If you want to check on the progress of bills you are following this legislative session, the Oregon State Legislature website is the place you want to go to get accurate, up to date information.  But the site can be intimidating to first time users.  Here is an overview of the different places on the site to get information.  

 Track readings of bills: 

From the home page click on “Chamber Convening Times”.  From this pop up window you can track first and third readings. 

Track a bill’s progress:  Once you know the bill number you can easily track its progress by clicking on “Bills and Laws” tab on the home page.  Select the 2007 Legislative Session. 

The best way to track progress is to use the search for specific measure number  This gives you the basic information: all actions on the bill from first reading to hearings and works sessions, the committee it was assigned to and a link to view the bill itself, including the original bill and the amended or “engrossed” version, as well as a list of the amendments. This page is updated often, so check here first to see if a bill has been scheduled for a meeting.

Track committee hearings:  Once you have the bill number and the date of the hearing, you can find the logistics for the hearing by checking on the committee agendas.  From the home page, click on the Committees tab and select “committee agendas on line.” Each committee’s daily agenda for at least a week is posted and includes the time, the hearing room and any invited testimony the committee will be hearing.  Hearings and workgroup meetings can and often do change, so check this one often too. 

  Find committee members:  You will probably want to know who is on the committee that is hearing the bill you are tracking.  From the Committees page, click on Senate/House/Joint committee assignments by committee, select which chamber your committee is in and then scroll down until you get to the committee you are searching for.  The list also includes the names of the staffing assistants.

 Detailed information on a bill:  There are three documents, The Staff Measures Summary, the Fiscal Impact Statement and the Revenue Impact Statement,  all accessible from the committees page, that provide detailed information about a bill. 

 The Staff Measures Summary (SMS)  provides an informative, impartial summary of a legislative measure. The SMS outlines the effects of a measure, the issues discussed at committee meetings and hearings, the effect of any amendments adopted by a committee and any relevant background information that may help provide a context for legislative deliberations. It also lists who was present at a hearing or workgroup session and how the committee members voted.

The Fiscal Impact Statement: is an independent, objective analysis of the expenditure, revenue, staffing, and organizational effects of a legislative measure on state and local government. Fiscal impact statements are produced by the Legislative Fiscal Office.

Revenue Impact Statement: Every bill with a significant positive or negative revenue impact to local or state governments requires a revenue impact statement, which shows how much additional tax revenue or reduction in revenue for state or local governments will result from a proposed law change. These statements are produced by the Legislative Revenue Office.

 Other information:

Live streaming video 

Click the audio/video tab  on the home page, then click “access live streaming” audio to choose which live feed you want to view.   From this page you can also access archieved audio files of hearings that have already happened. 

 Live on Cable TV:  

The Oregon Channel  runs 24 hours a day with  selected hearings and Senate and House proceedings. To find your viewing area click here  

The Citizens Guide  

 The Citizen's Guide can be accessed from the home page and provides a mini civics lesson on how the legislature works, how you can participate and a glossary of terms used.  You can also take a virtual tour of the Capitol by clicking on the Capital Information tab and clicking visitor information.