Oregon Legislative Issues
Last updated on February 11, 2025 by Eric Leaming, Oregon ITE Legislative Chair
2025 Legislative Session
2025 is shaping up to be an important year for transportation funding in Oregon. Over the summer of 2024, the Oregon Legislature’s Joint Committee on Transportation held meetings and local tours around the state to discuss the need for stable and sufficient transportation funding. Recordings of those meetings are available at the committee’s 2023-2024 interim website.
In the autumn of 2024, the committee prepared key themes for a transportation bill in 2025 through interim workgroups. Workgroups include:
The legislative session began January 21, 2025. There were several bills related to transportation funding introduced at the beginning of the session covering a wide range of ideas. A complete list of all bills is available on the session page.
As the legislative session unfolds, the Joint Committee on Transportation will be working on the transportation funding bill(s). Bills the committee holds hearings and work sessions on are the best guide to what may ultimately come out of this year’s legislative session. You can see those bills, view meeting agendas and recordings, and e-subscribe for updates on the committee’s 2025 website. I’ll update this page when the funding bill comes into sharper focus.
Here are other policy-related bills to track this year. This is not an exhaustive list. I’ll update this list as bills pass key deadlines.
Last updated on February 11, 2025 by Eric Leaming, Oregon ITE Legislative Chair
2025 Legislative Session
2025 is shaping up to be an important year for transportation funding in Oregon. Over the summer of 2024, the Oregon Legislature’s Joint Committee on Transportation held meetings and local tours around the state to discuss the need for stable and sufficient transportation funding. Recordings of those meetings are available at the committee’s 2023-2024 interim website.
In the autumn of 2024, the committee prepared key themes for a transportation bill in 2025 through interim workgroups. Workgroups include:
- Back-to-Basics Maintenance and Preservation
- Public and Active Transit
- Finishing 2017 Priority Commitments
The legislative session began January 21, 2025. There were several bills related to transportation funding introduced at the beginning of the session covering a wide range of ideas. A complete list of all bills is available on the session page.
As the legislative session unfolds, the Joint Committee on Transportation will be working on the transportation funding bill(s). Bills the committee holds hearings and work sessions on are the best guide to what may ultimately come out of this year’s legislative session. You can see those bills, view meeting agendas and recordings, and e-subscribe for updates on the committee’s 2025 website. I’ll update this page when the funding bill comes into sharper focus.
Here are other policy-related bills to track this year. This is not an exhaustive list. I’ll update this list as bills pass key deadlines.
- HB-2012 – Requires ODOT to study crashes near entertainment events and report to the Joint Committee on Transportation on how to prevent crashes in the future.
- HB-2138 – Expands allowable middle housing requirements for local agencies (duplex, triplex, quadplex, townhouse, cottage cluster). Prohibits local agencies from requiring a traffic impact analysis for middle housing developed on a lot or parcel for residential infill or redevelopment.
- HB-2154 – Makes the county safety corridor program permanent.
- HB-2189 – Requires a warning for a first offence of speeding or running a red light if the conduct was captured by automated enforcement.
- HB-2671 – Permits testing of automated vehicles in Oregon under certain circumstances.
- HB-2892 – Prohibits state agencies from sending money for capital construction projects unless the county promises to stay in Oregon for a specified time.
- HB-3155 – Allows all-terrain vehicles on non-Interstate highways (including city streets and county roads) if the vehicle is registered and meets equipment standards.
- HB-3231 – Requires an update to the passenger rail plan.
- HB-3233 – Requires ODOT to work with WSDOT and British Columbia to plan for passenger rail operations and funding.
- SB-0471 – Prohibits Class 3 e-bikes on sidewalks, bike lanes, or bike paths. (Bike Portland is tracking this one closely. It will likely change based on their interview with the bill’s sponsor.)
- SB-0689 – Creates the Oregon Rail Department.
- SB-0711 – Creates a highway worker photo radar program and makes other changes to work zone photo radar laws for state highways.
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, which 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 2024 session and of those, the legislature passed 129.
2021 Legislative Session
There were 2519 bills, memorials, and resolutions introduced during the 2024 session and of those, the legislature passed 719.
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, which 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 2024 session and of those, the legislature passed 129.
2021 Legislative Session
There were 2519 bills, memorials, and resolutions introduced during the 2024 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.