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SJR 202
This proposal did not become law. The measure would have amended the Oregon Constitution to automatically extend each regular legislative session by one calendar day for every day either chamber fails to achieve a quorum after attempting to do so, and would have placed this constitutional change before voters at the next general election. Materially, it would have replaced the current requirement of a two-thirds supermajority vote for session extensions with a mandatory, attendance-triggered extension mechanism, which could have lengthened sessions indefinitely until business is conducted, alter legislative scheduling, increase operational costs, and shift control over session duration from chamber votes to automatic constitutional triggers.
Generated explanation · Introduced · Analyzed 8/19/2026 · Open official Introduced text
This proposal did not become law.
Affected groups have not been established in a brief for the latest available text. Check the official text for eligibility and exceptions.
No upcoming event is verified in the available records.
Plain-language analysis
Generated analysis, not an official summary or legal advice. Confirm with linked Oregon documents.
This proposal did not become law. The generated effects below describe what it would have required if enacted.
The measure would have amended the Oregon Constitution to automatically extend each regular legislative session by one calendar day for every day either chamber fails to achieve a quorum after attempting to do so, and would have placed this constitutional change before voters at the next general election. Materially, it would have replaced the current requirement of a two-thirds supermajority vote for session extensions with a mandatory, attendance-triggered extension mechanism, which could have lengthened sessions indefinitely until business is conducted, alter legislative scheduling, increase operational costs, and shift control over session duration from chamber votes to automatic constitutional triggers.
Basis: Stakeholder claim · Source: Introduced
Official sources do not state why this measure was proposed.
Sponsor testimony, staff summaries, committee materials, or statutory findings may explain it.
Inferred from cited text; not a stated purpose.
The automatic extension mechanism may be intended to incentivize chambers to maintain quorum by removing the procedural hurdle of securing a supermajority vote for extensions when attendance drops, thereby ensuring continuous legislative capacity without political friction over extension approvals.
Basis: Inferred · Source: Introduced
Potential effect if enacted: Subject to potentially longer, unvoted sessions that alter work schedules, reduce time for district duties, and increase fatigue without a formal chamber vote to extend.
Basis: Inferred · Source: Introduced
Potential effect if enacted: Face extended operational hours, increased facility usage, security costs, and prolonged workload proportional to the number of triggered extension days.
Basis: Inferred · Source: Introduced
Potential effect if enacted: Receives legislation later than anticipated under current session limits, potentially affecting veto timelines, budget implementation schedules, and executive planning.
Basis: Inferred · Source: Introduced
Might have experienced delayed legislative action on pending bills or policy initiatives if sessions are extended due to attendance shortfalls, while also deciding whether to approve the constitutional amendment.
Basis: Inferred · Source: Introduced
Behavior and Obligations: Chamber leadership would have had to prioritize attendance to avoid automatic extensions; scheduling and quorum enforcement strategies would have shifted toward maintaining minimum membership thresholds.
Basis: Inferred · Source: Introduced
Costs: Operational expenses for the Legislative Assembly would have increased proportionally to extension days, including facility rentals, staff overtime, and security, without a corresponding appropriation trigger.
Basis: Inferred · Source: Introduced
Potential effect if enacted: Enforcement and Access: The extension triggers mechanically based on recorded attendance rather than legislative discretion, removing chamber control over session length but ensuring continuous access to the legislative floor when quorum is lacking.
Basis: Inferred · Source: Introduced
Legislative Continuity During Crises
During a widespread emergency or external disruption that would have caused chronic low attendance, the automatic extension mechanism would have allowed essential legislative business to proceed without political disputes over supermajority votes, ensuring government functions continue uninterrupted.
Basis: Inferred · Source: Introduced
Indefinite Session Duration and Gridlock
Potential effect if enacted: Persistent quorum failures trigger dozens of automatic extensions, effectively suspending constitutional session limits. Legislators face indefinite work periods, severe fatigue, budget overruns for state operations, and delayed governance as the chamber struggles to conduct business under prolonged extension conditions.
Basis: Inferred · Source: Introduced
Potential effect if enacted: inference
Sources · Introduced
The measure trades chamber control and supermajority requirements for automatic session continuity, which could have prevented legislative paralysis from low attendance but risks indefinite sessions and uncontrolled operational costs.
Potential effect if enacted: Ensures continuous legislative capacity without political hurdles during attendance shortfalls.
Basis: Inferred · Source: Introduced
Would have reduced procedural friction and supermajority bargaining when quorum is lacking.
Basis: Inferred · Source: Introduced
Would have removed legislative discretion over session length, potentially causing budget strain and member fatigue.
Basis: Inferred · Source: Introduced
Mandatory extensions might have delayed final legislative action and disrupt executive budget timelines.
Basis: Inferred · Source: Introduced
Model self-rating: high. Analysis is strictly derived from the single introduced bill-text version provided. No external sources, prior versions, or speculative claims are used. This is the model’s assessment of its own analysis, not independent verification or human review.
4 records currently loaded
Records available in the current snapshot.
Earliest loaded signal
Introduced bill text posted
Posted Jan 28, 2026, 3:25 PM PST
No deeper official pre-number history was found.
Chief sponsors: Senator Floyd Prozanski, Senator Lew Frederick, Senator Khanh Pham
Regular sponsors: Senator Sara Gelser Blouin, Senator Jeff Golden, Senator Deb Patterson, Representative Willy Chotzen, Representative Mark Gamba, Representative Zach Hudson, Representative Nathan Sosa, Representative Lamar Wise
Records already listed in Activity are not repeated here.
Official origin records are incomplete; missing facts are not inferred.
4 events
Full timeline
4 entries shown.
In committee upon adjournment.
Referred to Rules.
Introduction and first reading. Referred to President's desk.
“Proposes an amendment to the Oregon Constitution to extend the duration of a regular session of the Legislative Assembly by one calendar day for each day that the Senate or the House of Representatives fails to achieve a quorum after attempting to do so.”
Confirm with the official record.
Supplemental, source-linked analysis from project researchers and community contributors. It is separate from Oregon's official record.