Oregon State Senate

Oregon State Senate
Oregon State Senate
Oregon Legislative Assembly
Type
Type	Upper house
Term limits	None
History
New session started	January 9, 2023
Leadership
President	Rob Wagner (D) ; since January 9, 2023
President pro tempore	James Manning Jr. (D) ; since January 11, 2021
Majority Leader	Kathleen Taylor (D) ; since July 15, 2024
Minority Leader	Daniel Bonham (R) ; since April 15, 2024
Structure
Seats	30
Political groups	Majority; Democratic (17); Minority; Republican (11); Others; Ind. Republican (1); IPO (1);
Length of term	4 years
Authority	Article IV, Oregon Constitution
Salary	$21,612/year + per diem
Elections
Last election	November 8, 2022; (16 seats)
Next election	November 5, 2024; (15 seats)
Redistricting	Legislative Control
Meeting place
	State Senate Chamber; Oregon State Capitol; Salem, Oregon
Website
	Oregon State Senate

The Oregon State Senate is the upper house of the statewide legislature for the US state of Oregon. Along with the lower chamber Oregon House of Representatives it makes up the Oregon Legislative Assembly. There are 30 members of the state Senate, representing 30 districts across the state, each with a population of 141,242.^[2] The state Senate meets in the east wing of the Oregon State Capitol in Salem.

Oregon, along with Arizona, Maine, New Hampshire, and Wyoming, is one of the five U.S. states to not have the office of the lieutenant governor, a position which for most upper houses of state legislatures and for the United States Congress (with the vice president) is the head of the legislative body and holder of the casting vote in the event of a tie. Instead, a separate position of Senate president is in place, removed from the state executive branch. If the chamber is tied, legislators must devise their own methods of resolving the impasse. In the 72nd Oregon Legislative Assembly in 2003, for example, Oregon's state senators entered into a power sharing contract whereby Democratic senators nominated the Senate President while Republican senators chaired key committees.^[3]

Like certain other upper houses of state and territorial legislatures and the United States Senate, the state Senate can confirm or reject the governor's appointments to state departments, commissions, boards, and other state governmental agencies.

The current Senate president is Rob Wagner of Lake Oswego.^[4]

Membership and qualifications

Oregon state senators serve four-year terms without term limits. In 2002, the Oregon Supreme Court struck down the decade-old Oregon Ballot Measure 3, that had restricted state senators to two terms (eight years) on procedural grounds.^[5]

According to the Oregon Constitution, two-thirds of senators are required to form a quorum. Republican senators have used this rule to block legislation by absenting themselves.^[6] In response to this practice, Oregon Ballot Measure 113 was passed in 2022 to disqualify members with ten unexcused absences from serving in the legislature following their current term. However, a Republican walkout went for six weeks during the 82nd Assembly in May and June 2023, the longest ever.^[7]^[8]

Milestones

Kathryn Clarke was the first woman to serve in Oregon's Senate. Women became eligible to run for the Oregon state legislature in 1914 and later that year Clarke was appointed to fill a vacant seat in Douglas county by her cousin, governor Oswald West. Following some controversy concerning whether West had the authority to appoint someone to fill the vacancy, Clarke campaigned and was elected by voters in 1915.^[9] She took office five years before Nineteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution protected the right of all American women to vote.

In 1982, Mae Yih became the first Chinese-American elected to a state senate in the United States.

Composition

Affiliation	Party (Shading indicates majority caucus)				Total

	Democratic	Republican	Ind. Rep.	Ind. Party		Vacant
End of 75th Assembly (2010)	18	12	0	0	30	0

76th Assembly (2011–2012)	16	14	0	0	30	0

77th Assembly (2013–2014)	16	14	0	0	30	0

78th Assembly (2015–2016)	18	12	0	0	30	0

79th Assembly (2017–2018)	17	13	0	0	30	0

80th Assembly (2019–2021)	18	12	0	0	30	0

81st Assembly (2021–2023)^[a]	18	12	0		30	0
January 15, 2021^[b]		11	0	1
April 2021^[c]		10	1
December 15, 2021^[d]	17	10	1		29	1

Begin 82nd (2023–present)	17	11	1	1	30	0
January 1, 2023^[e]		10			29	1
January 11, 2023^[f]		11			30	0
Latest voting share	57%	37%	7%

82nd Senate

The 82nd Oregon Legislative Assembly, which holds its regular session from 2023 to 2025, has the following leadership:

Senate President: Rob Wagner (D-19 Lake Oswego)
President Pro Tempore: James Manning Jr. (D–7 Eugene)
Majority Leader: Kathleen Taylor (D-21 Portland)
Minority Leader: Daniel Bonham (R-26 The Dalles)

District	Senator	Party	Residence	Assumed office
1	David Brock Smith	Republican	Port Orford	2023^[g]
2	Art Robinson	Republican^[h]	Cave Junction	2021
3	Jeff Golden	Democratic	Ashland	2019
4	Floyd Prozanski	Democratic	Eugene	2003
5	Dick Anderson	Republican	Lincoln City	2021
6	Cedric Hayden	Republican	Fall Creek	2023
7	James Manning Jr.	Democratic	Eugene	2017^[g]
8	Sara Gelser Blouin	Democratic	Corvallis	2015
9	Fred Girod	Republican	Stayton	2008^[g]
10	Deb Patterson	Democratic	Salem	2021
11	Kim Thatcher	Republican	Keizer	2015
12	Brian Boquist	Independent	Dallas	2009
13	Aaron Woods	Democratic	Wilsonville	2023
14	Kate Lieber	Democratic	Beaverton	2021
15	Janeen Sollman	Democratic	Hillsboro	2022^[g]
16	Suzanne Weber	Republican	Tillamook	2023
17	Elizabeth Steiner	Democratic	Portland	2012^[g]
18	Wlnsvey Campos	Democratic	Aloha	2023
19	Rob Wagner	Democratic	Lake Oswego	2018^[g]
20	Mark Meek	Democratic	Gladstone	2023
21	Kathleen Taylor	Democratic	Portland	2017
22	Lew Frederick	Democratic		2017
23	Michael Dembrow	Democratic		2013^[g]
24	Kayse Jama	Democratic		2021^[g]
25	Chris Gorsek	Democratic	Troutdale	2021
26	Daniel Bonham	Republican	The Dalles	2023
27	Tim Knopp	Republican	Bend	2013
28	Dennis Linthicum	Republican	Klamath Falls	2017
29	Bill Hansell	Republican	Athena	2013
30	Lynn Findley	Republican	Vale	2020^[g]

82nd Senate Committee Assignments

Senators are each assigned to one or more committees.^[14]

Conduct

Dick Anderson - Co-Chair
Floyd Prozanski – Co-Chair
Suzanne Weber
Aaron Woods
Michael Dembrow
Lynn Findley
Jeff Golden
Bill Hansell
Tim Knopp
Deb Patterson

Education

Michael Dembrow – Chair
Suzanne Weber – Vice-Chair
Dick Anderson
Lew Frederick
Sara Gelser Blouin
Art Robinson
Rob Wagner

Energy and Environment

Janeen Sollman – Chair
Lynn Findley – Vice-Chair
Jeff Golden
Cedric Hayden
Kate Lieber

Finance and Revenue

Mark Meek – Chair
Brian Boquist – Vice-Chair
Lynn Findley
Jeff Golden
Kayse Jama

Health Care

Deb Patterson – Chair
Cedric Hayden – Vice-Chair
Daniel Bonham
Wlnsvey Campos
Chris Gorsek

Housing and Development

Kayse Jama – Chair
Dick Anderson – Vice-Chair
Tim Knopp
Deb Patterson
Janeen Sollman

Human Services

Sara Gelser Blouin – Chair
Art Robinson – Vice-Chair
James Manning Jr.
Floyd Prozanski
Suzanne Weber

Judiciary

Floyd Prozanski – Chair
Kim Thatcher – Vice-Chair
Michael Dembrow
Sara Gelser Blouin
Dennis Linthicum
James Manning Jr.

Labor and Business

Kathleen Taylor – Chair
Daniel Bonham – Vice-Chair
Bill Hansell
Kayse Jama
Deb Patterson

Natural Resources

Jeff Golden – Chair
Fred Girod – Vice-Chair
Floyd Prozanski
David Brock Smith
Kathleen Taylor

Rules

Kate Lieber – Chair
Tim Knopp – Vice-Chair
Bill Hansell
James Manning Jr.
Elizabeth Steiner

Veterans, Emergency Management, Federal and World Affairs

James Manning Jr. - Chair
Kim Thatcher – Vice-Chair
Chris Gorsek
Art Robinson
Aaron Woods

Past composition of the Senate

Notes

^ Intersession, on January 4, 2021, Democrat Shemia Fagan (District 24) resigned to become Secretary of State of Oregon. On January 6, Democrat Kayse Jama was appointed to fill the seat.
^ Republican Brian Boquist (District 12) changed his party registration from Republican to Independent Party of Oregon.^[10]
^ Senator Art Robinson (District 2) left the Republican caucus in order to caucus with Boquist.
^ Democrat Betsy Johnson (District 16) resigned to focus on her run for governor.^[11]
^ Republican Dallas Heard (District 1) resigned.^[12]
^ Republican David Brock Smith (District 1) was appointed.^[13]
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ Senator was originally appointed.
^ Senator Robinson is not a member of the Republican caucus.

References

^ "Oregon Senate GOP tensions are front and center with new bill".
^ "Senate Home". www.oregonlegislature.gov. Retrieved March 13, 2021.
^ National Conference of State Legislatures. "In Case of a Tie..." Retrieved November 3, 2010.
^ Oregon Blue Book: Senate Presidents of Oregon
^ Green, Ashbel S.; Lisa Grace Lednicer (January 17, 2006). "State high court strikes term limits". Oregonian. Portland, Oregon: Oregonian Publishing. pp. A1.
^ "Republican Oregon state senators boycott for a 2nd day, preventing quorum". PBS. May 4, 2023. Retrieved June 7, 2023.
^ Giardinelli, Christina (June 5, 2023). "Oregon Republicans say ballot measure barring absent lawmakers has loophole". KTVL. Retrieved June 7, 2023.
^ Lugo, Dianne (June 15, 2023). "Oregon lawmakers make deal on gun, abortion, LGBTQ bills to end longest walkout in state history". Register Guard. Retrieved June 16, 2023.
^ Kimberly Jensen. "Kathryn Clarke". The Oregon Encyclopedia.
^ "Oregon Senate Republicans walk out for 3rd straight year, citing governor's COVID-19 restrictions". oregonlive. February 25, 2021. Retrieved August 31, 2021.
^ The Associated Press (December 14, 2021). "Longtime state Sen. Betsy Johnson to resign to focus on independent run for Oregon governor". The Oregonian. Retrieved December 15, 2021.
^ Shumway, Julia (December 15, 2022). "Oregon state Sen. Dallas Heard will resign Jan. 1". Oregon Capital Chronicle. Retrieved January 10, 2023.
^ Battaglia, Roman (January 12, 2023). "David Brock Smith appointed to fill southwest Oregon state Senate seat". Oregon Public Broadcasting. Retrieved January 21, 2023.
^ "Senate Committee Selection". OregonLegislature.gov.

External links

[10] Intersession, on January 4, 2021, Democrat Shemia Fagan (District 24) resigned to become Secretary of State of Oregon. On January 6, Democrat Kayse Jama was appointed to fill the seat.

[12] Republican Brian Boquist (District 12) changed his party registration from Republican to Independent Party of Oregon.^[10]

[13] Senator Art Robinson (District 2) left the Republican caucus in order to caucus with Boquist.

[15] Democrat Betsy Johnson (District 16) resigned to focus on her run for governor.^[11]

[17] Republican Dallas Heard (District 1) resigned.^[12]

[19] Republican David Brock Smith (District 1) was appointed.^[13]

[appointeds-20] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ Senator was originally appointed.

[Robinson-21] Senator Robinson is not a member of the Republican caucus.

[1] "Oregon Senate GOP tensions are front and center with new bill".

[2] "Senate Home". www.oregonlegislature.gov. Retrieved March 13, 2021.

[tiebreak-3] National Conference of State Legislatures. "In Case of a Tie..." Retrieved November 3, 2010.

[4] Oregon Blue Book: Senate Presidents of Oregon

[Oregonian_2002-01-17-5] Green, Ashbel S.; Lisa Grace Lednicer (January 17, 2006). "State high court strikes term limits". Oregonian. Portland, Oregon: Oregonian Publishing. pp. A1.

[6] "Republican Oregon state senators boycott for a 2nd day, preventing quorum". PBS. May 4, 2023. Retrieved June 7, 2023.

[7] Giardinelli, Christina (June 5, 2023). "Oregon Republicans say ballot measure barring absent lawmakers has loophole". KTVL. Retrieved June 7, 2023.

[8] Lugo, Dianne (June 15, 2023). "Oregon lawmakers make deal on gun, abortion, LGBTQ bills to end longest walkout in state history". Register Guard. Retrieved June 16, 2023.

[9] Kimberly Jensen. "Kathryn Clarke". The Oregon Encyclopedia.

[11] "Oregon Senate Republicans walk out for 3rd straight year, citing governor's COVID-19 restrictions". oregonlive. February 25, 2021. Retrieved August 31, 2021.

[14] The Associated Press (December 14, 2021). "Longtime state Sen. Betsy Johnson to resign to focus on independent run for Oregon governor". The Oregonian. Retrieved December 15, 2021.

[heard-16] Shumway, Julia (December 15, 2022). "Oregon state Sen. Dallas Heard will resign Jan. 1". Oregon Capital Chronicle. Retrieved January 10, 2023.

[smith-18] Battaglia, Roman (January 12, 2023). "David Brock Smith appointed to fill southwest Oregon state Senate seat". Oregon Public Broadcasting. Retrieved January 21, 2023.

[22] "Senate Committee Selection". OregonLegislature.gov.

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Oregon State Senate

Membership and qualifications

Milestones

Composition

82nd Senate

82nd Senate Committee Assignments

Past composition of the Senate

See also

Notes

References

External links

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