June 16, 2020 11:00 a.m.

Governor Kate Brown has called for a Special Session of the Oregon State Legislature.

Brown said the session will begin on Wednesday June 24th and is being held to take up proposed legislation to improve police accountability, and address the COVID-19 pandemic.

Brown said, “we are at a unique moment in America”. She said the public’s call for significant police reform is too urgent to wait until the next regular legislative session. She said “its imperative that the Legislature take action on these issues right away”. Brown also said that several pandemic-related policies she has implemented via executive order, including the temporary eviction moratorium and protecting CARES Act payments from garnishment, should be codified in statute.

Brown said she expects to call a second special session later in the summer to rebalance the state’s budget. She said she will continue pressing Congress to support the state and local governments that are reeling from economic downturn. Brown said “unless the federal government takes action, states like Oregon could be forced to make significant cuts to schools, health care and senior services”.

Brown said she is finalizing a list of $150 million in General Fund savings for the current biennium, as part of her efforts to “put “Oregon’s budget on better footing”.

In response, Senate Republican Leader Fred Girod, he doesn’t understand why the Governor is calling for the session, when it is not intended to address the state budget deficit. He said, “instead the Governor is prioritizing policy bills”.