Legislative Update - January 23
The Oregon Legislature will convene its 2026 short session on February 2nd, entering a compressed 35-day calendar shaped by a significant budget gap, unresolved transportation funding issues, and mounting health care cost pressures. Legislative budget writers estimate the state faces a roughly $749 million shortfall in the current biennium. Lawmakers will receive an updated revenue forecast on February 4th, two days into the session, which will provide a clearer picture of available resources. The most recent forecast from December 2025 projected a negative ending balance of approximately $63 million for the 2025–27 budget, with outcomes highly sensitive to federal funding decisions and economic conditions. All bills are expected to be made public on Wednesday, January 28th. Individual legislators were permitted to file up to two bills, while legislative committees and the Governor were each allowed to file up to three. Although legislative leadership retains the authority to introduce additional measures during the session, the total number of bills is expected to be approximately 300.
Deadlines, committee schedule, committee assignments and full 2026 interim calendar follows:
- February 2nd (Tuesday) – First day of session
- February 9th (Monday) – Deadline to post bills for work session in first chamber of origin *(does not apply to Rules, Revenue, Ways & Means or Joint committees)
- February 16th (Monday) – Deadline to move bills out of first chamber of origin *(does not apply to Rules, Revenue, Ways & Means or Joint committees)
- February 20th (Friday) – Deadline to post bills for work session in second chamber of origin *(does not apply to Rules, Revenue, Ways & Means or Joint committees)
- February 26th (Thursday) – Deadline to move bills out of second chamber of origin *(does not apply to Rules, Revenue, Ways & Means or Joint committees)
- March 8th (Sunday) – Mandatory Sine Die
2026 Session Deadlines Calendar
2026 Session Committee Schedule
Senate President's Committee Appointments for 2026 Legislative Session
83rd Oregon Legislative Assembly Poster
2026 Interim Legislative Calendar
Transportation
The transportation funding package adopted during the 2025 special session was enacted by the Legislature but experienced a delayed signature from the Governor. Despite that delay, opponents mounted a successful referendum effort in record time, submitting well over the required number of signatures to place the law on the ballot and freezing its revenue provisions. In response to the referendum and growing political headwinds, Governor Kotek subsequently called on the Legislature to repeal the package; however, a Department of Justice opinion has raised questions about whether the Legislature may repeal a law once it has been validly referred to voters, effectively requiring a statewide vote. As a result, legislative leadership is now pursuing legislation to move the referendum election from November to May 2026 to provide earlier clarity on the future of transportation funding this biennium.
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