Proposing an amendment to the Oregon Constitution relating to disqualification of members of the Legislative Assembly.
Summary
House Joint Resolution 14 proposes a constitutional amendment to remove an existing Oregon Constitution provision that automatically disqualifies a legislator from holding office in the next term if the member misses 10 or more legislative floor sessions without permission or excuse during a regular or special session. Under current law, those absences are treated as disorderly behavior and trigger a bar on serving in the following term after the current term ends.
If approved by voters, the resolution would delete that specific disqualification language from Article IV, section 15, while leaving in place the Legislature’s general authority to punish members for disorderly behavior and to expel a member with a two-thirds vote. The measure is a referral to the people, so it would not change the Constitution unless approved at the next regular general election.
Impact
The measure would amend the Oregon Constitution by removing a specific automatic penalty tied to legislative absenteeism. As a result, legislators who miss 10 or more floor sessions without permission or excuse would no longer be constitutionally barred from serving the next term solely on that basis, though they could still face other legislative discipline under existing constitutional authority. The practical effect is to narrow the grounds for disqualification of members of the Legislative Assembly and shift the issue from a constitutional mandate to internal legislative discipline and voter judgment.
Sentiment
Based on the bill text and available context, the measure appears to be framed as a procedural reform rather than a broad policy change. There are no committee transcripts or recorded votes provided, so there is no direct evidence of debate or opposition in the supplied materials. The sponsorship list suggests support from a bloc of Republican legislators, indicating the proposal likely has backing among its sponsors, but the overall sentiment from the available record is limited to the formal referral language and does not show broader legislative consensus or controversy.
Contention
The main point of contention is whether the Constitution should continue to impose an automatic disqualification for repeated unexcused absences from floor sessions. Supporters of repeal may view the current rule as overly rigid or better handled through internal legislative discipline, while opponents may see it as an important accountability mechanism to ensure attendance and participation. Because the resolution removes a specific sanction but preserves general expulsion and punishment powers, debate would likely center on legislative accountability, member autonomy, and whether voters should retain this constitutional enforcement tool.