Oregon House OKs allowing remote video testimony
The Oregon House of Representatives approved Monday a resolution paving the way for legislative committees to accept remote testimony via video conferencing.
Chief sponsored by a bipartisan group of lawmakers, House Concurrent Resolution 24 is touted as a way to make the legislative process more accessible to Oregonians, including those from rural areas or who may face other barriers to testifying in person in the Capitol.
“HCR 24 provides us with a tremendous opportunity to bring the legislative process into the 21st Century,” said Representative Jodi Hack (R-Salem), a longtime advocate of allowing remote testimony and a chief sponsor of the legislation.
“This is about making our Capitol more accessible to more people. It is about providing folks in our rural communities and folks who might be elderly or disabled with a fair shot at making their voice heard. I am very excited that after today we are one step closer to making this a reality.”
Under current rules, Oregonians have a right to testify in person or by submitting written remarks. In limited circumstances, a committee might also hear testimony over the phone.
Earlier this session, lawmakers experimented with remote video conference testimony and saw great success. HCR 24 would capitalize on this momentum by allowing the Senate President and Speaker of the House to work with the Legislative Administrator to expand the use of remote video testimony even further.
“This bill levels the playing field for communities that typically do not have the resources or ability to interact with the legislature and impact the process,” said Rep. Knute Buehler (R-Bend), a chief sponsor of the resolution. “It is important that our legislative process is equitable, transparent, and accessible to everyone.”
HCR 24 passed the House unanimously. If the resolution passes the Senate, lawmakers are hopeful that remote video testimony can be made available on a more consistent basis by the 2019 legislative session.
