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City lobbyist briefs council on Oregon legislative session, highlights transportation and Willamette Locks funding
Summary
Doug Riggs updated the council on the 2025 Oregon legislative session: first‑chamber deadlines passed, a proposed $1.9 billion transportation framework is under discussion, recreational immunity and Willamette Locks funding bills are advancing, and jurisdictional transfer language for highways (including Highway 43) is a priority for cities.
Doug Riggs, the city’s lobbyist in Salem, briefed the West Linn City Council April 14 on the status of the 2025 legislative session and several bills the city is tracking.
Riggs summarized procedural timing — the first chamber deadline recently passed, eliminating many bills from consideration — and noted roughly 1,300–1,400 bills remained active after the cutoff. He highlighted a transportation framework released in draft that would raise about $1.9 billion through multiple revenue sources including increases in vehicle sales fees, incremental gas tax increases, titling/registration fee changes and a new road‑user fee phased in for electric vehicles and later other vehicle classes. Riggs said the tolling proposal appears dead for this session.
He also described progress on bills important to the city: recreational immunity (SB 179) that would provide a safety net for parks and public spaces insurance concerns; House Bill 2574 on the Willamette Falls Locks funding; and jurisdictional transfer language (e.g., HB 2161) that could create a process for cities to request state funding to upgrade highways being transferred to local control. He urged the council to remain prepared to advocate in Salem and offered to coordinate visits.
Council members asked about tolling, jurisdictional transfer funding, and weight‑mile charges versus other user fees; Riggs said that tolling was not included in the current framework and that the package seeks to diversify revenues as vehicle fleets change. He also noted Ways & Means roadshows are gathering public input around the state.
No council action was required; the presentation served as an informational briefing and a prompt to monitor bills affecting Highway 43, the Willamette Locks and shelter/funding topics.
