By Kevin Haas, Legislative Chair

The Oregon State Legislature has convened for a 2010 Special Session

The Oregon Legislative Assembly convened February 1, 2010 for a short Special Session that is tentatively scheduled to last until February 28, 2010. This Special Session is the second test run for what lawmakers hope will be annual sessions. A 2008 Special Session lasted 19 days. Lawmakers plan to send a ballot measure to voters November 2, 2010 to make annual sessions permanent, with limits of 135 days in odd-numbered years and 45 days in even-numbered years. Oregon is one of five states where lawmakers still meet every-other-year, and there is no limit on the session length. Recent every-other-year sessions have averaged six months, although the 2003 and 2005 sessions ran into August and were the two longest in state history.

Even though the 2010 Special Legislative Session is only expected to last 1 month, there are several Bills and Legislative Concepts related to transportation that have been filed for discussion during this Session. Links to Bills and Legislative Concepts being considered during the 2010 Special Legislaive Session are listed below with current status as of Febraury 4, 2010 in italics underneath the Bill or Legislative Concept. If you have any questions or comments concerning Bills or Legislative Concepts that are being tracked during the 2010 Special Legislative Session, please don't hesitate to contact me via email or by phone at 503-986-3580.

Transportation-related Bills & Legislaitve Concepts being tracked during the 2010 Special Legislative Session

Senate Bill 1019 - Requires signs displaying when school is in session when photo radar is used.
2-1(S) Introduction and first reading. Referred to President's desk.
Referred to Business and Transportation.
2-3 Public Hearing and Work Session scheduled.

Senate Bill 1024 - Overhauls Department of Transportation access management standards.
2-1(S) Introduction and first reading. Referred to President's desk.
Referred to Business and Transportation.
2-3 Public Hearing and Work Session scheduled.

Senate Joint Resolution 47 - Directs creation of wildlife safety corridor along U.S. Highway 26 between Picture Gorge and Prairie City.
2-1(S) Introduction and first reading. Referred to President's desk.
Referred to Business and Transportation.
2-10 Public Hearing and Work Session scheduled.

Recap of the 2009 Legislative Session

The 75th Oregon Legislative Assembly convened January 12, 2009 and adjourned on June 29, 2009. For the first time in several years transportation funding took center stage with the Legislature looking to jump start a slumping economy by addressing a backlog transportation infrastructure improvements. House Bill 2001 was the landmark transportation bill passed during the 2009 Legislative Session increasing transportation funding at a level close to $300 million annually over current levels.

The Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) closely tracks legislation related to transportation and publishes a Legislative Summary report after every Legislative Session in odd numbered years. The document provides summaries of most transportation bills, with effective dates, and in some cases an ODOT staff person responsible for implementing the bill. A link to the 2009 Legislative Summary Report from ODOT is provided below.

2009 Legislative Summary Report

Links to Oregon Legislative Assembly Committee Agendas & Schedules

You can track all of the activities of the Oregon State Legislature including committee agendas and schedules on their web site at www.leg.state.or.us. Many of the documents linked from this web page require Adobe Reader to be installed on your computer. Adobe Reader is a free download and is available at www.adobe.com.

National Legislative Issues

Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD)

The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) issued a final rule on the 2009 Edition of the MUTCD on December 16, 2009. ODOT is in the process of working with the Oregon Traffic Control Devices Committee (OTCDC) to adopt the 2009 MUTCD as the official MUTCD for the State of Oregon. This process can take up to 2 years as several ODOT/OTCDC subcommittees review various Parts of the 2009 MUTCD and develop the Oregon Supplement to the 2009 MUTCD. You can view the latest information on the status of Oregon adopting the 2009 MUTCD at the ODOT web site linked below.

ODOT/OTCDC MUTCD & Oregon Supplement to the MUTCD - This link provides access to a web page providing status updates on Oregon adoption of the 2009 MUTCD.

MUTCD Federal Register Notices - Information on Notices of Proposed Amendments (NPAs) and Final Rules (FRs) regarding the MUTCD.

Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU)

The most recent federal authorization for Federal surface transportation programs (SAFETEA-LU) expired in 2009. President Obama's administration and the US Congress have yet to set a timetable for a new federal transportation funding bill so it's anyone's guess as to what kind of reauthorization package we will see and when it will be introduced in Congress. The funding mechanisms of SAFETEA-LU are continuing under several stop-gap resolutions passed by Congress to continue federal funding of transportation until a new bill is introduced and debated. Until we hear more news on reauthorization, you can click on the link below to get background information on the SAFETEA-LU funding package.

SAFETEA-LU - Information on the current federal authorization for Federal surface transportation programs for the 5-year period 2005-2009.