Sen. Dick Anderson (R-Lincoln City) and Rep. David Gomberg (D-Otis) were among the state lawmakers that convened Monday for the Oregon Legislature’s 35-day session in Salem. Anderson and Gomberg represent districts that include Philomath.
Legislators can introduce only two bills in the short session. Other bills are introduced by committees.
Seven lawmakers to watch in the 2024 Oregon legislative session
The start of Oregon’s short legislative session this week brought all 90 lawmakers back to Salem, but some will have a larger impact on the state’s laws and political conversations than others. Here’s a look at key players – from both parties and both chambers – to watch as the Legislature continues its work over…
Anderson is sponsoring bills addressing housing and Highway 101.
“It is critically important that we move the needle on housing production this session,” Anderson said in a press release. “That is why my focus will be on legislation aimed at removing barriers to the housing production process small communities may face — providing them with the tools needed to produce and increase more housing within their communities.”
Senate Bill 1564 requires the Department of Land Conservation and Development to develop three model ordinances or land-use regulations for cities of different sizes to implement housing and urbanization requirements.
“I am also calling on ODOT to come to the table and study a portion of U.S. Highway 101 to improve congestion and driver conditions that begin in Lincoln City and end in Coos Bay,” Anderson said.
SB 1563 directs ODOT to complete an assessment of the highway that would ultimately provide recommendations on how to best relieve congestion, increase safety and improve driving conditions.
Gomberg in a recent newsletter went over three bills that he’s working on, including water infrastructure, marine reserves funding and an animal welfare issue.
“I will be introducing a bill with my Republican colleague, Rep. Emily McIntire, to deliver as much as $50 million for water and wastewater infrastructure investments to targeted projects across Oregon that will help get housing built when and where we need it most – now,” he wrote in a Jan. 8 newsletter. “At the same time, we need a fair and workable process to determine how we best prioritize the dozens of remaining infrastructure investment requests to meet our statewide housing production goals. A process to manage new and ongoing requests will also be part of our effort.”
House Bill 4128 requires the Oregon Department of Administrative Services to study water infrastructure needs and submit a report to the legislature by September 2025.
Another bill, HB 4132, requires state agencies to develop an adaptive management and social monitoring program to support marine reserves. And HB 4145 establishes new crimes concerning visual displays of animal crushing.
“It will be a fast trip to adjournment on March 10,” Gomberg said in his most-recent newsletter. “And if nothing falls off the rails, we have scheduled big deliveries on major issues for Oregon that include addiction and drug use, housing and homelessness, education and summer programs, funding of wildfire response, and fixing our roads and highways.”