A May Day rally drew hundreds of people to the Oregon Capitol on Wednesday. They were urging lawmakers to pass House Bill 2015, which would allow people to get an Oregon driver’s license without proof of legal U.S. residence.
Joel Iboa of Eugene works with the immigrants' rights group called CAUSA. He said the bill is a priority for this legislative session. “The ability to have a driver’s license is a core, basic everyday need that Oregonians have. Folks need to take their kids to school, they need to go to work, go to the grocery store, take their kids to baseball practice,” said Iboa.
A legislative panel held a public hearing on the measure last month, but its leaders have not scheduled a vote on it. Lawmakers passed a similar bill six years ago, but Oregon voters overturned it in the 2014 election.