Oregon Legislative Issues
Last updated on March 8, 2024 by Eric Leaming, Oregon ITE Legislative Chair
The 2024 Legislative Session ended March 7. This year was the short session. After the Legislature passes a bill, the Governor has up to 30 days to consider it.
Bills of Interest
Click on the bill number to open the direct link to Oregon State Legislature web page for the status and text of that bill. If you have any questions or comments about these bills, please contact me by email or by phone at 503-986-3580.
Recap of Previous Legislative Sessions
The Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) closely tracks legislation related to transportation and publishes a Legislative Summary Report after every Legislative Session. These documents provide summaries of most transportation bills, with effective dates, and in some cases an ODOT staff person responsible for implementing the bill. The most recent ODOT Legislative Summary Reports are linked below. Contact ODOT Government Relations for copies of reports from previous Legislative Sessions.
2024 Legislative Session
There were 219 bills, memorials, and resolutions introduced during the 2024 session and of those, the legislature passed 135.
2023 Legislative Session
There were 2976 bills, memorials, and resolutions introduced during the 2023 session and of those, the legislature passed 653.
2022 Legislative Session
There were 275 bills, memorials, and resolutions introduced during the 2022 session and of those, the legislature passed 129.
2021 Legislative Session
There were 2519 bills, memorials and resolutions introduced during the 2021 session and of those, the legislature passed 719.
Last updated on March 8, 2024 by Eric Leaming, Oregon ITE Legislative Chair
The 2024 Legislative Session ended March 7. This year was the short session. After the Legislature passes a bill, the Governor has up to 30 days to consider it.
Bills of Interest
- HB-4048 [DIED, but partly rolled into SB-1537 that passed] – Would have required local governments to approve certain adjustments to land use regulations for housing development within urban growth boundaries and would have established an alternate process for adjusting urban growth boundaries.
- HB-4067 [DIED] – Would have created an Electric Micromobility Task Force. The task force would have reported on a variety of issues related to electric micromobility to the legislature’s Joint Committee on Transportation before next year’s long legislative session.
- HB-4103 [PASSED] –Modifies the definition of e-bikes in Oregon. This aligns Oregon’s definition with People for Bikes’ 3-class model legislation that most other states and industry have adopted. Continues Oregon’s minimum age to operate an e-bike (16). Effective January 1, 2025 if the Governor doesn’t veto it.
- HB-4109 [PASSED] – Covers a variety of transportation issues. Effective June 6, 2024 if the Governor doesn’t veto it.
- Allows all cities to operate speed safety cameras (fixed photo radar).
- Directs ODOT work with Idaho to apply for assistance from the Federal Railroad Administration to study reestablishing the Amtrak Pioneer Line. The line previously connected Portland and Salt Lake City from 1977 to 1997.
- Changes rebate amounts for zero-emission vehicles or plug-in hybrid electric vehicles under the Charge Ahead Oregon Program.
- HB-4147 [PASSED] – Allows traffic safety cameras on school bus stop arms to record drivers failing to stop for school bus safety lights. Effective January 1, 2025 if the Governor doesn’t veto it.
- SB-1530 [PASSED] – This was one of the session’s two big housing bills. Includes money for a variety of housing and civil infrastructure projects throughout the state. Effective upon passage if the Governor doesn’t veto it.
- SB-1537 [PASSED] – This was one of the session’s two big housing bills. Includes an alternate process for expanding urban growth boundaries. Effective June 6, 2024 if the Governor doesn’t veto it.
- SB-1566 [PASSED] – Allows counties to charge fees for permits for certain work within county right of way. Effective upon passage if the Governor doesn’t veto it. Operative January 1, 2025.
- HB-1572 [DIED] – Would have required a study to extend Westside Express Service commuter rail to Salem. This was a repeat bill from the 2023 Session.
Click on the bill number to open the direct link to Oregon State Legislature web page for the status and text of that bill. If you have any questions or comments about these bills, please contact me by email or by phone at 503-986-3580.
Recap of Previous Legislative Sessions
The Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) closely tracks legislation related to transportation and publishes a Legislative Summary Report after every Legislative Session. These documents provide summaries of most transportation bills, with effective dates, and in some cases an ODOT staff person responsible for implementing the bill. The most recent ODOT Legislative Summary Reports are linked below. Contact ODOT Government Relations for copies of reports from previous Legislative Sessions.
2024 Legislative Session
There were 219 bills, memorials, and resolutions introduced during the 2024 session and of those, the legislature passed 135.
2023 Legislative Session
There were 2976 bills, memorials, and resolutions introduced during the 2023 session and of those, the legislature passed 653.
2022 Legislative Session
There were 275 bills, memorials, and resolutions introduced during the 2022 session and of those, the legislature passed 129.
2021 Legislative Session
There were 2519 bills, memorials and resolutions introduced during the 2021 session and of those, the legislature passed 719.
National Legislative Issues
Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD)
The Federal Highway Administration published the Final Rule for the 11th edition of the MUTCD on December 19, 2023. Watch the MUTCD homepage for other announcements and materials from FHWA on the roll-out of the new MUTCD.
What does this mean for Oregon? The Oregon Transportation Commission has until January 2026 to adopt the new MUTCD for use in Oregon through an update to OAR 734-020-0005. Until then, the 2009 Edition of the MUTCD is still in effect in Oregon.
ODOT and the Oregon Traffic Control Devices Committee will be developing the Oregon Supplement to the 11th Edition of the MUTCD during this time. The supplement will adapt the federal edition for use in Oregon. Watch ODOT’s MUTCD page for updates on this effort.
Oregon MUTCD Implementation & Supporting Documents - This link provides access to an ODOT web page providing supporting documentation for Oregon adoption of the 2009 MUTCD and FHWA Interim Approvals in Oregon.
MUTCD Federal Register Notices- Information on Notices of Proposed Amendments (NPAs) and Final Rules (FRs) regarding the MUTCD.
Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA)
On November 15, 2021, President Biden signed into law the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA). The wide-ranging infrastructure law provides funding for infrastructure projects and reauthorizes several surface transportation programs through fiscal year 2026. Notably, Section 11135 of the IIJA requires that USDOT update the MUTCD on a 4-year cycle.
Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD)
The Federal Highway Administration published the Final Rule for the 11th edition of the MUTCD on December 19, 2023. Watch the MUTCD homepage for other announcements and materials from FHWA on the roll-out of the new MUTCD.
What does this mean for Oregon? The Oregon Transportation Commission has until January 2026 to adopt the new MUTCD for use in Oregon through an update to OAR 734-020-0005. Until then, the 2009 Edition of the MUTCD is still in effect in Oregon.
ODOT and the Oregon Traffic Control Devices Committee will be developing the Oregon Supplement to the 11th Edition of the MUTCD during this time. The supplement will adapt the federal edition for use in Oregon. Watch ODOT’s MUTCD page for updates on this effort.
Oregon MUTCD Implementation & Supporting Documents - This link provides access to an ODOT web page providing supporting documentation for Oregon adoption of the 2009 MUTCD and FHWA Interim Approvals in Oregon.
MUTCD Federal Register Notices- Information on Notices of Proposed Amendments (NPAs) and Final Rules (FRs) regarding the MUTCD.
Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA)
On November 15, 2021, President Biden signed into law the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA). The wide-ranging infrastructure law provides funding for infrastructure projects and reauthorizes several surface transportation programs through fiscal year 2026. Notably, Section 11135 of the IIJA requires that USDOT update the MUTCD on a 4-year cycle.