The biggest surprise out of this year’s Legislative session might be what didn’t happen.
For the first time in years, there was no Republican walkout during the long session. The minority party had some new incentives to show up: Voters have barred legislators from seeking reelection if they pile up absences (and the courts have upheld the law). And Democrats had a thin supermajority — potentially enough to call a quorum without the Republicans.
Here are some key updates on what happened session (and what didn’t):
Transportation Worker Layoffs Now Expected
After the Legislature failed to pass new transportation funding, the Oregon Department of Transportation is expected to lay off workers. The city of Portland says they’ll need to cut 60 positions in the Portland Bureau of Transportation as a result of not getting an expected $11 million in state funding. [KGW]
- Related: Gov. Tina Kotek blamed Republicans for the failure of the transportation bill. She’s hinting that she might still call a special session of the Legislature to try to address transportation. [Oregon Capitol Chronicle]
Gun Control Passes
Democrats successfully shepherded a series of gun-control restrictions through the Legislature: They barred the sale of bump stocks and other accessories that convert semiautomatic weapons into fully automatic ones. A new law also allows local jurisdictions to bar people with a concealed carry license from entering public buildings with a weapon. [OPB]
Changes to Civil Commitments Pass, Too
Over the objections of disability rights advocates, but spurred by a coalition of mental health experts and law enforcement, a bipartisan coalition of legislators approved changes to the rules around mandating mental health care for people at extreme risk. The bill no longer requires that any potential harm be “imminent” for a judge to require treatment. [OPB]
Republicans Nix Bill on Trump-Style Call-up of Oregon National Guard
Rep. Paul Evans (D., Monmouth), a veteran, sponsored a bill to limit when the President can call up the Oregon National Guard. It would have blocked call-ups to serve as law enforcement, as President Trump did in Los Angeles. The bill passed the Oregon House, but Senate Republicans blocked the bill with procedural maneuvers. [Oregonian]
