9 Oregon bills to keep an eye on this session that are not about carbon emissions

The 2020 Oregon legislative session is set to begin Feb. 3, and a controversial greenhouse gas emissions cap-and-trade bill remains the top policy issue lawmakers will consider.

Democrats are making another run at the cap-and-trade program after their 2019 attempt faltered amid internal concerns about the bill and a nine-day Senate Republican walkout that energized rural Oregonians.

Changes were made to the proposal in the interim, but walkout fears persist as Republicans remain opposed to cap-and-trade as the structure for carbon emissions reduction. Supporters believe cap-and-trade is the only way to achieve the state's goals for reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

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However, there is more to this session than climate change legislation.

Lawmakers have already introduced about 250 other pieces of legislation that could receive attention during the 35-day "short" session. They deal with issues such as prohibiting the sale of flavored vaping products, banning coyote-killing contests, and placing storage requirements on firearms.

Here is a look at nine of these non-greenhouse gas-related bills:

1. New kratom regulations

From Keizer Republican Rep. Bill Post, House Bill 4013 would establish a series of regulations over kratom, a product developed from leaves of a tree that can be used for medicinal purposes.

The bill would ban the sale or distribution of kratom to anyone under the age of 21. 

It would require anyone involved in selling, manufacturing, distributing or advertising kratom products to disclose what is inside the product.

Kratom products would have to be registered with the state Department of Agriculture, which would be responsible for creating standards for testing and labeling of kratom products.

The penalty for violating these provisions could include a fine of several hundred dollars.

2. Campaign contribution limits

For candidates running for office in Oregon, Senate Bill 1524 would set a series of campaign contribution limits.

Oregon currently has no limits on how much money candidates can accept from single sources.

For state senator, state representative and judge races, the proposed limits are: $750 from an individual; and $15,000 from a small donor committee, legislative caucus committee or political party committee.

For statewide races — including governor, treasurer and secretary of state — the limits would be: $2,000 from an individual; and $40,000 from a small donor committee, legislative caucus committee or political party committee.

3. and 4. Two gun bills return

The omnibus gun control bill that Democrats sought to pass last session died during negotiations to bring Senate Republicans back from their first walkout of 2019.

Two parts of that bill are back this year.

Sponsored by a majority of Senate Democrats, SB 1538 would allow local governments to decide if guns should be allowed on their grounds.

HB 4005 is a gun storage provision that would require that when a gun is not being carried, it is secured with either a trigger or cable lock or in a locked container.

Firearms must be transferred while secured in a similar manner.

If a gun is not stored in the manner described and later stolen and used to injure a person or property within four years, the gun owner is held liable for that injury.

The measure would require that a gun owner report a lost or stolen firearm within 72 hours of when they knew or should have known about its absence.

5. Coyote-killing contests

Back from its death in the House of Representatives last year after passing the Senate, HB 4075 would ban the practice of coyote-killing contests.

Proponents of the bill said such contests — where the goal is to kill as many coyotes as possible in a set time-frame — are cruel and senseless.

The bill sparked outrage among Republicans in 2019, who said it was a perfect example of urban lawmakers not understanding life in rural Oregon.

Rep. Brad Witt, D-Clatskanie, is the chief sponsor of the bill. Rep. Ken Helm, D-Washington County, has also signed on his support.

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6. Public records advocate independence

Last fall, Oregon's first public records advocate, Ginger McCall, accused members of Gov. Kate Brown's staff of applying improper political influence over her despite her belief the position was to be independent.

McCall resigned in protest.

SB 1506 came about in response to her public concerns. It would specify the public records advocate is an "independent office in the executive department."

It also makes several other changes that McCall and the Public Records Advisory Council sought, such as removing the governor from the process of selecting an advocate.

7. Crime of threatening a school

Supported by a bipartisan group of sponsors, HB 4145 would create the crime of threatening a school or a place of worship. 

To commit this crime, a person would need to intend to cause public fear or panic. The subjects of a threat could include: an impending mass shooting; a hazardous substance leak; an imminent explosion; or a fire.

The crime would not apply to those who are making a good-faith effort to inform others about the potential risk of an emergency situation.

Punishment for breaking this law could include a 364-day maximum prison sentence and a fine of more than $6,000. If the individual has certain prior convictions, those punishments could increase to five years in prison and a fine of $125,000.

8. Flavored vaping products ban

In response to a rash of injuries related to the use of e-cigarettes, SB 1559 would ban the distribution and sale of flavored vaping products in the state. 

As of Jan. 14, 2,668 cases of injury associated with vaping or e-cigarette use were reported, according to the Centers for Disease Control. Of those, 60 people died.

In the majority of those cases, users were vaping products containing THC.

There is also concern among lawmakers and public health officials that flavored products are attracting younger users who might not recognize the risk of vaping when compared to using traditional cigarettes.

Anyone violating the ban would be subject to a $5,000 civil penalty.

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9. Changing quorum rules

Oregon is one of four states that requires a two-thirds quorum before any work can be done in the Legislative chambers.

Changing that requirement to a simple majority became of interest to top Democrats in 2019 after Senate Republicans fled the Capitol to deny Democrats the chance of passing a greenhouse gas emissions cap-and-trade bill. 

Senate Joint Resolution 201 would allow Oregon voters to decide if the state should change to a simple majority quorum.

Walkouts are rare in Oregon's history, but not unheard of. Both parties have used it as a tactic before.

Contact reporter Connor Radnovich at cradnovich@statesmanjournal.com or 503-399-6864, or follow him on Twitter at @CDRadnovich