Oregon lawmakers will take a rare snow day Friday. The wintry forecast prompted legislative leaders to cancel all hearings and floor sessions for the day.
House Speaker Tina Kotek says the decision is meant to keep members of the public out of harm's way.
"Our first priority is to keep people safe," she says. "So we don't want people wanting to engage in the public process traveling on unsafe roads."
The day off means lawmakers will have to work longer hours next week in order to meet deadlines to advance legislation. Most bills that don't get preliminary approval by next Thursday will be considered dead.