The 2021 Legislative Session is unprecedented in the sense that the bulk of the work, except for floor votes on bills, is all being conducted virtually. Legislative staff learned a lot about challenges associated with conducting a legislative session virtually during the three special sessions of 2020, as well as hearings during 2020 legislative days. As a result, some of the early technology challenges have been addressed. Now in a regular session, with multiple committees meeting and hearing bills each day, the shape of the session looks different. Early on, it was anticipated that the session would start fairly slow as a result of this modified format, with mostly informational hearings toward the beginning of the Legislative Session. However, with nearly 2,000 bills already introduced, and many more expected, committee chairs have been scheduling a large number of bills for hearings right out of the gate. So, while traditionally, in-person sessions have started with less intensity, we, in this virtual format, are already in the thick of things.
The scope of the session presents a number of challenges, as well as opportunities. For example, with citizens and lobbyists access to the Capitol building and legislators being restricted, many of the typical tools used by citizens and lobbyists no longer work, such as walking around the Capitol building and chatting with folks. Water cooler conversations that provide incredibly valuable information among the various stakeholders, and deals struck outside of committee hearing rooms are no longer happening today in the same way. Additional challenges in accessibility have resulted, including legislator calendars filling up weeks or months out just with short, 15-minute virtual meetings.
The manner in which committee testimony is provided has also changed, not only because it is now taken virtually, but because the process of registering to testify is different. Legislative staff have worked hard to make the process as seamless as possible, with regard to both oral and written testimony, including by providing a guide on how to testify virtually and making contact information for committee staff accessible.
There is a silver lining to all of this: county commissioners, judges, and chairs, especially those that have an existing relationship with their legislators, have a greater level of influence, since testimony is now even more important than in the past. If you would like to testify, or engage in advocacy efforts, please contact the Association of Oregon Counties (AOC) legislative affairs staff, and they can help get you information you may need and coordinate advocacy efforts.
Contributed by: Rob Bovett | Legal Counsel and Legislative Director