|
Replies to this message are sent to an unmonitored mailbox.
To contact me, please click here: Sen.JaneenSollman@oregonlegislature.gov
Friends and Neighbors,
Upcoming Events
Forest Grove Town Hall
Join Attorney General Dan Rayfield, Senator Janeen Sollman, Representative Susan McLain, and Representative Nathan Sosa for an Oregon Priorities Town Hall in Forest Grove on Friday, January 30 at 6:30pm. As we work to keep communities safe, protect consumers, seniors, and working families, and defend Oregonians' values, we want to hear what’s most important to you and your families.
RSVP: http://bit.ly/Jan30ForestGrove
The event is part of a statewide Oregon Priorities Town Hall series with AG Rayfield focused on hearing directly from Oregonians, in order to shape legal strategies that best protect the state’s interests. We hope to see you there!
Legislative Updates
January Interim Legislative Days
Last week legislators, staff, advocates and constituents gathered together in the Capitol for January Interim Legislative Days. This is an opportunity for committees to meet and hear updates and for legislators to hold office hours for meetings. Policy committees held informational hearings with bill updates and upcoming concepts for the 2026 Legislative Session, which begins in just over a week, on February 2nd. Offices were also abuzz advocating for bill sponsorship as our signed legislative concept drafts were due on Friday, Jan.16th. If you are planning a trip down to Salem during the upcoming 5-week session, you are in for a treat. The newly opened and renovated spaces are beautiful. There is bountiful space to move around again and a cafe for people to get food.
You can watch the committees I participated in below.
2026 Legislative Session Policies
I recognize that we are experiencing an economic and humanitarian crisis, in light of current federal policies. In the upcoming legislative session, I will be focusing on policies that help spur economic development in our state. We are facing budget cuts in the next several biennia and as a state that relies so heavily on people working and income tax for funding, we need to do all we can to keep jobs and bring more jobs to Oregon. We currently have one of the highest unemployment rates in the country and 20% of our building trades workers are unemployed and waiting for jobs to open. I look forward to sharing regular updates as we go into the Legislative Session.
SB 1586: The Oregon JOBS Act
During the January Interim Legislative Days, the Senate Committee on Commerce and General Government held an informational hearing on the Oregon JOBS Act. You can watch that hearing and listen to members questions here.
The FORGE Act: Fund for Oregon Resilience, Growth & Energy January 2026
SB1526 - The Fund for Oregon Resilience, Growth & Energy would benefit Oregonians by increasing access to affordable capital and attract private capital for projects at sufficient scale to meet energy and resilience goals. The Fund would:
- Create jobs by accelerating projects across the state
- Grow small businesses, including those in the construction trades
- Support habitat restoration, resilience, and fire resistance, with associated water quality benefits
- Promote resilient, affordable housing production and housing stability
- Increase electricity generation and transmission and reduce energy costs for families and businesses
- Make progress towards Oregon’s clean energy, air quality, and net emissions goals
- Bring down insurance costs through investments in home hardening and climate resilient infrastructure upgrades
This legislative concept takes a step-by-step approach (targeting zero fiscal impact) to establish the Fund:
- The Department of Energy (ODOE) is directed to apply to the Environmental Restoration Council for grant money under the State Agency Program Fund.
- If ODOE secures grant money in a sufficient amount, but not less than $2 million, then ODOE will recruit a founding board to create a nonprofit that will run the Fund.
- Business Oregon is directed to work with the nonprofit entity to explore potential agreements to capitalize the Fund, including through the Department’s bonding authority.
- ODOE is directed to work with the nonprofit, to explore areas of collaboration, as are other state agencies.
The Fund will facilitate projects for Oregon’s schools, businesses, or housing for
Oregonians. Projects could include making it easier for:
- Critical commercial industries to install battery storage for backup power
- School districts to purchase electric school buses and the necessary charging infrastructure
- Multi-family and affordable housing residents to have access to renewable energy
- Coastal communities to build resilient infrastructure
- Community centers to save money on heating and cooling costs
- Cities and counties to make needed energy infrastructure upgrades
Blue Economy Task Force
SB 1525 will establish the Blue Economy Task Force to study and report on Oregon’s blue economy sectors, existing economic development plans and strategies, and opportunities to support the growth of sustainable blue economy businesses while maintaining the health of Oregon’s coastal ecosystems. The measure also authorizes the Oregon Ocean Science Trust to create and maintain a nonprofit organization.
Listen. Learn. Act.
Oregon Seaweed
Recently, Senator Sollman and her team visited a seaweed farm in Garibaldi known as Oregon Seaweed. The farm grows Pacific Dulse Seaweed, a variety of red seaweed known as “the bacon of the sea”. The plant is both highly sustainable to grow as well as a great source of protein. It can be used in a variety of food products, and sold locally to markets, with many recipe ideas on the Oregon Seaweed website.
The company hopes to expand, creating a regenerative coastal economy in Oregon by growing and harvesting seaweed on a large scale. As the plant does not require soil, freshwater, synthetic fertilizer or pesticides, it has a low environmental impact with high nutritional potential. It can also be used in cattle feed to reduce methane emissions caused by their diet, which OSU is currently researching at their Agricultural Research Center in Burns, Oregon.
~Helena V., Senate District 15 High School Intern
Out and About for Senate District 15
We Make America Great Rally
I am so proud of the students for organizing the We Make America Great rally on Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Hillsboro students were there speaking and raising their voices. Bravo to the community members for showing up at our Oregon State Capitol to lend support and strengthen solidarity. Such powerful words were spoken! Sí se puede!
ORTOP FIRST LEGO League Challenge - Championship Tournament
Last weekend I attended the ORTOP FIRST LEGO League Challenge, Championship Tournament at Liberty High School. Seeing all the enthusiastic youth participants shows us that the future looks bright. It was inspiring to see so many young students excited and engaged in STEM education. Learn more about ORTOP (Oregon Robotics Tournament and Outreach Program) here.
Forest Grove Rally for Healthcare
On Saturday, I stood with community in Forest Grove. Thank you to the organizers for the opportunity to once again show peaceful resistance.
Community Outreach
Severe Weather Shelters
Shared from Washington County
Washington County opens additional Severe Weather Shelter Capacity 1/23/2026 at 12 p.m. until 1/25/2026 at 12 p.m.
Due to dangerous weather conditions, Washington County has activated inclement weather shelters that will open their doors to anyone seeking shelter through the winter weather event. Unhoused people seeking shelter should present in person at the locations listed below:
The Salvation Army Building, 1440 SE 21st Ave, Hillsboro, OR
Just Compassion Access Center and Shelter, 12264 SW Hall Blvd, Tigard, OR
Shelters will remain open 24 hours throughout the severe weather event. Hot meals are provided for guests, no one will be turned away, and domestic pets are okay (be prepared to work with shelter staff as locations individual pet policies may vary). To help someone obtain transportation to a shelter location, please call 503-846-4722.
If someone outside is unsheltered and whose life appears to be in danger, call 9-1-1. Otherwise, if you see someone about whom you are concerned during cold weather call the police non-emergency number at 503-629-0111 and request a welfare check.
Enter the 2026 Oregon Civics Bee by Feb. 3!
This year, the United States will celebrate its 250th birthday. Oregon middle-schoolers have a unique way to celebrate. All 6th, 7th and 8th graders are invited to participate in the third annual Oregon Civics Bee, which will culminate June 12, 2026, in a quiz-style competition held in the House Chamber of the Oregon State Capitol. The winner will be invited to participate in the National Civics Bee® in Washington, D.C.
To participate, students must submit a short, four-paragraph essay identifying a community problem and proposing a solution. A panel of judges will select finalists to participate in regional competitions, and top performers in regional bees will be invited to participate in the Oregon Civics Bee. Oregon Secretary of State Tobias Read will emcee. The top three finishers in the Oregon Civics Bee will receive cash prizes, including $1,000 for the winner.
To learn more about the contest – including application and essay guidance and a toolkit for teachers – please visit the Oregon Civics Bee website here.
The essay submission deadline is midnight on Feb. 3.
Oregon State Fire Marshal Urges Home Fire Safety During Community Risk Reduction Week
 News Release from Oregon State Fire Marshal
Posted on FlashAlert: January 20th, 2026 9:36 AM
Salem, Ore. – Every 30 minutes, a fire agency in Oregon responds to a fire—an alarming reality that claimed 57 lives in 2025. To help prevent these tragedies, Oregon recognizes January 19-25, 2026, as Community Risk Reduction Week.
The Oregon State Fire Marshal urges everyone living in and visiting the state to take action for home fire safety.
“Our firefighters work hard every day to protect your family, even before emergencies happen,” said Mariana Ruiz-Temple, state fire marshal. “When you practice fire safety at home, you’re helping them keep your community safe.”
Community Risk Reduction Week is a nationwide effort to reduce risks in local communities to prevent emergencies. The Oregon State Fire Marshal reminds the public that everyone has a role in reducing risk, especially at home.
In Oregon, the top three causes of home fires are cooking, home heating, and electrical issues. There are simple steps that every Oregonian can take to prevent home fires:
Stay in the kitchen while cooking. Unattended cooking is the leading cause of kitchen fires. If you must leave the room, turn off the burner. Use a timer to remind yourself that you are cooking.
Have heating equipment and chimneys cleaned and inspected annually. Furnaces, wood stoves, and chimneys should be serviced annually by qualified professionals. Use space heaters with automatic shutoffs and keep them on a flat surface at least three feet from anything that can burn.
Use electrical equipment safely. Don’t overload electrical outlets or power strips. Plug major appliances like heaters, stoves, and refrigerators directly into wall outlets, not into an extension cord or power strip.
More Home Safety Tips
Test smoke alarms every month. Press the test button every month to ensure each alarm is working. You should have smoke alarms outside each bedroom and on every level of your home. Even if they seem to be working, replace smoke alarms every 10 years or according to the manufacturer.
Create and practice a home fire escape plan. Know two ways out of every room and practice your home fire escape plan with all household members, including children and older adults.
“Preventing a fire is always better than responding to one,” Ruiz-Temple added. “These actions take only minutes, but they can prevent a tragedy from happening.”
Governor Tina Kotek proclaimed January 19-25, 2026, Community Risk Reduction Week in Oregon.
Get Involved
For more home fire safety tips, visit the Oregon State Fire Marshal website: https://www.oregon.gov/osfm/education/Pages/default.aspx
Follow the Oregon State Fire Marshal on social media for tips you can share with friends and neighbors.
Contact your local fire department for smoke alarm assistance programs and additional home safety resources.
Data Privacy Week 2026
Shared from Oregon Enterprise Information Services Digest
Data Privacy Week (January 26–30), an initiative by the National Cybersecurity Alliance, is here to empower you to take charge of your personal data. This year's theme, "Take control of your data" reminds us that every online action creates a treasure trove of information about you, from interests and purchases to behaviors and even health details. You have the power to manage what gets shared and with whom.
Here are some steps to help you get started with data privacy:
-
Manage Your Privacy Settings: Want to view or change your privacy/security settings, but don’t know where to find them? Visit this page for direct links to update your privacy settings on popular devices and online services.
-
Take Control of Your Data: Follow these steps to better manage your personal information and make informed decisions about who receives your data.
The National Cybersecurity Alliance is also hosting a free webinar series titled, “Talking Data 2026,” 30-minute daily conversations with industry leaders on key privacy topics (e.g., children's privacy, privacy laws, and how to delete your online data). Check out the full schedule to register for sessions.
National Cybersecurity Alliance's Data Privacy Week
Additional Resources
Senate District 15 – Event Calendars
Federal Delegation Links
Education Links
Food and Housing Assistance
Immigration Resources
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.
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1715
Capitol Address: 900 Court St. NE, S-207, Salem, Oregon 97301
Email: Sen.JaneenSollman@oregonlegislature.gov
Website: http://www.oregonlegislature.gov/sollman
| 
