|
Hello Friends,
We’re more than halfway through the 2025 legislative session, and things are moving fast at the Capitol. With less than two months to go, we’re deep into the work of passing legislation to lower costs for Oregonians; protect access to health care, education, and social services; defend constitutional rights; and build a more sustainable, resilient future for our state.
I've heard from many Oregonians who are worried about the impacts of the Trump administration on our state and on the future of our nation's democracy. Read on to learn about the good work we're doing this session to hold the line here in Oregon and insulate our state from the harm coming from the federal government.
This session, we are focused on addressing Oregonians’ shared priorities: schools, homelessness, housing costs, health care, and the safety of every community. Read on for a quick recap of big policies moving through the legislature:
Summer Learning (HB 2007) Chief Sponsor Status: Signed by the Governor!
Improving educational outcomes for Oregon’s students is a top priority this session, and HB 2007 represents a major step forward on that front by investing in evidence-based instruction and interventions. This bill expands access to summer literacy programs across Oregon, with a focus on students reading below grade level. HB 2007 will ensure more students receive the support they need during critical summer months. I’m proud to be a chief sponsor of this important legislation, which was signed into law last month – you can read more about the bill here.
The ceremonial signing of HB 2007!
Keeping Our Children Safe (HB 2008) Chief Sponsor Status: Passed the House!
We are living in an age where our phones may know more about us than our closest friends. In many ways, data tracking our real-time movements — where we live, work, socialize, shop, or access health care — has become a multibillion-dollar commodity. This precise location data is being sold to advertisers, government agencies, military contractors, and even foreign entities. HB 2008 ends the sale of personal data for anyone under 16, bans the sale of precise geolocation data, and places new obligations on companies that profit from private information. The bill passed the House last month and is now being considered by the Senate.
|
Taking Action on Unfair Rent Increases in Mobile Home Communities (HB 3054) Sponsor Status: Passed the House!
Manufactured homes make up 16% of Oregon’s affordable housing and are home to many seniors and working families across the state. When someone buys a manufactured home located in a mobile home park, they own the home itself — but not the land underneath it. That land is typically rented from a park owner. Over the last decade, we’ve seen more and more parks in Oregon be purchased by large, out-of-state corporate entities. These corporate owners understand that, in practice, mobile homes aren’t actually mobile. If rent increases substantially, the homeowners can’t just pick up and move to another park. Instead, homeowners may be left with no choice but to pay rent they can’t afford.
HB 3054 is an important step toward curbing significant rent hikes and preserving affordability in these communities. I’m proud to sponsor this effort to protect manufactured homeowners across the state, particularly given that a large number of my constituents live in these parks. You can read more about the need for manufactured home rent limits here.
|
Protecting Consumer Rights (HB 3167): The Fan Fairness and Transparency Act Status: Passed the House!
HB 3167 helps protect consumers from deceptive ticketing practices. It requires sellers to disclose the full price upfront, bans bots that buy up tickets before real people have a chance, and prohibits reselling tickets that haven’t actually been purchased. If you’ve ever tried to buy concert tickets online and been hit with surprise fees at checkout, this bill is designed to fix that.
Protecting Applicants from Age-Based Bias (HB 3187) Status: Passed the House!
HB 3187 reduces age discrimination in the hiring process by prohibiting employers from requiring applicants to disclose age-related details, like graduation or certification dates, before an interview. This bill supports a fairer, more equitable workforce and strengthens protections for older workers. It’s a meaningful step toward upholding workers’ rights across Oregon.
Supporting Student Success Through Smarter Tech Use in Schools (HB 2251) Sponsor Status: Passed the House!
A growing body of research is making clear the negative impact that smartphones are having on student learning in our schools. HB 2251 helps students stay focused by limiting personal phone use during the school day. It requires schools to set clear rules that keep phones out of classrooms, hallways, and school events — while still allowing exceptions for medical needs and learning plans. The goal is to cut down on distractions so kids can concentrate on learning.
|
Making Government Work (HB 2006) Chief Sponsor Status: Currently being considered by the House Committee on Rules
This session I have 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. 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. HB 2006 is about improving transparency, promoting thoughtful policymaking, and making the legislative process more accessible to all Oregonians.
My hope is that this bill will help start a real conversation about how we 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, we can 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. You can learn more about this bill here.
 |
Since President Trump took office in January, his agenda has caused nothing but chaos and confusion. Starting in the first Trump administration, Oregon’s leaders have worked to put safeguards in place at the state level to protect the progress that we’ve made here in Oregon, including on access to reproductive healthcare, protections for immigrant communities, and environmental protections. While we can’t block every damaging policy or executive order, we are doing everything in our power to challenge Trump’s illegal actions and insulate Oregon from the most harmful impacts of Trump’s presidency. But we’re already feeling the effects of Trump’s federal funding cuts right here in HD 14.
Last month I participated in two town halls about how we’re working to respond to federal actions. Leader Bowman, Rep. Ruiz, Rep. Chotzen, and I hosted a virtual town hall to share Oregon’s response to the federal chaos. You can watch a recording of that event here.
I also had the opportunity to join Oregon’s Attorney General Dan Rayfield, Rep. Lisa Fragala, Rep. Nancy Nathanson, and other elected leaders for a community forum. We heard directly from impacted individuals, organizations, and communities, and we shared how the state is taking action to protect Oregon against unconstitutional federal activity. AG Rayfield is working with other Democratic states’ AGs to challenge executive orders in court – it’s an honor to work with him to protect the people we represent. You can watch a recording of that forum here.
From left to right: Rep. Lisa Fragala, Attorney General Dan Rayfield, me, and Rep. Nancy Nathanson
Bethel Community Center Federal Funding
We learned last month that $20 million in federal grants that would have supported the development of six community resilience hubs, including funding for the Clear Lake Community Center in the Bethel neighborhood, have been suspended with practically no warning. Community resilience hubs are an essential tool to help our communities respond effectively before, during, and after climate-related disasters, and it’s extremely disappointing to see these resources being taken away from our community.
The Community Center will be a vital resource for the Bethel community, providing much-needed space for local nonprofit programs and helping us prepare for emergencies. Proponents of the project are doing everything they can to open the facility as soon as possible, but without federal funding, it’s hard to say when the center will come online. That means when vulnerable members of the Bethel community have nowhere to turn, they will be forced to travel further to access the resources they need during extreme weather events, like heat waves, hazardous air, wildfire smoke, and freezing winter storms. That is unacceptable and is just one of many examples of the impact these federal funding decisions are having locally.
 |
Every year, the 4J School District celebrates outstanding educators, staff, and volunteers who are making a positive impact on students and the broader community by recognizing them with a Golden Apple Award. This year, House District 14 had 44 nominations – 23 educators, 18 classified staff, and 3 volunteers! Thank you all for the amazing work you have done in creating a learning environment where all students are seen, supported, and encouraged to thrive. It is an honor to represent a district with such incredible constituents!
|
Please don’t hesitate to reach out to my office if you need help navigating local or state government services or if you’d like to share feedback on any of the bills that have been introduced this session.
Yours truly,
 Capitol Phone: 503-986-1414 Capitol Address: 900 Court St. NE, H-271, Salem, Oregon 97301 Email: Rep.JulieFahey@oregonlegislature.gov Website: http://www.oregonlegislature.gov/fahey
|