Legislative Update - Week 14

Three votes this past week sent bills over to the other chamber.

Bills Specifically about Bicycling

Senate Bill 130 for bicycle traffic lights. Amended and sent to House floor with a "do pass" recommendation.

Senate Bill 415 would expand penalties for harming a vulnerable user of the road. Amended and passed Senate with 28 votes and none opposed. On to the House.

Senate Bill 846 calls for an informational sticker on bicycle trailers. Passed Senate 19-11; now in House General Government and Consumer Protection committee.

House Bill 2331 to study bicycle licensing. No change since April 11th, and it may be dead. (But see below how HB 3149 came back!)

Relevant to Transportation Generally

House Bill 2437 on school busing. No change. See also HB 3622. No change. These also may be dead.

House Bill 3149 on personal car-sharing. Holy moly! With no activity since March, it looked dead in the Senate. But it's back, with a hearing and work session scheduled for May 10th.

Tuesday-May 10
Time: 3:00 P.M.
Room: HR B

House Bill 3150 (engrossed with amendments) would permit local jurisdictions to enact a 20mph speed limit on neighborhood streets. Hearing held.

House Bill 3186, co-sponsored by Representative Berger, would eliminate the jobs loophole on the texting and cel phone ban. Here's the amended version. Passed House 39-17; referred to Senate Judiciary committee.

Dead, Moribund, or Irrelevant Bills

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

House Bill 2333 prohibiting studded tires.

House Bill 2602, the headphone ban.

House Bill 2824, creating the crime of altering or removing a stolen bike's serial number.

House Bill 3178 to encourage transit-oriented development to be funded by tax-increment financing.

Senate Bill 160, the prohibition on lap dogs while driving, would "create offense of driver operation with obstructing animal."

Senate Bill 266 on electronic tolling.

Senate Bill 344 (but see HB 3150 above)

Senate Bill 604 may be a gut-n-stuff.

Senate Bill 660 would decrease the fines for stop sign violations on bike.

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