Oregon’s Senate Walkout Ends as Republicans Rejoin the State Senate

The Oregon State Capitol. M.O. Stevens/Public Domain

Oregon’s six-week-long walkout is over as Republican members rejoin the Oregon Senate on Thursday and come to a compromising agreement on stalled bills relating to abortion, transgender health care, and gun safety.

The walkout happened after Republicans opposed measures on abortion and gender-affirming care that Republicans claimed went too far as the measure would allow doctors to provide abortions regardless of a patient’s age, with medical providers not required to notify the parents of a minor in certain cases.

The missing Republicans prevented the Senate from reaching the two-thirds quorum needed to pass bills as negotiations stalled over legislative votes.

Oregon Senate Minority Leader Tim Knopp (R). Oregon State Legislature

Democrats agreed that in cases where minors seek abortions but want to avoid telling their parents, such as in cases of incest, a provider would have to obtain approval from a second provider, as both sides came to an agreement.

Democrats said the measure would still ensure abortion access and protect caregivers from anti-abortion or gender-affirming care measures passed by other states and would require that health insurance covers medically necessary gender-affirming care.

Sen. Tim Knopp (R) said the boycott would end to pass “bipartisan” legislation and budget bills. On Thursday’s Senate floor, Knopp said he looked forward to finishing the session in “an extraordinarily bipartisan way.”

“We asked for lawful, we asked for constitutional, we asked for a compromise, and I see that from your side,” Knopp said as he addressed Democratic Senate President Rob Wagner following Thursday’s roll call. “We appreciate everyone who was involved.”

The walkout also blocked the approval of the two-year state budget and a gun-safety measure opposed by the GOP that would increase the purchasing age to 21 for semiautomatic rifles.

Democrats also agreed to drop a bill that would have required training and a 72-hour waiting period before buying a gun. Similar rules put in place by a ballot measure are under court challenge.

Gov. Jay Inslee signed a bill in April banning the sale of rifles.

“Passing an assault weapon ban will be a momentous step forward for Washington state,” Inslee said in a statement. “Time and again, we’ve seen the carnage these weapons allow people to unleash on communities. We’ve repeatedly watched the NRA and politicians defend, normalize, and even celebrate these weapons. But now the time is here when the majority’s will prevails, and we put our children’s lives first.”

On June 1, Senate Democrats voted to fine senators $325 every time their absence denied a quorum.

On Wednesday, more than 40 Oregon Democratic House and Senate members sponsored a joint resolution proposing an amendment to the state Constitution to require a majority of each chamber in the Legislature to be present to conduct business. If passed by the Legislature, it would go before Oregon voters in a ballot measure in the 2024 election.

Gov. Tina Kotek is pleased that lawmakers from the House and Senate come together before the regular session ends.

“Oregonians are demanding progress on many urgent challenges,” Kotek said through a spokesperson. “I’m glad the Senate is back doing the people’s work.”

State Rep. Khanh Pham and state Rep. David Gomberg have introduced House Joint Resolution 30, or the ‘Simple Majority Resolution.’

The resolution would ask Oregon voters to amend the Oregon Constitution to require a majority of lawmakers to be present to conduct business. Oregon is currently one of four states that requires a two-thirds majority rather than a simple one.