Gov. Tina Kotek to sign all bills sent to her desk in latest legislative session
Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek has signed all the bills from the short 2024 legislative session, including bills relating to housing production, wastewater treatment, and an Old Town development project, after receiving adequate information to sign them in full.
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) – Following a particularly busy legislative session, Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek has indicated that she intends to sign all the bills that were sent to her desk last March.
The governor’s office confirmed that Kotek – who initially hinted at potential vetoes for bills relating to housing production, wastewater treatment and an Old Town development project – would not veto any items from the short 2024 session.
“I am grateful to legislators for responding to our state’s most pressing needs,” Gov. Kotek said in a statement. “In the days following last week’s notice of potential vetoes, I received adequate information to have confidence in signing Senate Bill 1530 and Senate Bill 5701 in full. Additionally, I am sharing several signing letters with legislators and the public that raise specific concerns and affirm my values as we move forward on implementation.”
Gov. Kotek previously shared that she was proud of the “bipartisan success” of the legislative session that ended March 7, a few days ahead of its deadline.
Two of the biggest issues that went before Oregon lawmakers this session were boosting available housing and solving the drug epidemic.
During the session, the Oregon legislature passed a slimmed-down version of Gov. Kotek’s emergency housing production package, investing a total of $376 million towards housing production after the governor originally requested $500 million. Kotek signed the bill earlier this month.
Kotek also signed House Bill 4002 to re-criminalize hard drugs and effectively reverse Measure 110, which has received mixed feedback since it was approved by voters in 2020.
HB 4002 gives people the choice between being charged and treatment when they are caught carrying drugs like fentanyl and meth. Treatment includes completing a behavioral health screening and participating in a “deflection program” in order to sidestep fines.
Kotek recently commended state lawmakers, adding that “when it came to the top of mind issues for Oregonians, legislators came together and they got the work done.”