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Dispatches from public radio's correspondent at the Oregon Legislature. This is a venue for political and policy coverage of the state government in Salem and its impact on the people of Oregon.

Key Deadline To Move Bills Means Some Legislation Dies In Salem

Matt Howry
/
Flickr
File photo of the Oregon State Capitol Building

Oregon lawmakers will return to the capitol Friday with a better sense of what they'll be voting on over the next three weeks.

Thursday was a deadline for bills to advance out of committee.

Last week dozens of people testified for and against a bill that would require background checks on private gun sales in Oregon. A motion by Democrat Arnie Roblan served as the first nail in the coffin for the bill:

"I move that we send Senate Bill 1551 to the Committee on Rules without recommendation."

Democrats did send the measure to a special committee that's not subject to deadlines. So it technically still has a chance. But the maneuver often means that a bill doesn't have enough support to survive a floor vote.

Other bills sort of advancing in this way include one to legalize recreational marijuana and one to fund a new I-5 bridge over the Columbia River.

Some high-profile legislation didn't make the cut at all: Proposals to ban sales of e-cigarettes to minors and to allow grocery stores to sell liquor are both dead for this session