The Oregon Legislature adjourned its special session late Friday, June 26.
Bills specifically addressing homelessness — an issue Speaker of the House Tina Kotek wanted to declare an "emergency" during the even-year short session in March — vanished during the emergency session.
Some lawmakers before the session talked about revisiting House Bill 4001 to ease restrictions on local governments on the siting of facilities for people experiencing homelessness. The bill would have emarked millions of dollars to create "navigation centers" (shelters that operate seven days per week and connect people with health services, permanent housing and public benefits) in Salem, Eugene, Bend, Medford and McMinnville.
The bill was ast seen in the House Business and Labor Committee March 7 and never surfaced during the special session.
These are the bills Street Roots is tracking through the Oregon Legislature's emergency session. News changes rapidly during the session, but we will attempt to update the status of these bills as often as possible.
Here is the final status of the bills Street Roots tracked during the session:
Senate Bill 1604 makes it harder for outside arbitrators to reverse the penalties law enforcement agencies impose on officers for misconduct. Status: Passed by the Senate 26-4. Passed by the Senate 57-3.
Senate Bill 1606 allows a limited number of support individuals from being with hospital patients with disabilities. It also imposes limits on how medical personnel make end-of-life decisions for patients. Status: Passed by the Senate 27-3. Passed by the House 56-4.
House Bill 4210 prohibits the court system from suspending people's driver's licenses because of their inability to pay fines and fees. Status: Passed by the House 44-13. Pased by the Senate 20-7.
House Bill 4213 extends a moratorium and commercial and residential evictions. Status: Passed by the House 43-14. In the Senate for first reading.
House Bill 4201 creates a Joint Committee on Transparent Police and Use of Force Reform to make recommendations by the end of the year for legislative action. This bill originally required use of force to be reporter to the attorney general's office. Status: Passes the House 55-2. Passes the Senate 25-1.
House Bill 4203 prohibits police from using force not use force that impedes normal breathing or circulation of blood by applying pressure on throat or neck, except in situations where deadly force is warranted. Status: Passes the House 52-5. Passes the Senate 25-1.
House Bill 4204 limits lenders' ability to collect debts on mortgages, trust deeds, land sales or other contracts through Sept. 30. Gov. Kate Brown has authority to extend the moratorium past that date. Missed payments will be due at the end of a borrower’s loan term, if some other arrangement is not made with the lender. Status: Passes the House 39-18. Passes the Senate 19-8.
House Bill 4205 requires police to intervene or stop a fellow officer who is acting inappropriately. Status: Passes the House 55-2. Passes the Senate 26-0.
House Bill 4207 requires the state to maintain public records on police discipline that law enforcement agencies must check when hiring an officer. Status: Passes the House 54-3. Passes the Senate 26-1.
House Bill 4208 allows police to use tear gas if they announce their intent to use and give people time to disperse in circumstances constituting riot. Status: Passes House 53-4. Passes Senate 25-1.
House Bill 4213 extends the state's moratorium on residential and commercial evictions to Sept. 30. Renters will have until March 31 next year to pay back rent but are expected to pay current rents accrued beginning Oct. 1. Status: Passes House 43-14. Passes the Senate 19-8.
These bills still need to be signed into law by Gov. Kate Brown.
Email Staff Writer Tom Henderson at thenderson@streetroots.org.
