Legislation to stem the opioid crisis, boost Oregon’s health care workforce, set minimum hospital staffing levels, overhaul the state’s controversial drug decriminalization law and others hang in the balance as the Republican walkout halts legislative work.
Democratic lawmakers say that months of work on health care legislation could unravel after a group of Senate Republicans and Independents announced Tuesday they’ll deny the chamber a quorum until June 25, the session’s last day. That’ll leave one day for lawmakers to pass a two-year budget as well as other legislation. Hundreds of bills have piled up since the walkout to protest abortion, gun and transgender health care bills began on May 3.
Sen. Cedric Hayden, R-Fall Creek (at center), in the Oregon Senate Chamber in session on March 21, 2023, before the walkout.
Jake Thomas / The Lund Report
The group of Republicans and Independents said in a statement they’ll return to