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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 two upcoming Community Conversations. I look forward to seeing you there.
Join me online, Wednesday May 28th from 6:30-7:30PM, for a virtual Community Conversation. Click here to register.
Join me at the Hillsboro AVA Roasteria, on Saturday May 31th from 9:30-10:30AM, for an in-person Community Conversation.
Legislative Updates
May 2025 Economic and Revenue Forecast
Revenue Outlook
2025-27 Net General Fund revenue is $35.6 billion, down $337.1 million from the March 2025 forecast. The 2025-2027 General Fund net resources are now $37.4 billion versus March projected net estimate of $38.2 billion, a decrease of $755.7million. Lottery revenue for the 2025-27 biennium is down $42.3 million from the March 2025 forecast.
Reserve accounts as of March were $978 million (Education Stability Fund) and $1.76 billion (Rainy Day Fund). The projected ending balances for the 2023-25 biennium reserve account are as follows: Education Stability Fund: $1.01 billion and Rainy-Day Fund: $1.91 billion. The Rainy-Day Fund is projected to receive $334.7 million following the end of the 2023-2025 Biennium.
Kicker Outlook
A personal kicker of $1.639 billion is projected for 2025. Corporate tax revenue of $915.9 million is projected to be dedicated to K-12 education spending in 2025-2027.
OEA Economic Outlook
The overall economic forecast reflects sluggish national growth and a mild deceleration in Oregon’s labor market. Oregon’s employment fell short of expectations in Q1 2025, and the unemployment rate rose to 4.6%, up from 4.1% a year ago. Personal income growth also came in below forecast, with Q1 income data down 0.8% from March projections.
Looking ahead, population growth is expected to remain modest, averaging 0.5% annually through 2035. While labor market conditions remain relatively stable, the forecast notes a heightened risk of recession and continued uncertainty tied to national trade and fiscal policy.
OEA Corporate Activity Tax (CAT) Projections
Anticipated revenues for the current biennium (23-25) are down $21.8 million to $2.74 billion. For 2025-27, projected revenue is now $3.07 billion, down $44.4 million from March.
Forecast Documents
Federal uncertainty has led to Oregonians being more cautious about spending hard-earned dollars and a slow-growth business economy. The uncertainty is slowing the economic activity that fuels state revenue in normal circumstances.
Coastal states can feel the brunt of tariffs enacted at the federal level because of Oregon’s trade-heavy economy and our shipping container ports. Our state’s economy relies more on manufacturing and trade than most states, and it is especially impacted by tense trade relationships with countries like China.
There are also deep concerns for families afraid of losing long-term care for aging parents, federally funded preschool for their children, and Special Education funding for students in our K-12 public school system. Domestic Violence and Sexual Abuse Centers rely heavily on federal funding to help survivors seek safety through shelter, counseling, and support services. These are real people, with real immediate needs.
Where we are today will require us all to work together for solutions and to give Oregonians across this state assurance that together we will prevail, no matter if in Burns or Beaverton. We must continue to collaborate, plan for the real possibility of additional revenue decline and keep Oregonians informed, aware and engaged on the process.
President Trump’s escalating tariffs could slow down Oregon’s economy - OPB
Federal chaos leaves Oregon’s economic outlook sluggish, uncertain, short hundreds of millions • Oregon Capital Chronicle
Oregon’s economic outlook sours, leaving state lawmakers with millions less to spend than previously expected - oregonlive.com
Legislative Action Alerts
This Week's Testimonies and Floor Speeches
National Police Week - May 11-17
Update on Pilot Program at DPSST to Address Police Training Backlog
This week I met with Oregon Department of Public Safety Standards and Training Director, Phil Castle. He let me know that the current wait time from local hiring to training academy start date is now a mere days. In 2023, when I was the Co-Chair of the W&M Subcommittee on Public Safety, DPSST was experiencing upwards of an 8 month backlog. With additional funding provided by Senate Bill 5533 in 2023, DPSST added three 60-student classes and three additional 40-student classes held in collaboration with Oregon State Police (OSP) to the 2023-25 biennial training schedule. Read more here.
Director Castle is a proven leader, and DPSST has shown improvement under his strong leadership. I am proud to have assisted in providing resources to DPSST under his guidance.
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Week 17 Committee Snaps
Senate Committee on Energy and Environment
Public Hearings were held on:
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HB 3336 - Relating to electric transmission systems
Work Sessions were held on:
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HB 3681 - Relating to energy facilities
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HB 3729 - Relating to crematory incinerators
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HB 3546 - Relating to large energy use facilities
Informational Meetings were held on:
- Potential for Seaweed to Reduce Methane Emissions from Cattle
- Resiliency and Renewable Investments through Microgrids (House Bill 2065 and House Bill 2066, 2025)
Senate Committee on Education
Public Hearings were held on:
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HB 2251 - Relating to student use of personal electronic devices
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HB 2307 - Relating to fluorescent lamps purchased by school districts; declaring an emergency.
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HB 2596 - Relating to an interstate compact for school psychologists
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HB 2900 - Relating to teachers
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HB 3731 - Relating to reporting by institutions of higher education
Work Sessions were held on:
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HB 2307 - Relating to fluorescent lamps purchased by school districts
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HB 2556 - Relating to Portland State University designation
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HB 2649 - Relating to tuition and fees for public universities
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HB 3025 - Relating to the Oregon Opportunity Grant program.
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HB 3027 - Relating to injunctions regarding career school regulatory violations
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HB 3028 - Relating to degree authorization by the Higher Education Coordinating Commission
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HB 3083 - Relating to school safety
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HB 3218 - Relating to school attendance
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HB 3449 - Relating to a pilot program to provide support to foster child students
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HB 3694 - Relating to student athletes
Joint Committee on Ways and Means Subcommittee on Education
Work Sessions were held on:
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HB 5018 - Relating to the financial administration of the State Board of Licensed Social Workers
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SB 5512 - Relating to the financial administration of the Oregon Board of Dentistry
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SB 5524 - Relating to the financial administration of specified boards
- Higher Education Coordinating Commission - Equitable Water Access Investment
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Department of Education - Educator Advancement Council Grant Programs
- Department of Education - Lead Remediation
Joint Committee on Information Management and Technology
An Informational Meeting was held on:
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State Web Portal, e-Commerce, and Online Services
Joint Committee on Ways and Means
Work Sessions were held on various bills and agency reports. See agenda here.
Week 17 - Oregon State Capitol Visits in the halls and in #S207 (Your Senate District 15 Capitol office)
Policy Spotlight
SB 1016 - Dignity Through Duffels
Senate Bill 1016 states that the Department of Human Services (ODHS) may not use trash bags to transport a foster child’s personal affects. This bill is the result of many years of behind-the-scenes work, led by my former constituent, Seema Steffany, who has spent years trying to ensure dignity through duffels to our foster youth. Seema’s organization, Project Never Again, is not the only one in the state that does the good work of providing duffel bags to ODHS, however- she has been a driving force in pushing for lasting and meaningful, positive change within the agency. I first met Seema in December of 2020 when she reached out to my office to share about her organization and their work to acquire and prep thousands of duffel bags, to be donated to ODHS for the purpose of giving to foster youth for use when in transition. Her mission was to eradicate the use of plastic trash bags for this purpose, a practice that demeans a child and can make them feel as though they and their belongings are worthless. Her mission immediately resonated with me. Trauma is an onion and can have several layers of pain and memories. You never know when one of those layers will peel back and expose yourself to pain or tears.
I come from a home where domestic violence was present and one night, when forced to pack all my belongings in haste, I stuffed them in a trash bag and darted out the door to a hotel. I will never forget the feeling of shame when the hotel staff seeing my trash bag, asked me “what is that” and how horrible it made me feel. That is not a feeling I want ANY child to have to go through, let alone those entrusted in the care of our state. Over the last four plus years, I have worked with Seema and ODHS to get policy accomplished through rule making so that every case worker, across the state would have access to duffels, have a stocked supply to draw from, and know that trash bags are never an acceptable option. I am proud that Oregon can take the lead on this very simply move that provides dignity.
In 2023 we passed Senate Bill 548, which said that DHS had to maintain an inventory of appropriate carriers for use when transporting personal effects of foster youth, and had to report to the legislature anytime they used a trash bag. However, that wasn’t enough to stop the behavior and change the culture within DHS. This bill is a necessary update that provides complete clarity to the language in SB 548, explicitly saying that the department may not use trash bags to transport a foster child’s personal effects. It also provides clarity to the foster youth that they matter, that we see them, and that Oregon does not tolerate giving trash bags out to children that are already experiencing trauma.
I am happy to say that SB 1016 has now passed both the Senate and House chambers and is awaiting signature by the Governor to become law. Other states are watching and listening and ready to make their own positive change for their foster youth.
Watch Senator Sollman carry SB 1016 on the Senate Floor.
In The News
A bill to curb use of single-use plastic items in Oregon may be headed to the trash
Oregon Public Broadcasting, Dirk VanderHart, May 8, 2025
On Tuesday, Senate Bill 551 was unexpectedly sent back to a legislative committee from the House floor, where it had been scheduled for a final vote. That move didn’t come with discussion, but one of the bill’s chief proponents said Thursday a big portion of the proposal would be stripped out before it moves forward. “There were folks that had concerns with certain aspects of the bill,” said state Sen. Janeen Sollman, D-Hillsboro, who has pushed repeatedly in recent years to limit use of disposable plastic products.
As ‘placeholder’ bills surge in Salem, what you see isn’t always what you get
Oregon Public Broadcasting, Dirk VanderHart, May 5, 2025
A bill introduced by House Speaker Julie Fahey, D-Eugene, would limit the state’s 90 lawmakers to filing 25 bills apiece during the six-month odd-year sessions. State agencies and executive branch officials could submit additional bills.
“The current pace and volume of legislation is not sustainable,” Sen. Janeen Sollman, D-Hillsboro, said in a press release when the bill, House Bill 2006, was introduced. “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.”
Out and About in Senate District 15
Last Friday night I joined the most-recent class of the Portland Community College 'Grow Your Own' End of the Year Celebration. The Grow Your Own Program is a grant initiative under Oregon's Educator Advancement Council (EAC). It was wonderful to see the beautiful community of educators being 'grown' right here in Senate District 15, that will benefit Forest Grove, Hillsboro, and Beaverton School Districts.
Centro Cultural’s El Centro Mercado
Leaders in Senate District 15 gathered Friday May 9th to celebrate the grand opening of Centro Cultural’s El Centro Mercado. The Mercado is a free food pantry set up like a grocery store, providing our community a welcoming and dignified space to get free, fresh and local food. With a partnership with the Oregon Food Bank, Centro processed 315 tons of goods last year with volunteers providing over 1,100 hours of service. The Oregon Food Bank receives state funding.
The grocery style front of the facility is accessible at 1216 East Baseline Street.
The Mercado is open Monday-Thursday : 9:00 am - 12pm & 2pm - 5pm; Friday : 9:00 am - 12:00 pm. Find more information here.
Community Outreach
Oregon Cattlewomen College Scholarship - Learn more here.
Hillsboro International Air Show is May 16-18 - Bonnie Hays Shelter Tips for your Pets
Oregon | Este sábado 17 de mayo habrá clase gratuita y en español para las personas que están buscando comprar casa con seguro, DACA o con ITIN. - Learn more here.
Additional Resources
Senate District 15 – Event Calendars
Federal Delegation Links
Education Links
Food and Housing Assistance
Immigration Resources
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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