Legislative Update - Week 24: Late Nights

Almost there! The legislature has been running nightly committee meetings to jam through the final legislation.

The Transportation Bill, HB 2001 - Rumor is that as part of a compromise with environmentalists, the Governor was waiting to sign it until HB 2186, on Greenhouse Gas Emissions, was passed. Both houses passed it this week, so it looks like both 2001 and 2186 will be signed jointly.

House Bill 2377 - Passed the Senate, House concurred with amendments, and it's on to the Governor.

Finally, remember "legislative judo"? Both houses passed House Bill 3271, which was a crime bill. It contains in section 5 this language:

SECTION 5. (1) A person commits the crime of aggravated driving while suspended or revoked if the person operates a motor vehicle that causes serious physical injury to, or the death of, another person while knowingly violating ORS 811.175 or 811.182, if the suspension or revocation resulted from, or if the hardship or probationary permit violated is based upon a suspension or revocation that resulted from, a conviction for a criminal offense involving the use of a motor vehicle.
(2) Aggravated driving while suspended or revoked is a Class C felony.

Although the words "aggravated driving" have been substituted, the language is substantially the same as that in the earlier Senate amendments on "vehicular homicide."

For more see bikeportland and BTAblog.