Monday, April 11, 2011

Legislative Update - Week 10 - When Bills Die

This past week was a great winnowing. In a wire story, Democratic Rep. Sara Gelser of Corvallis called it "dead week."

What's new?

Friday was the deadline to schedule committee votes for bills, and those for which no votes were scheduled are effectively dead. The bill for a bike licensing study has a hearing today.

Bills Specifically about Bicycling

Senate Bill 130 for bicycle traffic lights. Hearing for April 6th appears to have been postponed, but not yet rescheduled.

Senate Bill 415 would expand penalties for harming a vulnerable user of the road. Worksession scheduled for April 19th.

Senate Bill 846 would regulate standards for bicycle trailers. Work Session scheduled for April 14th.
Thursday-April 14
Time: 3:00 P.M.
Room: HR B
House Bill 2331 to study bicycle licensing. Referred to Ways and Means. Hearing rescheduled for Monday, April 11th. At the BTAblog, Gerik has a note about their position on it. Here again are Doug Parrow's thoughts. Both suggest that people on bike have nothing to fear from the truth: licensing schemes don't pay for themselves, let alone any infrastructure, and requires enforcement too tricky for kids and for non-residents who bike. Hearing details:
Monday-April 11
Time: 1:00 P.M.
Room: HR D
House Bill 2332 would create a weight-based schedule of traffic fines. Hearing scheduled for April 15th.
Friday-April 15
Time: 1:00 P.M.
Room: HR D
House Bill 2824, creating the crime of altering or removing a stolen bike's serial number. No change.

Relevant to Transportation Generally

Senate Bill 160, the prohibition on lap dogs while driving, would "create offense of driver operation with obstructing animal." No change

House Bill 2166 would authorize lottery funds "for transportation projects funded from Multimodal Transportation Fund." No change.

House Bill 2437 on school busing. No change. See also HB 3622.

House Bill 3149 on personal car-sharing. No change.

House Bill 3150 (engrossed with amendments) would permit local jurisdictions to enact a 20mph speed limit on neighborhood streets. No change.

House Bill 3178 looks like it would encourage transit-oriented development to be funded by tax-increment financing. No change.

House Bill 3186, co-sponsored by Representative Berger, would eliminate the jobs loophole on the texting and cel phone ban. Worksession for April 18th.

Dead or Moribund 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.

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.

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