I am excited to have so many upcoming opportunities to connect. Please visit me at an upcoming Community Conversation or Town Hall. Bring your thoughts and questions and meet fellow members of the community. I look forward to seeing you soon!
Community Conversation #150!! at Orenco New Seasons/Farmers Market. Sunday, September 7th. 10:00AM-11:00AM. We will meet on the outside patio at the Orenco New Seasons.
Community Conversation at Rogers Park in Forest Grove. Wednesday, September 24th. 6:30PM - 7:30PM. Meet at the tables under the shelter.
Save the Date! Town Hall with Senator Lisa Reynolds and Reps Mari Watanabe and Nathan Sosa. Thursday, October 2nd. 5:30-7:00PM at PCC Rock Creek. Register to attend at this link here.
Legislative Updates
Governor Kotek calls for a Special Session for Transportation Funding
Today, the House and Senate will convene in a Special Session to address transportation funding. We are expected to be in special session through Wednesday of next week. The proposal coming forward, HB 3991, has a goal to preserve critical services, support local transportation funding for projects, stabilize public transit agencies, and avoid large-scale layoffs.
I’ve heard from many of you who feel overtaxed and frustrated with ODOT’s mismanagement. I share those concerns. Households across Oregon are already stretched thin by rising grocery and utility costs, and accountability must be at the center of any new package.
I frame the transportation conversation into 3 buckets: People, Projects and Process.
People – Protecting Oregon’s economy means protecting jobs—both public and private. This package safeguards about 500 professional transportation jobs. We must also show the urgency for private-sector workers, such as those impacted by Intel layoffs and other cutbacks. A healthy workforce across Oregon is essential for strong schools, affordable housing, and accessible healthcare.
Projects – Deferred maintenance costs more in the long run. Whether it’s local roads in Washington County or snowplows in Hermiston, transportation is a lifeline for work, school, and healthcare. We cannot afford to fall further behind.
PROCESS - This to me is probably THE most important piece of the conversation. When there is a robust process during policymaking and throughout, a thorough checks and balance system, better policy can result with buy-in and trust from the public. When that is broken, it is very hard to gain it back. This transportation process and this bill are far from perfect. Several have worked many months across the state to find solutions, but in the end the clock ran out of the 2025 session, trust was broken, and tensions were on the rise. Oregonians could care less for the finger pointing and partisan jabs, they want real solutions and that starts with real accountability for tax dollars invested. Gross mismanagement got deflection and excuses, not from the workers showing up in 95-degree weather repairing our roads, bridges and pathways, but from those in management. When the commission and government officials did not demand immediate correction, Oregonians lost more faith and felt growing frustration. I do not blame them.
While I am encouraged by the accountability measures put forward in the bill, the proof will be in the action. HB 3991 creates a healthy start of accountability measures, but more guardrails are needed moving forward for tax stewardship and trust from the public. HB 3991 accountability includes:
Performance audits by the Secretary of State
Assigning hiring and firing responsibility of ODOT Director to the Governor
Establishing a repurposed Continuous Improvement Advisory Committee that will oversee 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
Additional review processes when local elements are added to state projects without corresponding local investment
In response to the request to repurpose currently budgeted dollars, the Governor's office made a committee presentation heard Monday in the Joint Transportation Funding Committee public hearing (Watch here.) On slides 8-9 specifically, it shows the unobligated HB 2017 State Highway Funds in more detail, highlighting that shifting those dollars away from projects would have serious consequences for impending bridge projects, seismic upgrades, other important interstate maintenance work, culvert maintenance work, and more. Additionally, the $80 million in this bucket is still far short of the roughly $300 million budget gap ODOT needs to close during the special session to protect maintenance and operations services Oregonians rely on, especially in our most rural parts of Oregon.
Here’s what HB 3991 means for Oregonians:
Preserves ~500 jobs statewide
Increases gas tax by 6 cents/gallon (calculates to $28–$35/year for the average driver)
Increases the payroll tax for transit from 0.1% to 0.2% (calculates from $3.35/month → $6.70/month for the median income earner in Oregon)
Ensures EV drivers contribute to road maintenance
Oregon’s trucking association, along with cities and counties, have urged support so projects can continue, roads can be maintained, and jobs protected. While far from perfect, HB 3991 is a step toward accountability and stability.
I have requested that an initial audit be done right away to provide us better insight to areas that we may need to make a timely corrective path towards.
I want to be sure that as we see additional investments in public transit, our expectations are focused on safety, reliable service and accessible outcomes.
Reports provided to the legislature must be fully transparent and available for the public to engage on.
We must hold drivers accountable for keeping their registration and titles current. This is also a fairness issue that I hear frequently about.
I remain mindful of the cost burdens families face and will continue pressing for stronger accountability moving forward. Thank you to all who have shared your concerns—your voice is essential in this process.
Check OLIS for floor session and committee postings. Those links will be updated after the start of the special session today.
I would also like to share what I am hearing from our local governments on this issue. Please read below a letter from Mayor Beach Pace of Hillsboro in support of the transportation funding package.
Economic and Revenue Forecast
On Wednesday, the Oregon Office of Economic Analysis presented the September Economic and Revenue Forecast. We learned that H.R.1, the budget bill, and unstable economic policies from the Federal Government will end up costing Oregon more than $800 million over two years. Federal tax breaks for billionaires will jeopardize the state budget for education, economic development, wildfire prevention, and other crucial programs. As we confront the challenging months and years ahead, I will continue to stand with Oregon workers, families, vulnerable communities, and small businesses—those most threatened by this massive federal attack on the prosperity of our state.
On August 24th, the Indian Cultural Association (ICA) of Portland hosted its annual India Festival at the Pioneer Courthouse Square. Celebrating India’s 79th Independence Day, the festival is a tribute to India’s rich cultural heritage. It aims to provide the local community with a glimpse into India’s arts, history, culture and people. Through dance, music, food and entertainment, this event illustrates the diversity and rich culture of India. With over ninety performances spread throughout the day, this free festival highlights a variety of traditions across the various regions of India. Specifically, the event showcases various performances, including traditional Indian dance forms such as Kathak, Bharatnatyam and Bhangra. Art forms like Rangoli and Mehndi are on display to serve as a reminder of centuries old traditions that are still practiced throughout India. Rangoli is a decorative pattern, prominently created on the floor using colored sand during Diwali - the festival of lights. Mehndi is another form of decorative art that women traditionally apply to their hands and feet during festivals and weddings. The event also presents an opportunity to try a large assortment of regional Indian cuisines that come from local restaurants. My favorite is Kulfi – the traditional Indian ice cream! As an active member of various cultural events, I feel it’s extremely important to celebrate the diversity within our community. India Day, a welcoming and inclusive event, allows me to feel a sense of community within my ethnicity. Additionally, it allows others to learn and appreciate my culture in a fun and insightful way. In my view, there should be more large-scale cultural events in Oregon, celebrating the various ethnicities residing in our state.
“This is about protecting Oregonians’ paychecks and keeping our economy competitive,” Chair of the Senate Committee on Energy and Environment Janeen Sollman, D-Hillsboro, said. “We’ve set fair, commonsense rules that cut costs, encourage innovation, and ensure energy companies are partners in building a stronger, more reliable grid. When energy bills are unpredictable, it’s harder for families to budget and businesses to grow. These reforms protect Oregonians from rate shock while creating a stable, modern energy system that supports jobs and investment.”
Janeen Sollman, Chair of the Senate Committee on Energy and Environment, highlighted the importance of these reforms in protecting Oregonians from unpredictable energy bills.
"These reforms protect Oregonians from rate shock while creating a stable, modern energy system that supports jobs and investment," Sollman said.
A year has come and gone since the Drake Learning Center opened its doors in the Cornelius Public Library, and the space has become what organizers envisioned: a place where students solder, stitch and 3D-print their ideas into reality.
Under a partnership between the local library, Adelante Mujeres and Centro Cultural, the makerspace has created a hub where students can engage in learning across science, technology, engineering and math.
Out and About for Senate District 15
Hillsboro Year-Round Shelter Tour
This week, I toured the construction site to see progress on the new Hillsboro Year-Round Shelter. With funding through Washington County’s allocation of Metro's Supportive Housing Services Measure, as well as state and federal support, the new 75-bed facility will provide life-saving shelter and support services while connecting guests with pathways to longer-term housing support. Once open, the shelter will be operated by Project Homeless Connect Washington County (PHC). The shelter's grand opening is expected later this Fall.
Western Energy Caucus Policy Workshop
This week, I attended the Western Energy Caucus (WEC) August Policy Workshop in Park City, Utah. The WEC launched earlier this year under leadership from former Colorado State Legislator, Chris Hansen, and I was asked to be a part of this diverse group of legislators. The WEC is a bipartisan effort to address critical energy challenges facing western states and is committed to creating a collaborative, bipartisan approach.
This month's policy workshop was a unique opportunity for caucus members from across the region to convene, collaborate, and drive forward solutions to the most pressing energy challenges facing the West. We were able to engage in discussions and policy-focused sessions centered on critical topics, including:
Western Transmission Needs: Load Growth & Demand Management
Farwest Trade Show - Oregon Association of Nurseries Visit
Last week I visited the Farwest Trade Show at the Portland Convention Center. With over 300 exhibitors, this event highlights the nursery and retail garden center industry, which we have many examples of in and around Senate District 15. I loved seeing new plant varieties, great garden design ideas, and I had solid conversations with nursery owners about the impacts of tariffs, climate and regulation.
"Oregon's nursery and greenhouse industry remains the leading agriculture commodity in the state. Oregon growers sold an estimated $1.22 billion worth of nursery and greenhouse products. An estimated 74% or more of Oregon’s nursery sales come from outside the state, making the industry a critical traded sector." ~ Oregon Association of Nurseries
New Fire Truck 'Push In' Ceremony - Cornelius Fire Department
Last Saturday was a special morning in Cornelius, a special community-building exercise in teamwork. There is historical meaning in dedicating a new fire truck, one that has personal meaning for me, as my dad was one of the founding members of the Gales Creek Volunteer Fire Department. Fire service is all about service to the community.
"A fire truck push-in ceremony is a symbolic tradition where firefighters and community members ceremonially push a new fire truck into the fire station, a practice that originated with horse-drawn engines that couldn't back themselves. The ritual honors the history of the fire service, signifies the truck's entry into service, and symbolizes the unity and commitment between the fire department and the community it serves."
Thank you to the Cornelius Fire Department for inviting the community to be a part of this special event.
Enjoy the long weekend as we celebrate Labor Day. A day for us to recognize the many contributions workers have made to America's strength, economy and well-being. As a Mom of two strong labor union members, I appreciate the safety and protection their unions provide them.
Be good to yourself and each other. ❤
Onward & Upward,
Senate District 15 lies on Kalapuya land. The Atfalati were the northernmost band of the Kalapuya that lived along the Tualatin River in present day Washington County. Many of the Atfalati descendants are members of the Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde Community of Oregon today. The Indigenous Peoples of this land experienced a painful history of colonial violence, sickness and removal from their land. The Atfalati are the foundation of Oregon's past and we must honor them well into our future.
