At 33, state Rep. Sara Gelser knows that this legislative session will be the last time she can be a member of the newly formed "Five Under 35" caucus, but she hopes her work with the group will inspire other young people to be more interested in politics.

"At the Capitol, it's not about how old you are or whether you're a Republican or Democrat," said Gelser, a Democrat from Corvallis. "It's about if you have good ideas and are able to work with other people."

Gelser and four of her colleagues from the House introduced their "Five Under 35" caucus on Monday and highlighted legislation they've sponsored that they said will help create an agenda for young Oregonians.

Other members of the caucus - all Democrats - are Reps. Ben Cannon of Portland, Brian Clem of Salem, Chris Edwards of Eugene and Tobias Read of Beaverton.

During an interview Monday with the Gazette-Times, Gelser - who, like the other members of the caucus, is in the middle of her first full term - talked about some of the issues and themes the caucus is highlighting.

She said a priority for the caucus is getting other young people to participate in the political process. She backed a proposal to allow voters to register - and vote - on Election Day. Gelser said that youth voter turnout rates average 14 percent higher in states that have such same-day registration.

A priority for Gelser this session is a variety of bills that aim, in different ways, to help young Oregonians care for their growing families. The package includes bills that would make it easier for workers to take time off during a medical emergency to care for their dependents. Other measures would make it easier for parents who have children with disabilities requiring extensive medical care to raise their children at home.

Other priorities for the caucus include:

• Measures to encourage entrepreneurship among young Oregonians, including bills helping to finance the Oregon Innovation Council and a bill to encourage business owners to invest in new technology and equipment.

• Legislation to help create a more sustainable Oregon, including bills to deal with electronic waste and a bill calling for Oregon to get 25 percent of its energy from renewable sources by 2025.

• Legislation to expand opportunities for post-secondary schooling, including one that increases funding for the ASPIRE program, which helps high school students realize the importance of higher education.

But the key message that Gelser hopes gets transmitted from the "Five Under 35" caucus is that young people can have a voice in politics: "I hope more young people run for office," she said Monday, and then she added: "I would hope that the next caucus has more than just one woman."

Even if that means she has to be an elder stateswoman in Salem.