Sara Cline December 16, 2020 - 9:02 PM
CORVALLIS, Ore. - Ryan Bowser looked sombre as he sat in his cramped Oregon apartment, worried whether he, his pregnant girlfriend and her 10-year-old daughter would have a roof over their heads in the new year. It may well depend on state lawmakers.
The family is three months behind on the $1,165 in rent they pay for their two-bedroom unit in the college town of Corvallis. Bowser, a custodian at Oregon State University, took eight weeks off because he was sick and couldn t afford child care.
They re among thousands hoping Oregon extends an eviction moratorium until July 1 in a special legislative session next week. The proposal also would create a $200 million fund mainly to compensate landlords. If passed, it would go further than a one-month extension of a federal eviction moratorium expected in a coronavirus relief package nearing consensus in Congress.
Virtual hearings set for four Oregon special session bills
Evictions hiatus, school liability, to-go cocktails join funds for virus control and wildfires.
The public can weigh virtually in on the four bills that the Oregon Legislature will take up at its third special session of the year scheduled Monday, Dec. 21.
A committee of the legislative leadership and six other members will meet from 6 to 9 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 17, and from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 19. The Saturday session is planned if public testimony must be carried over from Thursday, so participants are advised to sign up Thursday if they want to testify virtually.
Oregon governor calling lawmakers back for special session By SARA CLINE, , Associated Press/Report for America,
Published: December 15, 2020, 3:57pm
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SALEM, Ore. (AP) Gov. Kate Brown is calling Oregon lawmakers back to the Capitol for a one-day special session, asking them to approve hundreds of millions of dollars to aid people and communities struggling with the pandemic and the effect of this summer’s devastating wildfires.
Some of the bills expected to be discussed include renter and landlord relief, a restaurant bill that will allow to-go cocktails, school liability protections and an additional allocation to the state’s Emergency Fund.
Such an in-person special session coming as COVID-19 surges once appeared unlikely.
Gov. Kate Brown is calling lawmakers to Salem on Monday for what she says will be a one-day special session to address the state’s most pressing concerns.
While remaining vague about exactly which bills she would like to see move forward, the governor announced Tuesday morning that she’d prioritize $800 million in “relief” for those impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic and this year’s historic wildfires.
“It is clear that states must act on their own to provide a bridge until federal help arrives,” Brown said in a statement. “This is why I am calling on legislators from both sides of the aisle to come together in the best interests of the state.”
Brown calls Oregon legislators back for one-day special session for pandemic and wildfire relief tdn.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from tdn.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.