Category Politics
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.
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 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.
Greg Smith faces ethics investigation over big pay raise
The Oregon Government Ethics Commission is investigating whether state Rep. Greg Smith violated state law in his efforts to raise his own pay as executive director of the Columbia Development Authority.
Lawmakers, Secretary of State back delaying 2024 Oregon campaign finance law from taking effect
An unremarkable, technical fix bill could be used to delay the state’s 2024 campaign finance law limiting contributions and requiring more disclosure from donors.
Oregon Senate rejects bill making big tech pay for local journalism as session end nears
A bill that would require tech companies to pay Oregon journalism outlets for using their news content failed to pass the Oregon Senate on Tuesday. The bill’s author said after the vote that she would be reintroducing the bill in a future session.
Lawmakers plan to fund some Salem projects, while payment for city services comes up short
Salem-area lawmakers failed for a second year to get the state to chip in to cover city public safety costs. But other major projects, including $6 million for a new Marion Polk Food Share warehouse, made the cut.
Oregon Senate OKs bill to strengthen care facility investigations, oversight
The Oregon Senate on Monday overwhelmingly passed Senate Bill 739. The legislation was spurred by multiple stories from patients and families with experiences of neglect in Oregon’s long-term and memory care facilities
Some Oregon House Republicans boycott floor session after committee transportation debate
Transportation bill sponsor Sen. Chris Gorsek, D-Gresham, resigned from the Joint Committee on Transportation Reinvestment after a complaint was filed against him.