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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.
Legislative Updates
Senate Floor Invocation by Kerry Tymchuk
 This Tuesday, I had the privilege of hosting Kerry Tymchuk on the Senate Floor for an invocation. Kerry and his wife Becky have devoted many years to public service and it was great to spend time with them in the Capitol. Click here to watch Kerry's invocation in honor of Minoru Yasui day, and read more about Kerry below.
Kerry has served since 2011 as the Executive Director of the Oregon Historical Society. Founded in 1898, the mission of OHS is to “preserve our state’s history and make it accessible to everyone in ways that advance knowledge and inspire curiosity about all the people, places and events that have shaped Oregon.” Kerry has been named by the Portland Business Journal as “The Most Admired Non-Profit Executive in Portland,” and is a past recipient of the prestigious “Oregon Statesman of the Year Award” from Oregon Business Industry. Kerry is also a recipient of the Liberty Award, presented by the Oregon League of Minority Voters “in recognition of his outstanding contributions on behalf of all people of color.”
A native of Reedsport, Oregon, Kerry is a graduate of Willamette University of the Willamette University College of Law. While at Willamette, he began his public service career by working as a legislative assistant for three sessions. From there, he would go on to serve as a Marion County Deputy District Attorney, Director of Speechwriting to U.S. Secretary of Labor Elizabeth Dole, Director of Speechwriting and Legal Counsel to U.S. Senator Bob Dole, and Oregon Chief of Staff to U.S. Senator Gordon Smith. By appointment of three Oregon Governors, Kerry has previously served on the Oregon Criminal Justice Commission, the Oregon State Fair Council, and as Chairman of the Oregon Lottery Commission. Legislation passed by the Oregon State Legislature in 2024 named Kerry as the Chairman of the America 250 Oregon Commission.
A four-time champion of the popular television game show “Jeopardy,” Kerry is active in the community, serving on several boards, including the board of trustees of AAA Oregon-Idaho, the Regence/Blue Cross Oregon Advisory Board, and Special Olympics Oregon. Kerry and his wife, Becky—who in the past was the Chair of the Beaverton School Board and currently the Chair of the Northwest Regional Education Service District, now reside in Beaverton and are the parents of a daughter and a son.
Honoring Minoru Yasui's Life and Legacy
On Tuesday, we heard from Kerry Tymchuk who spoke in honor of Minoru Yasui's life. In November of 2015, President Barak Obama presented the Presidential Medal of Freedom posthumously to honor Minoru Yasui, a native son of Oregon, and the state's only presidential medal of freedom recipient for "devoting his life to fighting for the basic human rights and the fair and equal treatment of every American. In challenging the military curfew placed on Japanese Americans during World War II, Minor Yasui brought critical attention to the issue, and paved the way for all Americans to stand as full and equal citizens." In 2025, we celebrate the 10th anniversary of Yasui being awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
Protecting the right to Vote-by-Mail
On Monday, the Senate Committee on Rules held a public hearing on SB 210 which proposes to make in-person voting on the date of an election the standard method for conducting an election. I submitted testimony in opposition of this bill, sharing my strong support for Oregon's vote by mail system. This policy received over 14,000 submissions of testimony, with a little over 12,000 in opposition. You can read my testimony below and find it on OLIS here. To watch the Public Hearing on SB 210, click here.
Chair Jama, Vice Chair Bonham, and members of the committee,
Thank you for the opportunity to express my strong opposition to Senate Bill 210, which seeks to establish in-person voting as the standard method of voting in Oregon elections. I currently serve as the State Senator for Senate District 15 in Western Washington County, which includes Forest Grove, Cornelius, Hillsboro, and the Rock Creek area.
Oregon has long been a national leader in election accessibility, having pioneered vote-by-mail in 1998. Voters overwhelmingly approved Ballot Measure 60, making Oregon the first state in the country to conduct its primary and general elections entirely by mail. Our vote-by-mail system has been praised for increasing voter participation and providing greater accessibility to all Oregonians. Today, Oregon continues to lead by ensuring that all voters have an equal opportunity to participate in the democratic process.
Vote-by-mail in Oregon is a highly secure system. We have a reliable paper trail for every ballot, ensuring that every vote cast can be verified and audited. This system has been proven to be effective in safeguarding election integrity. Former Secretary of State Dennis Richardson, a Republican, was a staunch advocate for Oregon’s vote-by-mail system. He repeatedly spoke about his confidence in the security and reliability of Oregon’s elections. “All Oregonians should be proud of our state’s election systems and processes. As the first state to implement vote-by-mail and automatic voter registration at the DMV, we are leading the nation and defining the best practices on accessibility, security, and integrity in elections. Now, we are encouraging other states to follow our example… Everyone who is eligible to vote should be able to vote. Oregonians can be proud that we are leading the way and are actively assisting and encouraging other states to join us in excellence.”
Just recently, we came together in a bipartisan manner to honor Secretary Richardson on the
Senate floor for his contributions to Oregon. This unity underscores that Oregon's vote-by-mail system is a shared value, regardless of party affiliation. It is a testament to our commitment to maintaining the integrity of our elections.
We also need to acknowledge that when issues arise, such as the recent motor voter error,
Oregon has proven that it can effectively address and correct problems. The motor voter issue, which affected only a very small number of voters, was recognized, and swiftly addressed by our election officials. The public hearing on this matter, held in the House Rules Committee this session, demonstrated that Oregon has the necessary protocols in place to fix issues and ensure transparency and accountability. This is a sign of a functioning democracy where concerns are heard, addressed, and resolved.
This is precisely why SB 210’s move away from vote-by-mail is so concerning. It could
disenfranchise vulnerable populations, create unnecessary barriers to participation, and
undermine a proven and secure method of voting. It’s important to remember that, while there is a national push to restrict voting rights, such as the “Save Voting Act,” which could negatively impact women who use their married names, Oregon has always stood firm in supporting secure, accessible voting for all.
As we look at national trends that threaten voting rights, Oregon’s vote-by-mail system remains a shining example of how we can preserve and protect democracy. I stand proudly in support of maintaining and improving Oregon’s mail-in ballot system, not dismantling it.
I urge a no vote on Senate Bill 210. Thank you for your time and consideration.
Sincerely,
Senator Janeen Sollman
Senate District 15
Policy Spotlight - Past Bill Update
HB 2498 (2021) - Deaf or Hard of Hearing Notification
During the 2021 session, I chief sponsored HB 2498, a bill that allows members of our Deaf or Hard of Hearing (DHH) community to choose to indicate their DHH status on their vehicle registration, drivers license, or state issued ID card. This bill concept was brought forward to me by a constituent, raising the DHH communities' fear of traffic stops, as the communication barrier may lead to dangerous situations. My office recently reached out to ODOT and learned that since this bill went into effect in January of 2022, over 57,000 people have requested the DHH indication on their license or registration, allowing safer and more informed traffic stops, and trust built between Oregonians with hearing loss and law enforcement.
Watch my informational post on HB 2498 here.
Week 11 Committee Snaps
Senate Committee on Energy and Environment
Public Hearings were held on:
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SB 1034 - Relating to the process to determine energy facility compliance with statewide planning goals
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SB 577 - Requires an electric utility to recover costs for storing the waste produced by an energy facility in generating electricity.
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SB 1102- Relating to energy
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SB 1067- Relating to solid waste in Marion County
Work Sessions were held on:
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SB 139 - Relating to infectious waste
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SB 726 - Relating to landfill emissions monitoring
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SB 1160 - Relating to the deployment of renewable energy projects
Senate Committee on Education
Informational Meetings were held on:
Public Hearings were held on:
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SB 735 - Relating to the application of abbreviated school day program requirements to students who are enrolled in a public charter school
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SB 742 - Relating to electronic meetings to discuss an abbreviated school day program placement
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SB 745 - Relating to the frequency of meetings regarding abbreviated school day programs for students who are terminally ill
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SB 5 - Relating to faculty qualifications for public universities
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SB 207 - Relating to cosmetology provisional certificates
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SB 738 - Relating to waiver of tuition for qualified students
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SB 1109 - Relating to education
Work Sessions were held on:
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SB 312 - Relating to student data
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SB 456 - Relating to grants to improve school attendance
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SB 231 - Relating to state financial administration
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SB 310 - Relating to labor disputes involving public education employers
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SB 717 - Relating to stipends for student teachers
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SB 742 - Relating to electronic meetings to discuss an abbreviated school day program placement
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SB 745 - Relating to the frequency of meetings regarding abbreviated school day programs for students who are terminally ill
Joint Committee on Ways and Means Subcommittee on Education
Informational Meetings were held on:
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SB 5525 - Higher Education Coordinating Commission
Public Hearings were held on:
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HB 5047 - Relating to state financial administration
Work Sessions were held on:
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HB 2007 - Summer Learning
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HB 5047 - Relating to state financial administration
Week 11 - Oregon State Capitol Visits in the halls and in #S207 (Your Senate District 15 Capitol office)
Listen. Learn. Act.
National Financial Literacy Month
April is Financial Literacy Month! Visit the websites below for ideas on how to grow your financial literacy and improve your financial skills.
In the 2023 session, I cosponsored Senate Bill 3 which requires students to complete one half-credit of higher education and career path skills and one half-credit of personal financial education as requirements for high school diploma. Beginning with the class of 2027, the Oregon diploma requirements will include a 0.5 credit in Personal Financial Education and a 0.5 credit in Higher Education and Career Path Skills. These are critical skills that will help prepare our graduates for success as they go out into the world. I was a proud supporter of this bill.
Community Outreach
Joint Ways and Means Committee Road Show
Last Friday the Ways and Means Road Show was in Astoria. We heard from community members about wastewater needs, housing/homeless support, education funding, transportation and more. Did you know that Warrenton is #1 in the state for numbers of homeless youth? Their new city planner lived in a tent for 6 months due to no housing available. On Saturday we toured plans to rebuild Columbia Memorial Hospital and the Columbia River Maritime Museum. These opportunities to get out and meet people around the state are pretty amazing.
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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