PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — Even though there is a new Oregon constitutional amendment that bars lawmakers with 10 or more unexcused absences from seeking re-election, lawmakers are working on a way to keep legislative walkouts from halting work.
House Joint Resolution 202 would change the requirement that two-thirds of lawmakers have to be present to vote on bills. This resolution would make it be a simple majority in the House and Senate to conduct business.
This is the way most other state legislatures operate.
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If the resolution passes this session, it would be a proposed constitutional amendment that Oregon voters would decide in November.
Earlier this month, the Oregon Supreme Court upheld Measure 113, the measure preventing 10 Republican state senators from running once their terms are done.
Last year’s boycott lasted six weeks — the longest in state history — and paralyzed the legislative session, stalling hundreds of bills.