Oregon lawmakers will meet this week for a final round of meetings to prepare for the 2022 legislative session.
Committees will get updates on the implementation of bills that passed during last year’s session. They’ll also discuss concepts being floated for possible votes next month.
Those include dozens of proposals, including a measure that would create limits on campaign contributions. Another proposal would ban police officers from pulling people over for broken headlights or taillights. And another bill would require the Oregon Health Authority to make air conditioners available to low income Oregonians during heatwaves, such as the one blamed for more than 100 deaths last summer.
All of this week’s hearings will take place online only. Legislative leaders announced Monday that committees will also meet virtually during the actual legislative session, which starts February 1st.
The three-day set of hearings this week will also mark the final days of House Speaker Tina Kotek's lengthy legislative career. The Portland Democrat announced this month that she'll be resigning from both her leadership role as well as her legislative seat on Jan. 21 in order to focus on her attempt to win the Democratic nomination for governor.
While Kotek is scheduled to testify in front of at least one legislative panel, she won't preside over the full chamber, as the House does not typically schedule floor sessions during the so-called "legislative days."
