Oregon Legislature 101: Here’s how state laws get passed – and how you can take part in the process
By Mia Maldonado, Oregon Capital Chronicle
SALEM, Ore. -- Whether you’re wondering when the state will finally fix that pothole, whether new restrictions on artificial intelligence are coming or if tips will be taxed despite new federal policies, what happens at the Oregon Capitol has impacts on all Oregonians.
On Monday, the Oregon Legislature convened in Salem for a month-long legislative session, during which elected officials will pass state laws and decide which agencies and programs receive more funding— and which face cuts— in the state’s 2025-27 budget.
This year, Oregon’s mostly-Democratic legislature is expected to craft bills addressing the federal government’s immigration crackdown and Oregon’s cost of living, as well as a gap in the state’s budget caused by a new tax and spending law President Donald Trump signed in July.
How does that process work? Let’s start with the basics.
What is the Oregon Legislature?
The Oregon Legislature is the body that makes state laws. It consists of the House of Representatives, which has 60 members elected for two-year terms, and the Senate, whose 30 members are elected to serve four-year terms.
To find the lawmakers representing you, visit the state’s interactive map.
Democrats hold 18 of 30 seats in the state Senate and 37 of 60 in the state House. That gives them the three-fifths supermajority needed to approve new taxes or fees or increase existing ones without Republican support.
Each representative represents a geographic district of about 70,600 Oregonians, while senators represent districts of about 141,000.
How often does the Oregon Legislature meet?
In odd years, the Oregon Legislature has 160 days to craft laws and pass a budget for the next two years. In even years, lawmakers have 35 days to make laws and adjust the two-year budget they crafted from the previous year.
If an emergency arises when the Oregon Legislature isn’t in session — such as in late August, when Gov. Tina Kotek called on lawmakers to address a major transportation maintenance funding gap — the governor may call for a special session, mandating that lawmakers come back to Salem to resolve an issue.
How does a bill become law?
Each bill starts out as a legislative concept introduced by a lawmaker or committee. Once introduced, a bill gets assigned a number and then the bill is sent to a committee for a public hearing.
There are dozens of committees between the Oregon Senate and House, each of which focuses on specific issues such as education, government, labor and housing. Committees have bipartisan membership and hold public hearings on bills to hear concerns from constituents and stakeholders.
Committees don’t take action on the bill until a work session, when a majority of members can vote to advance it to the floor or effectively kill the idea. This year, nearly all bills that haven’t had a work session scheduled by Feb. 9 will be unable to advance.
After the work session, the bill goes to the full House and Senate for a vote, referred to as the bill’s third reading. Most bills need a simple majority of 31 votes in the House and 16 in the Senate, though bills that raise revenue need more. If the bill passes, it is sent to the opposite chamber and undergoes the same process.
While Democrats have the majority, Republicans have the power to block legislation from coming to the floor of the House or Senate by skipping floor sessions because the House needs 40 members present and the Senate 20 to conduct business. However, lawmakers who skip at least 10 days of floor sessions cannot run for reelection because of a voter-approved constitutional amendment intended to block frequent walkouts.
If a bill passes both chambers, it goes to Kotek for approval. The governor may allow a bill to become law without her signature, or she can decide to veto the bill. A veto may be overridden by a two-thirds vote of both chambers.
Want to get involved? In-person, virtual options are available
One of the most direct ways to share your concerns about a policy is by testifying.
To register to testify, you can call 1-833-588-4500, or fill out an online form using the Oregon Legislative Information System website, also known as OLIS.
The online form is found at the OLIS page for a specific bill or at a committee’s agenda posted on OLIS under a “Register to testify” tab at the top of the webpage. Online testimony registration opens when a public hearing is scheduled and it closes 30 minutes before the meeting begins.
People who need special accommodations to testify should contact committee staff 24 hours before the meeting. If an interpreter or translation is needed, share your request with languageaccess@oregonlegislature.gov or call 503-986-1813 within at least three business days before the hearing.
Next to the “Register to testify” tab is a “Submit testimony” tab, where Oregonians can share their concerns in writing. Written testimony is accepted for up to 48 hours following a bill’s hearing. All information, except email addresses, included in written testimony is public record.
To watch a livestream or a recording of a public hearing or floor session, click the “Video” tab on the OLIS homepage. This page includes links to live events, as well as archives of past meetings.
Oregonians can also attend rallies, follow their lawmakers on social media and email lawmakers directly. A lawmaker’s email can be found on their homepage on the OLIS website.
Can I visit the Oregon State Capitol?
The Oregon State Capitol, located at 900 Court St. NE, in Salem, is open to the public from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.
The public entrance is on State Street on the south side of the Capitol. Weapons are prohibited inside the building. Visitors must go through a metal detector and present their bags, packages and other items to security upon entering. A help desk is located upon entry.
For the first time in years, visitors can see the building’s iconic rotunda after most parts in the historic building were under construction to retrofit it to withstand earthquakes.
To plan your visit, visit the Oregon State Capitol website for more information about parking, events and accessibility concerns.
