Category OREGON NEWS
Last-minute deal preserves Oregon program for disadvantaged businesses
Following concerns that funding would be cut, a deal in the final days of Oregon's 2025 legislative session preserved funding for a key program supporting Native American-owned businesses.
ODOT to lay off hundreds starting next week
ODOT Director Kristopher Strickler said in an email to employees over the weekend that the Legislature’s inability to pass a transportation package to keep the agency solvent is “shocking, scary and frustrating.”
Gov. Kotek blames transportation package failure on Republicans ‘who just wanted to go home’
Gov. Kotek hinted she might call lawmakers back for a special session to address transportation issues. Republicans blamed a transportation bill failure on Democrats cutting them out of the process.
Legislature wraps for 2025 after eleventh-hour strife, historic funding shortfall
As the clock ran out for adjournment Friday night, Democrats faced a high-profile loss after failing to pass a dramatically watered-down transportation funding package.
Oregon Legislature’s last-ditch attempt for 3-cent gas tax increase fails
Oregon Democrats’ last-ditch effort to stave off hundreds of layoffs at the Oregon Department of Transportation by passing a 3-cent gas tax increase failed late Friday night after House Republicans refused to allow a vote.
Salem adds space for court-ordered behavioral health treatment
The newly completed Marion and Polk County Secure Residential Treatment Facility will serve people with severe and persistent mental illness who have been ordered by a judge to receive treatment. It adds capacity to a strained statewide system which leaves many without such options for longer term care.
Oregon Legislature abandons attempt to postpone campaign finance limits
Lawmakers have scrapped an effort to make technical fixes to a law limiting campaign contributions. The law is set to take effect in 2027.
Two Republican senators attempt to kill bipartisan proposal to raise lodging tax for wildlife
Raising the state hotel tax by 1.25 percentage points could send millions to the Fish and Wildlife Department, but the Republican senators say it will hurt the tourism industry.
Transportation package clears committee hurdle, goes to Oregon House for Friday vote
It’s been a bumpy road for the now $11.7 billion Transportation Reinvestment Package that moves closer to passage in the last days of the 2025 legislative session.