{"id":211,"date":"2023-02-16T18:23:43","date_gmt":"2023-02-16T18:23:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.commoncause.org\/oregon\/articles\/democracy-spotlight-oregons-2023-legislative-session\/"},"modified":"2023-02-16T18:23:43","modified_gmt":"2023-02-16T18:23:43","slug":"democracy-spotlight-oregons-2023-legislative-session","status":"publish","type":"article","link":"https:\/\/www.commoncause.org\/oregon\/articles\/democracy-spotlight-oregons-2023-legislative-session\/","title":{"rendered":"Democracy Spotlight: Oregon\u2019s 2023 Legislative Session"},"template":"","class_list":["post-211","article","type-article","status-publish","hentry","article_type-blog-post"],"acf":{"details":{"summary":"A look into the democracy-related legislation impacting Oregon this year.","featured_image":null,"article_type":169,"authors":null,"related_issues":[98,100,411],"related_work":false,"location":null},"sidebar":{"helper_enable_sidebar":false,"helper_media_contact":{"heading":"Media Contact","manually_enter_person":false,"person":null,"name":"","role":"","phone":"","email":""},"helper_links_downloads":{"heading":"Links & Downloads","links":null}},"page_layout":[{"acf_fc_layout":"layout_wysiwyg","_acfe_flexible_toggle":null,"component_wysiwyg":{"content":"One month into Oregon\u2019s 2023 legislative session, state legislators have filed nearly 100 democracy-related bills \u2013 legislation with the power to strengthen or weaken our democracy.\r\n\r\nCommon Cause Oregon is closely watchdogging the process and weighing in on the bills most consequential to Oregon\u2019s democracy \u2013 and you \u2013 as the session unfolds. These are the bills we\u2019ve endorsed thus far, along with an outlook on what\u2019s ahead.\r\n\r\n<b>ENDORSED BY COMMON CAUSE OREGON<\/b><b>\u00a0<\/b>\r\n<ul type=\"disc\">\r\n \t<li><a href=\"https:\/\/olis.oregonlegislature.gov\/liz\/2023R1\/Measures\/Overview\/SCR1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" data-auth=\"NotApplicable\" data-safelink=\"true\" data-linkindex=\"0\"><b>SCR 1<\/b><\/a><b>\u00a0\u2013 Support for County Clerks &amp; Election Workers \u2013<\/b>\u00a0Filed at the request of Oregon Secretary of State Shemia Fagen, this bill expresses support for county clerks and election workers, who in recent years have faced violent threats, election disinformation, natural disasters, and a pandemic. While the gesture is only symbolic, the respect and appreciation for these unsung heroes is genuine.<\/li>\r\n \t<li><a href=\"https:\/\/olis.oregonlegislature.gov\/liz\/2023R1\/Measures\/Overview\/SB579\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" data-auth=\"NotApplicable\" data-safelink=\"true\" data-linkindex=\"1\"><b>SB 579<\/b><\/a><b>\u00a0\u2013 Guaranteed Voting Rights \u2013<\/b>\u00a0Chief sponsored by Senators Prozanski, Gelser Blouin, Dembrow, Jama, and Manning, and championed by Common Cause Oregon and a broad coalition of public interest groups, this bill protects Oregonians\u2019 right to register to vote, update voter registration, and vote in elections while incarcerated.<\/li>\r\n \t<li><a href=\"https:\/\/olis.oregonlegislature.gov\/liz\/2023R1\/Measures\/Overview\/HB2107\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" data-auth=\"NotApplicable\" data-safelink=\"true\" data-linkindex=\"2\"><b>HB 2107<\/b><\/a><b>\u00a0\u2013 Automatic Voter Registration \u2013<\/b>\u00a0Filed at the request of Secretary of State Fagen, this bill extends Oregon\u2019s successful automatic voter registration to the Oregon Health Authority to provide another way for more Oregonians to conveniently and securely register to vote.<\/li>\r\n \t<li><a href=\"https:\/\/olis.oregonlegislature.gov\/liz\/2023R1\/Measures\/Overview\/HJR4\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" data-auth=\"NotApplicable\" data-safelink=\"true\" data-linkindex=\"3\"><b>HJR 4<\/b><\/a><b>,<\/b><a href=\"https:\/\/olis.oregonlegislature.gov\/liz\/2023R1\/Measures\/Overview\/HJR18\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" data-auth=\"NotApplicable\" data-safelink=\"true\" data-linkindex=\"4\"><b>\u00a0HJR 18<\/b><\/a><b>\u00a0\u2013 Same Day Voter Registration \u2013<\/b>\u00a0These two identical bills, one filed at the request of Secretary of State Fagan, and one at the request of House Majority Leader Fahey, refer a state constitutional amendment to the voters to allow Oregonians to register to vote up to and on the day of an election.\u00a0<b>\u00a0<\/b><b>\r\n<\/b><\/li>\r\n \t<li><b><u><a href=\"https:\/\/olis.oregonlegislature.gov\/liz\/2023R1\/Measures\/Overview\/HJR20\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" data-auth=\"NotApplicable\" data-safelink=\"true\" data-linkindex=\"0\">HJR 20<\/a><\/u><\/b><b>,\u00a0<\/b><b><u><a href=\"https:\/\/olis.oregonlegislature.gov\/liz\/2023R1\/Measures\/Overview\/HB3206\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" data-auth=\"NotApplicable\" data-safelink=\"true\" data-linkindex=\"1\">HB 3206<\/a><\/u><\/b><b>,\u00a0<\/b><b><a href=\"https:\/\/olis.oregonlegislature.gov\/liz\/2023R1\/Measures\/Overview\/HB2694\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" data-auth=\"NotApplicable\" data-safelink=\"true\" data-linkindex=\"2\">HB 2694<\/a>\u00a0\u2013 Lowering the Voting Age \u2013<\/b> Having played a pivotal role in lowering the federal voting age from 21 to 18 back in the early 1970\u2019s, Common Cause continues to support young adult access to the ballot, including these 3 proposals: HB 2694, chief sponsored by Representative Dan Rayfield, permits 17-year-olds to vote in primary elections if they will turn 18 in time to vote in the general election; HB 3206, chief sponsored by Representatives Bowman, Nguyen, Bynum, Neron and Nosse and Senator Sollman, allows 16 and 17-year-olds to vote in school district elections; and HJR 20, chief sponsored by Representatives Nguyen and Nosse and Senator Dembrow, sends a state constitutional amendment to voters to lower the voting age for Oregon elections to 16.<\/li>\r\n \t<li><a href=\"https:\/\/olis.oregonlegislature.gov\/liz\/2023R1\/Measures\/Overview\/HB2004\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" data-auth=\"NotApplicable\" data-safelink=\"true\" data-linkindex=\"6\"><b>HB 2004<\/b><\/a><b>\u00a0\u2013 Rank Choice Voting \u2013<\/b>\u00a0Chief sponsored by Representatives Rayfield, Fahey, Reynolds, Marsh, and Senator Sollman, and backed by a broad community coalition including Common Cause Oregon, this bill establishes ranked choice voting as the voting method for Oregon\u2019s federal and statewide elections and also allows its adoption for local elections.<\/li>\r\n \t<li><a href=\"https:\/\/olis.oregonlegislature.gov\/liz\/2023R1\/Measures\/Overview\/HB2112\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" data-auth=\"NotApplicable\" data-safelink=\"true\" data-linkindex=\"7\"><b>HB 2112<\/b><\/a><b>\u00a0\u2013 Tribal Interests in Public Records Retention \u2013<\/b>\u00a0Filed at the request of Secretary of State Fagen, this bill updates Oregon public records law to better respect the interests of Oregon Tribes in state records retention. The bill adds \u201ctribal cultural value\u201d (along with legal, fiscal, and historical value) as criteria for public state records retention decisions, while also making statutory language more accessible by updating out-of-date technology terms.<\/li>\r\n \t<li><strong><u><a href=\"https:\/\/olis.oregonlegislature.gov\/liz\/2023R1\/Measures\/Overview\/SB169\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" data-auth=\"NotApplicable\" data-safelink=\"true\" data-linkindex=\"1\">SB 169<\/a><\/u><\/strong>\u00a0<strong>\u2013\u00a0<\/strong><b>Voters Pamphlet Translation<\/b> <b>\u2013<\/b> Filed at the request of Secretary of State Fagen, this bill would increase the number of languages in which the Voters Pamphlet is available, expanding access to essential voter information to a greater number of Oregon voters for whom English is a second language.<\/li>\r\n \t<li><u><a href=\"https:\/\/olis.oregonlegislature.gov\/liz\/2023R1\/Measures\/Overview\/HB3173\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" data-auth=\"NotApplicable\" data-linkindex=\"1\">HB 3173<\/a><\/u>\u00a0\u2013\u00a0<b>Task Force on Tribal Consultation<\/b> \u2013 Chief sponsored by Rep. Tawna Sanchez, this bill creates a task force on Tribal consultation to include representatives from all 9 federally recognized Tribes in Oregon and from state agencies required to consult with Tribes \u2013 tasked with studying and making recommendations to strengthen compliance with Oregon\u2019s Tribal Consultation law which creates a framework for government-to-government collaboration between sovereign governments.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<b>WHAT TO WATCH FOR<\/b>\r\n\r\nAs Oregon\u2019s 2023 legislative session unfolds, these are other democracy-related issues we\u2019ll all want to keep an eye on.\r\n\r\n<b>Voting &amp; Elections<\/b>\r\n\r\nThis session, Oregonians face dozens of elections bills \u2013\u00a0<i>some exciting, some more mundane<\/i>. We\u2019ll have a shot at passing impactful model reforms to strengthen voting rights and improve access to the ballot, while also making many smaller adjustments to keep Oregon\u2019s elections systems up-to-date and secure. Secretary of State Fagen has introduced over a dozen bills, packaged together as an agenda to \u201cProtect Our Democracy,\u201d including addressing election security, access, and funding.\u00a0<b>But watch out for bad bills!\u00a0<\/b>You may be surprised by the many bills that, if passed, would roll back Oregon\u2019s reputation for well-run, accessible elections \u2013\u00a0<i>there\u2019s even one to end vote-by-mail!<\/i>\r\n\r\n<b>Campaign Finance Reform<\/b>\r\n\r\nAs Oregon\u2019s money-in-politics problem continues to grow, and with a strong call from voters to address it, the state legislature is likely to make another attempt at campaign finance reform.\u00a0We know what works to significantly reduce big money influence \u2013 a combination of limits, transparency and public funding \u2013 and Oregon must address all three. The devil is in the details, and there\u2019s always pressure to write the rules to advantage one interest over another. In 2021, legislators came close to passing a bill that\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.oregonlive.com\/opinion\/2021\/05\/editorial-campaign-finance-reform-bill-missing-the-reform.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" data-auth=\"NotApplicable\" data-safelink=\"true\" data-linkindex=\"8\">The Oregonian exposed as fake reform<\/a>. To avoid a similar fate, and finally pass true reform, Oregonians will need to stay engaged and weigh in on this critical issue.\r\n\r\n<b>Other Democracy Issues<\/b>\r\n\r\nLegislators have also filed dozens of bills on government ethics, transparency, efficiency and equity. Some deal with Oregon public records and public meeting laws. Others aim to counter the erosion of local media that supports a healthy democracy. There are several bills focused on language access, and though no bill has yet been filed, legislators promised to bring back and work on a proposal for routinely considering the racial impacts of legislation.\r\n\r\n<b>Common Cause Oregon can help keep you informed. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook and<\/b>\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.commoncause.org\/oregon\/\"><b>s<\/b><b>i<\/b><b>gn up here<\/b><\/a><b>\u00a0for our email alerts!\u00a0<\/b>"}}]},"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v26.6 (Yoast SEO v27.1.1) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Democracy Spotlight: Oregon\u2019s 2023 Legislative Session - Common Cause Oregon<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.commoncause.org\/oregon\/articles\/democracy-spotlight-oregons-2023-legislative-session\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Democracy Spotlight: Oregon\u2019s 2023 Legislative Session\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.commoncause.org\/oregon\/articles\/democracy-spotlight-oregons-2023-legislative-session\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Common Cause Oregon\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.commoncause.org\/oregon\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/common-cause-share-image.png\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1200\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"630\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/png\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.commoncause.org\/oregon\/articles\/democracy-spotlight-oregons-2023-legislative-session\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.commoncause.org\/oregon\/articles\/democracy-spotlight-oregons-2023-legislative-session\/\",\"name\":\"Democracy Spotlight: Oregon\u2019s 2023 Legislative Session - 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