Oregon lawmakers are racing to pass numerous bills this week before the legislative session ends Sunday at the latest.
Legislators voted last week to make minor drug possession a misdemeanor crime, ending the state’s pioneering and fraught experiment with decriminalization. But Gov. Tina Kotek’s housing production package, a main priority of the session, still needs to gain final approval.
Proposals to ditch daylight saving time, ban book bans, increase public employee retirement benefits for certain workers and potentially establish campaign finance limits are also still in play.
The session must end by March 10. But some lawmakers and aides have expressed optimism that the Legislature could gavel out by Friday.
It has been an emotional session as lawmakers have worked to revamp Measure 110, Oregon’s pioneering drug decriminalization law. Many House and Senate members recounted deeply personal stories about their own losses and family members’ experiences with addiction. They then voted to make minor drug possession a misdemeanor and signed off on $211 million to expand access to substance abuse treatment and mental health services.
Rep. James Hieb, R-Oregon City, said he lost two brothers to drug overdoses a decade ago. Rep. Ricki Ruiz, D-Gresham, spoke of the grief of attending the funerals of friends and community members who died from drug overdoses. Rep. Dacia Grayber, D-Portland, told her colleagues about responding to overdoses as a Tualatin Valley Fire & Rescue firefighter and paramedic.
Lawmakers were similarly raw and emotional on the Senate floor Friday.
Sen. Dennis Linthicum, a Beatty Republican, said both his parents were alcoholics and died prematurely from their disease. Sen. Mark Meek, D-Gladstone, brought his uncle Ronnie’s remains to the floor. He told his colleagues about how his beloved uncle battled addiction and spent years in the state penitentiary. He said things might have gone differently for his uncle if he had been able to access the mental health and recovery services he needed.
“I just pray we are able to continue the good work we’re starting today and save and change the lives of wonderful people who could have a great bright future, but absent our willingness to continue to invest and to make them know we do care, they will continue to struggle,” Meek said
After sailing through the House on Thursday, the bill passed the Senate 21-8, with five liberal Portland and Eugene Democrats, mostly lawmakers of color, and three conservative or libertarian members voting no. It’s now on its way to Gov. Tina Kotek’s desk.
The Senate last week also approved two bills that would allocate $369 million for water infrastructure projects, loans for moderate-income housing and other resources to help Oregonians afford housing. The proposals are two of a trio of bills that make up Kotek’s housing package. The third bill, House Bill 4134, includes an additional $7 million for infrastructure but has yet to pass the House.
The package is expected to gain final approval this week with bipartisan support.
Our politics team will be in Salem all week making sure to keep you apprised of the key bills moving through the Legislature and those that are dead for the session.
In the meantime, you can catch up on our coverage out of the Capitol from the last week below:
Lawmakers ‘poised’ to allocate $25 million to Albina Vision Trust for housing development
Oregon Rep. Paul Holvey announces retirement, just months after surviving recall attempt
Task force to reduce suicide deaths in Oregon moves forward despite pushback from gun advocates
Oregon lawmakers move to block vote on North Plains expansion
Lawmakers advance plan to fund summer school but with 40% less money
Sunrise before 5 a.m.: How permanent standard time would change Portland
Reporters Noelle Crombie and Carlos Fuentes contributed to this report.
— Jamie Goldberg oversees The Oregonian/OregonLive’s politics, education and homelessness coverage. She can be reached at jgoldberg@oregonian.com or 503-221-8228. You can find her on X at @jamiebgoldberg
Our journalism needs your support. Please become a subscriber today at OregonLive.com/subscribe.
Latest news from Oregon Legislature
- Oregon lawmakers send $20 million to clean up Portland highways; work to start right away
- Oregon lawmakers find common ground on housing, drug policy and campaign finance in largely bipartisan session
- Oregon Legislature approves $10 million for semiconductor education at Oregon universities
- Bill to reduce corporate influence in health care dies in Oregon Senate
- Legislature wraps up work after session focused on housing creation, drug policy, campaign finance limits