB 472 - Relating to actual conflicts of interest among members of a district school board
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SB 1126 - Relating to physical activity in schools
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SB 1127 - Relating to grants for educational activities during noninstructional time
A Work Session was held on:
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SB 983 - Relating to the adoption of local budgets
Joint Committee on Ways and Means Subcommittee on Education
Informational Meetings were held on:
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SB 5515 - Department of Education
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SB 5516 - Department of Education - State School Fund
Public Hearings were held on:
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SB 5515 - Department of Education
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SB 5516 - Department of Education - State School Fund
Week 10 - Oregon State Capitol Visits in the halls and in #S207 (Your Senate District 15 Capitol office)
Community Outreach
Community Conversation
Last night I held a virtual Community Conversation, my 140th since becoming a legislator. I appreciate that friends and neighbors took the time to talk about issues they care about. I value these opportunities to build community by getting together and having a discussion.
Joint Ways and Means Committee Road Show
Last Friday the Ways and Means Road Show had it's first stop at Mt Hood Community College in East Multnomah County. The topic of education funding was the #1 request. It was great to see the community come out in force to advocate for their needs. After the meeting we toured the POIC (Portland Opportunities Industrialization Center) just down the road. POIC is doing great work in the community to "provide the highest quality services in Education, Employment & Training, Community Safety, and Family & Wellness throughout greater Portland."
Additional Resources
Senate District 15 – Event Calendars
Federal Delegation Links
Education Links
Food and Housing Assistance
Be good to yourself and each other. ❤
Onward & Upward,
 Senate District 15 lies on Kalapuya land. The Atfalati were the northernmost band of the Kalapuya that lived along the Tualatin River in present day Washington County. Many of the Atfalati descendants are members of the Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde Community of Oregon today. The Indigenous Peoples of this land experienced a painful history of colonial violence, sickness and removal from their land. The Atfalati are the foundation of Oregon's past and we must honor them well into our future.
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1715
Capitol Address: 900 Court St. NE, S-207, Salem, Oregon 97301
Email: Sen.JaneenSollman@oregonlegislature.gov
Website: http://www.oregonlegislature.gov/sollman
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