Legislative Update - Week 5

What's new?

In an address to the Portland City Club last week, the Governor suggested he'd focus on prevention in health care...maybe more focus on active transportation? Or just build more bridges...

The list of bills after the break. Generally not much action on them.

Bills Specifically about Bicycling

Senate Bill 130 for bicycle traffic lights. No action.

Senate Bill 604 will be a gut-n-stuff. No action.

Senate Bill 660 would decrease the fines for stop sign violations on bike. No action.

Senate Bill 846 would regulate standards for bicycle trailers. BikePortland reports it will be amended. But no posted action.

House Bill 2331 to study bicycle licensing. Referred to Ways and Means. No action.

House Bill 2332 would create a weight-based schedule of traffic fines. No action.

House Bill 2824, creating the crime of altering or removing a stolen bike's serial number. No action.

Relevant to Transportation Generally

Senate Bill 160, the prohibition on lap dogs while driving, would "create offense of driver operation with obstructing animal." Hearing scheduled for Monday, March 14th.

Senate Bill 266 on electronic tolling. No action.

Senate Bill 344 (unchanged) and House Bill 3150 (engrossed with amendments) would permit local jurisdictions to enact a 20mph speed limit on neighborhood streets. BikePortland reports on HB 3150's committee vote. No action on SB 344, but HB 3150 gained a set of amendments and passed out of committee with a "do pass" recommendation.

House Bill 2166 would authorize lottery funds "for transportation projects funded from Multimodal Transportation Fund." As part of Connect Oregon, it does not, however, appear to include active transportation as a mode, defining a "multimodal network" as "air, rail, public transit, highway and marine transportation." Hearing and worksession scheduled for Monday.

House Bill 2333 prohibiting studded tires. No action.

House Bill 2437 on school busing. No action.

House Bill 3149 on personal car-sharing. Portland Transport has more. Hearing held on Friday.

House Bill 3178 looks like it would encourage transit-oriented development to be funded by tax-increment financing. Hearing held on Friday.

House Bill 3186, co-sponsored by Representative Berger, would eliminate the jobs loophole on the texting and cel phone ban. Hearing on Thursday, March 10th:

House Judiciary Committee
Thursday-March 10
1:00 P.M.
Room: 343

Proposed Oregon Constitutional Amendment to permit gas taxes to be used for pollution control and congestion reduction. No action.

Dead or Moribund Bills

House Bill 2228 prohibits bike transportation of child under 6 years old.

House Bill 2602, the headphone ban.