House panel ponders linking firearms storage, narrow ban
Senators say proposal weakens restrictions for public buildings they have already approved.
Legislation that combines proposed requirements for firearms locks and safe storage with a narrower ban on firearms in public buildings is gaining political momentum in the Oregon House.
The House Rules Committee heard a proposal to combine elements of two bills, one awaiting a vote of the full House and a second that has already passed the Senate. If it happens, the House would have to take only one vote, instead of two, on a firearms regulation bill and the Senate would have to vote only on whether to accept the final version.
Pool photo by Brian Hayes / Statesman Journal
Originally published on April 21, 2021 6:07 pm
Oregon lawmakers are considering scaling back and combining the two central gun control proposals to emerge this session.
Under an amendment taken up by the House Rules Committee on Wednesday, a bill to ban guns in state buildings and allow local governments to pass their own bans would be curbed significantly.
The amended proposal to Senate Bill 554 submitted by Senate President Peter Courtney, D-Salem, whose chamber has already approved the changes would limit a new ban to the state Capitol, and only allow K-12 schools, community colleges and universities to enact bans. Local governments like counties and cities would not have that ability.
Lawmakers in the Oregon Senate and House of Representatives passed 113 pieces of legislation out of their chambers last week as the 2021 legislative session passed its mid-way point.
With House Republicans agreeing to suspend certain constitutional rules after reaching a deal with Democrats, the pace of bills making it off the floor increased dramatically. The House passed 69 bills on Thursday and Friday alone.
As is common during most legislative sessions, the vast majority of bills passed with near-unanimous bipartisan support. A bill must pass both legislative chambers and receive the governor s signature to become law.
Here are five bills that passed their originating chamber this week:
A bill that would significantly hike taxes on beer and fails to consider the realities facing the industries and the consequences of such a massive increase, the editorial board writes. But the central question of whether the industries need to be paying more to help fund addiction recovery services is a legitimate one that deserves legislative discussion.
Alcohol tax hike would greatly expand addiction treatment in Oregon, but opponents say the state should use existing taxes oregonlive.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from oregonlive.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.