Tuesday, April 26, 2011

Legislative Update - Week 12

The winnowing continues. The Oregonian has notes on the difficulties of getting bills out of committee this past week.

What's new?

A few more bills appear to hit the dead pile. It's also certain that this list here overstates the number of still-viable bills. (The published information about bills isn't very user-friendly about making clear the deadfall of bills not making it out of committee.)

Bills Specifically about Bicycling

Senate Bill 130 for bicycle traffic lights. Hearing cancelled (and not rescheduled) - has the bill lost momentum?

Senate Bill 415 would expand penalties for harming a vulnerable user of the road. Work session held.

Senate Bill 846 would regulate standards for bicycle trailers. Work session held.

House Bill 2331 to study bicycle licensing. No change.

House Bill 2332 would create a weight-based schedule of traffic fines. Hearing held.

Relevant to Transportation Generally

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. Hearing held.

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 3186, co-sponsored by Representative Berger, would eliminate the jobs loophole on the texting and cel phone ban. Work session held.

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.

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.

2 comments:

Doug's Transportation Ramblings said...

HB 2332 has passed the House. However, the bill was the subject of a gut and stuff amendment before being passed out of committee. The bill no longer has anything to do with fines based on vehicle weight. It now deals with the circumstances under which towing companies can use their tow trucks.

Salem Breakfast on Bikes said...

Thank you!