Oregon State Senate

Oregon_Senate_(2023)

The Oregon State Senate is the upper house of the Oregon Legislative Assembly, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Oregon. The body is composed of 30 members, each representing a district with a population of approximately 127,700. Senators serve four-year terms with no term limits.

Leadership[edit | edit source]

The President of the Senate is the presiding officer and is elected by the members of the Senate. The current President is Rob Wagner, a member of the Democratic Party. The President pro tempore is James Manning Jr., also a Democrat. The Majority leader is Kate Lieber, and the Minority leader is Tim Knopp.

Functions[edit | edit source]

The Oregon State Senate, along with the Oregon House of Representatives, is responsible for enacting laws, approving the state budget, and confirming appointments made by the Governor. The Senate also has the power to try impeachments initiated by the House.

Committees[edit | edit source]

The Senate operates through various committees that focus on specific areas such as education, health care, transportation, and environmental policy. These committees review proposed legislation and make recommendations to the full Senate.

Sessions[edit | edit source]

The Oregon State Senate meets at the Oregon State Capitol in Salem. Regular sessions are held annually, beginning in January. Special sessions may be called by the Governor or by a majority of the members of both legislative houses.

Membership[edit | edit source]

Senators are elected from 30 districts across the state. Each district is designed to have roughly equal population, ensuring equal representation. Elections are held every two years, with half of the Senate seats up for election each cycle.