Category OREGON NEWS
Secretary of state warns Oregon lawmakers for missing gas tax referendum bill deadline
Democratic lawmakers didn’t meet a recommended Wednesday deadline to pass a law rescheduling a gas tax referendum to May, but they’re still moving forward with the effort despite warnings from the state’s top election official that doing so could limit voter input.
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Oregon Senate passes bill to regulate ICE in hospitals
A bill passed by the Oregon Senate would require hospitals to designate which areas are closed to the public and prohibit hospitals from disclosing a person’s immigration status unless required by a court order or to ensure continued care.
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Oregon Senate passes bill that would criminalize threats against public officials
The Oregon Senate passed a bill Tuesday that could hand people who threaten public officials, including city councilors and county commissioners, a prison sentence.
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After slow fall Covid shot rollout, Oregon moves to bolster public health officials’ authority
Senate Bill 1598, which cleared the Senate in a party-line vote Thursday, Feb. 19, would empower Oregon’s public health officer to issue standing orders for vaccines in alignment with “evidence-based guidance” and recommendations from professional medical organizations. The bill would require health insurers to cover those recommended vaccines.
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Calls grow for Rep. Greg Smith to resign as state Republican leaders stay mum
A third county Republican committee is now urging state Rep. Greg Smith to resign, intensifying pressure after ethics regulators found he violated state anti-corruption laws to boost his own pay. The Wasco County vote follows similar calls from Republican leaders in Smith’s home turf of Morrow and neighboring Sherman counties, citing what they describe as misconduct and unethical behavior.
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Salem refugee community seeks state support in era of turmoil
A recent memo from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security showed the agency’s intention to detain and question people in the process of getting a green card. It’s the latest of a series of federal policy changes that have stirred fear and stress for refugees living in Salem.
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Oregon health officials declare measles outbreak with five confirmed cases
After health officials declared a measles outbreak in Oregon, the state launched a dashboard to monitor virus in wastewater.
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Oregon Senate Republicans end one-day walkout ahead of transportation referendum vote
Both chambers on Thursday gaveled in with enough Republicans in attendance to reach a quorum, despite a majority of Republicans in the House and all of the Senate GOP not showing up Wednesday afternoon.
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Bills are debated, dead or dying as Oregon 2026 legislative session hits midpoint
The legislative session started in early February with more than 260 proposals which have been whittled down. The session must end by March 8.
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