Oregon Public Broadcasting

Oregon’s experiment with annual legislative sessions is under way. House Speaker Jeff Merkley gaveled lawmakers into session around 8:30 a.m. Monday.

Jeff Merkley: (sound of gavel)  “The House will come to order.  In compliance with Article 4, Section 10A, as requested by a majority of the members of each house, the 74th Legislative Assembly shall convene in Special Session this fourth day of February, 2008.”

This would typically be an off-year for the legislature but lawmakers decided to meet as sort of a test drive of annual sessions.

The real action starts Tuesday when legislative committees meet for the first time.

They’ll be on a tight schedule.  Lawmakers are giving themselves four weeks to complete their business.

Regular sessions usually last six months or more.  Unlike Oregon, the legislatures in both Washington and Idaho hold annual sessions on a regular basis.

Online:

Oregon Legislature