SALEM — When the Oregon legislative session kicks off in February, more than one-fifth of legislators will be new.

Nearly a quarter of the 60-member House of Representatives and three of the 30-member Senate will be freshmen. Two other incoming senators – Lew Frederick, D-Portland, and Kathleen Taylor, D-Portland – come from serving in the Oregon House.

The newbies face what could prove to be one of the most difficult budgetary years since the Great Recession. The state has a projected revenue shortfall of $1.7 billion, driven by mounting caseloads at the Department of Human Services and steep spikes in public pension costs and the state’s share of health insurance subsidies under the Affordable Care Act.

“Without more revenue, we can’t do anything,” said freshman Rep. Janelle Bynum, D-Happy Valley. “I think if you stay focused on providing a solid education for kids, taking care of seniors and elevating the most vulnerable, then no matter how bad it gets, you can get out if it.”

Democrats will likely seek new taxes to bring in additional revenue but without support from Republicans, they will lack the three-fifths majority to pass the measures.

Incoming Republican Sen. Alan DeBoer of Ashland said he would support new revenue such as eliminating the personal income kicker refund but also wants to see lawmakers curtail spending.

The new presidential administration under New York billionaire Donald Trump adds the potential for drastic shifts in federal policy and funding, including the proposed repeal of the Affordable Care Act.

Votes from the new legislators could alter the direction the state takes under any of these stressors. While incoming lawmakers were mostly reticent to reveal their specific positions on controversial issues such as reform of the Public Employees Retirement System, many have shared their priorities for the upcoming session.

Other major issues lawmakers will likely debate include rent control and a transportation package, worth hundreds of millions of dollars and likely involving a hike in the state’s gas tax.

House of Representatives freshmen

Janelle Bynum, D-Happy Valley

Occupation: McDonald’s franchisee

Replaces: Democrat Shemia Fagan

Priorities: Transportation, addressing the housing crisis.

Julie Fahey, D-Eugene

Occupation: Business and nonprofit consultant

Replaces: Democrat Val Hoyle

Priorities: Paid family and medical leave and affordable childcare; housing; education. “The big thing for me is ensuring that all Oregonians have a fair shot to succeed in life no matter what their background or where they come from.”

Diego Hernandez, D-Portland

Occupation: Executive director of Momentum Alliance

Replaces: Democrat Jessica Vega Pederson

Priorities: Revenue reform and increasing resources for education; advocating for East Portland.

Teresa Alonso Leon, D-Woodburn

Occupation: State GED administrator

Replaces: Democrat Betty Komp

Priorities: “For me, it is important that we support our vulnerable populations and make sure education is a priority.”

Sheri Malstrom, D-Beaverton

Occupation: Technically retired, but on-call, public health nurse, Multnomah County Health Department

Replaces: Democrat Tobias Read

Priorities: “I’m very excited to get involved in ground-level issues about how to build a healthier community,” Malstrom says. These include but aren’t limited to health policy, affordable childcare and housing.

Pam Marsh, D-Ashland

Occupation: Executive director, Ashland Emergency Food Bank and

co-owner, Green Springs Inn and Cabins

Replaces: Democrat Peter Buckley

Priorities: Early childhood, renewable energy and higher education

Mark Meek, D-Gladstone

Occupation: Owner/principal broker, Summa Real Estate Executives

Replaces: Democrat Brent Barton

Priorities: Education, affordable housing, economic development.

Ron Noble, R-McMinnville

Occupation: Drector of public safety, Linfield College and a public safety consultant; retired police officer and former chief, McMinnville Police Department

Replaces: Republican Jim Weidner

Priorities: Economic and business development; education; government transparency.

Karin Power, D-Milwaukie

Occupation: Nonprofit environmental attorney, The Freshwater Trust, former Milwaukie City Council member

Replaces: Kathleen Taylor

Priorities: Advancing policies or funding to help Clackamas County pay for local infrastructure projects, such as safe routes for pedestrians and bicyclists.

Werner E. Reschke, R-Malin

Occupation: president, wrinkledog inc online marketing agency

Replaces: Republican Gail Whitsett

Priorities: Stop any tax increases and make Oregon “a better place to live and work and more attractive to business.”

Tawna Sanchez, D-Portland

Occupation: Director of family services, NAYA Family Services

Replaces: Democrat Lew Frederick

Priorities: Improving the lot of children in the state foster care system; finding out why a disproportionate number of children of color are in the system.

David Brock Smith, R-Port Orford

Occupation: Curry County Commissioner

Replaces: Republican Wayne Krieger

Priorities: Reduce regulation for agriculture and other business, affordable housing incentives.

Richard A. Vial, R-Hillsboro

Occupation: Lawyer, farmer, real estate investor

Replaces: Republican John Davis

Priorities: Transportation and education. “Actually, there’s nothing I’m not interested in.”

Janeen Sollman, D-Hillsboro

Occupation: Recycling and customer service specialist, Vernier Software & Technology

Replaces: Democrat Joe Gallegos

Priorities: Graduation rates and stable revenue for education.

Oregon Senate freshmen

Alan DeBoer, R-Ashland,

Occupation: auto dealer, TC Chevrolet, Inc.

Replaces: Alan Bates (deceased)

Priorities: Eliminating the personal kicker, PERS reform, strategic spending and investing in education.

Lew Frederick, D-Portland

Occupation: strategic communications consultant, former Oregon state representative

Replaces: Democrat Chip Shields

Dennis Linthicum, R-Beatty

Occupation: Software developer

Replaces: Republican Doug Whitsett

Priorities: Interests include water and land use and land management, including forests. Critical of what he characterizes as “federal overreach” in land management.

James Manning, D-Eugene

Occupation: Retired U.S. Army; adjunct faculty, Brandman University;

Eugene Water & Electric Board commissioner

Replaces: Democrat Chris Edwards

Priorities: Sought office to help people in poverty and veterans.

Kathleen Taylor, D-Portland

Occupation: Former Oregon state representative, former Secretary of State auditor

Replaces: Diane Rosenbaum