Amendment to recriminalize small amounts of drugs passes in Oregon House
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — Two major bills this short legislative session in Oregon are one step closer to becoming law.
The two measures that made progress in Salem include potential new laws on housing and Measure 110, the drug use decriminalization law voters passed in 2020. In each case, the bills have more steps to complete at the capitol before either one becomes law.
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The amendment to Measure 110, called HB 4002, would re-introduce criminal penalties for people caught with small amounts of drugs and passed the Oregon House of Representatives Thursday. Meanwhile, the Senate passed a package of bills aimed at addressing the state’s housing crisis, collectively SB 1530 B and SB 1537 B.
HB 4002 passed with a bipartisan majority of 51 votes. Many in support of it say it’s time for change.
“I came into this building two weeks ago knowing that we had to do something because the status quo of what we are doing is not working,” Rep. Dacia Grayber of Southwest Portland and East Beaverton said.
“If the Senate passes and the Governor signs HB 4002 and the corresponding financial package in HB 5204, we will withdraw the ballot initiatives,” the Coalition to Fix and Improve Measure 110 said in a statement. “A law that achieves 85% of what we proposed now is well worth the lives and communities that will be saved sooner rather than waiting for the passage and implementation of a ballot measure over a year from now.”
When it comes to HB 4002, proponents of the bill said changes by lawmakers this session could increase addiction services and make it easier to convict drug dealers. In a statement, Representative Christine Goodwin said in part, “Oregonians have been clear all along: they are ready for this drug decriminalization experiment to be over.”
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However, those who are against drug recriminalization had a different reaction to HB 4002 becoming one step closer to being a reality. The American Civil Liberties Union said in part, “Today, the Oregon House of Representatives made an error that will result in lifelong harm to countless Oregonians.”
In the Senate, the now-passed multi-million dollar housing package — championed by Governor Tina Kotek — is designed to combat the housing crisis. It boosts housing production and grants qualifying cities a one-time expansion of urban growth boundaries.
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“We’ve been approaching this issue as a nonpartisan issue,” said Sen. Kayse Jama (D, District 24). “And so we’re going to just have to continue this — a long term strategy. “
The housing bills originally envisioned carving out half a billion dollars but that amount has been reduced to nearly $370 million.
“We have been and are in a housing crisis,” said Sen. Dick Anderson (R, District 5). “The senator has indicated it’s not going to go away tomorrow just because of these bills. We’ve got to keep working at it on a continual basis.”
Next up: the housing bills are headed to the House for amendments and HB 4002 is headed for the Senate for the same.
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