legislature

2024 LEGISLATIVE SESSION PREVIEW

Posted on January 24, 2024 by BJ | 0 Comments

Oregon’s 2024 legislative session will begin Monday, Feb. 5 and is scheduled to adjourn Sunday, March. 10. At 35 days, such short sessions are designed to handle emergencies and to rebalance state budgets, which are adopted during longer sessions that occur during odd-numbered years. Short sessions are not well suited to manage complex policy bills. What can Oregonians and businesses…

Committees to Be Held Virtually During 2022 Session Due to Surge in COVID-19 Cases

Posted on January 17, 2022 by BJ | 1 Comments

Senate President Peter Courtney and House Speaker Tina Kotek announced Monday that all committee meetings during the upcoming 2022 Legislative Session will be conducted virtually. The decision was made based on input from infectious disease doctors from Oregon Health & Science University and public health experts amid the recent surge in COVID-19 cases. “We are committed to ensuring the legislative…

Public Hearings on Redistricting coming in September

Posted on July 2, 2021 by BJ | 0 Comments

On Wednesday, June 16, the Senate and House Redistricting Committees held their final meetings of the 2021 regular legislative session. The committee chairs and staff discussed the work of the committees during session as well as plans for the committees once the final U.S. Census data arrives in August. To watch a recording of the hearing follow this link. Tentative…

Interim, Redistricting and Capitol Seismic Upgrades

Posted on June 28, 2021 by BJ | 0 Comments

From Rep. Rick Lewis’s (R, HD-18) 6-26-21 newsletter: In the interim, between now and the next session there is a great deal of work to do. Legislators have been asked to reserve the week of September 20 for a possible special session on redistricting. Redistricting is the process of redrawing legislative and congressional district lines following the decennial U.S. Census. The…

‘Sine Die’: The highlights of Oregon’s historic 2021 legislative session

Posted on June 27, 2021 by BJ | 3 Comments

The Oregon Legislature wrapped up Saturday, (6-26-21) marking the end of an eventful session that included high profile legislation, a resignation and the first expulsion of a legislator in state history. The session, which began Jan. 21 after a two-day delay from concerns about possible attacks from right-wing extremists, saw lawmakers take up bills addressing pandemic relief, wildfire relief, police…

HJR 9 Increase Senators to 36. One Senator for each County.

Posted on June 26, 2021 by BJ

VOTE:YES
Died In committee

Gov’t pays bonus to NOT work, then taxes shops for NOT hiring

Posted on June 24, 2021 by BJ | 0 Comments

Government has used our tax dollars to create one of the biggest labor shortages in recent memory and is now on the verge of taxing the victims, small businesses owners, for not hiring. As you know, recent Federal $1,200 month bonuses (above unemployment payouts) created a situation where people made more staying home than working. So bad it was that…

Rent, fires, taxes and energy vie for votes as Oregon Legislature nears quitting time

Posted on June 15, 2021 by BJ | 0 Comments

The Legislature issued an eviction order to itself on Monday, saying it had to wrap up its work and get out of the Capitol in under two weeks. The official session calendar given to lawmakers says Friday is the target date to go home. With fatigued lawmakers and staff eyeing the exits, the buzz that the House and Senate were…

Super majority Blocks TAX RELIEF; and Legislation to End Covid Emergency

Posted on June 13, 2021 by BJ | 0 Comments

June 9th, Senate Republicans moved to debate a measure that would have repealed taxes on basic necessities. Under current law, prescription drugs, diapers, feminine hygiene products, and baby formula are taxed under the corporate activities tax. Senate Bill 521, a Republican proposal, would exempt these items from taxation. Senator Tim Knopp (R-Bend) made a motion to withdraw SB 521 from…

IMPORTANT: Redistricting hearings this week!

Posted on April 8, 2021 by BJ | 0 Comments

from PEOPLE Not Politicians… Friends, We have an opportunity to make our voice heard this week! This Saturday, April 10, the Oregon Legislature’s Special Committee on Redistricting is holding THREE public hearings for comment on mapping Oregon’s new district lines. This is a critical time to speak up! Share how you feel about this process and what you believe should…

2021 Oregon Legislature: Priorities, uncertainties

Posted on January 29, 2021 by BJ | 0 Comments

The 2021 Oregon Legislature is under way at the capitol building in Salem, but this session is far from normal. It is marked by pandemic related issues and restrictions and a $1.7 billion budget shortfall. By far, the top issue is the COVID-19 vaccine, according to Sen. Betsy Johnson. “We have heard both pro and con about the vaccine,” Johnson…