10 Oregon Trucking Association, Inc. Oregon Truck Dispatch EVENTS 2024 Legislative Session Saw Passage of Significant Policy Packages, Discussion of Highway Cost Allocation Discussions set the stage for the development of a sizable transportation package in the 2025 Legislative Session By Jordan Bice, Oxley & Associates THE 2024 LEGISLATIVE Session concluded on March 7, ending what was arguably the most collaborative and cordial session in years. While the even year “short session” was originally created to address minor legislative fixes, legislators used this year’s session to tackle several significant policy packages, including a complex housing package, bipartisan campaign finance reform, and a major overhaul of Oregon’s addiction treatment system. Of the more than 161 bills introduced for the 2024 session, OTA’s advocacy team closely tracked 28 bills that had the potential to impact trucking. Below you will find summaries on some of the key bills to pass this session, as well as some of the bills from this session that had the greatest focus on trucking operations. Drug Criminalization Reform One of the most significant issues at play in the 2024 session was the increasing need for a reform of Oregon’s drug criminalization laws. When Oregon voters passed Ballot Measure 110 in 2020 to decriminalize small possession of most illicit drugs, it was anticipated that those experiencing addiction would have more access to recovery services without fear of further legal penalties. Unfortunately, the fentanyl crisis has exacerbated since the passage of the measure, and Governor Kotek, Multnomah County Chair Vega Pederson, and Portland Mayor Wheeler issued a 90-day emergency declaration on January 31 to address the fentanyl crisis. The legislature created the Joint Addiction and Community Safety Response Committee to push a bill that would end Oregon’s three-year experiment in drug decriminalization. Democratic leadership had to carefully balance the policy. Any proposed legislation would need to effectively reduce drug-related problems to avoid a November ballot measure to repeal BM 110. However, if it were too restrictive, it might not gain support from the majority of Democrats. After weeks of closed-door meetings and several hearings that went long into the night, legislators reached agreement and passed HB 4002 on strong bipartisan votes in both chambers. The new law creates a special class of misdemeanor for drug related crimes with more options for and access to recovery services. Oregonians will undoubtedly watch intently over the coming years in hopes that this improves the safety and livability of our state. Housing Package Governor Kotek entered the session with one priority, which was passing another housing package. Though significantly whittled down from her original $500 million proposal, the legislature approved a $376 million package to accelerate housing construction. It includes investments in infrastructure, homebuilding, homeless shelters and rent assistance, along with changes to state land use laws to make it easier for cities to build homes. Highway Cost Allocation On January 30, the Oregon Trucking Association, Combined Transport, A&M Transport, and Sherman Bros. Trucking filed a lawsuit against the State of Oregon, Governor Tina Kotek, the Oregon Department of Transportation, Senate President Rob Wagner, and House Speaker Dan Rayfield alleging trucks have unconstitutionally overpaid their fair share of highway taxes over several years. The suit asks for an immediate review
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