Is a third special session possible?

The second special session of the year had hardly closed before talk of a third special session began.

The Legislature achieved its primary goal, passing bills to reconcile a revenue shortfall of more than $1 billion, and tackled a variety of policy issues. 

It was a contentious session, hardly healthy grounds for calling a third session.

Senate Democrats touted the bills that passed. House Republicans criticized the Democratic leadership for prohibiting public access to the session. House Speaker Tina Kotek and Gov. Kate Brown both said they were upset that a specific bill about unemployment died after not receiving Republican support. Senate Republicans pointed out that there was bipartisan opposition to the bill and loudly decried the ongoing problems at the Oregon Employment Department that allegedly made a bill of that nature necessary. 

Normally, it would be hard to imagine legislators might choose to come back together again this year. But these are strange times.

A third special session might be necessary for two basic reasons: budget and policy.

Budget is the more likely catalyst to get everyone back into Salem. The next revenue forecast will be released Sept. 23. If the forecast is dire, legislators will likely be called to consider further budget cuts.

A policy reason could also bring the Legislature back. The climate nationally and in Oregon around policing, Black Lives Matter, and use of force has given the work of the Joint Committee On Transparent Policing and Use of Force Reform an urgency that is unusual for a legislative committee. The work of that committee, especially in response to an event nationally or locally, could necessitate a special session.

The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic could also require legislative action. OSBA is working with other employers to urge legislators to pass coronavirus liability protection so that schools can reopen without risking financial ruin from lawsuits.

Scheduled legislative days of Sept. 23-25 offer an obvious time for another session. Any session later than that starts to get overly close to the elections season.

- Richard Donovan
Legislative Services specialist