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To contact me, please click here: Rep.TravisNelson@oregonlegislature.gov

From the House to the Finish Line

Our Legislative Wins

I am proud of my legislative wins this session with 14 of my personal bills passing and another 71 bills that I sponsored passing this session. Below are by personal priorities that passed this session: 

Protecting Workers and Healthcare Worker Safety

I have fought for workers’ rights for decades and I am proud to have passed several bills that protect workers in Oregon.

^{SB 537 - Creates workplace violence prevention requirements for certain health care entities.}

^{HB 2944 - Permits a labor organization to file a civil action against a public employer for failing to timely provide the labor organization with certain information regarding public employees.}

^{HB 2024 - Establishes award grants for the recruitment and retention of behavioral health workers. Includes some recommendations from the Joint Task Force on Improving the Safety of Behavioral Health Workers.}

^{HB 2957 - Protects workers’ rights by ensuring consistent timelines when filing civil suits for harassment and discrimination.}

Access to Healthcare

I have been working with the Sickle Cell Foundation of Oregon for several sessions on legislation to improve patient care in Oregon and we made strong progress this session. I also worked with Cascade AIDS Project to increase access to preventative medications for all Oregonians.

These policies mark important steps forward, but the work isn’t done. Too many Oregonians still face barriers to care. I remain committed to bringing forward legislation and working with stakeholders to find new and effective solutions that expand access and protect our most vulnerable communities.

^{HB 2741 - Establishes a Newborn Bloodspot Screening Program through the Oregon Health Authority to ensure all newborns are screened for medical conditions and families have the needed resources.}

^{HB 2940 - Directs the Oregon Health Authority to work with stakeholders on a notification system in Emergency Departments for patients with Hemoglobinopathies and Sickle Cell Disease.}

^{HB 2942 - Requires the Oregon Health Authority and Coordinated Care Organizations to reimburse pharmacists and pharmacies for prescribing, dispensing and administering PrEP and PEP.}

Improvements for Nurses

I worked with the American Nurses Association, Oregon School Nurses Association and Oregon Nurses Association on several bills that specifically help the nursing profession. Advocates for Disability Supports  brought important voices for students with disabilities and were the driving force for Hannah’s Law.  

^{HB 2789 - Allows registered nurses to be reimbursed for care coordination without requiring an order from a primary care provider.}

^{HB 2748 - Ensures that nursing titles are reserved for licensed HUMANS who meet Oregon’s statutory requirements.}

^{HB 2948 - Clarifies that only a registered nurse may supervise other nurses in a school setting when providing care for students.}

Justice, Equity and Inclusion

Even though there has been a shift in national rhetoric that is moving away from policies about diversity, I have not and will not stop creating policies that focus on marginalized Oregonians. I had many more bills that focused on social determinants of heath and health equity in general that did not make it across the finish line this session, but I will be bringing them back in future sessions. I am proud of the progress we did make this session.   

^{HB 2555 - Makes the Family Sentencing Alternative Program a permanent program to keep more families together.}

^{HB 3003 - Adds demographic data to the Department of Human Services annual child welfare report.}

^{HR 3 - Recognizes and honors the contributions of the Black drag community throughout in Oregon’s history and present day.}

Wins for the District

I am disappointed that bills on banning leaded gas at PIR and funding for emergency routes in North Portland did not pass this session. I will continue to work on these policies and will be using the interim to find non-legislative solutions for my constituents. I was able to get one important district win in legislation. 

^{SB 922 - Makes changes to siting and approval of full-service Bottle Drop centers. Adds some community engagement requirements for applications to the OLCC.} 

Saint Johns Community Center

I want to give a special thank you to the City of Portland for honoring its commitment to the St. Johns Community Center. In the middle of session, Senator Frederick and I sent a letter urging the city to maintain funding for this vital space. I’m grateful the city listened and chose to invest in a place that serves as a cornerstone for connection, wellness, and community in North Portland. This is a win worth celebrating!

Funding for Columbia Blvd. Emergency Route

Thank you all for your support and advocacy throughout this intense and emotional legislative session. It did not end the way I had hoped. Like many in our caucus and across the state, I was deeply disappointed by the collapse of the transportation package—a package that was also supposed to fund long-overdue infrastructure improvements in our communities.

I fought for Columbia Boulevard until the bitter end.

Many of you joined me in pushing for funding for the Columbia Blvd. Emergency Route, which is a critical project for the safety and connectivity of North Portland. I had hoped that HB 2025 would include increased support for the Statewide Transportation Improvement Fund, which could have helped move this project forward. Unfortunately, we learned late in the session that the bill lacked the necessary support, with NO Republican votes and a handful of Democrats unwilling to support new revenue. The bill ultimately died on the last day of the legislative session.

Looking ahead, I will be pushing for funding in the 2026 session for the planning phase of the Columbia Blvd. Emergency Route and asking other legislators to stand with me. I’m also continuing efforts to get BNSF to make improvements to their rail bridge, and I plan to reach out to Congresswoman Dexter to convene a meeting with BNSF and other leaders to get that conversation moving.

In the midst of these disappointments, I’m proud to say we did have real legislative wins this session. From patient safety reforms to labor protections and more.

I’m committed to continuing this fight for North Portland, and I’ll be reaching out later this summer with next steps.

Constituents and Community Events!

Every session, I make a point to stay active in the community whenever I'm not at the Capitol. I wholeheartedly believe that good legislation starts on the ground and by listening to people’s stories and witnessing their lived experiences firsthand. Thank you to everyone who welcomed me into their spaces and extended invitations this session. 

Happy Pride Month!

As Pride Month has now come to a close, I want to take a moment to honor the resilience, joy, and continued fight for justice within the LGBTQIA+ community.

Pride is more than a celebration, it is reminder of the power of authenticity, the courage it takes to live your truth and the importance of creating a world where everyone is free to be exactly who they are.

If you haven’t had a chance to see some of what I’ve shared in honor of Pride Month, and especially my remarks on HR 3, which uplifts the legacy of Black drag in Oregon—you can watch below. 

Let’s keep showing up. Not just in June, but all year long.

Pride Month Remonstrance - Oregon is the gayest state in the nation!

Happy Pride Month Remonstrance

House Resolution 3 (Honoring Black Drag History in Oregon)

Additional Highlights

Rep Nelson Nurse Week Remonstrance

Rep Nelson Floor Speech on SB 916

Rep Nelson Floor Speech HB 1098

Juneteenth Remonstrance 

I Got Passionate About SB 1173

On the last day of session, SB 1173 made its way to the House floor and I won’t lie, I was upset.

I stood and spoke with emotion because this bill touched a nerve. As a nurse and a legislator, I’ve seen firsthand what happens when large hospital systems put profits over patients. It is not theoretical. It is real. It’s personal. It is also happening in Oregon.

Earlier this session, I introduced HB 2794 in direct response to a deeply troubling event involving faulty medical devices at a major hospital system that also operates in our state. The story is hard to believe, but hundreds of nurses reported issues with a new IV catheter causing vascular harm and inflammation. It took over three months for that system to fully stop using the devices, even after more than 2,000 providers raised the alarm.

Imagine being the nurse who knows the equipment could harm your patient but is still forced to use it. That’s not just wrong, it’s heartbreaking. As a medical professional, it is also unacceptable.

We cannot allow systems to move slowly when people’s lives are on the line. Silence, delay, and dismissal should never be standard operating procedures in healthcare!

"I am speaking to this bill today, because the more I dive into this bill the more disturbed I am. I truly believe if this bill passes more Oregonians will be injured and more Oregonians will die."

You can watch my remarks here.

What is Next

Fall Townhall

Save the Date:  September 13th

I’ll be hosting a Town Hall alongside Senator Frederick and Representative Sanchez on Friday, September 13th! Keep an eye out for more details to come in our next newsletter. I hope to see you there so we can debrief about the session and talk more about what is next!

Thank You

Travis Nelson
State Representative
House District 44

Capitol Phone: 503-986-1444
Capitol Address: 900 Court St. NE, H-275, Salem, Oregon 97301
Email: Rep.TravisNelson@oregonlegislature.gov
Website: http://www.oregonlegislature.gov/nelson​