 * “I am only one, but still I am one. I cannot do everything, but still I can do something; And because I cannot do everything I will not refuse to do the something that I can do.”
—Helen Keller
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To contact me, please click here: Sen.JeffGolden@oregonlegislature.gov
 With just over a month left in the 2025 session, here are updates on a few unsettled issues worth watching.
It’s been a month since the Senate voted unanimously to repeal the wildfire hazard map by passing SB 83. Support is probably as strong in the House, but it hasn’t yet reached the Floor. I appreciated a long-form opportunity on OPB’s Think Out Loud series to talk about the map’s origins and why it went off-course. That interview is here.
My most stubborn work this session has been pushing to transform the pending income tax kicker—very likely the last one we’ll see for a long time—into a trust fund that would permanently generate interest earnings for wildfire programs. I’ve been distributing this simple flyer to drive the point home.
This week Governor Kotek brought a lot more attention to the idea. Here’s thorough coverage of the idea. The Oregonian also ran a helpful piece.
Nobody sees repurposing the kicker as a done deal, but it’s definitely gaining strength as other options for steady wildfire funding run into rough ground. We might actually be able to do this.
And yesterday morning I took a moment on the Senate floor to try to straighten out what feels like a purposeful twisting of what the income tax kicker is all about.
No session would be complete without a fiercely contentious gun safety bill. This session it’s SB 243, which started out with three provisions:
- A ban on “rapid fire activators” like bumpstocks, devices that essentially turn ordinary guns into automatic or semi-automatic weapons.
- Permission for local governments to restrict firearms as much as they want in public buildings they own (school districts were given that authority in legislation two years ago).
- A minimum 72-hour waiting period after purchase before a buyer can take possession of a firearm, designed to reduce impulsive gun violence.
After weeks of negotiations, the waiting period requirement was dropped. The other two remain in the bill that passed through the Senate Judiciary and Rules Committees on exact and unsurprising party line votes. It should come to the Floor soon.
There’s really nothing new to report on this session’s gun battle. The bill drew a lot of support from gun safety groups like Moms Demand Action and plenty of citizens, some of whom wanted it to be stronger. Plenty others were bitterly opposed. While some had nuanced comments, most seemed to genuinely believe that literally any restriction of any kind is egregiously unconstitutional, a line that can’t be crossed if we are to remain a free people.
Before we voted on the bill on the Rules Committee, Senator James Manning and I invoked what has become a famous quotation from the conservative icon and late Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia: “The Second Amendment…is not a right to keep and carry any weapon whatsoever in any manner whatsoever and for whatever purpose.”
This is not an argument that will end in my lifetime.
I’ll be in touch as we enter the session's closing days. All best until then—
 Senator Jeff Golden, Oregon Senate District 3
As we get further into session, staff thought we'd share more about our roles and what our day-to-day tasks look like.
Sarah Settimo, Chief of Staff:
As Chief of Staff, my main role is to provide executive support to Senator Golden and help execute his goals for the session.
A central part of my job is policy/bill management. At the forefront of my mind each day is ensuring that Senator Golden’s committee and personal bills are on track and anticipating steps that need to be taken to advance his goals.
In addition to Senator Golden’s bills, I track other Legislators’ bills moving through the legislative process. As I track those bills, I alert Senator Golden to bills he may want to testify on in committee and bills of interest coming up for a vote on the Senate Floor.
My day-to-day responsibility along with policy work is to ensure that the office runs smoothly and I oversee Gabe's policy research, communications, and constituent relations.
This is my fifth session, and my second session in this role. Every session brings up different challenges and high points. Through it all, my drive comes from my love of Southern Oregon and desire to see Senator Golden’s bills succeed.
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Vincent Flores, Legislative Aide:
This is my second session in the Oregon Legislature, the first as a Legislative Assistant (LA). In my role, whether as an LA or during my internship, there is always work to be done—whether it’s tracking specific bills or committees, organizing meetings, or generally staffing the office. However, what I’ve found to be key in my current position is constituent services.
Three months into the session, I’ve had the privilege of responding to hundreds of emails and engaging with countless Oregonians over the phone, helping them in any way I can. Whether it’s guiding them on how to track a bill, sign up for a public hearing, connecting them to the services they need, or even getting them in touch with the proper legal help, I’m dedicated to providing assistance. I’ve also passed along constituents' concerns directly to the Senator when necessary.
My goal is simple: to help Oregonians feel heard and supported in any way I can, as that is the core of my job.
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Gabriel Gottfried, Intern:
My main job is doing research on bills. I research bills that are important to our office and compare them to similar laws in other states to see how they’re different or similar. I also help keep track of the many bills moving through committees in both the House and Senate, paying extra attention to bills that people in the district say are important to them.
I also sometimes help prepare summaries or updates for meetings and events. For example, I occasionally attend committee hearings and write summaries of the testimony when a bill of interest is being heard.
I really enjoy the privilege of supporting this work and learning more about how policy is made and how it affects Oregonians.
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Oregon Environmental Council, in partnership with Southern Oregon Climate Action Now and Energy Trust of Oregon, will host a presentation on energy-efficient heat pumps, water heaters, and thermostats at the Medford Public Library on Tuesday, May 27th from 6:00 – 7:30 pm. The event will cover current incentives available to help Medford residents upgrade their homes with more efficient heating and cooling technologies.
Unemployment Insurance:
If you are experiencing difficulties accessing unemployment insurance, please contact our office by calling (503) 986-1703 or emailing sen.jeffgolden@oregonlegislature.gov
Food Assistance:
ACCESS operates 30+ food pantries in Jackson County, offering 3-5 days of meals for low-income residents.
Eligibility:
- Must live in Jackson County
- Meet USDA TEFAP Income Guidelines
- No ID or proof of income is required.
Legal Challenges to the Trump Administration's Actions:
- A comprehensive tracker by Just Security monitors the legal disputes against the Trump administration's executive orders and actions, covering areas like immigration, federal spending, and diversity programs. As of March 4, 2025, the tracker lists 96 active cases, providing case names, filing dates, summaries, and recent updates.
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