With a deal in place between Democrats and Republicans, legislation is moving with speed through the Oregon House of Representatives. But now there are
The Oregon Capitol in Salem, Ore., Thursday, Sept. 26, 2019.
When lawmakers in the Oregon House forged a deal last week to end delay tactics slowing the 2021 legislative session, a central piece of the agreement was clear: Majority Democrats granted Republicans more say in the weighty job of drawing new political maps.
But another move that has helped smooth relationships in the Capitol has gotten little attention. In an experiment that upends the normal budgeting process in Salem, Democratic leaders are now planning to let lawmakers personally dictate how millions of dollars in federal aid can be spent within their districts.
Under a plan being put forward by Senate President Peter Courtney, D-Salem, and House Speaker Tina Kotek, D-Portland, $240 million in relief money from the recently passed American Rescue Plan Act would be separated out from the normal jockeying for cash that comes with the biennial budgeting process.
Wednesday, April 21, 2021
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As we previously reported, anti-preemption legislation, SB 554, was scheduled for 2 Public Hearings and a possible Work Session, starting today. With less than 20 hours before public hearings were set to begin, Senate President Peter Courtney (D - 11) submitted an extensive proposed amendment to SB 554, Amendment 20 (A-20). A-20 would combine anti-preemption legislation with the mandatory storage requirements proposed in HB 2510.
Please contact committee members and ask them to OPPOSE Senate Bill 554.
With the addition of amendment 20, Senate Bill 554 now:
Guts Oregon s state firearms preemption laws, leading to a patchwork of inconsistent laws across the Beaver state
DOUBLES the cost for Concealed Handgun Licenses (CHL)
Two Oregon gun control proposals may merge, in scaled-back fashion
MGN
SALEM, Ore. (KTVZ) Oregon lawmakers are considering scaling back and combining the two central gun control proposals to emerge this session, OPB reported.
Under an amendment taken up by the House Rules Committee on Wednesday, a bill to ban guns in state buildings and allow local governments to pass their own bans would be curbed significantly.
The amended proposal to Senate Bill 554 submitted by Senate President Peter Courtney, D-Salem, whose chamber has already approved the changes would limit a new ban to the state Capitol, and only allow K-12 schools, community colleges and universities to enact bans. Local governments like counties and cities would not have that ability.