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Dear Neighbors and Community Members,
After six months of committee hearings, floor votes, and stakeholder meetings, the 2025 Legislative Session adjourned “sine die” on June 27th. We are now in a new period of legislative work—the interim. In the last three weeks, I've been lucky to enjoy three days of family time at the beach. I also had the chance to work remotely for five hours a day on transportation-related issues in Southern Oregon and catch up with friends and family in the evenings.
We accomplished some big things for working families in Oregon this Session. I am proud of our wins on major issues like education, healthcare, affordable housing, and consumer protection. To learn more about what we achieved for Oregonians, check out the “Legislative Updates” section of this newsletter.
This Session also ended with critical work left unfinished—we did not pass a Transportation Package. Over the past two years, a broad, statewide coalition came together and developed a comprehensive plan to maintain and improve our multimodal system. This proposal didn’t make it across the finish line, and the consequences are already impacting communities across the state. Below, I’ll share more about what this all means and the path forward.
I’ll be covering this issue and lots of others at my town hall at the Cornelius Library tomorrow at 4:00 pm. I invite you to join me!
In this newsletter, you’ll find:
- Information on my Town Hall Tuesday
- A recap of bills I worked on this Session
- Current status of my Transportation work
- An update on federal actions and Oregon’s response
Photos from my visit to the Applegate Lake and Cannon Beach
DON'T MISS TOMORROW'S TOWN HALL!
Join me tomorrow for my first post-session Town Hall! We’ll talk about what happened in the 2025 Session—our accomplishments and the work that’s still ahead. I look forward to hearing your thoughts, questions, and ideas.
WHEN: Tuesday, July 22nd from 4:00-5:30 PM
WHERE: Cornelius Library - 1370 N Adair Street
 
FURTHER REVIEW OF THE 2025 SESSION
In last week's newsletter, I offered my first reflections on the 2025 Legislative Session, including on the Transportation Plan (HB 2025), and on the key bills passed by the Democratic caucus. This week, I am sharing more of the highlights, including bills I sponsored that passed. I'm also sharing where things currently stand with the ODOT crisis and the need for immediate action.
As I noted last week, there are many accomplishments I am proud of from the 2025 Legislative Session. My colleagues and I worked hard to bring down the cost of living, demanded fairness for workers and consumers, and protected basic rights and freedoms despite threats of federal intrusion and overreach. While not all bills I introduced or supported made it to through the legislative process, below are several important bills that I am glad to share passed.
I was a secondary chief sponsor on several important bills in the 2025 Session because each of them made necessary changes to Oregon laws. Below is a selection of key bills I chief-sponsored that passed this session:
✅ HB 2299 - I was proud to be a chief sponsor of this bill, along with Reps. Mannix and Hartman. The idea for the bill developed after I received an email from a Forest Grove resident regarding the proliferation of deepfake intimate images being created to harass students. HB 2299 includes digital forgeries, or “deepfakes,” in the criminal statute on revenge pornography, which currently does not apply to realistic, digitally created or altered images.
✅ HB 3054 - This bill limits rent increases for renters in manufactured home parks to increases in the Consumer Price Index. This bill was led by my friend and colleague, Rep. Pam Marsh, and I was proud to join her as a chief sponsor. For many low-income seniors and families in House District 29, the 17 mobile home parks in our community provide one of the few unsubsidized affordable housing options available. I have heard directly from residents who fear losing their homes, and many of them would have nowhere else to go, which is why it was essential for the Legislature to provide this lifeline.
✅ HB 3180 - I joined my fellow colleagues representing Washington County to be the chief sponsors of this bill to provide $1.25 million for the Washington County Courthouse Replacement Planning Project. The bill did move forward, but only because the $1.25 million request for the Washington County Courthouse was included in an end-of-session budget bill instead.
✅ SB 1098 - The Freedom to Read Act prevents school districts from prohibiting the selection, retention, or use of library materials, textbooks, or instructional materials on the basis that the materials contain perspectives, stories, or are created by individuals or groups that are members of protected classes under Oregon’s antidiscrimination law. The bill was introduced and championed by Senator Lew Frederick, and I was proud to join him. Throughout my long teaching career, I have seen how crucial it is for students to be able to see themselves in, or identify with, the stories they read. However, those opportunities for exploration have been under threat in Oregon and nationwide, which is why it was necessary to pass SB 1098. For more on my support for SB 1098, you can view my Floor speech and a joint press release I sent with other members:
✅ SCR 15 - This Senate Concurrent Resolution recognizes and honors Hector Hinojosa Robles, a founding member of Centro Cultural and Virginia Garcia Memorial Health Center, for his remarkable contributions to the people of this state and particularly Western Washington County. I am proud to say that I have worked with Hector for decades on improving the lives of our community, and I am honored to call him a friend and to be a chief sponsor of SCR 15.
✅ SCR 17 - Senate Concurrent Resolution 17 celebrates the life and accomplishments of Colonel Richard Kidd and honors him for his service to our country. This resolution is very personal to me because I had the privilege of working with Richard for many years when I was a Metro Councilor and he was the mayor of Forest Grove. I know it is also meaningful to many of you, as every resident in Forest Grove has benefited from his service and significant contributions to our city in countless ways.
Last day of the Session! Rep. Sosa and I enjoyed a goodbye visit from our colleague, Senator Sollman, on the House Floor.
With over 3,000 bills introduced this Session, there was no shortage of good ideas to support. I was proud to sign-on to the following bills. I am thankful for the work of my colleagues who introduced and championed those bills in both the House and the Senate. Below is a selection of the successful bills I supported as a sponsor:
✅ HB 2134 - When renters lose their homes through no fault of their own, current law allows a landlord to require the outgoing tenants to stay a full 90 days after getting a vacate notice or face lease-break penalties if they leave before the 90 days are up. This bill, introduced by Rep. Tawna Sanchez allows tenants in good standing to give a 30-day notice to vacate instead of having to wait and pay for the full 90 days.
✅ HB 2964 - Requires the Housing and Community Services Department to award loans for the predevelopment costs of affordable housing
✅ HB 3187 - This bill addresses discrimination that older workers face when applying for a job. I was proud to join my friend and colleague Representative Nathan Sosa as a sponsor of this bill, which he introduced on behalf of AARP. The bill prohibits employers from asking for an applicant’s age, date of birth, or date of graduation until after the initial interview, unless the disclosure of age is a bona fide occupational qualification or otherwise required by law. Currently, many job applications require workers to disclose their age, or when they obtained their degree or certification. This opens the door for discrimination against older workers and prevents them from having the opportunity to interview for the position.
✅ HB 3199 & HB 3218 - require studies on Chronic Absenteeism, with HB 3199 focused on chronic absenteeism in general, and HB 3218 relating to the Tribal Attendance Promising Practices grant program
✅ HB 3560 - Addresses the shortage of childcare providers by expanding the area where childcare facilities may be located
✅ HB 3582 - Expands statute of limitations on child abuse & sexual assault cases to ensure victims can seek justice
✅ SB 690 - Delays residential eviction trials for 90 days for non-payment for families who receive OHP rental assistance and have infants
As I wrote about in last week's newsletter, we had the opportunity to address the current ODOT funding crisis in the recent legislative session with House Bill 2025. As a Co-Chair of the Joint Committee on Transportation, I worked on the bill to fund basic maintenance, safety, and improvements to our system. I find it frustrating that we did not vote on HB 2025 with the -28 amendment, and that the legislative session ended without ensuring a complete funding budget for ODOT.
The Legislature’s failure to pass HB 2025 means that ODOT cannot maintain even some of its most basic services for Oregonians and was forced to lay off hundreds of current employees in needed positions. These are workers all over the state who served on the front lines and dealt with emergencies during wildfires and winter weather, among other key jobs. Statewide, nearly 5,000 county road miles and 2,355 county bridges are in poor or fair condition, and ODOT lacks the necessary resources to repair or maintain state roads or assist with local infrastructure needs. Twelve ODOT Service Stations across the state are closing, and core responsibilities, including snow plowing, debris cleanup, and wildfire prevention, will be pared back.
I am currently working with legislators, the Governor and her staff, and community members on a path forward. I remain engaged in discussions with the workers, users, and payers of the system to consider ideas from all stakeholders.
Many of you may be asking: what are the next steps?
One option on the table right now is a special session—Governor Kotek has the ability to call all legislators back for a vote on transportation funding. I am ready to rejoin my colleagues to finish the work we started, and I support a special session. I will update you as more information becomes available, but the goal is still the same: ensure stable and sufficient funding for our multimodal system.
Another option under consideration is a multi-step policy process, involving short-term and long-term actions. This could mean further legislation in 2026 and 2027.
You can hear more of my thoughts on why HB 2025 did not pass and what it now means from this recent interview with KATU’s Steve Dunn.
Photos from our statewide, 13-stop Transportation Tour on Safety and Sustainability.
UPCOMING CHAMBER LUNCHEON
I will be joining the Forest Grove-Cornelius Chamber of Commerce and Sen. Janeen Sollman for a legislative update at the end the month. We'll discuss our takeaways from the 2025 Legislative Session and talk about what comes next for our community.
WHEN: Monday, July 28, 2025 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM
WHERE: Forest Grove City Auditorium (1915 Main St, Forest Grove, OR 97116)
IT'S WASHINGTON COUNTY FAIR TIME!
The Washington County Fair is the place to be from July 18-27 at Westside Commons in Hillsboro. This annual fair includes amusement rides, live entertainment, food, livestock exhibits, and more.
Admission is always free. Attendees are encouraged to take the MAX light rail, as traffic and parking can be challenging. Parking is $10 per vehicle ($15 for oversized vehicles).
Below are important links for anyone planning to attend:
VENDORS WANTED FOR 2025 CORN ROAST
Showcase your business or products to thousands of local families, visitors, and shoppers. Last year, the Corn Roast & Harvest Festival welcomed over 6,500 attendees—and this year promises to be even bigger!
Click below to apply to be a vendor and join one of the most beloved community events in Forest Grove. Spaces fill quickly!
VOLUNTEER ROLES OPEN AT HABITAT
The Forest Grove Restore & West Tuality Habitat for Humanity are looking for volunteers!
Volunteers can participate through a variety of roles: helping donors unload their items, helping customers load the items they have purchased, organizing items for sale, researching items that are donated to help price them, and helping keep the ReStore tidy and welcoming.
Click here to learn more about available volunteer opportunities.
CONGRESS GUTS CRITICAL SERVICES
On July 3rd—while families across Oregon prepared for the holiday—Congress passed a sweeping bill that hands massive tax breaks to billionaires while cutting essential services for working people.
This legislation speeds up deportations, slashes green energy investments, and expands logging while reducing support for rural communities.
It makes huge changes to Pell Grants, gutting key financial aid for graduate students. And it locks in Trump-era tax cuts for the ultra-wealthy, while offering crumbs to working people.
To pay for it? Republicans slashed Medicaid and food assistance.
1 in 3 Oregonians rely on Medicaid.
1 in 2 children are covered by the Oregon Health Plan.
1 in 6 Oregonians count on food assistance to feed their families.
This is a moral failure. Oregon cannot—and should not—be forced to choose between feeding families and funding tax breaks for billionaires. We need leaders who fight for our communities—not corporate interests. Oregon Democrats will continue to fight back.
AG RAYFIELD GIVES AN EDUCATION UPDATE
The U.S. Supreme Court issued a ruling this week on the Trump Administration's attempt to dismantle the Department of Education. The ruling is disappointing—it allows Trump to move ahead with mass firings of federal education workers—but the Oregon Department of Justice is keeping up the fight to protect public education. Click to watch the video below and hear directly from AG Rayfield about what this all means.
UPDATES FROM CENTRO CULTURAL
Centro Cultural is currently monitoring the impact of federal immigration enforcement on our local communities in Washington County. Regardless of immigration status, everyone has rights. Contact information for relevant resources from Centro are included below:
OREGON DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE SUES TO PROTECT FUNDING FOR OUR SCHOOLS
Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield, alongside a coalition of 20 other attorneys general, sued the Trump Administration over its unconstitutional, unlawful, and arbitrary decision to freeze funding for six longstanding programs administered by the U.S. Department of Education just weeks before the school year in many parts of Oregon is set to start. Without this funding, many educational programs will shutter.
“Oregon’s students shouldn’t pay the price for political games,” said Attorney General Rayfield. “This money helps support everything from special education to school meals to after-school programs – things that make a real difference in kids’ lives. Cutting these programs doesn’t just hurt schools – it hurts families and communities.”
For decades, Oregon and other states have used funding under these programs to carry out a broad range of programs and services. This funding freeze has immediately disrupted plans for the upcoming academic year.
NEW HILLSBORO FIREFIGHTERS COMPLETE ACADEMY TRAINING
Congratulations to the new class of Hillsboro firefighter trainees who graduated from the academy this June! They now move into phase two of their training, where they’ll work side by side with their professional firefighter peers.
Let's show our appreciation to our local firefighters by doing our part to keep our communities safe this fire season. Please take a moment to revisit wildfire awareness info from the Oregon State Fire Marshall by clicking here to learn more about cooking safety, camping tips, creating defensible space, & more!
CITY OF HILLSBORO HONORS DEANNA PALM
Last week, Hillsboro City Council recognized the Washington County Chamber of Commerce President, Deanna Palm, for her 24 years of service to our community. Thank you to Deanna for your commitment to uplifting our community by supporting local businesses, championing equity initiatives, and investing in future leaders. Pictured below, Deanna was gifted a personalized street sign to celebrate her leadership!
Click here to read about the event and Deanna's contributions to Washington County.
 
My office has compiled a list of resources for our community. You can click on the images below to open a document with the relevant links. If you know of a resource that should be included here, or you need a resource and are having trouble finding the information you need, please do not hesitate to reach out to my office at rep.susanmclain@oregonlegislature.gov.
EDUCATION RESOURCES
Click here, or on the image to the right for a list of Education-related resources. This includes links to the Forest Grove and Hillsboro School Districts, the Oregon and US Departments of Education, information on how to pay for college, student lunch programs, and much more!
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WILDFIRE-RELATED RESOURCES
Click here, or on the image to the right for important resources related to wildfire prevention and recovery. This list includes links to current fire restrictions and recreation site status maps, the Oregon Department of Forestry's fire prevention tip page, and important resources for wildfire victims.
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RESOURCES FOR OUR VETERANS
Click here, or on the image to the right for a list of important resources for Veterans, including links and phone numbers to the various divisions of the Oregon Department of Veterans Affairs, local Washington County assistance, supportive and community-based groups like the American Legion, and mental health resources.
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STATE & LOCAL GOVERNMENT
Click here, or on the image to the right for links to important local and state government pages, including the Hillsboro, Forest Grove, and Cornelius city government pages. You can also access the Oregon Legislature's page, and other important state agency sites, like the Department of Motor Vehicles, the Unemployment Department, and the Oregon Health Authority.
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Our work to maintain and improve our multimodal transportation system continues.
Yours truly,
 Representative Susan McLain
House District 29
email: Rep.SusanMcLain@oregonlegislature.gov I phone: 503-986-1429
address: 900 Court St NE, H-493, Salem, OR 97301
website: http://www.oregonlegislature.gov/mclain
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