The historic legislative walkout in Oregon has finally come to an end with the state’s GOP senators. This boycott, lasting six weeks, was the longest in Oregon’s history and the second-longest in the country. It caused a delay in passing key bills but was resolved through a compromise agreement.
Under the compromise, an abortion provider would require another provider to agree if they decide not to notify the parents of certain young patients who undergo the procedure. This decision was made to address concerns raised by the Republicans.
Additionally, Oregon’s Democrats agreed to remove clauses that would have raised the purchasing age of semi-automatic rifles from 18 to 21. These concessions on abortion, transgender healthcare, and gun rights helped bring an end to the boycott.
The Republicans’ boycott prevented the state Senate from reaching the necessary quorum to pass bills. It was sparked by a comprehensive measure on abortion and sex reassignment care, which the Republicans deemed too extreme. The measure allowed doctors to perform abortions without parental notification for minors in certain cases.
As part of the deal to end the walkout, Democrats agreed to revise the language concerning parental notifications for abortion. If an abortion provider believes that notifying the parents of a patient under 15 years old would not be in the patient’s best interest, they would not be required to do so. However, they would need another provider’s agreement. An exception would be made if involving a parent or guardian would lead to the abuse or neglect of the patient.
Democrats assured that these changes would still ensure access to abortion and protect caregivers from anti-abortion or sex reassignment care measures implemented in other states. They also ensured that health insurance would cover medically necessary sex reassignment care.
Furthermore, Democrats decided to drop several amendments that imposed restrictions on the manufacturing or transfer of undetectable firearms. These amendments included increasing the purchasing age for semi-automatic rifles from 18 to 21 and placing more limitations on concealed carry.
The walkout’s end was marked by the filing of new versions of the compromised measures by Democrats. These versions were approved by the Senate and now require a concurrence vote in the House before reaching Governor Tina Kotek for her signature.
Democratic Senate President Rob Wagner expressed his optimism and satisfaction with the agreement, stating that it allowed them to fulfill the important work entrusted to them by Oregonians. Meanwhile, Republicans viewed the outcome as a victory, emphasizing that parental rights and constitutional rights pertaining to firearms were preserved.
The boycott, initiated on May 3 by GOP Leader Sen. Tim Knopp, was initially intended to last until June 25, the last day of the session, in order to pass bipartisan legislation and budget bills. However, negotiations between GOP and Democratic leaders led to an optimistic atmosphere in the Capitol, resulting in an early resolution of the boycott. Knopp acknowledged the bipartisan effort and appreciated the involvement of all parties.
Despite the passage of a ballot measure in 2022 disqualifying lawmakers with multiple unexcused absences from reelection, the Oregon Legislature witnessed its longest walkout in history. Senate President Wagner noted that numerous legislators would be unable to return to the building due to this measure. However, if Republican senators are prohibited from registering as candidates for the 2024 election starting in September, they are likely to file a lawsuit. Similar walkouts occurred in 2019, 2020, and 2021.
The Democrats, on the other hand, have taken steps to prevent future walkouts by proposing a constitutional amendment that requires a majority of each chamber to be present for conducting business. This amendment, if passed by the Legislature, would go before Oregon voters in a ballot measure in the 2024 election. However, with hundreds of other bills still pending, the measure is unlikely to pass this year.
The boycott also hindered the approval of the state budget for the next two years. If the budgets are not approved by the end of the regular session, Governor Kotek can call for a special session to address the issue.
To achieve a quorum, at least three Republican or independent members must be present among the 17 Democrats in the 30-member Senate. On Thursday, five GOP members were in attendance, and Democratic leaders were assured that Republicans would provide enough senators to establish a quorum for the remaining session.
Initially, the Republicans justified their boycott by citing a long-forgotten state law that required bill summaries to be written at a level comprehensible to an eighth-grader.
This walkout in Oregon is the second-longest in any U.S. state, following a Rhode Island incident in 1924. In Rhode Island, Republican senators fled to Massachusetts for six months, effectively derailing Democratic efforts to hold a constitutional convention. The incident involved a gas bomb detonation in the Senate chamber, with both Democrats and Republicans accusing each other of triggering it.
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