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To contact me, please click here: Sen.DebPatterson@oregonlegislature.gov
Dear Friends and Neighbors,
Now that the legislative session is over, it is such a privilege to be out and about in the community again on a daily basis. This includes connecting with people at local events and meetings throughout Senate District 10, which includes South and West Salem, Monmouth, and Independence.
Two recent events I attended were fundraisers for the YMCA and the Salem Police Foundation. The YMCA is one of many great nonprofits doing good work in Marion and Polk Counties. And the Salem Police Foundation is also a nonprofit, started in 2010 by John Hawkins and others, to support the work of these critical first responders. Salem Police Chief Trevor Womack has done a terrific job here in Salem during the past five years. He is retiring soon and will be missed. His dedicated team of sworn officers and other professional staff have worked through tremendous challenges in recent years, and overall crime is down by 17% over that period, with violent crime down even more – 20%. We are grateful for their work in supporting Salem’s residents and visitors 24/7, including those in need of mental health support and those who are unhoused.
Yesterday, I also had the chance to attend several meetings throughout the district. This included a meeting in downtown Salem, visits to the Senior Centers in South Salem and Monmouth, a chat with the Mayor of Independence, and stops at businesses in all three cities. There is so much happening all around us as people gather over coffee, in meetings, over a meal, or just stopping to chat. It is a true joy to observe community being forged through these local connections, and the relationships they represent.
It is also exciting to see you – out in the community! It is a true joy to see so many people out gathering together, supporting each other, and building safe, strong, and thriving communities.
Gratefully,
Deb
Delivering Affordability for Oregon Families
During the 2026 legislative session, we moved at an urgent pace to make life more affordable, stand up for Oregon values, and clear a path for economic growth. Our "short session" is constitutionally limited to only five weeks. But we maximized this time to do the most good for Oregonians, by lowering the cost of living so Oregon families can thrive. This includes bills to:
- Expand the Earned Income Tax Credit and set up tax credits to grow jobs Oregon (SB 1507)
- Remove financial barriers to preventive health care (SB 1527, SB 1598)
- Put Oregonians ahead of huge corporate investors in homebuying (HB 4128)
We also fought back against federal overreach with bills that:
- Require law enforcement to be identifiable and unmasked in most situations (HB 4128)
- Stop data brokers from selling your data to ICE (SB 1587)
- Protect hospitals as places for healing (SB 1570)
There is still more work to do, and I have already started planning bills for the next legislative session. I look forward to connecting with you about how to continue building an Oregon that works for everyone.
Public Comment Opportunity: Salem Health and Santiam Hospital
There is an opportunity to provide public comment on the proposed merger between Salem Health and Santiam Hospital. The transaction is currently under view by Oregon's Health Care Market Oversight (HCMO) program, which reviews health care business deals to make sure they support Oregon's goals of health equity, lower costs, increased access, and better care.
HCMO accepts public comment throughout the review period. Comments can be submitted by email to hcmo.info@oha.oregon.gov, by voicemail at 503-945-6161, or via the public comment form.
The filing from Santiam Hospital and Salem Health will be published on the HCMO website after the state reviews it for completeness. The program has 30 days to complete an initial review, which may be followed by a comprehensive review within 180 days.
Communications Pause
This will be my last newsletter until May 19, due to a communications "blackout period" for Senators running for re-election. But of course, you can still reach out to me about legislative business. You can find my email address and phone number below.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1710
Capitol Address: 900 Court St NE, S-411, Salem, OR, 97301
Email: Sen.DebPatterson@oregonlegislature.gov
Website: https://www.oregonlegislature.gov/patterson
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