Committee Meetings During Upcoming Oregon Legislative Session To Be Held Virtually

SALEM, Ore. – Committee meetings during Oregon’s upcoming legislative session will all be conducted virtually.

Senate President Peter Courtney and House Speaker Tina Kotek say the decision was made based on input from OHSU.

“We are committed to ensuring the legislative process is accessible and safe during the upcoming session,” Courtney and Kotek said in a joint statement. “The recent wave of cases and hospitalizations due to the Omicron variant is concerning. After conversations with OHSU infectious disease doctors, we decided to move our committees to a virtual format.”

The public will still be allowed to enter the Capitol during regular business hours.

The upcoming session starts on February 1st.

Here’s more from Senate President Courtney and House Speaker Kotek:

Committee meetings will be livestreamed on the Oregon Legislative Information Site during the upcoming session, which begins February 1. Oregonians are encouraged to make their voices heard on issues they care about by submitting written testimony, or by signing up for video or phone testimony.

All individuals within the building must comply with public health guidance, including wearing a face mask, and are encouraged to follow best practices such as staying home when sick, maintaining six feet of physical distance, and avoiding large gatherings to reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission.

Due to the ongoing Capitol Accessibility, Maintenance and Safety project, certain areas in and around the Capitol are under active construction, including the front steps and State Street entrances. Visitors can use the North ADA entrances to enter the building. Seismic upgrades in the House and Senate wings have been completed and these areas will be open to the public during the February session.