74th Oregon Legislative Assembly

Sessions

Oregon is one of only six states where the legislature meets only once every two years. The Public Commission on the Oregon Legislature, established during the prior legislative session, recommended that the state move to annual sessions after 2009. In preparation for that change, the legislature scheduled a session for 2008. This was technically a special session, but lawmakers referred to it as a supplemental session to the 2007 session.{{cite news

The 2007 regular session lasted 172 days, and the 2008 session was scheduled for February 4–29, but was adjourned February 22, for a total of 19 days.{{cite news

Both chambers took measures to limit the number of bills introduced in the 2008 session; the Senate limited individual members to introducing a single bill, and the House permitted only committee-sponsored bills.

The Oregon Constitution dictates that the legislature must meet only in biennial regular sessions, and that special sessions must be held only in response to a specific emergency. Senator Larry George sought an injunction based on this law. The Marion County Circuit Court judge who considered the case agreed that there were some concerns, but determined that the session was legal.{{cite news

Bills

2007 regular session

The Healthy Oregon Act (Senate Bill 329) was passed. Proposed by the Senate Commission on Health Care Access & Affordability (co-chaired by Alan Bates and Ben Westlund), the act also included amendments promoted by former governor John Kitzhaber and the Archimedes Movement.{{cite news

The legislature passed two LGBT rights bills: the Oregon Equality Act, banning discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity, and the Oregon Family Fairness Act, creating domestic partnerships for same-sex couples.

Updated ethics rules, which increased the financial disclosure requirements on local officials and commission members, proved controversial; 239 officials around the state resigned their positions the following April, when the rules took effect. Legislators and Governor Kulongoski are exploring ways to reform the ethics rules in the 2009 session.{{cite news

The state ethics commission was allocated funds to hire an investigator and a trainer, and its budget will no longer be overseen by the legislature.

A new law will eliminate the "worst" junk food from public school vending machines and cafeterias.

The legislature established a rainy-day fund, but did not raise the corporate minimum tax, which the Statesman Journal called "absurdly low."

The legislature passed several new protections against identify theft.

The legislature allocated $33.5 million to offices and parking facilities at the Oregon State Capitol.

A modification to the Oregon Bottle Bill, adding water bottles to the list of containers with mandatory deposits, was passed. This was the first modification to the Bottle Bill since it was first passed in 1971.{{cite news

Funding for legislative staffing between sessions was doubled from the $4.2 million previously allocated.{{cite news

Starting in January 2009, smoking will no longer be permitted in most bars.

Drivers under age 18 may be fined for talking on cell phones.

Three million dollars were allocated to Oregon Public Broadcasting to upgrade equipment serving rural areas.

The Register-Guard praised the legislature for increasing funding for higher education.{{cite news

The Bend Bulletin criticized the legislature for failing to pass mandatory audits for local school districts, a measure advocated by the Chalkboard Project, which works for education policy reform.{{cite news

The legislature referred two bills to popular vote: Measure 49 that amends 2004's Measure 37, which had limited land use regulation, and Measure 50 which would have increased the tobacco tax to provide health insurance for children.

2008 supplemental session

The supplemental, or special, session of 2008 opened with little fanfare in the Senate, but with charges of partisan gamesmanship in the House.{{cite news

During the special session, lawmakers established a tax force to explore ways to reform Oregon's medical liability limits, in response to a December 2007 Oregon Supreme Court ruling. The task force will be headed by Senator Floyd Prozanski and Representative Suzanne Bonamici.{{cite news

A bill seeking to limit the use of medical marijuana in the workplace met with opposition from Associated Oregon Industries and The Oregonian's editorial board, and was not passed.{{cite news

The legislature passed a law requiring proof of residence in order to obtain an Oregon drivers license, in order to comply with the Federal Real ID law. The legislature was criticized, however, for failing to take on an idea, previously advanced by Governor Kulongoski, to provide for an alternate "driving only" card.{{cite news

The legislature referred a bill to voters, a toned-down alternative to a Kevin Mannix-backed bill establishing mandatory minimum sentences for property crimes.{{cite news

Three bills passed by the legislature related to land use, including restoring funding for the Big Look Task Force, and addressing funding in light of the passage of Measure 49.{{cite news

Senate members

The Oregon State Senate, which had been controlled by Democrats since 2005, had a Democratic majority ranging between 17 and 19 of its 30 members during the 2007 and 2008 sessions (due to the party changes of two senators).

Senate President: Peter Courtney (D-11 Salem)

President Pro Tem: Margaret Carter (D-22 Portland)

Majority Leader: Kate Brown (D-21 Portland) (2007 session), Richard Devlin (D-19 Tualatin) (2008 session)

Minority Leader: Ted Ferrioli (R-30 John Day)

House members

The Oregon House of Representatives had a Democratic majority of 31-29 during the 2007 and 2008 sessions. The narrow majority did not allow Democrats to pass any tax increases, due to the state's supermajority requirement.

Speaker: Jeff Merkley (D-47 Portland)

Speaker Pro Tem: Diane Rosenbaum (D-42 Portland)

Majority Leader: Dave Hunt (D-40 Clackamas County)

Majority Whip: Phil Barnhart (D-11 Linn/Lane)

Republican Minority Leader: Wayne Scott (R-39 Oregon City), then Bruce Hanna{{cite news Deputy Republican Leader: Bruce Hanna (R-7 Roseburg)

Republican Whip: Dennis Richardson (R-4 Central Point)

Deputy Republican Whip: Gene Whisnant (R-53 Sunriver)

References

References

1. [http://www.osbar.org/_docs/lawimprove/capinsider/ci_061114.pdf Capitol Insider article], [[Oregon State Bar]]
2. Democratic Governor [[Ted Kulongoski]] did not veto any bills during the session, and expressed general approval of the session.[http://docs.newsbank.com/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info:sid/iw.newsbank.com:NewsBank:ORGB&rft_val_format=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:ctx&rft_dat=11A1DF02A3CFD8C0&svc_dat=InfoWeb:aggregated5&req_dat=8CE642B8CA5C4083BE84A2539D6E1A73 photo caption from ''The Oregonian''], June 30, 2007
3. Kenagy, David R.. (Winter 2007). "The Oregon Law Commission at Ten: Finding Vision for the Future in the Functions of the Past". [[Willamette University College of Law]].
4. "Healthy Oregon Act: Sb 329".
5. Resigned January 2008.
6. Appointed January 2008.
7. Resigned October 2007.
8. Appointed November 2007.
9. (2007-11-20). "It's official: Hass to replace Deckert". [[The Oregonian]].
10. Gorman, Kathleen. (2008-04-30). "Bonamici to replace Avakian for Senate seat". [[The Oregonian]].
11. Resigned April 2008.
12. (2008-06-05). "Washington County commissioners pick Harker for HD34". OregonLive.com.
13. (2008-01-22). "Attorney Cliff Bentz to finish Butler's term". OregonLive.com.