Multnomah County Circuit Judge Eric Bloch struck down voter-approved limits on campaign donations to candidates running for county offices.

Judge Bloch’s ruling stated the $500 limit on donations violates Oregon’s expansive free expression guarantees in the Oregon Constitution.

The decision mirrors one the judge issued in March 2018 striking down limits for Multnomah County races, citing a 1997 Oregon Supreme Court decision.

Judge Bloch upheld portions of the voter-approved campaign rules that require Portland political advertisements to prominently disclose their top five financial backers.

Supporters of the law say they will appeal the decision.

Gov. Kate Brown signed House Bill 2595 on May 3.

The bill prohibits a former member of the Legislative Assembly from receiving money or any other consideration for lobbying within one year after ceasing to be a member of the Legislative Assembly.

Currently, the revolving door period begins on the date the person ceases to be a member of the Legislative Assembly. The period then ended on the date of adjournment sine die of the next regular session after the person ceases to be a member.

House Bill 2595 applies to persons who cease to be members of the Legislative Assembly on or after the effective date of January 1, 2020.

Mayor Ethan Strimling announced he will propose changes to city elections, seeking public funding for local campaigns and new lobbyist disclosure rules.

Strimling’s new initiatives will demand elected officials disclose meetings with lobbyists and other influencers.

The initiatives will also reiterate calls to allow noncitizens living in the city legally the right to vote in local elections, as well as urge the city to implement ranked-choice voting in City Council and school board races.

Strimling said he plans to work with the City Council and other stakeholders to develop the details of his proposals over the year.

Mayor Ted Wheeler submitted to City Council a proclamation stating the recently passed campaign finance ballot measure is enacted and in effect.

The Honest Elections City of Portland Charter Amendment prohibits corporate contributions and limits contributions from individuals and committees to $500 per election cycle.

The measure also caps independent expenditures and is likely to face legal challenge.

City Council is expected to submit the measure to the local circuit court for validation early next year.

In 1997, the Oregon Supreme Court struck down statewide campaign finance limits as a violation of free speech protection outlined by the Oregon Constitution.

Portland, Oregon voters passed a campaign finance measure to limit large political campaign contributions.

The amended charter limits independent expenditures to an aggregate of $5,000 per individual and an aggregate of $10,000 per political committee, provided contributions to the committee by individuals does not exceed $500 per individual per year.

The campaign limits are vulnerable to legal challenge. In 1997, the Oregon Supreme Court struck down statewide campaign finance limits as a violation of free speech protection outlined by the Oregon Constitution.

Prior to the passage of this measure, the City of Portland adopted a public finance system by City Council vote.

It provides matching funds to eligible candidates for mayor, city commissioner, and auditor with funding to begin in the 2019-2020 election.

The Oregon Legislature adjourned a one-day special session on May 21, 2018.

The special session was called by Gov. Kate Brown to address tax breaks for small businesses.  The tax plan passed 51-8 in the House and 18-12 in the Senate.

Both votes included Democrats who broke from their party to vote against the measure.

Gov. Kate Brown called a special session for May 21, 2018.

The session is expected to be limited to legislation reducing small business taxes.

The governor announced she wants to complete the special session in a single day.

In Oregon, a Multnomah County Circuit Court judge found county campaign finance reforms unconstitutional.

Judge Eric Bloch ruled the voter-approved limitations on campaign contributions and independent expenditures were impermissible under the free speech guarantees within the Oregon Constitution, citing a related Oregon Supreme Court opinion.

He ruled they also cannot force disclosure of the largest contributors to political mailers and other forms of communication.

The Multnomah County voters adopted the reforms with an 89 percent “yes” vote in November 2016. An appeal of the judge’s decision is expected.

On March 3, the Oregon Legislature adjourned its biennial short session.

Bills passed strengthen domestic violence laws, create a task force to study opioid addiction treatment barriers and implement a peer support program, require more transparency from prescription drug manufacturers, and eliminate a federal deduction for businesses on state tax returns.

Gov. Brown has 30 days to sign, veto, or let the bills become law without her signature.

In a special election on January 23, Oregon voters approved Measure 101.

Measure 101 keeps taxes on health insurers, hospitals, and managed care organizations that were passed during the 2017 legislative session.

The taxes will help fund the Oregon Health Plan, the state’s Medicaid program.

Unofficial results show 61 percent of voters approved the measure, with 925 out of 1335 precincts reported.

A special election will be held on January 23, 2018, to consider a veto referendum on taxes included in a 2017 legislative session bill.

The taxes at issue are on healthcare insurance premiums intended to provide funding for people on the Oregon Health Plan, Oregon’s version of Medicaid.

Gov. Kate Brown administered the oath of office to the now-former lobbyist for powerful public employee unions SEIU Local 503 and AFSCME Council 75, among other left-leaning groups.

Andrea Salinas was appointed by the commissioners of Multnomah and Clackamas Counties to fill the vacancy.

Rep. Salinas is unsure what she will do work for outside the Legislature since she had to resign her lobbying position.

Lawmakers are meeting this week for three legislative days to start discussions on bills they would like to pass during the shorter, 32-day session next year.

In addition to getting updates on this year’s wildfire season and how the state is reacting to Equifax’s consumer data breach, legislators will be discussing a proposal to institute a greenhouse gas “cap and invest” proposal, which would fine businesses that go over their limit on greenhouse gas emissions and would invest that revenue into green-energy infrastructure.

Legislators are also being tasked with approving executive appointments during this three-day period.

The Oregon Legislature adjourned July 7, three days before its July 10 constitutional deadline.

In the final days of the session, lawmakers passed a $5.3 billion package of taxes and fees to fund transportation upgrades and another bill to reduce state spending by $200 million over the next two years.

However, lawmakers failed to pass lobbying reforms introduced at the request of Gov. Kate Brown. Following a flurry of last-minute activity in the House to pass Senate Bill 43, a bill to modify Oregon’s lobbyist registration and reporting requirements, the Senate opted to let the bill die.