State Rep. Tawna Sanchez, D-North and Northeast Portland, will be at the center of some of the most important decisions to be made when the Oregon Legislature convenes for its 2026 session on Feb. 2.
Sanchez serves House District 43 which covers portions of the industrial Columbia Corridor on the north and the Rose Quarter and the Lloyd District to the south. She is of Shoshone-Bannock, Ute and Carrizo ancestry, and is only the second Native American elected to the Oregon Legislature, and the first to represent Portland.
She is now in the driver’s seat to shape the 2026 Legislature as she co-chairs the powerful budget writing Ways and Means Committee. It will grapple with potential spending cuts caused by the unpredictable economy and federal funding reductions championed by the Trump Administration.
“There could be budget cuts and revenue increases that affect all Oregonians, including the residents of District 43,” Sanchez told the North Peninsula Review.
The Oregon Constitution limits the 2026 session to 35 days. It is too early to know the size of the cuts in what remains of the two-year budget approved by the 2025 Oregon Legislature. They will depend on revenue forecasts released by state economists on Feb. 4. Agencies have prepared 5% budget cuts but they could be larger, Sanchez said
The 2025-2027 state budget that took effect last July 1 included a $472 million ending balance. But that turned into a $373 million deficit after the Republican-controlled congress passed House Resolution 1, otherwise known as the Big, Beautiful Bill originally proposed by President Trump. That shrunk to a $63 million deficit by November because of higher-than-expected state tax collections, but Sanchez calls that a “one-time bump” that cannot be counted on to continue.
The next revenue forecast is scheduled two days after lawmakers convene in Salem. Sanchez said that forecast will guide the budget decisions, but it may not be the final word. Trump has repeatedly threatened to withhold even more federal money from Oregon, most recently to punish it for being a sanctuary state that is not assisting with federal immigration enforcement efforts.
On the N/NE Portland level, Sanchez is concerned about the future of the ambitious Albina Vision Plan for redeveloping the Rose Quarter. It ran into trouble when the federal government canceled a $450 million grant it had approved for the I-5 Rose Quarter Improvement Project that would place caps over portions of the freeway that divided the Albina Neighborhood strong enough to support new buildings.
“The economic development work needs to continue,” Sanchez said.
Sanchez also wants to assure the Portland Trail Blazers continue to play at the Moda Center, which requires millions of dollars of improvement to meet new National Basketball Association standards.
Conversations are underway involving team officials, Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek, state legislators, city officials and others. Ideas range from having the state become a co-owner of the center with the city to using team employee state income taxes to finance improvement bonds. Sanchez is supportive but wants more information before committing to a specific proposal. The market value of the Blazer franchise has been estimated at $4.25 billion.
“The Trail Blazers are a big economic driver in Portland and must stay here,” Sanchez said.
Other big issues at the 2026 session
Sanchez encourages Oregonians to contact their state senators and representatives directly for more information on issues that matter to them. Other big ones to be considered during the short session include:
• Critical Energy Infrastructure Hub regulations: Two bills to regulate the CEI Hub that stores combustible fuels in industrial Northwest Portland along the Willamette River that failed to pass the 2025 session are expected to be introduced again. One would require catastrophic insurance coverage and the other seeks to redistribute the 90% of fuel that passes through the CEI Hub to other parts of the state.*
• Sanctuary state status: Increasing protections for citizens and non-citizens alike in the face of Trump’s immigration crackdown are under active discussion. Proposals include prohibiting federal agents from wearing masks and requiring them to have visible identification.
• Transportation funding: Kotek and Democrat leaders want to move the measure repealing much of the Oregon Department of Transportation funding package approved by the 2025 session from the November to the May 2026 primary election ballot. They say the Legislature needs to know how much money is needed to balance ODOT’s budget as soon as possible. Republicans who referred the package to the ballot say far fewer people vote in primary compared to general elections.
• Gun violence prevention: Multnomah County District Attorney Nathan Vasquez is supporting a bill to be introduced by Gresham-area State Rep. Ricki Ruiz (D-Dist. 50) to prevent gun violence. It would create a crime of aggravated felon in possession of a firearm if a convicted felon possesses three or more firearms, or has prior convictions for felon in possession of a firearm.”
Contact information for Portland legislators
Here is the contact information for Oregon legislators in the North Peninsula Review coverage area.
Sen. Lew Frederick (D-Dist. 22), N/NE
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1722
Capitol Address: 900 Court St. NE, S-419, Salem, Oregon 97301
Email: Sen.LewFrederick@oregonlegislature.gov
Website: https://www.oregonlegislature.gov/frederick
Rep. Tawna D. Sanchez (D-Dist. 43), N/NE
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1443
Capitol Address: 900 Court St. NE, H-273, Salem, Oregon 97301
Email: Rep.TawnaSanchez@oregonlegislature.gov
Website: https://www.oregonlegislature.gov/sanchez
Rep. Travis Nelson (D-Dist. 44), N/NE
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1444
Capitol Address: 900 Court St. NE, H-275, Salem, Oregon 97301
Email: Rep.TravisNelson@oregonlegislature.gov
Website: https://www.oregonlegislature.gov/nelson
Sen. Lisa Reynolds, MD (D.-Dist. 17), NW
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1717
Capitol Address: 900 Court St. NE, S-409, Salem, Oregon 97301
Email: Sen.LisaReynolds@oregonlegislature.gov
Website: https://www.oregonlegislature.gov/reynolds
Rep. Shannon Isadore (D-Dist. 33), NW
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1433
Capitol Address: 900 Court St. NE, H-276, Salem, Oregon 97301
Email: Rep.ShannonIsadore@oregonlegislature.gov
Website: https://www.oregonlegislature.gov/isadore
The full Oregon Legislature website can be found at oregonlegislature.gov.