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To contact me, please click here: Rep.JulieFahey@oregonlegislature.gov

Hello Friends,

Although our regular legislative session ended in June, the last few months have been incredibly busy with legislative work – from a special session on transportation to dealing with big budget cuts from the federal government and planning for our 2026 session. I’ve also had the chance to connect with constituents, visit colleagues in other parts of the state, and celebrate new education wins. Read on for my thoughts on the Special Session, the September revenue forecast, HR 1, a preview of September Legislative Days, and more. 

Special Session

Oregon’s transportation system is showing the wear of decades of delayed maintenance and budget shortfalls. Snowplows are behind schedule, potholes are going unfilled, maintenance work on bridges is delayed, and public transit agencies are warning of major cuts. These problems are already affecting our daily lives and ability to safely get around our communities.   

Cities and counties across Oregon are struggling to keep up with basic transportation maintenance. Here in Eugene, as Lookout Eugene-Springfield reports, local leaders are dipping into reserves just to cover routine roadwork—and 12% of city streets are already in poor or very poor condition. And it isn't just Lane County and Eugene: Oregon’s 36 counties have an annual $271.2 million funding gap for capital and maintenance safety project needs.

That’s why the legislature has returned for a special session to consider a transportation funding proposal focused on safety and maintenance. The bill under consideration is a responsible, balanced solution:

• This plan spreads out modest increases across the gas tax, registration fees, and a 0.1% payroll tax increase – the goal of this approach is to keep the financial burden as low as possible while raising enough to prevent significant service reductions. 
• Half of all gas tax revenue will go directly to cities and counties, giving local governments the breathing room they need to tackle their own priorities and fix the roads and bridges that matter most to their communities.
• The bill will also keep buses running and give maintenance crews what they need to keep state roads and bridges safe
• Key provisions in the bill will strengthen oversight and accountability at ODOT: regular performance audits, tighter oversight of major projects, and safeguards to ensure local projects don’t expand beyond scope and budget. Oregonians deserve to know their money is being used wisely, and this bill makes sure of it.  

This special session is our opportunity to stabilize critical city, county, and statewide transportation services now, while laying the groundwork for a sustainable, long-term funding solution. Without action, the consequences are real: more broken axles, fewer bus routes, and more delays, and even more unsafe conditions on roads and bridges across Oregon.    We know this proposal doesn’t solve every challenge. Oregon’s transportation system still faces long-term challenges that we’ll need to keep working on. But this bill will make a real difference–businesses will have safe, reliable roads to move their goods; workers will be able to get to their jobs dependably; and families can count on safe connections to schools, the doctor’s office, and groceries. The Oregon House passed the bill on September 1st, and the Senate is scheduled to vote on Monday, September 29th.

September Revenue Forecast

September’s revenue forecast confirms that Trump's economic policies are squeezing families and destabilizing our state budget. Economists are now predicting a decline of $845.5 million in revenue from the previous forecast for the 2025-27 budget cycle—this is a direct result of reckless federal policies that are cutting off resources to our state. 

Congressional Republicans’ Big Ugly Bill (HR 1) is the driving force behind this downturn. This budget cycle alone, the bill is projected to cost Oregon $888 million in state revenue that supports Oregon schools, critical services, and programs. As if that wasn’t enough, Trump’s tariffs and the uncertainty around them are causing job losses across the country in the manufacturing and trade sectors, increasing the cost of living for Americans, and slowing our economic growth.  

The bottom line: Trump’s economic chaos is leaving working families, small businesses, and communities around our state vulnerable.

Impacts of Trump’s “Big Ugly Bill”

In addition to the impact of HR 1 on Oregon’s economic forecast, the bill means that Oregon will also lose over $1 billion in federal funding for healthcare and food assistance in 2025-27, and a total of $15 billion over the next 6 years. These changes will result in hundreds of thousands of Oregonians losing health care coverage and will make it harder for many families to put food on the table. No state budget—not ours, not any state’s—can backfill cuts this deep.

This means that hospitals, especially in rural areas, are at risk of closing. Families will face impossible choices between rent, groceries, and medicine. And frontline workers will be stretched even thinner trying to hold our healthcare system and our safety net together. All to subsidize more tax breaks for the wealthiest Americans. 

Here’s what Trump’s bill means for our state: 

• Health care at risk: More than $11 billion in cuts to funding for the Oregon Health Plan (Medicaid in Oregon) in the coming years.1 in 3 Oregonians depend on OHP, including half of all children in our state. 

• Food security threatened: 1 in 6 Oregonians rely on federal food assistance, yet HR1 slashes $3 billion for food assistance over the next 6 years

• Rural Oregon hit hardest: Communities already facing economic challenges will bear the brunt of these cuts. 

As House Speaker, I’m working closely with Governor Kotek, Senate President Wagner, and legislators to fight for Oregonians and protect our state’s core services. Even as Trump’s policies needlessly make life more expensive and less certain for working people, our state’s leadership will work tirelessly to make the difficult, responsible choices needed to balance our state’s budget and keep our commitments to Oregonians.

September Legislative Days

During our quarterly Legislative Days, legislators gather at the Capitol for legislative committee meetings, and other work that will prepare us for the upcoming session. Fall legislative days are next week–Sept. 29 through Oct. 1. Many committees will be discussing the impact of HR 1 and other federal actions on their policy areas and starting to discuss what the state can do in response–in particular Health Care, Early Childhood & Human Services, Climate, Energy & Environment, Labor & Workforce Development, and Revenue (click links for meeting agendas).

Oregon Democrats are using every tool available to protect health care and other critical programs–even as the Trump administration strips billions of dollars from states like ours. That loss of funding has already led to tough decisions in the 2025 legislative session, and more challenges lie ahead. 

Stay engaged with us: 

📅 Follow updates from Legislative Days (links to a list of committee meetings on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday) 

💬 Share your ideas and stories about how federal changes are impacting you with us via email or give us a call (503-986-1414) 

🔗 Connect with Oregon Democrats on social media to get the latest information: Instagram, Facebook, Bluesky, X 

COVID-19 vaccines are now available in Oregon without a prescription

With cooler weather and more indoor gatherings right around the corner, illnesses like COVID-19, flu, and RSV are likely to be on the rise. This is a good time to get vaccinated to protect yourself and your loved ones.

Updated guidance from the new four-state West Coast Health Alliance allows anyone to get the federally approved 2025–26 COVID-19 vaccines without a prescription.

For details and a link to a location finder, visit the Oregon Health Authority’s Immunization webpage here.

It’s been a very busy summer!

Town Hall at SongBrook 

The first state legislative town hall I ever attended was at SongBrook Manufactured Home Park–I went to see Rep. Nancy Nathanson and then-Rep. Val Hoyle speak, long before I was a legislator myself. It was great to be back in that very same room over 15 years later. I really appreciated the opportunity to connect with my constituents and share highlights from the 2025 session. A special thank you to Mark, who moderated and helped my office organize the event, and to everyone who took time out of their day to attend.  I was scheduled to join a second town hall in August, with other Eugene/Springfield legislators, but unfortunately came down with COVID the day before the town hall, so I had to miss it–thanks to Reps Fragala and Nathanson, and Sen. Prozanski for holding down the fort!

Healthcare/Medicaid Roundtable 

Earlier this month, I joined members of our federal Congressional delegation to discuss the impact of HR 1 and federal cuts to Medicaid on our healthcare system. It was sobering, but I’m grateful to have partners like Senators Wyden and Merkley, and Congresswoman Hoyle in the fight to protect Oregonians’ access to care. Read or listen to KLCC’s coverage of the roundtable here.

Education Bill Signing 

During the 2025 session, the Oregon legislature made game-changing, systemic improvements to ensure a high-quality education for every Oregon student. In late July, I was proud to join Governor Kotek when she came to Eugene to sign those bills at Prairie View School. 

I can’t think of a better place to sign those historic education bills. Bethel is a champion of early literacy, and under Superintendent Kraig Sproles’ leadership, they’ve doubled down on what we know works.  

Bethel is showing what’s possible when we invest in our educators and follow the evidence. And I could not be prouder to lift up their successes at the state level, to bring their experiences to Salem to help inform the work that we do there. The legislation Governor Kotek signed builds our success—so that more schools across Oregon can follow Bethel’s lead.  

The National Conference of State Legislatures 

Every year, the National Conference of State Legislatures hosts a summit for state legislators, staff, and others who work in state legislatures to come together, learn about pressing issues, and share solutions to problems facing our states. This year, I had the opportunity to participate in a panel with Roger Hanshaw, Speaker of West Virginia’s House of Delegates, as well as Cyrus Anderson, Chief Clerk of the Wisconsin Senate and Natalie Castle, the Director of Legislative Council in Colorado. Our conversation focused on increasing threats to the safety and security of public officials and political staff, and how we’re responding to those risks both within our chambers and as we personally weigh the cost of service.

There’s no denying that threats to public officials have increased in the last decade–the assassinations of Charlie Kirk and of Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman and her husband in Minnesota, the attempted kidnapping of Gov. Whitmer in Michigan, the attack on the Governor’s mansion and Gov. Shapiro’s family in Pennsylvania, and the attempted assassination of Donald Trump. Public trust is fraying, and violent rhetoric is on the rise–that makes public service both riskier and more difficult. In the end, those of us on the panel all agreed that key to holding a role in public service is being clear about your “why”, your reason to take on the risk. I do this work because it’s what I believe I owe to my community and our state, especially now, at this point in our nation’s history.

Whether in session or out, I encourage you to stay engaged and reach out for assistance navigating state government or to share your thoughts on the issues that matter most to you. 

Yours truly, 

Capitol Phone: 503-986-1414
Capitol Address: 900 Court St. NE, H-271, Salem, Oregon 97301
Email: Rep.JulieFahey@oregonlegislature.gov
Website: http://www.oregonlegislature.gov/fahey