Dear Neighbors and Community Members,
Tomorrow is the day. Legislators from across Oregon are coming together for a special session to address our transportation funding crisis. We have the chance to protect critical jobs, keep our roads and bridges safe, and hold ODOT accountable to delivering for Oregonians.
As a member of the Joint Interim Committee On Transportation, I attended Monday's public hearing and listened to a wide range of voices on this issue. There were different perspectives on the path forward, but a shared feeling that Oregonians deserve a transportation system they can count on. Our funding proposal will stop drastic service reductions and preserve our aging infrastructure to help everyone get where they need to go.
The choice before us is clear: do nothing and face dangerous cuts—or act now to keep Oregon moving safely and responsibly.
 
What's at Stake This Special Session
Our transportation system has hit a crisis point. When the 2025 Session wrapped up without passing a transportation funding package, we knew we would need to come back to finish our job of providing basic maintenance, road safety, and transit services for Oregon.
Without action, here's what we face:
- Fewer snowplows
- More potholes
- More snow and ice on major roads
- Longer traffic closures because maintenance teams need to travel from farther away
- More trash and graffiti
- Slower response to crashes and other incidents
- Closed rest areas
- Reduction in transit service
- Nearly 500 layoffs of ODOT workers and hundreds of vacant roles unfilled
The current proposal will reconcile our current budget gap, ensure all users pay their fair share (including EVs), and strengthen oversight and accountability at ODOT. Half the revenue from this bill will go straight to cities and counties so local leaders can repair streets, keep buses running, and maintain rural roads and bridges.
We expect this special session to last between two and five days. Both the House and Senate will convene to read the bill, deliberate, and vote. On Friday afternoon, we'll hold an additional public hearing on the funding plan. The session may last through Labor Day weekend, so stay tuned for a recap newsletter after we adjourn.
🚦Public Hearing on Transportation🚦
On Monday, the Joint Interim Committee On Transportation Funding heard from communities around Oregon at a public hearing on LC 2, the special session transportation funding proposal.
I appreciated the chance to listen to so many Oregonians who care deeply about this issue. Local leaders from cities and counties across the state spoke about the importance of funding basic maintenance—making sure we have the workers and resources to fix potholes, plow snow, and respond quickly to traffic incidents. ODOT workers shared about the immediate consequences of inaction—the losses to their teams that will delay services and compromise ongoing work to keep our system operating smoothly. The cost of doing nothing is high.
Below, you can check out some information presented by the Governor's Office on the services and resources this transportation funding proposal will provide:
Click the video below to watch the full hearing.
Out and About in Washington County
Recently, I've had the chance to connect with our local community in Forest Grove, Cornelius, and Hillsboro. A highlight from last weekend was the Cornelius Fire Department Push-In Ceremony for the new Engine 8. Community members and local leaders joined to celebrate the new addition to the station. As is tradition, we transferred a bucket of water from an old engine to the new one to welcome it to the fleet! It was great to see Senator Sollman and other community leaders at the event.
Two weeks ago, Sen. Sollman, Rep. Sosa and I got together for a joint town hall in Hillsboro. We had a fantastic turnout and appreciated hearing from so many community members. It is always a pleasure to have town halls at the Hillsboro Civic Center!
I've also enjoyed catching up with local elected officials in our community. I've been connecting with City Councilors in Forest Grove, Hillsboro, and Cornelius through coffees and events. Councilor Christian Salgado and Councilor Olivia Alcaire joined me to chat at one of my favorite local businesses, Decadent Creations.
Every day I speak with transportation stakeholders, fellow legislators, and community members who care deeply about safety for all users. I met with several leaders this week on motorcycle safety issues and future opportunities to support multimodal accessibility. I also caught up with Oregon Transportation Commission Member (and former State Senator) Lee Beyer. Below is a fun photo with Commissioner Beyer, Rep. Tran, and I on our statewide transportation tour last summer.
 
GOVERNOR SIGNS ENERGY BILLS 🔌 💡
This week, Governor Kotek came to Hillsboro to sign policies that will lower energy costs for households, hold major energy users accountable, and support Oregonians struggling to cover their utility bills.
One of these bills was House Bill 3546, the Protecting Oregonians With Energy Responsibility (POWER) Act. This bill addressed a critical issue affecting the cost of living for our neighbors and community members right here in Washington County.
I am proud to have been a co-sponsor of the POWER Act.
The growing energy demands of big tech companies have unfairly shifted costs onto working Oregonians. High energy usage has driven up utility bills for families and small businesses in our region. The POWER Act will help correct this imbalance requiring that big energy users—like data centers or crypto mining operations—pay for the actual strain they place on Oregon’s electric grid. It sets up a special rate category so these large users cover their own costs, instead of shifting them onto households and small businesses. This bill is a step toward fairness, sustainability, and energy resilience.
Governor Kotek also signed:
House Bill 3179 – “FAIR Energy Act” (Fairness & Affordability in Residential Energy Regulation)
Protects consumers by limiting how often utilities can raise rates and keeping them from doing so during the high-demand winter months (November 1 to March 31). It also increases transparency—utilities must explain what you’re paying for and what rate changes are coming. The Public Utility Commission (PUC) can step in to soften unfair increases and utilities may tap low-cost financing tools like bonds when needed.
House Bill 3792 – Oregon Energy Assistance Program Expansion
Doubles the yearly funding for energy bill help—from $20 million to $40 million—for low-income and senior households to prevent shut-offs. The PUC must check every two years whether the amount is enough and adjust as needed. If they increase the funding by more than 2.5%, they must report it to the legislature. The new per-household cap also doubles—from $500 to $1,000 per month.
Senate Bill 688 – Performance-Based Regulation of Electric Utilities
Allows the PUC to adopt a new system where utilities are rewarded or penalized based on performance outcomes like reliability, affordability, clean energy progress, and wildfire safety.
Reflection on the Gun Tragedy in Minnesota
My heart is heavy with the news of yesterday's shooting at Annunciation Catholic School in Minnesota. My thoughts are with all those impacted—the community, school, and loved ones of the children killed and injured as they grieve and navigate this horrific act of violence. This must stop! Action is needed now! We cannot continue to let our children die in preventable gun tragedies.
 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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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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