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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 virtual Community Conversation. I look forward to seeing you there.
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 2006 - Bill Limits
I am excited to be a Chief Sponsor on HB 2006, Speaker Fahey's bill to address bill limits. We need to have bill limits in Oregon. The amount of work required to draft, collaborate with stakeholders, and allow time to meaningfully engage on each bill, is massive. And when we hear that a record number of bills, along with a record number of placeholder bills, have been introduced this session, that work is unsustainable and we all feel the strain and rush of trying to get our concepts through. Respecting the time and capacity, of all involved in this work, is not only a matter of fairness, but also a matter of long-term sustainability for the legislative process as a whole. Read more information in the press release below.
from the
Office of the House Speaker
https://www.oregonlegislature.gov/fahey
900 Court St. NE,
Salem, Oregon 97301
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: April 16, 2025
Press Contact:
Jill Bakken, Jill.Bakken@oregonlegislature.gov
Improving Transparency and Public Access to the Legislature
Bipartisan legislation introduced to streamline the number of bills introduced each year
SALEM, Ore. — A bipartisan group of legislators has introduced a measure designed to rein in the growing number of bills filed during Oregon’s legislative sessions, making it easier for the public, advocates, and the press to track and participate in the legislative process. House Bill 2006 is modeled on bipartisan legislation the Oregon House voted on in 2001—House Bill 4000—placing checks on the number of bills that each legislator, committees, agencies, and statewide elected leaders can introduce.
“Session after session, we hear from the public, the press, and even fellow legislators that the sheer volume of bills makes it hard to know what the Legislature is truly prioritizing,” said House Speaker Julie Fahey (D-West Eugene and Veneta), a co-chief sponsor of the bill. “HB 2006 is about improving transparency, promoting thoughtful policymaking, and making the legislative process more accessible to all Oregonians.”
Oregon’s 2025 legislative session set a new record for the number of bills filed, surpassing the previous high-water mark set in 2001, which led to the introduction of HB 4000 at the time.
“Legislation to limit the number of bills is an essential recognition that unlimited bill drafting is having a negative impact. It prevents potentially good legislation from getting the thorough attention it deserves from the public, committees, and stakeholders—ultimately affecting policies that could benefit all Oregonians,” said Tim Knopp, former Oregon Republican legislator, and the carrier of HB 4000 in 2001. “I was a strong supporter of bill limits in 2001, and I remain a strong supporter today.”
While the vast majority of bills introduced don’t ultimately become law, they still consume considerable time and resources from nonpartisan staff, policy analysts, and committee schedulers. In addition, many of the thousands of bills that get introduced are “placeholders” for potential legislation that may never come, making it difficult for the public to know which bills are likely to be considered by lawmakers.
“The current pace and volume of legislation is not sustainable,” said Sen. Janeen Sollman (D-Forest Grove, Cornelius, Hillsboro, and Rock Creek). “When committees are overloaded, public testimony can be rushed, and meaningful public engagement suffers. We need to be more deliberate about what comes to the table. This is not a one-sided issue. It’s about good governance and giving every bill, and every Oregonian who wants to weigh in, the time and attention they deserve.”
The goal of HB 2006 is to help create an environment where lawmakers can carefully vet and prioritize policy ideas before the start of the legislative session. By limiting the number of bills that can be introduced, the proposal aims to improve the quality of deliberation, increase transparency, and create more room for the Legislature to focus on other key roles, including state government accountability and oversight.
For more information about HB 2006 and its impact, visit the Oregon Legislative Information System.
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Legislative Updates
HB 2007- Summer Learning passes in the Senate
This Week's Testimonies and Floor Speeches
Joint Ways and Means Committee Road Show
This week the Joint Ways and Means Committee held a Wednesday evening hearing in Salem. I am sharing below a testimony submitted by Forest Grove School Board Chair, Kristy Kottkey, who spoke in Wednesday's hearing regarding support for K-12 education funding and sharing concern on bills that will burden school districts with additional financial and administrative mandates. Please read her testimony below.
April 16, 2025
Testimony before the Ways and Means Committee
Legislative Policy Committee – District 15, 16, 17
Representing Wa County including: Banks, Gaston, Forest Grove,
Hillsboro, Sherwood, Tigard, Beaverton, and NWRESD
Co-Chairs Lieber and Sanchez, Co-Vice Chairs Gomberg and Girod, and Members of the Joint Committee On Ways and Means,
Thank you - and your fellow legislators - for your commitment to our students across the state. After watching the entire American Institute of Research presentation to the Joint Committee on Education in February, I had a renewed appreciation for the countless hours our legislators spend on the dais, digesting an impressive amount of data, asking important questions, and doing so in a uniquely stressful legislative session. I am here today to highlight several priorities for our region that speak to the needs of students across the state.
We appreciate your dedication to raising the cap for Special Education funding and for increasing reimbursement costs for High Cost Disability. Were the legislature to fully fund high cost disability, just the Forest Grove School District would receive an estimated $2 million which could then be reinvested in the improvement of instruction and student outcomes. These critical adjustments will significantly enhance the support available to students with diverse needs.
We also appreciate the recognition that the current Current Service Level (CSL) adjustments do not yet address the revenue shortfall impacting our ability to serve all students effectively. To preserve current service levels for students, we have been deficit spending approximately $6 million annually for several years. The initial $11.36 billion allocation is a significant step toward right-sizing the funding that our students deserve—funding that begins to reflect the high standards we know they can achieve. But like legislators in the Joint Committees on Education learned on February 26th, “It costs more to achieve more.”
We understand that there is no “magic pot of money” to address every need in this legislative session. Oregon never has, and this year is no different, fully funded education. You cannot evaluate the effectiveness of a system until it has been fully supported. We recognize the competing priorities across the state, including essential services like transportation and housing. In light of this, there is a way to make invested dollars go farther and impact students directly in the classroom right now.
Without additional revenue available, it is critical that the legislature ensures we are not burdened with additional financial and administrative mandates that could further erode the resources we are diligently allocating to improve student outcomes.
HB 3365, SB 847, SB 978, HB 3652 and SB 916 are just some of the bills whose impacts would necessitate adjustments to already limited budgets, and this would directly impact student funding and outcomes. HB 3365, for example, will require the purchase of new curricular materials and require time to develop new lesson plans and assessments. SB 916 and HB 3652 have the potential to cripple school districts financially and operations. These are just some of the multiple bills that would draw resources away from classrooms; they are examples of bad policy.
Despite the tireless work being done by school districts to stretch limited dollars across a statewide system, our schools will continue to face challenges—and, in many cases, they will remain unable to meet the needs of all students without sustainable and predictable funding, coupled with a larger discussion about the statewide educational systems that need to be modernized. Even with the proposed current funding increases, many districts will still experience budget constraints that limit their ability to provide the high-quality education that every student deserves.
I encourage you to talk directly with your school districts and Superintendents to fully understand the impact of these bills. I am happy to be available to your staff to answer questions or gather information you may need to make sure your decisions are having the intended impact. Thank you again for your leadership and ongoing dedication to Oregon’s students.
Kristy Kottkey
Chair, Forest Grove School Board
Legislative Policy Representative Region #15
OSBA Board of Directors
Joint Ways and Means Committee Road Show - 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.
- 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 remaining Community Budget Hearing date, time and sign-up link is below and on the Ways and Means OLIS committee page:
Klamath Falls | Friday, April 25 (5:00pm – 7:00pm)
Klamath Community College, Building 4 Commons
7390 South 6th Street, Klamath Falls, OR 97603
Members of the public can register to testify here
Week 13 Committee Snaps
Senate Committee on Energy and Environment
Public Hearings were held on:
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HB 2332: Relating to air curtain incinerators
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HB 2567 A: Relating to heat pump programs
Senate Committee on Education
Public Hearings were held on:
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HB 2421 A: Relating to direct admissions
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HB 3041: Relating to the Educator Advancement Council
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HB 3063: Relating to students in hospital educational programs
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HB 2514 A: Relating to education service district indebtedness
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HB 2551 A: Relating to security on campus
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HB 2682: Relating to services for young children with special needs
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HB 2684 A: Relating to integrated pest management
Joint Committee on Ways and Means Subcommittee on Education
Joint Committee on Ways and Means Subcommittee on Education was canceled this week due to extended House Floor sessions.
Week 13 - Oregon State Capitol Visits in the halls and in #S207 (Your Senate District 15 Capitol office)
 
In the News
Too many bills, too little time: Oregon lawmakers propose limiting legislators to 25 bills apiece
The Oregonian, Aimee Green, April 16, 2025
"Enough is enough, says a bipartisan group of Oregon legislators about the torrent of bills filed this session. They introduced a proposal Wednesday that would limit each lawmaker to no more than 25 per session."
Oregon lawmakers make it explicit: No garbage bags for kids in foster care
OPB, Lauren Drake, April 14, 2025
"The measure, Senate Bill 1016, would prevent Oregon’s child welfare agency from putting kids’ belongings in trash bags as they move placements and make it explicit that luggage must be provided. The measure passed the Senate and now heads to the House."
Oregon Senate bans trash bags for foster children's belongings
KATU TV News, Sana Aljobory, April 14, 2025
The bill mandates the use of durable carriers such as duffel bags, suitcases, or rigid containers when children are moved between living situations. "Transporting a foster child’s possessions in plastic trash bags demeans a child and can make them feel like they and their belongings are disposable," said Senator Janeen Sollman (D-15), the bill's chief sponsor. "There is already too much trauma in the experience of transitioning from one household to another. More dignified luggage is a fix we can make immediately."
Out and About in Senate District 15
HomePlate Youth Services - 20th Anniversary Gala
HomePlate serves youth ages 12-24 who are experiencing any type of instability. In 2024 they served 969 youth in the Washington County area. They host drop-in locations in Beaverton and Hillsboro for youth to learn about local resources, take a shower, grab a bite to eat and find community. State dollars go towards supporting homeless services like HomePlate. Learn more about their organization here.
Community Outreach
National County Government Month
April is National County Government Month, an annual celebration of county government and the opportune time to highlight the role of Oregon’s 36 counties
The Association of Oregon Counties is a non-partisan member organization that advocates on issues that unite all county governing bodies and have an impact on county governance, budgets, and services.
As you know, counties are the state’s partner in government and are on the front lines delivering vital public services, including those mandated by the Legislature, to every Oregonian.
AOC’s Shared Services Chart shows the services provided exclusively by the State of Oregon, services that are shared by the state and counties, and services provided exclusively by counties.
Career Technical Education in Action - Weekend Plant Sale
Local high schools are hosting upcoming plant sales. Career Technical Education programs in our schools help students with horticulture skills and more. They also provide future job prospect opportunities and increase graduation rates. State dollars support CTE and pathways for our students. Enjoy the sunshine all that Spring has to offer and shop plants for a good cause!
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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