Oregon State Legislature
| Oregon State Legislature | |
 | |
| General information | |
| Type: | State legislature |
| Term limits: | None |
| Session start: | February 5, 2024 |
| Website: | Official Legislature Page |
| Leadership | |
| Senate President: | Rob Wagner (D) |
| House Speaker: | Dan Rayfield (D) |
| Majority Leader: | Senate: Kate Lieber (D) House: Julie Fahey (D) |
| Minority Leader: | Senate: Tim Knopp (R) House: Jeff Helfrich (R) |
| Structure | |
| Members: | 30 (Senate), 60 (House) |
| Length of term: | 4 years (Senate), 2 years (House) |
| Authority: | Art IV, Oregon Constitution |
| Salary: | $35,052/year + per diem |
| Elections | |
| Last election: | November 8, 2022 |
| Next election: | November 5, 2024 |
| Redistricting: | Legislature-dominant |
The Oregon Legislative Assembly is the state legislature for the state of Oregon. The Legislative Assembly is a bicameral body, consisting of an upper house, the Oregon State Senate, and a lower house, the Oregon House of Representatives. There are no term limits for either house in the Legislative Assembly.
Oregon has a Democratic trifecta. The Democratic Party controls the office of governor and both chambers of the state legislature.
Elections
2024
Elections for the Oregon State Senate will take place in 2024. The general election is on November 5, 2024. A primary is May 21, 2024. The filing deadline is March 14, 2024.
Elections for the Oregon House of Representatives will take place in 2024. The general election is on November 5, 2024. A primary is May 21, 2024. The filing deadline is March 14, 2024.
2022
Elections for the Oregon State Senate took place in 2022. The general election was on November 8, 2022. A primary was scheduled for May 17, 2022. The filing deadline was March 8, 2022.
Elections for the Oregon House of Representatives took place in 2022. The general election was on November 8, 2022. A primary was scheduled for May 17, 2022. The filing deadline was March 8, 2022.
2020
Elections for the office of Oregon State Senate took place in 2020. The general election was held on November 3, 2020. A primary was scheduled for May 19, 2020. The filing deadline was March 10, 2020.
Elections for the office of Oregon House of Representatives took place in 2020. The general election was held on November 3, 2020. A primary was scheduled for May 19, 2020. The filing deadline was March 10, 2020.
2018
Elections for the Oregon State Senate took place in 2018. A closed primary election took place on May 15, 2018, and the general election was held on November 6, 2018. The candidate filing deadline was March 6, 2018.[1]
Elections for the Oregon House of Representatives took place in 2018. A closed primary election took place on May 15, 2018, and the general election was held on November 6, 2018. The candidate filing deadline was March 6, 2018.[2]
2016
Elections for the Oregon State Senate took place in 2016. The primary election took place on May 17, 2016, and the general election was held on November 8, 2016. The candidate filing deadline was March 8, 2016.
Elections for the Oregon House of Representatives took place in 2016. The primary election took place on May 17, 2016, and the general election was held on November 8, 2016. The candidate filing deadline was March 8, 2016.
2014
Elections for the Oregon State Senate took place in 2014. A primary election took place on May 20, 2014. The general election was held on November 4, 2014. The signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was March 11, 2014.
Elections for the Oregon House of Representatives took place in 2014. A primary election took place on May 20, 2014. The general election was held on November 4, 2014. The signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was March 11, 2014.
2012
Elections for the office of Oregon State Senate took place in 2012. The primary election was held on May 15, 2012, and the general election was held on November 6, 2012. The candidate filing deadline was March 6, 2012.
Elections for the office of Oregon House of Representatives took place in 2012. The primary election was held on May 15, 2012, and the general election was held on November 6, 2012. The candidate filing deadline was March 6, 2012.
2010
Elections for the office of Oregon State Senate took place in 2010. The primary election was held on May 18, 2010, and the general election was held on November 2, 2010. The candidate filing deadline was March 9, 2010.
Elections for the office of Oregon House of Representatives took place in 2010. The primary election was held on May 18, 2010, and the general election was held on November 2, 2010. The candidate filing deadline was March 9, 2010.
Sessions
Article IV of the Oregon Constitution establishes when the Legislature is to meet. Section 10 of Article IV states that the Legislature will meet in regular session once every two years. The section goes on to establish starting dates for these sessions, but these dates have been changed by law (as the section allows). Under current law, sessions convene on the second Monday in January of all odd years.[3]
Section 10 of Article IV also requires the presiding officers of both legislative houses to convene an emergency session of the Legislature when a majority of the members of each house request an emergency session.
2024
- See also: 2024 Oregon legislative session and Dates of 2024 state legislative sessions
In 2024, the legislature is scheduled to convene on February 5, 2024, and adjourn on March 10, 2024.
2023
In 2023, the legislature was scheduled to convene on January 17, 2023, and adjourn on June 25, 2023.
| Click [show] for past years' session dates. | |||
|---|---|---|---|
2022In 2022, the legislature was scheduled to convene on February 1, 2022, and adjourn on March 4, 2022. 2021In 2021, the legislature was scheduled to convene on January 21, 2021, and adjourn on June 26, 2021. 2020In 2020, the legislature was scheduled to convene on February 3, 2020, and adjourn on March 5, 2020.
Several state legislatures had their sessions impacted as a result of the 2020 coronavirus pandemic. No modifications to state legislative activity in Oregon were made. 2019In 2019, the legislature was in session from January 22, 2019, through June 30, 2019. 2018In 2018, the legislature was in session from February 5, 2018, through March 3, 2018. To read about notable events and legislation from this session, click here. 2017
In 2017, the legislature was in session from February 1, 2017, through July 7, 2017. 2016
In 2016, the legislature was in session from February 1 through March 3. 2015
In 2015, the legislature was in session from February 2 through July 6. Major issues in 2015Major issues in the 2015 legislative session included raising the minimum wage, a transportation package to fix roads and bridges, environmental legislation on the state's low-carbon fuel standard, and funding education.[4] 2014
In 2014, the legislature was in session from February 3 through March 10. Major issues in 2014Major issues in the 2014 legislative session included marijuana, gun control, liquor in grocery stores, the environment, health, the budget, Oregon Lottery reform, and the Columbia River Crossing project.[5] 2013
In 2013, the legislature was in session from February 4 to July 9. Major issues in 2013Major issues in the 2013 legislative session included in-state tuition, driver's licenses for undocumented immigrants, and background checks for guns.[6][7] 2012
In 2012, the legislature was in session from February 1 through March 6. 2011
In 2011, the legislature was in session from February 1 through June 30.[8] 2010
In 2010, the Legislature did not hold a regular session. However, the Legislature was in special session from February 1st to February 25th.[9] |
Role in state budget
- See also: Oregon state budget and finances
Oregon on 
|
The state operates on a biennial budget cycle. The sequence of key events in the budget process is as follows:[10]
- Budget instructions are sent to state agencies in March.
- State agencies submit their budget requests to the governor in September.
- Agency hearings are held between September and November.
- The governor submits his or her proposed budget to the state legislature by December 1. For new governors, the deadline is the first day the legislature convenes.
- The legislature adopts a budget between February and June. A simple majority is required to pass a budget. The biennium begins July 1.
Oregon is one of 43 states in which the governor has line item veto authority.[10]
The governor is constitutionally required to submit a balanced budget proposal. Likewise, the legislature is required to pass a balanced budget.[10]
Redistricting
- See also: Redistricting in Oregon
In Oregon, congressional and state legislative district lines are drawn by the state legislature. District lines are subject to veto by the governor.[11]
If the legislature fails to establish a redistricting plan for state legislative districts, it falls to the secretary of state to draw the boundaries.[11]
State law requires that congressional and state legislative districts meet the following criteria:[11]
- Districts must be contiguous.
- Districts must "utilize existing geographic or political boundaries."
- Districts should not "divide communities of common interest."
- Districts should "be connected by transportation links."
- Districts "must not be drawn for the purpose of favoring a political party, incumbent or other person."
2020
Gov. Kate Brown (D) signed new state legislative maps into law on September 27, 2021. The maps were approved by the Oregon House of Representatives, 31-18, and approved in the Oregon State Senate 18-11.[12] These maps took effect for Oregon’s 2022 legislative elections.
2010
Oregon's population increased by 12 percent from 2000-2010, exceeding the national average of 9.7 percent. Gov. John Kitzhaber (D) signed the state's redistricting plan into law on June 13, 2011, six days after its original proposal. This was the first time Oregon enacted a redistricting plan without the involvement of the Secretary of State in 100 years.
Legislators
Salaries
- See also: Comparison of state legislative salaries
| State legislative salaries, 2023 | |
|---|---|
| Salary | Per diem |
| $35,052/year | $157/day |
When sworn in
Oregon assume office the second Monday in January following the election.[13]
Senate
The Oregon State Senate is the upper house of the Oregon Legislative Assembly. There are 30 members of the State Senate, representing 30 districts across the state.
As of the 2020 Census, Oregon state senators represented an average of 141,383 residents. After the 2010 Census, each member represented 128,287 residents.
Each Senate district is composed of exactly two House districts: Senate District 1 contains House Districts 1 and 2, SD 2 contains HD 3 and HD 4, and so on.
| Party | As of January 2024 | |
|---|---|---|
| Democratic Party | 17 | |
| Republican Party | 12 | |
| Independent | 0 | |
| Independent Party of Oregon | 1 | |
| Vacancies | 0 | |
| Total | 30 | |
Click here for a list of members of this chamber.
Democrats won control of the Oregon State Senate in 2004. In 2022, they won a 17-12-1 majority.
The table below shows the partisan history of the Oregon Senate following every general election from 1992 to 2022. All data from 2006 or earlier comes from Michael Dubin's Party Affiliations in the State Legislatures (McFarland Press, 2007). Data after 2006 was compiled by Ballotpedia staff.
Oregon State Senate election results: 1992-2022
| Year | '92 | '94 | '96 | '98 | '00 | '02 | '04 | '06 | '08 | '10 | '12 | '14 | '16 | '18 | '20 | '22 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democrats | 16 | 11 | 10 | 12 | 14 | 15 | 18 | 17 | 18 | 16 | 16 | 18 | 17 | 18 | 18 | 17 |
| Republicans | 14 | 19 | 20 | 18 | 16 | 15 | 12 | 11 | 12 | 14 | 14 | 12 | 13 | 12 | 12 | 12 |
| Other | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
House of Representatives
The Oregon House of Representatives is the lower house of the Oregon Legislative Assembly. There are 60 members of the House, representing 60 districts across the state.
As of the 2020 Census, Oregon state representatives represented an average of 70,692 residents. After the 2010 Census, each member represented 64,143 residents.
| Party | As of January 2024 | |
|---|---|---|
| Democratic Party | 35 | |
| Republican Party | 24 | |
| Other | 0 | |
| Vacancies | 1 | |
| Total | 60 | |
Click here for a list of members of this chamber.
Democrats won control of the Oregon House of Representatives in 2012. In 2022, they won a 35-25 majority.
The table below shows the partisan history of the Oregon House following every general election from 1992 to 2022. All data from 2006 or earlier comes from Michael Dubin's Party Affiliations in the State Legislatures (McFarland Press, 2007). Data after 2006 was compiled by Ballotpedia staff.
Oregon House of Representatives election results: 1992-2022
| Year | '92 | '94 | '96 | '98 | '00 | '02 | '04 | '06 | '08 | '10 | '12 | '14 | '16 | '18 | '20 | '22 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democrats | 28 | 26 | 29 | 25 | 27 | 25 | 27 | 31 | 36 | 30 | 34 | 35 | 35 | 38 | 37 | 35 |
| Republicans | 32 | 34 | 31 | 34 | 33 | 35 | 33 | 29 | 24 | 30 | 26 | 25 | 25 | 22 | 23 | 25 |
District maps
State Senate
State House
Veto overrides
- See also: Veto overrides in state legislatures
State legislatures can override governors' vetoes. Depending on the state, this can be done during the regular legislative session, in a special session following the adjournment of the regular session, or during the next legislative session. The rules for legislative overrides of gubernatorial vetoes in Oregon are listed below.
How many legislators are required to vote for an override? Two-thirds of members present in both chambers.
| Two-thirds of members present in both chambers must vote to override a veto. If all members are in attendance, this is 40 of the 60 members in the Oregon House of Representatives and 20 of the 30 members in the Oregon State Senate. Oregon is one of 36 states that requires a two-thirds vote from both of its legislative chambers to override a veto. |
How can vetoes be overridden after the legislature has adjourned?
| Vetoes can be overridden in a special session or when the next regular session convenes.[14][15] A majority of members in both chambers must agree to call for a special session.[16] |
Authority: Article V, Section 15b of the Oregon Constitution.
| "(1) Every bill which shall have passed the Legislative Assembly shall, before it becomes a law, be presented to the Governor; if the Governor approve, the Governor shall sign it; but if not, the Governor shall return it with written objections to that house in which it shall have originated, which house shall enter the objections at large upon the journal and proceed to reconsider it. (2) If, after such reconsideration, two-thirds of the members present shall agree to pass the bill, it shall be sent, together with the objections, to the other house, by which it shall likewise be reconsidered, and, if approved by two-thirds of the members present, it shall become a law." |
History
Partisan balance 1992-2013
Oregon State Senate: From 1992-2013, the Democratic Party was the majority in the Oregon State Senate for 12 years while the Republicans were the majority for eight years. Oregon was under a Democratic trifecta the final year of the study.
Across the country, there were 541 Democratic and 517 Republican state senates from 1992 to 2013.
Oregon State House of Representatives: From 1992-2013, the Democratic Party was the majority in the Oregon State House of Representatives for five years while the Republicans were the majority for 15 years. Oregon was under a Democratic trifecta for the final year of the study.
Across the country, there were 577 Democratic and 483 Republican State Houses of Representatives from 1992 to 2013.
Over the course of the 22-year study, state governments became increasingly more partisan. At the outset of the study period (1992), 18 of the 49 states with partisan legislatures had single-party trifectas and 31 states had divided governments. In 2013, only 13 states had divided governments, while single-party trifectas held sway in 36 states, the most in the 22 years studied.
The chart below shows the partisan composition of the Office of the Governor of Oregon, the Oregon State Senate and the Oregon House of Representatives from 1992 to 2013.
.PNG)
SQLI and partisanship
- To read the full report on the State Quality of Life Index (SQLI) in PDF form, click here.
The chart below depicts the partisanship of the Oregon state government and the state's SQLI ranking for the years studied. For the SQLI, the states were ranked from 1-50, with 1 being the best and 50 the worst. Oregon had Democratic trifectas from 2007-2010 and again in 2013. The state's lowest SQLI ranking, finishing 39th, occurred in 2005. Its highest ranking, finishing 18th, occurred in 2011. Both occurred when the government was divided.
Joint Legislative Committees
Every state legislature and state legislative chamber in the country contains several legislative committees. These committees are responsible for studying, amending, and voting on legislation before it reaches the floor of a chamber for a full vote. The different types of committees include standing committees, select or special, and joint.
- Standing committees are generally permanent committees, the names of which sometimes change from session to session.
- Select or special committees are temporary committees formed to deal with specific issues such as recent legislation, major public policy or proposals, or investigations.
- Joint committees are committees that feature members of both chambers of a legislature.
Ballotpedia covers standing and joint committees. The Oregon State Legislature has nine joint committees:
- Legislative Administration
- Legislative Audits
- Legislative Counsel
- Information Management and Technology
- Legislative Policy and Research
- Marijuana Regulation
- Tax Credits
- Transportation and Economic Development
- Ways and Means
Constitutional amendments
In every state but Delaware, voter approval is required to enact a constitutional amendment. In each state, the legislature has a process for referring constitutional amendments before voters. In 18 states, initiated constitutional amendments can be put on the ballot through a signature petition drive. There are also many other types of statewide measures.
The methods in which the Oregon Constitution can be amended:
- See also: Section 1, Article IV, and Article XII of the Oregon Constitution and Laws governing ballot measures in Oregon
The Oregon Constitution lays out four different paths, in two different articles, for how to go about changing the state's constitution.
- The constitutional revision process is established in Section 2 of Article XVII.
- Section 1, Article IV, says that the people of the state can use an initiated constitutional amendment to put an amendment before voters.
- An initiated amendment must be proposed "by a petition signed by a number of qualified voters equal to eight percent of the total number of votes cast for all candidates for Governor at the election at which a Governor was elected for a term of four years next preceding the filing of the petition."
- The petition must include the full text of the proposed amendment.
- The signatures must be filed "not less than four months before the election at which the proposed...amendment to the Constitution is to be voted upon."
- Article IV contains several restrictions on the initiative process such as Section 1b, which prohibits pay-per-signature.
- Section 1 of Article XVIII creates the procedures by which the Oregon State Legislature can use a legislatively referred constitutional amendment to put an amendment before voters.
- Amendments can be proposed in either house of the state legislature.
- To earn a spot on the ballot, a "majority of all the members elected to each of the two houses" must vote in favor of a proposed amendment.
- The Legislature can put any such referred amendments on a special election ballot.
- If more than one amendment is proposed by the legislature, they must be voted on separately.
- Section 1 of Article XVIII also states that a constitutional convention can only be held if "the law providing for such convention shall first be approved by the people on a referendum vote at a regular general election."
- The constitution does not define how such a referendum is to be put before voters.
- Possible ways might include a citizen-initiated question or a vote of the legislature.
2025 measures:
- See also: 2025 ballot measures
Certified:
- The following measures have been certified for the ballot.
No measures to list
Potential:
- The following measures have made it through one chamber—or one session for two session states—and may appear on the ballot in 2025.
No measures to list
2024 measures:
Below is a list of measures that were referred to the 2024 ballot by the legislature or that have made it approximately halfway through the process in the legislature for referral to the ballot in 2024.
- See also: Oregon 2024 ballot measures
Certified:
- The following measures have been certified for the ballot.
| Oregon Impeachment of Elected State Executives Amendment | Democrats | Republicans | |||
| Senate: | Required: 16 | Yes votes: 25 (83.3%) | No votes: 0 (0%) | Yes: 17; No: 0 | Yes: 8; No: 0 |
| House: | Required: 31 | Yes votes: 54 (90%) | No votes: 0 (0%) | Yes: 34; No: 0 | Yes: 20; No: 0 |
| Oregon Independent Public Service Compensation Commission Amendment | Democrats | Republicans | |||
| Senate: | Required: 16 | Yes votes: 21 (70.0%) | No votes: 4 (13.3%) | Yes: 17; No: 0 | Yes: 4; No: 4 |
| House: | Required: 31 | Yes votes: 47 (78.3%) | No votes: 3 (5%) | Yes: 34; No: 0 | Yes: 13; No: 3 |
Potential:
- The following measures have made it through one chamber—or one session for two session states—and may appear on the ballot in 2024.
No measures to list
See also
| Elections | Oregon State Government | State Legislatures | State Politics |
|---|---|---|---|
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External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Oregon Secretary of State, "Oregon Secretary of State Elections Division Offices Open May 15, 2018, Primary Election," accessed September 1, 2017
- ↑ Oregon Secretary of State, "Oregon Secretary of State Elections Division Offices Open May 15, 2018, Primary Election," accessed September 1, 2017
- ↑ Oregon State Legislature, "Legislative Process," accessed July 28, 2014
- ↑ Oregon Live, "Oregon Legislature by the numbers: What to watch for in 2015," accessed February 2, 2015
- ↑ oregonlive.com, "2014 Oregon Legislature: 35 days for guns, pot, booze and a zombie bridge," accessed February 3, 2014
- ↑ Statesman Journal, "Immigration issues back in spotlight at Oregon Legislature," January 27, 2013
- ↑ Daily Tidings, "Immigration issues on agenda for Ore. Legislature," February 1, 2013
- ↑ National Conference of State Legislatures, "2011 Legislative Sessions Calendar," accessed June 6, 2014(Archived)
- ↑ National Conference of State Legislatures, "2010 Legislative Sessions Calendar," accessed July 28, 2014(Archived)
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 National Association of State Budget Officers, "Budget Processes in the States, Spring 2021," accessed January 24, 2023
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 All About Redistricting, "Oregon," accessed April 28, 2015
- ↑ Oregon State Legislature, "SB 882 Enrolled," accessed September 28, 2021
- ↑ Oregon Constitution, "Article IV, Section 4," accessed February 17, 2021
- ↑ National Conference of State Legislatures, "The Veto Process," accessed June 22, 2017
- ↑ The Oregon Legislature, "How an Idea Really Becomes a Law," accessed July 3, 2017
- ↑ National Conference of State Legislatures, "Special Sessions," May 6, 2009
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