Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler has backtracked on his proposed plan to ban public drug use, saying that the bill is no longer necessary. Under current state law, possessing a small amount of illicit drugs is treated as a civil violation, not a criminal offense, and a $100 fine. House Bill 2645 would have increased penalties for fentanyl…

After the longest walkout in state history, a last-minute compromise allowed Oregon lawmakers to return to work on June 15 with just 10 days left in the legislative session. The parties had reached an impasse over Democrat-backed bills related to gun control, abortion, and gender-transition services. Because Oregon’s legislative rules require a two-thirds quorum to…

Oregon lawmakers on Wednesday voted to let Oregonians and travelers pump their own gas after a decades-long ban since 1951. House Bill 2426 would require gas stations to staff at least half of their open pumps for people who want assistance and allow other pumps to be open for self-service. Under the bill,  stations in 16…

Oregon Senate Republicans Dennis Linthicum and Daniel Bonham, along with former Republican turned independent Brian Boquist, were all disqualified on Monday from reelection under a new constitutional amendment aimed at stopping walkouts from the chamber. This decision comes as the senators reached the 10-day boycotting limit, as they attempt to stall and block voting on bills pushing…

A walkout by most Republicans and two independent members of the Oregon Senate starting May 3 delayed action by the majority Democrats on bills related to restricting access to guns, and increasing access to abortion, and gender-transition services. Because Oregon’s legislative rules require a two- thirds quorum to conduct business, the session ground to a…