Oregon legislature

A new legislative session always features new faces at the state capitol building. This year’s crop of freshmen includes two southern Willamette Valley state representatives who are both replacing long-time lawmakers who retired.

The Oregon legislature wrapped up it's short session over the weekend. OPB's Lauren Dake talks with KLCC's Rachael McDonald about what did and did not get accomplished in Salem.

The Oregon Legislature is back in town in Salem. Lawmakers gathered Monday to start their biannual short session and to hear Governor Kate Brown deliver her State of the State address.

It’s peak season for collisions between cars and deer or elk.  But wildlife officials say for those wanting to salvage any roadkill, that’s not allowed yet.  KLCC’s Brian Bull explains.  

The Oregon House has voted to join a national movement to elect the president via the popular vote, instead of using the Electoral College.

As they continue to face a $1.6 billion budget shortfall, Oregon lawmakers will get an update on the state's financial outlook next week. The May revenue forecast is a key piece of information as budget-writers put together the next two-year spending plan.

The University of Oregon faces a $25 million gap under Governor Kate Brown’s proposed budget. U of O administrators, students and alumni Thursday urged state lawmakers to put more money into higher education.

The Oregon legislature’s Ways and Means Committee heard from nearly 200 people in a packed lecture hall at Lane Community College in Eugene Saturday. People urged lawmakers to increase funding for higher education, K through 12, health care, services for people with disabilities, public safety and more.

Two bills approved during Oregon’s 2016 legislative session address sexual assault. One lifts the statute of limitation for first-degree sex crimes. The other puts procedures in place to process untested rape kits.

The Oregon Legislature wrapped up this year's short session, Thursday, approving a last batch of bills dealing with housing, phasing out coal power, and raising the state's minimum wage.

The Oregon Legislature began its 35-day special session Monday, Feb. 1. Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle have different ideas about what this short session should and should not try to accomplish.

Correspondent Chris Lehman talks with KLCC's Rachael McDonald about the legislative session that begins February 1st in Salem.

The New Year brings more access to birth control for women in Oregon.
One law allows pharmacists to prescribe oral and patch contraceptives to women 18 and over.

KLCC's Salem Correspondent Chris Lehman talks with Rachael McDonald about a busy week in Salem including Thursday's release of emails from the last days of former governor John Kitzhaber's time in office.

A longtime Oregon lawmaker has died. Ed Fadeley passed away Sunday evening of complications from heart failure. KLCC’s Tiffany Eckert has this remembrance.

In the state legislature, Ed Fadeley represented the people of Lane County for 26 years. He started his political career in the Oregon House in 1960 then joined the Senate. He rose to Senate President in ’83 but lost the post to John Kitzhaber after two years.

The Oregon legislature has approved a nearly 30 million dollar taxpayer bond for a new wood products lab and other additions at Oregon state university. 

According to Thomas Maness, Dean at the School of Forestry, the project will add new classrooms and research facilities, including a twenty thousand square foot laboratory focused on utilizing Oregon's wood products for a growing global demand:

Thomas Maness: "Architects and engineers are really looking for a solution to build larger buildings than we currently build out of sustainable materials."