|
Dear Neighbors,
I hope you are enjoying your summer in and around our beautiful district. We officially wrapped up the 2025 legislative session at the end of June and Interim work is well underway. The signing of bills, and the important work of implementation on recently passed policies has begun. I have been attending legislative conferences, convening policy work groups for future legislation, and attending tours, openings, and events in the district. In a few weeks, as you may have heard, the Governor has called legislators back to Salem for a special session to address unfinished transportation budget needs.
In this newsletter you’ll find an extensive, but high-level recap of new laws I’ve worked on and local investments I’ve fought for, along with a look ahead at what’s still on the horizon. I will cover many of the 2025 session’s meaningful wins and tough losses. With limited state resources, and a tight budget, not every good idea or critically needed investment made it across the finish line. Still, I celebrate the work we accomplished for housing, public safety, education, and health care. I remain committed to fighting for the unfinished work going forward.
Throughout the session, as always, I’ve kept your stories and advocacy at the center of my work. Whether we connected at town halls, over coffee, meeting in my Salem office, or at school plays and community events, I value when you share what matters to you. I hear from families trying to make ends meet, kids who need safe schools and supportive classrooms, neighbors who deserve stable housing, and so many of you who value economic opportunity and a government that protects the rights of all of our state’s residents. I continue to listen and center your stories in my work on your behalf.
Keep looking out for each other. We are greater together.
Before I jump in, I want to extend my gratitude to the team who made this session possible. From start to finish this crew had each other's back and made the work dynamic, exciting, focused and thorough. Marcella “Mitochondria” Martinson (Chief of Staff), Julia “Deep Dive” Salomone (Legislative Assistant), and Maddux “MaddSkillz“ Gillett (Legislative Intern) worked so hard serving both House District 26 and Senate District 13 this term. They all embraced the mid-session transition to serving in the Senate and brought their passion for meaningful policy and deep commitment to constituents to every day of our work together in Salem. Thank you, Team!
 |
From January through June, the regular long session, my colleagues and I discussed solutions to make life better for Oregonians. We addressed the cost of living, health and safety issues, housing access, defense of our rights, education needs and more. These are among the issues you and your neighbors raise when I see you at town halls, take calls in my Senate office, and meet up with you at community events. In this time of federal changes and instability, it is more important than ever to center your experiences.
I fought hard this session to address the cost of living (housing, healthcare and childcare, consumers, workforce), offer meaningful transportation solutions, protect our Natural Resources and Climate Future, stabilize preschool to career (P-20) education, invest in behavioral health, and center safety. Fighting for you at the state level against the backdrop of a federal administration violating individual rights and shirking responsibilities is a role I take seriously.
We sent over 600 bills to the Governor for signing, and received over 100,000 pieces of written testimony this session. Thank you for engaging. Here are a few more details about our work:
If you would like to pursue more information about any of the topic areas I emphasize below, I recommend pursuing these helpful links to the Legislative Policy Research Office comprehensive summary reports:
Otherwise, here are my quick takes on some of the most important bills I worked on this session, each with you and our communities in mind. This session, I was active in:
-
Freedom To Read Act: Preventing Book Bans (SB 1098)
- Prohibits discrimination when selecting/retaining school library materials, textbooks or instructional materials or when developing and implementing a curriculum.
-
State School Fund Current Service Level Calculation (HB 2140):
- refines school funding calculations to reflect real costs, codifying a 49/51 split and aligning state budgeting more closely with actual district expenses
-
Statewide Student Data Standards (HB 2508):
- Supports Education Accountability bill (SB141), and Chronic Absenteeism bill (HB 3199)
- Increases efficiency, streamlines student data collection, protects privacy, supports IEPs, Medicaid claims, highly mobile students, and budget processed
-
EI/ECSE Current Service Level Calculation (HB 2682):
- Modernizes funding model for early special education based on current data and needs
-
Support for Student healing from a Brain Injury (HB 3007):
- students recovering from brain injuries receive timely accommodations
-
Preserve District Enrollment for Hospitalized Students (HB 3063):
- students stay enrolled in their home school districts during extended medical care
-
Freedom To Read Act: Preventing Book Bans (SB 1098)
- Prohibits discrimination when selecting/retaining school library materials, textbooks or instructional materials or when developing and implementing a curriculum
-
State School Fund Current Service Level Calculation (HB 2140):
- Refines school funding calculations to reflect real costs, codifying a 49/51 split and aligning state budgeting more closely with actual district expenses
-
Statewide Student Data Standards (HB 2508):
- Supports Education Accountability bill (SB141), and Chronic Absenteeism bill (HB 3199)
- Increases efficiency, streamlines student data collection, protects privacy, supports IEPs, Medicaid claims, highly mobile students, and budget processes
-
EI/ECSE Current Service Level Calculation (HB 2682):
- Modernizes funding model for early special education based on current data and needs
-
Support for Student Healing from a Brain Injury (HB 3007):
- Students recovering from brain injuries receive timely accommodations
-
Preserve District Enrollment for Hospitalized Students (HB 3063):
- Students stay enrolled in their home school districts during extended medical care
-
Expanded Allowable Preschool Locations (SB 1099)
- Requires cities to allow preschool on lands where worship is allowed
-
Expanded allowable locations for Child Care Facility (HB 3560)
- cities will need to update local plans and land use regulations with the new zoning requirements by January 2027
-
Finding Background Check Efficiencies (HB 3224)
- to consolidate and streamline the number of background checks for similar purposes or programs
-
Perinatal Services (SB 692)
- OHA will support community-based perinatal services and requires insurers cover for medicaid
-
Department of Early Learning and Care continues to find efficiencies in governance and services
In 2023, I introduced and passed HB2717 to create pathways to licensure for outdoor preschool programs in Oregon. We must continue to find creative solutions to expand preschool capacity in Oregon and provide strong early learning opportunities.
-
International Licensure Pathways for Physicians (SB 476):
- Culturally responsive training requirements for licensing
- Medical Board may provide provisional licensure for qualified internationally trained physicians
-
Workplace Violence Prevention (SB 537):
- Tracking health care violence data
- Requires certain health care settings to take action to protect workers from risks
-
Doctors in charge of medical decisions (SB 951):
- Patient health over profit.
- Curbing private equity ownership prevents non-medical execs from overriding the judgement of physicians
-
Menopause Healthcare Insurance (HB 3064):
- Perimenopause, Menopause, Post-Menopause care must be covered by OEBB and PEBB beginning 2026
- Covered services may include HRT, antidepressant medications, osteoporosis prevention and more
-
Strengthened the Oregon Health Plan (HB2010):
- Federal govt slashing Medicaid. Not us.
- OHP Serves 1,400,000 vulnerable Oregonians (⅓ of Oregonians. ½ of Oregon’s children)
- These dollars stabilize hospitals (saving lives) and support long term care facilities
-
Firearm Safety (SB 243)
- Allows local governments to adopt policies banning firearms on their premises
- Bans rapid-fire devices
- Sets March 2026 implementation date for M114, passed by voters
-
Domestic Violence and Survivor Rights
- Removed reporting timelines for childhood abuse and sexual assault. (HB 3582)
- Closed a loophole that denied justice to domestic violence survivors (HB 2975)
- Funding for mediation in family court, which is proven to lower trauma for children involved in disputes (SB 97)
- Requires judges receive ongoing training on abuse dynamics and learn to handle sexual assault cases with sensitivity to create trauma-informed courtrooms (SB 710)
-
Addiction and Recovery
- Worked with Washington County to ensure stronger penalties for dealing fentanyl, access to funding, and expanded addiction services (SB 236)
- Secured critically needed investments in expanded behavioral health facilities, including Clackamas Recovery Campus (HB 2059)
- Ensured that at least one non-opioid prescription drug is covered by insurance as an appropriate alternative for any opioid prescription drug (SB 598)
- Required Oregon Health Authority to develop a nonopioid directive form to be available electronically to the public (HB 3211)
-
Housing Equity
- Prohibiting housing discrimination based on immigration status (SB 599)
-
Preventing Censorship
- Strengthens students’ access to diverse literature by preventing discriminatory censorship and reinforcing transparent, community-based decisions about school library materials (SB 1098)
-
Expanding Education Opportunity
- Allows asylum seekers, refugees, and other newly arrived Oregonians to qualify for in-state tuition and financial aid, ensuring that cost is not a barrier to building a future through education (HB 2586)
-
Know Your Rights
- Provides important clarification in Oregon law by explicitly affirming that informing another person of their civil or constitutional rights is protected free speech and cannot be interpreted as criminal interference, even while law enforcement activity is underway (SB 1191)
-
Supporting Justice
- Clarifies a clear governance structure, enforcement authority, performance accountability, and contracting safeguards for Oregon’s Public Defense Commission (HB 2614)
-
- Baseball, Festivals, Markets, The Arts
- Restored Recreational Immunity (SB 179)
- Industrial Site Readiness Loan Fund (HB 2411)
- $10 million helps unlock land for industrial development
- Stimulates strategic, long term growth and family-wage jobs
- Energy Affordability: We addressed the rising cost of Utilities
-
Manufactured home communities (HB 3054)
- Reined in predatory rate hikes on rental of land. 6% Cap, with exceptions for small parks and if a majority of tenants approve a larger increase
- Prohibits unfair management practices such as interior inspections or cosmetic improvements as a condition of sale
-
Banned online hidden junk fees (SB 430)
- Internet sellers must display and disclose all fees before a customer agrees to a purchase
-
Stopped medical debt from hurting credit scores (SB 605)
- Prohibits reporting medical services debt to consumer reporting agencies
- Declares that the debt may be voided if a consumer reporting agency tries to collect it
-
Bizarre Sidenote: One of the rare bills that I didn’t get to vote on due to the timing of my transition to the Senate
-
Fair Energy Act (HB 3179):
- Public Utility Commission to analyze cumulative impacts of proposed rate increases
- Requires that utilities provide an economic impact assessment on residential ratepayers before seeking any rate increase
- Prevents utility rate hikes in the winter
-
Performance-Based Regulation of Public Utility Commission (SB 688):
- PUC and companies will center public interest, not just profits, in rate increase process
- Performance targets, incentives, and penalties for utility companies to encourage positive changes
- Modernizes regulation and adds specific efficiency and reliability goals, and GHG metrics
-
Protecting Oregonians With Energy Responsibility - The POWER Act (HB 3546):
- Focus on large energy users paying their fair share to support usage and transmission
- Prevents residential customers from subsidizing the cost of running a data center
-
Worker Fairness
- Requires the Public Employees Retirement System to include information about overtime hours in calculating the final average salary of retiring members (HB 2728)
-
Consumer Protection
- Exempts medical debt from credit reports (SB 605)
-
Support for Older Workers
- Establishes new safeguards against age discrimination in the workplace (HB 3187)It was meaningful to cast my “yes” vote in honor of the late Senator Aaron Woods who was a chief sponsor of this legislation and whose legacy lives on in this and so many other impactful policies
-
Support for Doctors & Communities
- Prohibits new non-compete contracts for doctors, so they can continue to practice when they switch jobs (HB 3156)
-
Protecting Worker Pay
- Ensures accountability when construction workers serve on a project but don’t get paid (SB 426)
-
Supporting Worker Rights
- Specifies workers’ right to pursue justice when employers break the law (HB 2957)
-
Child Data Privacy (HB 2008):
- Starting in 2026, data for Oregonians younger than 16 cannot be sold.
- A child cannot be targeted for advertising, or consumer profiling
- Precise location of child cannot be identified
-
Car Data Protected (HB 3875):
- Specifies that the Oregon Consumer Privacy Act applies to vehicle manufacturers
-
Bizarre Sidenote: One of the bills that I voted on twice, once in each chamber, due my transition timing
-
Right to Repair Extended to Wheelchairs (HB 550)
- Manufacturer must make any tools and parts available to wheelchair owner or repair shops if that is also provided to authorized service providers
-
Wildfire Funding and Policy
- Studying effective community-based wildfire risk mitigation to increase insurance affordability (SB 85)
- Repealed Wildfire maps & partially funded wildfire response
- Invests in wildfire risk reduction, preparedness, and landscape resilience (HB 3940)
-
Addressing PFAS
- Banned PFAS in AFFF firefighting foam (SB 91)
- PFAS Biosolids Study will give information about the prevalence of forever chemicals on agricultural lands(HB 2947)
-
Water Use
- Allows certain small commercial gardens to access groundwater (HB 3372)
-
Brookman Pipeline in the City of Sherwood - Housing Infrastructure Dollars
-
$3.2 million secured for in-ground infrastructure enabling construction of new neighborhoods in Sherwood West where critically needed missing middle (47%), cottage cluster, and high-density housing will be built in future phases of development
-
Police and Public Works Facility for City of Tigard - Emergency Preparedness
-
$3 million secured for planning and design of new resiliency infrastructure: a Police and Public Works Facility that will serve as the Emergency Operations Center (Similar to Wilsonville). Focus on cross laminated timber and on-site battery storage
- State dollars prepare for and complement future local investment
- I-5 Boone Bridge in Wilsonville - Seismic Resilience and Capacity Improvements
 |
|
$1 million secured for geotechnical investigation and/or studies on archeological and historic resources, ESA/biological, wetlands/waters. State investment will get this project shovel-ready to ask for federal funding
|
-
Tensy’s Law
- Paid parent caregivers for medically fragile children
-
Equitable Special Education Funding
- Lifting the 11% cap on SPED $
-
Achieve School Meals for All
- Only 65 schools left across Oregon!
-
Improve School Facilities by restructuring funding pathways
- Keeping our schools in good repair
-
Advanced Esthetics Program at Coffee Creek Correctional Facility
- Expands education opportunities and tattoo removal program for adults in custody
-
Invest in Childcare Workforce and Affordability
- Childcare support is a critical to economic stability
-
Food Waste Reduction Statewide
- Creating a composting and Food Waste reduction program
-
Electric School Bus Infrastructure
- Supporting the change to electric as price equity with diesel comes to fruition
-
Animal Rescue Entities / Breeder Licensure
- Bringing equity and support to our AREs and Breeders
No matter what we pass in the special session, we must continue to work in future sessions on long term solutions to our transportation system challenges. That said, the policy being developed for consideration during the special session will likely have the following goals and components:
-
Prevent ODOT layoffs and Preserve Critical Services
- Transit, incident response
-
Protect
- 50/30/20
- Remove certain statutory references to tolling on the Boone Bridge
-
Revenue solutions
- Gas Tax +6 cents
- Registration Fees $42 base, +$30 for EVs and +40 MPG
- Title Fees +$139
- Additional 0.1% in payroll tax to STIF
I remain focused on protecting Oregon jobs, climate action, and our district’s top transportation goals:
- Protecting 50/30/20 distribution of funding
- Safe Routes to School
- Hall Boulevard Jurisdictional Transfer
-
Boone Bridge Seismic and Capacity ($1M)
- Transit
- WES to Salem
- Fair distribution of STIF
- HWY 99 Safety
-
Broadband Improvements
- $1M for King City, Sherwood, and Wilsonville - including new the economic development zone between cities and our new Wilsonville public works building
Wilsonville Pubic Works Building
-
Tigard’s Just Compassion Shelter and Resource Center
-
Sherwood’s Pedestrian Bridge opens this Fall
 Image Courtesy of City of Sherwood
The Sherwood Pedestrian Bridge is almost complete and will be open when school starts! Stay tuned for an announcement on a ribbon-cutting ceremony. All project updates can be found here. I am grateful for the shared vision, collaboration, and work that has gone into this project so our students can get to school safely.
-
Wilsonville's Vuela Affordable Housing Nearly Complete
- Ground floor services will be available
 Image Courtesy of City of Wilsonville
Vuela, a transit-oriented development at the Wilsonville Transit Center, is nearing completion of construction and is expected to finish in early 2026. This will provide affordable housing in the community. Its proximity to the Wilsonville Sharing food bank, community spaces, and SMART transit information makes it a space for our neighbors to thrive. Click here to check it out!
-
Clackamas County Courthouse
- I attended the Clackamas County Courthouse grand opening in May. It is offering timely, trauma-informed justice.
 Image Courtesy of Clackamas County
 Sen. Neron Misslin and Rep. Rob Nosse
We are in the final stretch of the Capitol Construction Project which is upgrading seismic safety, improving accessibility and redesigning a more welcoming People’s House. During the session, the construction team offered legislators a behind the scenes look at the project. Representative Nosse and I toured together during the session and got a glimpse of what is in the works. Many more committee hearing rooms, natural lighting in the basement, and expanded cafeteria options are coming soon. The Capitol Accessibility Maintenance and Safety (CAMS) team is working hard to deliver this project. You can find out more about CAMS here.
 An Education Committee Hearing in Progress During Session
We will be back in the building from September 29th to October 1st for the first of three Interim legislative meeting days. This is when legislators monitor the implementation of past legislation, lay the groundwork for new bills, and stay informed through informational hearings. While no votes are taken or bills passed, these days play a vital role in shaping future legislation and maintaining accountability.
Know Your Rights
The ACLU of Oregon offers resources to help you understand your rights. Whether you are interacting with law enforcement, facing immigration issues, supporting community members or participating in peaceful demonstrations, empower yourself with facts and information. Click here for more details.
Summer Food Program: $120 for Oregon children who qualify
Did you know that the Oregon Department of Human Services and the Oregon Department of Education partner up to offer financial support to families for their school-aged children when school is out? Visit Oregon Summer EBT: Food Benefits to see if you and your family qualify. Apply by Sept 3. Please note, some families are automatically eligible, and some may need to apply. The application is linked on the website, and there are FAQ’s outlined as well. Spread the word to ensure that no child faces food insecurity while school is out.
Help Hotlines & Important Resources
If you or someone you know is in need of support, help may be a phone call away. Washington County, Yamhill County, and Clackamas County can access local hotlines and resources for mental health, domestic violence support, legal aid, food assistance, extreme weather resources, and more. Please visit the links below to find the help you need. Additionally, 211Info can direct you to the support and guidance you need:
Washington County Resource Guide
Clackamas County Resource Guide
Yamhill County Resource Guide
My Next Town Hall
Thanks to all who joined me at my July Town Hall at the Tualatin River National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center for my July event. I reviewed the 2025 Legislative Session, answered questions from the community and heard your concerns.
I will do it again on August 23rd from 10-11:30am at the Tigard Library as I co-host a Joint Town Hall with Majority Leader Representative Ben Bowman and our new House District 26 Representative, Dr. Sue Rieke-Smith. Please join us!
Now that session is over, I’m thankful to have more time to spend in our District! I especially enjoy attending the knighting ceremony at The Sherwood Robin Hood Festival and the morning parade. This year Representative Rieke Smith and I visited the archery tournament, as well.
I’ve been engaging with local leaders, hiking local trails, tending a community garden plot, celebrating ribbon cuttings and bill signings (HB3644 Shelter Funding was signed into law at Just Compassion Resource Center!), meeting with community members, paddling the Tualatin River, sipping local beverages at Our Table Cooperative, touring an amazing organic composting digester in Longview, Washington, and celebrating Pride with Basic Rights Oregon.
I hope to see you at other events as well in Senate District 13 (Wilsonville, Sherwood, King City, Tigard, and Beaverton)! Mark your calendar for:
- Join Tigard Parks and Rec at Cook Family Park on August 20th at 5:00 pm for Petty Fever, a Tom Petty tribute. Click here for more details.
- Check out Tigard’s city calendar for an event every day of the week.
- Beaverton is hosting a Music Fest on August 23rd at Griffith Park from 12:00 pm to 9 pm. Admission is free and is open to all ages. Click here to learn more about the bands performing this year!
- Tualatin Hills Parks & Recreation is returning with Concerts in the Park throughout the summer at various locations. Click here for their entire lineup! Other opportunities for summer fun are listed on their webpage.
- Willsonville Parks and Rec is showing another Movie in the Park on August 22 at Memorial Park River Shelter. Admission is free, bring lawn chairs or a blanket, and check out their website here for their family-friendly movie titles.
There is so much to do each day so be sure to check out city and county websites for event calendars, find out what your local library is up to, and spread the word!
Please say “hello” when you see me out and about this summer and reach out to my office if you have policy questions, need help navigating state services, or want to invite me to one of your organization’s meetings so I can get to know the issues you care about. Let’s keep the conversation going.
Sincerely,
 Senator Courtney Neron Misslin
Senate District 13: King City, Metzger, Parrett Mountain, Sherwood, South Beaverton, Tigard, Wilsonville
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1713
Capitol Address: 900 Court St NE, S-425, Salem, OR 97301
Email: Sen.CourtneyNeronMisslin@oregonlegislature.gov
Website: http://www.oregonlegislature.gov/neron
|
