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To contact me, please click here: Rep.ShannonIsadore@oregonlegislature.gov
Friends and Neighbors,
We are well into the final stretch of session and rapidly approaching “sine die,” the constitutional end of session, on June 29. Legislative work is not winding down though, far from it. Conversations about the transportation package (HB 2025) are continuing, with the Joint Committee on Transportation holding four public hearings on the 100+ page bill last week. I have heard from colleagues, advocates, and constituents about the urgent need for investments in transit, safety, and infrastructure. I will continue to keep the diverse perspectives and needs of House District 33 top of mind as these discussions continue.
These last few precious weeks are when budgets are passed, which means that lawmakers not on Ways and Means committees are left waiting until the end of the session to find out if their projects and budget requests will be funded. I hope to have updates for you on that front in my next newsletter! Until then, I am continuing to spend my days largely on the House floor, and, of course, attending to the ever changing needs of my behavioral health clinic!
 I am so proud of this year's National Merit Scholars! This prestigious award was granted to 28 Oregon seniors who will receive the $2,500 National Merit Scholarship. I want to specifically highlight two scholars hailing from my alma mater, Lincoln High School. After graduating, Richard will be off to the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia and Coral is heading to Cornell University. Congratulations to these incredible students and I wish them the best in their future endeavors.
 Recently, HD 33's Lincoln High School Boys Tennis Team earned first place at the OSAA State Championship in Tualatin. So proud of this team for all of their hard work this season!
SB 1098
After much debate, SB 1098 has passed the House! This bill will prohibit teachers, schools, and districts from discriminating against books featuring protected classes when selecting or retaining school library materials. Book bans disproportionately target books by or about people of color, women, and LGBTQ+ people. This bill is an important step toward protecting integrity in our schools as marginalized communities come under attack. I am proud to stand up for the rights of our students to read stories that reflect their lived experience and am eager to see this bill signed into law by the Governor.
SB 916
I have heard from many of you about my vote on SB 916, which would allow striking workers to claim unemployment benefits under certain circumstances. As a business owner, please know that I did not take my “aye” vote lightly. At its core, this bill is designed to help people have a minimal income during strikes.
I come to this bill with trust. Trust that workers bargain in good faith. Trust that strikes are used as a last resort to resolve impasses. Trust that public institutions and small businesses will not be unfairly burdened as a result of the negotiated safeguards in the bill. And trust that, when strikes do occur, they are undertaken with care, gravity, and out of necessity to find a positive and constructive outcome.
This bill includes some guardrails, including a cap on benefits to protect the Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund, because we also have a responsibility to protect the financial sustainability of the public systems we all rely on. Most recently, select legislators re-negotiated the bill to bring down the maximum allowable benefit to 10 weeks. I voted in favor of that adjustment as it’s an important compromise to ensure financial stability for all. If this bill is signed into law, I plan to monitor its implementation very closely to ensure this policy is working as intended, and promise to revisit this discussion if not.
 Public Health Equity Request for Grant Application
OHA will be hosting a series of informational webinars and application open office sessions for the new Public Health Equity Request for Grant Application (RFGA), which opens on July 1, 2025. These grants are applicable for a variety of uses for behavioral and public health organizations, including community resilience, overdose prevention, adolescent health, and more!
Whether you are a seasoned grant applicant or new to the process, these sessions will provide the tools and knowledge you need to submit a strong application. There will be informational sessions and an open office session where OHA will be answering any technical and budget-related questions regarding the Public Health Equity Grant application. To check your eligibility, register in either English or Spanish, or to learn more, visit their website here.
 Happy Juneteenth, HD 33! Juneteenth marks the day in 1865 when the last remaining enslaved Americans were finally informed of the end of the Civil War and of the Emancipation Proclamation. Today, we celebrate Juneteenth to commemorate the liberation of enslaved people in the United States and honor the resilience of Black Americans.
On June 19th, we celebrate freedom, remember how far we've come, and reflect on how far we can go in the future. Here are some events highlighting Black history, creativity, and joy.
Clara Peoples Freedom Trail Parade
 I invite you to join Portland's Clara Peoples Freedom Trail Parade down Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard and the following Juneteenth Festival in Lillis Albina Park - both on June 21st! The festival will have guest speakers, stage performers, live music entertainment, vendors, exhibits, and children’s activities. Find out more info on the event at https://juneteenthor.com/
RACE TALKS: The 4th Annual History of Black Drag in Portland
 I would also like to highlight the About Race Talks event that will cover the 4th Annual History of Black Drag in Portland. This event is an intersectional celebration of Juneteenth and Pride that will explore the historical and contemporary experience of Black drag in Portland, Oregon. This event features an all-star panel of local Black drag queens followed by fabulous drag performances. All ages are welcome! You can get tickets here.
Later this week, I will be speaking on the House floor in support of a resolution that I am co-sponsoring to honor the history of Black drag in Oregon. The resolution recognizes Black drag performers' invaluable contributions to Oregon’s rich cultural history, which include developing life-saving educational programs, fundraising for charities, engaging in direct advocacy, and creating welcoming spaces for all. I am proud to be a Chief Sponsor of this resolution and look forward to rising in support of it on the floor. Follow me on social media to be notified when I share my speech.
BlackOut City Club Discussion
 Join the City Club of Portland for an event featuring Donovan Scribes and three BlackOut writers in a panel discussion titled "State of Racial Justice: A Five Year Retrospective of Portland’s Black Lives Matter Movement" on Wednesday, June 18 at the Old Church. Just as BlackOut featured Black Portlanders reflecting on the murder of George Floyd, Portland’s 2020 protests, and the work that still remains, the City Club’s first-of-its-kind State of Racial Justice event, created because of BlackOut, will bring this necessary discussion to life.
Featured BlackOut panelists include award-winning writer and producer and creative visionary behind BlackOut Donovan Scribes as moderator, former president of the Portland NAACP Sharon Gary-Smith, director of Reimagine Oregon Justice Rajee, and journalist Mac Smiff.
There will also be a live hip-hop performance from Glenn Waco and a screening of Dear Young Black Portland, a short film written by Scribes, narrated by Gary-Smith, and directed by award-winning filmmaker Devin Boss. Seating is limited, so get your tickets now!
My People’s Market
 Held twice a year since its creation in the fall of 2017, My People’s Market brings together dozens of local artists, entrepreneurs and creatives of color for live music, networking and shopping.
Developed by four local nonprofits, the first My People’s Market was held in 2017 and connected Portland creators of color with the travel industry and professionals who could help expand and scale their businesses. While this isn't a Juneteenth event, it's a great opportunity to support BIPOC business owners right here in Portland. My People’s Market will be held on June 28th and 29th in the Rose Quarter Commons. Attendees can shop, eat, drink, and dance throughout the evening, and most importantly, support local businesses!
 Mother’s Bistro & Bar has grown over the years from a charming 90-seat restaurant on Stark Street to a gorgeous 200-seat Portland institution in the Embassy Suites by Hilton Hotel. Voted as Restaurant of the Year by Portland’s Willamette Week, Best Comfort Food, Best Brunch, and Best Lunch Spot by numerous publications and one of America’s Top Restaurant Bargains by Food and Wine Magazine, Mother’s Bistro & Bar is now a destination spot for anyone who comes to downtown Portland
Thank you for reading! You are welcome to send me an email at rep.shannonisadore@oregonlegislature.gov or call my office at 503-986-1433. Stay tuned for more newsletters with updates or follow me on Facebook, Instagram, and Bluesky.
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Shannon Jones Isadore
State Representative
House District 33
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Capitol Phone: 503-986-1433
Capitol Address: 900 Court St. NE, H-276, Salem, Oregon 97301
Email: Rep.ShannonIsadore@oregonlegislature.gov
Website: https://www.oregonlegislature.gov/isadore
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