_{*  “I am only one, but still I am one. I cannot do everything, but still I can do something; And because I cannot do everything I will not refuse to do the something that I can do.”  
—Helen Keller}

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To contact me, please click here: Sen.JeffGolden@oregonlegislature.gov

A lot of sugar in a little bag

A Sams Valley neighbor of mine when I first came to Oregon had a favorite saying he applied to all kinds of situations: trying to pack five pounds of sugar into a one-pound bag. That’s about to happen in the 2026 short session of the Oregon Legislature, which begins February 2. The Oregon Constitution limits us to 35 days this year, and it’s not clear how we’re going to navigate the hefty list of big issues in front of us. On that list are

• Balancing ODOT’s 2026-2027 budget, now that the petition to repeal last year’s transportation funding bill has blocked any new resources
• Excluding some of the provisions of the so-called Big Beautiful Bill —the ones that super-charge tax breaks for multinational corporations—from Oregon tax law, so that we don’t have to slash education, health care and a range of basic services this year
• Debating (along with other states) “Polluter Pays” legislation to have the world’s largest fossil fuel companies pay some of the monumental costs of wildfire and other catastrophes, instead of laying it all on Oregonians through skyrocketing insurance and utility bills
• Taking a new look at our system of higher education to give smaller schools like SOU a more stable future.
• Fighting for the right of all property owners who work hard to reduce wildfire risk to access affordable and adequate insurance. (Details are here)
• Passing a 1.25% increase in the state-level Transient Lodging Tax (levied on motel/hotel/short term rental stays) to pay for a cluster of wildlife programs that are withering for lack of funds, along with the Oregon Conservation Corps, our Youth in the Woods program that’s protecting towns from wildfire and creating first-rate career paths for younger people.

                                       …and plenty more

The most Frequently Asked Question

…one that comes up every day, is separate from all that: What do you plan to do about what the Trump Administration is doing to us?!? 

Donald Trump is causing legislators around the country to protect their states in new ways. We’re forming new coalitions across state lines to blunt the damage of the federal government’s withdrawal of promised funding, we’re backing up courageous Attorneys General fighting to defend the Constitution (see below), and we’re drafting unprecedented legislation that comprise an overall Federal Defense Agenda. Here are some of the bills you’ll see introduced in our pending short session.

  - No masked law enforcement
There are a few simple bills and at least one referral to the voters for a constitutional amendment that would make it illegal for law enforcement, or any individuals claiming to be law enforcement, to wear masks. They would also have to wear identification that clearly shows their name and that of their agency/organization. 

  - Ending subsidization of deportation and unlawful actions
This bill would prevent the spending of any Oregon public money or resources to assist deportation or unlawful federal actions in any way.

  - Withholding state funds
This bill would allow Oregon to withhold payments to the Federal government (e.g., returning the balances left over after completing federally-funded projects) if federal funds were illegally withheld from Oregon.

Photo of the Cascade-Siskiyou Monument from the Bureau of Land Management

  - Protecting public lands
This bill would prevent state and local governments from assisting or facilitating in any way the sale of federal land to private interests.

  - Safeguarding students and families
This bill would require all public schools from kindergarten through higher education to notify families, students, and staff when immigration agents enter school grounds.

  - Holding federal agents accountable for harm
This bill would give legal standing for individuals to sue federal agents who have injured them or damaged their property. 

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It’s a safe bet that the feds would challenge most of these in court. Whatever the eventual outcomes, these bills will focus attention and awareness on specific damages to the state of Oregon and connect us to other states in broader resistance. Based on what I know right now, before I hear committee testimony, I’ll be supporting all of them.

Most of these bills don’t yet have numbers. I’ll include them in our next newsletter and explain how you can easily track them online so that you can choose to testify—in person, remotely, or in writing—when they come up for hearings.

Ashland.news photo by Bob Palermini

A busy Attorney General

I can’t summarize the span of work to protect Oregon from the federal assault without acknowledging the work of our Attorney General. Dan Rayfield assumed that office shortly before Trump’s second inauguration and has been busy ever since. As of this writing he’s joined 53 lawsuits on our behalf. I appreciate his firm unwillingness to accept the contempt for constitutional law that became the norm in 2025. 

We all have our own way of standing up for our values and our state in these frightening times. If you’re doing that already, thank you. If you’re still looking for your way, there are good caring people around you who might lend a guiding hand.

We are all needed now. Let’s support one another to stand up with courage.

Senator Jeff Golden, Oregon Senate District 3