Dianne Lugo

Lawmakers pass liability bill to save Oregon outdoor rec industry After nearly a decade of trying, Oregon lawmakers passed legislation to save the state's outdoor recreation industry from an affordability crisis.

Stay tuned for a rundown of the session later today. In the meantime, catch up on a story this morning by @oregonoutdoors.bsky.social about the deal reached to pass a bill around liability waivers in Oregon. www.statesmanjournal.com/story/news/p...

Oregon's short legislative session is winding down. The Senate started around 9 a.m., and the House has just begun its final floor session. By law, the session has to end by March 8.

Lots of thanks to the staff and family of members in both chambers during the final courtesies.

Oregon Employment Department to use AI to improve customer service The Oregon Employment Department released a 108-page plan outlining how the agency plans to overhaul its customer service. Here’s what to know.

The Oregon Employment Department is consistently failing to meet its customer service goals. A report released today outlines how the agency expects to change things. Among the proposals: having it be the "forerunner" in implementing AI across the agency.

www.statesmanjournal.com/story/news/p...

Most provisions in controversial gun bill removed in Senate committee Most provisions of a controversial gun bill that would change Ballot Measure 114 were removed by a Senate committee on March 4.

In other #orleg news today: House Bill 4145 was gutted in a Senate committee this morning, removing most of the provisions that change Measure 114. Chief Sponsor Rep. Dacia Grayber, D-Portland, told me the changes are a "gut punch."

www.statesmanjournal.com/story/news/p...

A screenshot of the OLIS feed and vote on SB1501. The bill has passed with 24 yes and 6 nay votes.

Senate Bill 1501 passes in the Oregon Senate 24-6.

Oregon Senate to vote on bill to help fund Moda Center renovations A bill to help fund renovations at the Moda Center and incentivize the Portland Trail Blazers to stay another 20 years is headed to the Oregon Senate.

The Oregon Senate is about to vote on SB1501, which would help fund renovations at the Moda Center. The amended bill includes requirements such as Portland & Multnomah Co. also committing to funding and the team committing to a 20-year lease. #orleg

Background on the bill: tinyurl.com/2u47bb8b

Oregon gas tax vote moving to May after House Democrats pass bill Oregon House Democrats voted March 2 to move a vote on increases to the gas tax and other transportation costs from the November ballot to May.

Voters will weigh in on the gas tax and other increased transportation costs in May, pending Gov. Tina Kotek's signature. Democrats passed Senate Bill 1599 in the House earlier this afternoon. #orpol #orleg
Read more here:

www.statesmanjournal.com/story/news/p...

The House is scheduled for a 30-minute break after about 45 minutes of debate on Senate Bill 1599, which would move a vote on the gas tax referendum from the November general election to May primary. Plenty of time to catch up on previous coverage of the situation! #orpol #orleg

A deal has come together that would allow Oregon to purchase Abiqua Falls and 200 acres of surrounding forest for a new park, in a bill being considered this week by the legislature.

The deal includes an agreement with Mt. Angel Abbey that put the falls up for sale: tinyurl.com/4fufhm7n

Oregon House member running for governor punished for skirting donation rules Several Oregon House members have skirted a rule barring campaign fundraising while in session. Only one of them has received a formal reprimand.

Friday night news: Rep. Ed Diehl, R-Scio, has received a formal warning for violating House campaign contribution rules. Despite several other Reps. reporting receiving contributions during session, he seems to have been the only one reprimanded. With @diannelugo.bsky.social

tinyurl.com/wyafum56

Huge crowd here at the Capitol of Salem-Keizer school students who walked out today to protest ICE and support the Immigration Justice Package under consideration in the Oregon Legislature

Live coverage at statesmanjournal.com

Oregon House further delays gas tax bill vote after blowing deadline The Oregon House pushed deliberations to March 2 on a bill to move the gas tax vote, further delaying the highly criticized proposal.

ICYMI: The vote on the bill moving the gas tax referendum to May's primary has been delayed again. Third reading now on Monday's House agenda.

Lawmakers have now blown past the SoS's recommended deadline for full public participation. #orleg
By @anastasiacmason.bsky.social

tinyurl.com/3p8cz2tk

House passes controversial Oregon gun bill modifying Measure 114 A controversial gun bill modifying provisions of Ballot Measure 114 passed Feb. 25 in the Oregon House. Here's what to know.

House Bill 4145, the gun bill that modifies provisions of Measure 114, is heading to the Oregon Senate after passing in the House this morning.

Details about the debate and vote: www.statesmanjournal.com/story/news/p...

Breaking: Nurul Amin Shah Alam has been confirmed dead by Buffalo police

He was found Tuesday evening downtown after he'd been missing for 6 days. Nearly blind, he'd been left at a coffee shop Thurs. evening by Border Patrol agents 5 miles from his home.
www.investigativepost.org/2026/02/25/b...

‪And House is back! At least for a vote on HB4138. Bill passes 36-19. ‬

Well, the House passed House Bill 4134, and it was over an hour and a half into debate for House Bill 4138 before Republicans asked to return at ease. They caucused in the back of the room, and House Republican Leader Lucetta Elmer and House Speaker Julie Fahey are talking on the floor.

The House has officially come to order. Republicans who have joined the floor so far: Republican Leader Lucetta Elmer, Kevin Mannix, Bobby Levy, Greg Smith, Emily McIntire, Jami Cate, and Mark Owens. Unclear if any concessions were made for their return to the floor.

Oregon House Republicans walk out to 'pause' floor session Oregon House Republicans walked out Feb. 23, saying Democrats failed to fully investigate a lawmaker. The quorum denial also delays a gas tax bill.

The Oregon House was scheduled to reconvene at 10:30 a.m this morning after House Republicans walked out yesterday afternoon. Still no official start, but Rep. Greg Smith, R-Heppner, is here on the floor alongside some Democrats. #orleg

Background: www.statesmanjournal.com/story/news/p...

Oregon House Republicans walk out to 'pause' floor session Oregon House Republicans walked out Feb. 23, saying Democrats failed to fully investigate a lawmaker. The quorum denial also delays a gas tax bill.

"I'm disappointed that our Republican colleagues decided to leave this building," Fahey said before adjourning until tomorrow at 10:30 a.m. "Because of that, we didn't vote on a single bill, and we have wasted the public's time and money with the chamber sitting idle."

tinyurl.com/ykce3cb2

And an hour after the House was scheduled to reconvene, Democrats are slowly trickling into the chamber. No official adjournment yet, but Rep. Kevin Mannix, R-Salem, is the only Republican present atm. #orleg

Lawmaker resigns from committee days after tense meeting over gun bill Days after a meeting that prompted a conduct complaint against him, Rep. Jason Kropf, D-Bend, has resigned as co-chair of a committee.

We've updated the story from this morning with a statement from #orleg House Speaker Julie Fahey and Rep. Jason Kropf: www.statesmanjournal.com/story/news/p...

It's 4:25 p.m., and as expected, House Republicans did not come to the floor. But Democrats are also absent. House still standing at recess, technically. #orleg

Democrats advance controversial bill to move Oregon gas tax vote to May A referendum vote on transportation cost hikes is a step closer to taking place in May after nearly unanimous support from Oregon Senate Democrats.

Story from @anastasiacmason.bsky.social about the Senate advancing the bill this morning www.statesmanjournal.com/story/news/p...

Oregon House Republicans walk out to 'pause' floor session Oregon House Republicans walked out Feb. 23, saying Democrats failed to fully investigate a lawmaker. The quorum denial also delays a gas tax bill.

Oregon House Republicans won't be returning to the floor this afternoon. They said they're protesting the dismissal of the complaint against Rep. Kropf. The quorum denial, however, also delays a first reading of the gas tax referendum bill. #orleg www.statesmanjournal.com/story/news/p...

Lawmaker resigns from committee days after tense meeting over gun bill Days after a meeting that prompted a conduct complaint against him, Rep. Jason Kropf, D-Bend, has resigned as co-chair of a committee.

This story will be updated, but what we know so far about Rep. Kropf's resignation from #orleg committee:
www.statesmanjournal.com/story/news/p...

More details TK.

Complaint filed after critical vote reached on Oregon House gun bill A gun advocate has filed a conduct complaint with the state against Rep. Jason Kropf after a work session vote on an Oregon House bill.

Rep. Jason Kropf has resigned as co-chair of the House Conduct Committee. The news was announced on the floor, with a motion to replace him. A conduct complaint was filed against Kropf, which has since been dismissed.
Background: www.statesmanjournal.com/story/news/p...

Two hours after its original scheduled start, the Oregon House floor session has started.

And over in the Senate, floor session has started. They're scheduled to vote on the bill to move the gas tax referendum from November's ballot to May's primary. Follow @anastasiacmason.bsky.social for updates on SB1599.

The Oregon House was supposed to start its floor session at 10 AM, but hasn't yet. On the agenda: HB4145, the controversial gun bill changing provisions of Measure 114.

Democrats are apparently still in caucus. House Republicans are on the floor. #orleg