Dear Neighbors and Community Members,
As we welcome August, I hope are you and your families are enjoying time outdoors and exploring our beautiful state.
It’s also the time of year when we must be especially mindful of fire safety. With dry conditions and rising temperatures, many wildfires are started unintentionally by human activity. Whether you’re lighting a campfire, grilling in the backyard, or spending time in our parks, I encourage you to take precautions to prevent wildfires.
During these extra warm weeks, please check in on your neighbors. The heat can be hard on all of us, but there are resources and cooling centers available. Let's stay safe and look out for one another.
Our August town hall with Sen. Sollman and Rep. Sosa is right around the corner, so mark your calendars for August 18th, 6 PM at the Hillsboro Civic Center. My office is planning additional events and community updates for the next few months—be on the lookout for upcoming opportunities!
In this week's newsletter, you'll find:
- News on major education bills signed by Governor Kotek
- My thoughts on the transportation work ahead
- An update on federal actions impacting Oregon
- My visit to the Forest Grove Chamber of Commerce
- Details on our upcoming town hall
- Opportunities and events in House District 29
Picture above from the Forest Grove Chamber of Commerce Luncheon this week with Executive Director Claudia Yakos and Sen. Sollman.
 
GOVERNOR KOTEK SIGNS MAJOR EDUCATION BILLS TO SUPPORT STUDENTS
Last Thursday, Governor Kotek signed some of the most significant education legislation from the 2025 Session. I am proud to have worked on and supported these meaningful changes to our state's education policy.
I spent over 42 years as a teacher and speech-and-debate coach and was inspired to run for office to advocate for our schools. Since I've left the classroom, the needs of our students and families have evolved. Educators face new challenges and opportunities. One thing hasn't changed: every kid in Oregon deserves a world-class education. I will always fight to ensure our schools have the resources and support they need to make this a reality.
As a member of the Joint Ways and Means Subcommittee on Education, I worked with educators, community organizations, fellow legislators, and the Governor's office to invest a historic $11.36 billion in our State School Fund. But improving academic outcomes and student experiences takes more than just resources. We also passed important policies on accountability, literacy development, and financial stability tools for school districts. Here are the details on what this legislation accomplishes for our education system:
Senate Bill 141 helps ensure our public dollars are best used toward student success. This bill will streamline Oregon’s education accountability system and reduce the bureaucratic burden on school districts. With support and accountability mechanisms for education leaders, we can know our resources will translate into high-quality instruction for every student across the state.
House Bill 2140 - Financial Stability for Districts
House Bill 2140 updates the way Oregon estimates the projected costs of education programs. By modernizing our process for calculating the needs of the State School Fund, school districts across the state will be able to rely on more sustainable and accurate funding.
House Bill 3037 reduces the administrative burden for small and rural school districts so more time can be spent directly supporting students, families, educators, and staff. It empowers the Oregon Department of Education (ODE) to modify grant applications, reporting requirements, and establish funding floors across multiple programs for small districts.
House Bill 3040 builds on the Governor’s 2023 Early Literacy Success Initiative to help every child in Oregon read and write with confidence. This bill expands professional development opportunities for literacy instructors and requires school districts to adopt research-backed curricula to be sure students are learning with the most effective, evidence-based practices.
UPCOMING SPECIAL SESSION - AUGUST 29TH
As I mentioned in last week's newsletter, the Governor has called a special session of the Legislature on August 29th to restore critical funding for the Oregon Department of Transportation. In case you missed it, I wrote an op-ed in The Oregonian about why legislators must come together to finish our job of funding the essential operations of our transportation system. You can read it by clicking here.
In my role as a co-chair of the Joint Committee on Transportation, I have spent over two years laying the groundwork for a transportation bill in the 2025 Legislative Session that would allow us to sustain services at the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT). The focus of my work has been to maintain and preserve our system, improve safety and seismic resiliency on our roads and bridges, implement meaningful accountability measures for ODOT, and prepare for future multimodal user needs
We are focused on the basics: being able to fill potholes, clear roads of snow in the winter, repair crumbling highways on the coast, ensure our bridges are reliable, and maintain transit services that Oregonians depend on in both rural and urban areas.
I have continued to work with colleagues on both sides of the aisle, advocates, and business organizations from both Oregon and Washington that will be impacted by the success or failure of the new budget proposal.
During the regular session, we proposed HB 2025: a transformative bill that addressed both immediate funding needs for ODOT and restructured our funding tools to ensure the long-term sustainability of our transportation system. This bill did not pass, so our work to ensure stable and sufficient transportation funding will progress in stages over the coming months and years.
The special session is stage one: passing a budget allocation that stabilizes ODOT and provides for the continuation of necessary services. Here is a tentative list of what will be considered during the special session:
To avoid layoffs and service disruptions at ODOT, and continue the state’s practice of sharing revenues with cities and counties, revenue increases would be:
- 6 cent increase in the Gax Tax
- $42 increase in Registration Fees
- $30 supplemental fee for EVs and some high-efficiency vehicles
- $139 increase in Title Fees
- 0.1% increase in the payroll tax to help stabilize transit funding, particularly in rural parts of the state that are facing layoffs and service reductions
ODOT Accountability Measures from HB 2025, including:
- A performance audit by Secretary of State
- Governor has authority to hire and fire the ODOT director
- A repurposed Continuous Improvement Advisory Committee that will focus on overseeing on time and on budget delivery of major projects and report regularly to the Joint Committee on Transportation
- Greater legislative oversight on major projects and agency performance measures through review of the scope, schedule and budget of major projects by the Joint Committee on Transportation
- Additional OTC and legislative review when local scope elements are added to state projects without corresponding local investment
Mandatory Road Usage Charge program for electric and hybrid vehicles:
- Existing EVs start on 7/1/27
- New EVs start on 1/1/28
- Hybrids/plug-in hybrids start on 7/1/28
I will continue to update you as we prepare for the special session, and I look forward to rejoining my colleagues in Salem soon to continue our transportation work.
AG RAYFIELD CONTINUES TO DEFEND OREGONIANS FROM FEDERAL OVERREACH
The Oregon Department of Justice (ODOJ) continues to stand up against the Trump Administration's reckless attempts to cut critical federal funding.
Lost funding would put an end to programs that support our most vulnerable students, stop cancer and Alzheimer’s research at OHSU, and strip our state of FEMA disaster assistance for emergencies like wildfires, tsunamis, and floods.
Attorney General Dan Rayfield and the ODOJ have worked with other states to successfully defend our access to these resources. So far, this federal litigation has protected over $3.3 billion dollars in federal funds for Oregon. Our state leaders will continue to push back against unjust and illegal attempts to take away public services for Oregonians. Click here to read more about what's at stake and how Oregon is taking action.
AG RAYFIELD AND GOVERNOR KOTEK ADDRESS HARM FROM TRUMP'S TARIFFS
Oregon's Solicitor General, Ben Gutman, argued in a federal court hearing this week that Trump's tariffs are an unconstitutional abuse of emergency powers. It will be weeks or months before this case is decided, but you can hear from AG Rayfield and Solicitor General Gutman about how this case is progressing and how federal judges responded to arguments by clicking the video below:
 |
Earlier in July, Governor Kotek also took action to address the impact of tariffs on Oregon's economy. Tariffs have disrupted essential supply networks across vital sectors, including medical supply chains, food processing, construction, and all aspects of Oregon’s manufacturing base. To understand the severity of these consequences, Gov. Kotek directed several state agencies to analyze impacts and issue a report within 90 days. The Oregon Department of Administrative Services will gather this analysis and publicly produce a report describing the impact of the Trump Administration’s U.S. Tariff Policy on the State of Oregon.
FOREST GROVE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE LUNCHEON
Last Monday, I spoke at the Forest Grove Chamber of Commerce's Luncheon to provide a debrief of the 2025 Legislative Session. Sen. Sollman and I shared our about education, healthcare, and community safety accomplishments and spoke about the work still ahead. Thank you to the Forest Grove Chamber of Commerce for hosting this conversation!
JOINT TOWN HALL ON AUGUST 18TH
WHEN: Wednesday, August 18th from 6:00-8:00 PM
WHERE: Hillsboro Civic Center Auditorium at 150 E. Main Street
RSVP: Scan the QR code below or click on the flyer to reach the registration form. You can also use this direct link: www.tinyurl.com/mclainsosasollman
Share the flyer to help spread the word!
UPCOMING EVENTS AND OPPORTUNITIES
Check out these local events and opportunities happening in Cornelius, Forest Grove, and Hillsboro this summer!
Water Balloon Dodgeball at Zesti Carts
Sign up with a group, show up to play, or come by the carts to grab a meal and watch the fun! Click here for more information.
WHEN: Sunday, Aug. 17 from 2-6 pm
WHERE: Zesti Food Carts, 2131 Yew St.
Multicultural Business Vendors Fair
Listen to live music, watch dance performances, and shop local businesses! Click here for more information.
WHEN: Saturday, Aug. 30 from 2-6 pm
WHERE: Zesti Food Carts, 2131 Yew St.
Washington County Chambers of Commerce
Legislative Debrief
State legislators representing Washington County have been invited to participate in a moderated Q&A session. Attendees will hear reflections on the session and have a chance to ask questions and share feedback on the issues that matter most to local businesses. Click here to learn more.
WHEN: Thursday, September 11 from 4-6 pm
WHERE: Embassy Suites Washington Square, Tigard
Vendors Wanted: Corn Roast and Harvest Festival
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!
 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!
|
|
 |
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.
|
|
 |
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.
|
|
 |
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.
|
|
 |
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
| 
