Forest Grove's State Senator Janeen Sollman highlights bills passed in legislative session

Western Washington County State Senator Janeen Sollman wrapped up the 2025 legislative session with “meaningful wins” for the people of Western Washington County, a press release highlighting 19 of her sponsored bills signed into law said. 

In a legislative session centered around “practical, people-centered solutions,” Sollman focused her sponsored bills around the input she received from the people she serves, according to a press release from the office of Senator Janeen Sollman. Sollman’s legislative session led to the emergence of new laws rooted in curbing utility rates and enhancing public safety. 

Sollman’s legislative district includes Forest Grove, Cornelius, Hillsboro, Rock Creek and other areas of western Washington County.

“As your Senator, I lead with the values I’ve always held: listen to my constituents, learn from you, and act for positive change. I’m at the table with those who agree with me and those who don’t,” said Senator Sollman in a press release. “The bills I championed in the 2025 Legislative Session reflect the principles I hold and were shaped by the voices I heard all across the district. Representing the people of Oregon’s Senate District 15 is my constitutional duty, and I take it seriously,” Sollman continued. 

Among her wins was securing $1.25 million in state funding to replace the nearly 100-year-old Washington County Courthouse, what a press release from Senator Sollman’s office describes as a “crucial step in modernizing local justice infrastructure so people have access to safe, functional court services for years to come.”

The “key” bills Sollman sponsored in 2025 were broken into four subcategories: “Consumer Protections,” “Safety, Justice, and Dignity,” “Health and Environment” and “Special Honors.” 

Under “Consumer protections," Sollman had four of her sponsored bills signed into law:  

• “Senate Bill (SB) 549 - Requires faster decisions on prior authorization for repairs to rehabilitation devices. The Oregon Health Authority or a coordinated care organization must make a determination on paying for repair of complex rehabilitation technology within 72 hours.”
• “Senate Bill (SB) 550 - Widens repair options so users of wheelchairs and other mobility equipment can shrink the length of time their important devices are out of commission. The measure adds electric wheelchairs and complex rehabilitation technology to Oregon’s Right to Repair Law, so customers and independent shops will get the same access to repair resources that equipment companies give authorized repair shops.”
• “House Bill (HB) 3179 - Requires the Public Utility Commission (PUC) to consider the economic impact on customers when they decide whether to approve increases in gas and electric rates. The measure also authorizes the commission to require 18 months between rate increases up until January of 2027, and it calls on the PUC to adopt rules on how long utilities must hold rates steady after that date.”
• “House Bill (HB) 3546 - Stops massive energy users, like data centers and cryptocurrency operations, from shifting electrical costs to regular residential customers.”

Sollman had five of her sponsored bills under the “Justice, Safety, and Dignity” category:

• “Senate Bill (SB) 548 - Raises the state’s legal minimum age for marriage from 17 to 18 years old, strengthening legal protections against sexual exploitation.”
• “Senate Bill (SB) 710 - Requires that state training for judges covers verified, meaningful information on sexual assault, stalking, and other matters related to interpersonal violence. The measure is designed to give survivors of sexual assault a court experience of protection, not further harm.”
• “Senate Bill (SB) 950 - Allows the State Board of Sign Language Interpreters to establish by rule criteria for the issuance of a supervisory sign language interpreter license.”
• “Senate Bill (SB) 1016 - Prohibits the Department of Human Services from using trash bags for transporting foster kids’ personal belongings and requires durable carriers—such as duffel bags, suitcases, or rigid containers—when children are moving from one living situation to another.”
• “House Bill (HB) 2299 - Updates Oregon law to protect against the unlawful use of AI-generated intimate images. The measure modifies the crime of unlawful dissemination of an intimate image, so victims of digital abuse and sextortion receive the same legal protections as anyone else.”

The three sponsored bills under the category “Health and Environment” include: 

• “Senate Bill (SB) 91 - Bans perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl (PFAS) in foam substances that fire departments use to put out fires. PFAS are chemicals that persist without breaking down for very long periods, and scientific studies have found they are harmful to people and animals. Fire stations in Forest Grove and the Tualatin Valley Fire and Rescue district already don’t use PFAS foam.”
• “Senate Bill (SB) 551 - Prohibits restaurants and retailers from providing single-use checkout bags to consumers.”
• “Senate Bill (SB) 992 - Authorizes the Oregon Liquor and Cannabis Commission to approve one or more alternative access redemption centers.”

“Special Honors” that were signed into place consist of: 

• “Senate Bill (SB) 547 - Designates the month of April of each year as Oregon Native Plant Appreciation Month.”
• “Senate Concurrent Resolution (SCR) 7 - In memoriam: Dr. Phillip David Creighton, 1945-2024.”
• “Senate Concurrent Resolution (SCR) 8 - Recognizes and honors Private William Ezra Leon "Billy" Calkins (1925-1942) for his service to his country.”
• “Senate Concurrent Resolution (SCR) 11 - Recognizes and honors the National Conference of State Legislatures on its 50th anniversary in 2025.”
• “Senate Concurrent Resolution (SCR) 15 - Recognizes and honors Hector Hinojosa Robles for his remarkable contributions to the people of this state.”
• “Senate Concurrent Resolution (SCR) 16 - In memoriam: Dr. Ralph Franklin Helzerman Jr.”
• “Senate Concurrent Resolution (SCR) 17 - Celebrates the life and accomplishments of Colonel Richard Kidd (1936-2024) and honors him for his service to his country.”

SCR 17 formally honors the late Forest Grove Mayor Colonel Richard Kidd for his “lifetime dedication to his country and community,” according to a press release from the City of Forest Grove. 

“Senate Concurrent Resolution 17 (SCR17), state lawmakers highlight Mayor Kidd’s profound impact, acknowledging his efforts in championing local development, attaining the rank of Colonel in the United States Army while receiving numerous awards during his service, and advocating for policies that strengthened our city,” said the press release.

“The State of Oregon’s tribute to Mayor Kidd serves as a lasting reminder of the power of service – both to one’s country and community…. Mayor Kidd’s legacy remains a guiding light for future generations,” the press release added. 

Sollman’s office notes that each of her sponsored bills that passed did so with bipartisan support.

“Senator Sollman’s focus in the 2025 session centered on practical, people-centered solutions. Whenever a bill she sponsored passed in a floor vote, it did so with bipartisan support,” the press release from her office stated. “From affordability to safety to digital privacy, she committed to addressing everyday concerns of Oregonians and built bridges, not barriers, in getting things done,” the press release continued. 

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