Sessions
The Oregon Constitution requires the Legislative Assembly to hold regular sessions once every two years, but the body can hold special sessions called by either the governor or the body itself. Only four other states' legislatures hold regular sessions every other year: Montana, Nevada, North Dakota, and Texas. Until November 2008, Arkansas was the sixth state. In recent years, the Legislative Assembly has considered switching from biennial to annual regular sessions, as recommended by the Public Commission on the Oregon Legislature. To test the idea, the 74th legislature called itself into a special session in 2008, calling it a "supplemental" session to the regular one in 2007.
Likewise, the current legislative body will hold a supplemental session in 2010, expected to start February 1 and to last four weeks. Among other tasks, the legislature plans to refer a ballot measure to voters to amend the state constitution to permanently change to annual sessions. A ballot measure is required because all constitutional amendments must be approved by voters. The legislature also plans to refer a constitutional amendment to voters to redirect tax rebate funds into a state reserve, or "rainy day," fund.
Read more about this topic: 75th Oregon Legislative Assembly