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

Last Update Until November

We are headed back into the Blackout period when Legislators are not able to send newsletters 60 days before the election. I want to take this moment to share a brief update with you.

Thank You for Attending the Town Hall

I want to take a moment to thank everyone who showed up yesterday! We had way more folks show up than we expected for a rainy Wednesday evening. We covered several topics including education funding, healthcare, environmental issues, the need for changing out revenue, impacts from HR1 and we even had a question about changing the name of Killingsworth to honor Senator Avel Gordley (which we all support). We also had a representative from ODOT come to talk about the Rose Quarter construction impacts to our community.

We were not able to get to every question, but we did try to get to questions in each topic. If you were there and have questions that we didn't get to, please email my office so I can get you a direct response.

I also want to thank Albina Library. Having a meeting space for our community to connect is so valuable. The library staff was awesome and helped our staff get more chairs when we had more than expected join us.

Our next town hall will likely be early in 2027 around the beginning of the legislative session on January 19^th. 

Rose Quarter Improvement Project Construction Impacts

Starting during the night of September 11th, southbound I-5 will be closed for up to five weeks around the Rose Quarter. My staff and I attended a briefing and tour of the construction site with other elected officials. I was only able to join the briefing, so my staff got a few photos of the project. Construction work for this project has already started. Crews are working underneath the bridge to install steel panels perpendicular to the length of the bridge to strengthen across the bridge but allow for movement in an earthquake. They will also be adding steel cords running the length of the bridge that prevent the bridge from falling down when there is an earthquake. This work can happen while there are drivers on the bridge but work on the surface of the bridge cannot happen with vehicles on the road. ODOT did look at doing this work without a full closure, but those options had safety and other concerns.

This closure will create traffic like we have never seen before! ODOT has been in communication with Washington and California transportation departments so they can inform their residents and freight companies. They have communicated with employers to encourage work from home or hybrid work schedules. They have also coordinated with map apps so drivers are not directed onto neighborhood streets to try to beat the traffic. Even with this communication, travel times could double or triple. Avoid driving on I-5 south as much as you possibly can over these five weeks. 

September Legislative Days

Committees will be meeting September 8^th through 10^th for hearings before our first bill filing deadline on September 11^th. Most of my committee meetings will be held on Wednesday so I am in for a 12 hour day of committee meetings. I will also be chairing my first committee meeting as the Chair of the House Committee on Human Services.

Below are the agendas for my committees. Click on the linked committee title to see detailed agenda:

Joint Emergency Board Interim Subcommittee on Human Services

Tuesday at 2:30pm in Hearing Room H

Work Sessions:

• Consent Grants
  • Oregon Health Authority (multiple)
  • Department of Human Service (multiple)
• Consent Reports
  • Department of Administrative Services (multiple)
  • Public Employees Retirement System (Cloud-Based Strategy)
• Individual Items
  • Commission for the Blind - Vocational Rehabilitation
  • Department of Consumer and Business Services - Oregon Reinsurance Program
  • Secretary of State - Payment Processing Costs
  • Department of Revenue - Senior Property Tax Deferral
  • Department of Revenue - Postage and Publication Costs
  • Secretary of State – Elections

House Interim Committee on Labor and Workforce Development

Wednesday at 8:30am in Hearing Room E

Informational Meeting:

• Introduction to Oregon's Workforce Development System
• Overview of Workforce Development System
• Fire Fighter Cancer Presumption
• Coffee Creek Correctional Facility partnership with Union Pre-Apprenticeship Construction Training (U-PACT) Program

House Interim Committee on Health Care

Wednesday at 2:30pm in Hearing Room C

Informational Meeting:

• Rural Health Transformation Program Update
• 2027 Insurance Market Rates Update
• Coordinated Care Organization Rate Setting - HB 4039 (2026) Implementation Update
• 1115 Waiver Update
• HR1 Update – Enhanced Eligibility Checks and Work Requirements
• State Insurance Marketplace Update - SB 972 (2023)

House Interim Committee on Human Services

Wednesday at 5:30pm in Hearing Room D

Organizational Meeting:

• Adoption of Interim Committee Rules
  • Procedural requirement because this is a new committee.

Informational Meeting:

• Updates from ODHS Director
  • Liesl Wendt, Director, Oregon Department of Human Services (ODHS)
• Overview of Child and Family Services Reviews (CFSR) Round 4 and Wyatt v. Kotek
  • Presenter from Oregon Department of Human Services (ODHS)
• Updates from Interagency Council for Immigrant and Refugee Coordination
  • Presenter from Office of Immigrant & Refugee Advancement
• Examining Agency Reports on Streamlining Background Checks: House Bill 3224 (2025)
  • Presenter from Oregon Department of Human Services (ODHS)
• Updates on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
  • Presenter from Oregon Department of Human Services (ODHS)
  • Matt Newell-Ching, Senior Public Policy Manager, Oregon Food Bank
  • AJ McCreary, Executive Director, Equitable Giving Circle

You can watch committees online through OLIS by selecting the date, expand "Meetings Today" and click on the video camera or play button icon.

I will not be able to send out communications until after the November election, but you can reach out to my office directly. I look forward to updating you then.

Best,

Travis Nelson
State Representative
House District 44

Capitol Phone: 503-986-1444
Capitol Address: 900 Court St. NE, H-275, Salem, Oregon 97301
Email: Rep.TravisNelson@oregonlegislature.gov
Website: http://www.oregonlegislature.gov/nelson​