What Is 2022 Oregon Ballot Measure 113

Overview

Oregon Ballot Measure 113 is a constitutional amendment approved by voters in November 2022 to address legislative gridlock caused by repeated walkouts. It specifically targets state lawmakers who skip floor sessions without valid excuses, aiming to ensure basic legislative functionality.

The measure gained momentum after years of Republican-led walkouts in the Oregon Legislature, particularly during sessions focused on climate and gun legislation. These absences prevented the achievement of a quorum, effectively halting lawmaking.

• Approved by 65.6% of voters in the November 8, 2022, general election, reflecting broad public support for legislative accountability.
• Amends the Oregon Constitution to disqualify lawmakers from holding future office if they accumulate 10 or more unexcused absences from floor sessions.
• Applies only to State Senators and Representatives, not local officials or federal legislators.
• Targets floor sessions specifically, not committee meetings or other legislative duties, focusing on core voting responsibilities.
• Was driven by repeated Republican walkouts in 2019, 2021, and 2022, where senators left the Capitol to block climate and gun control bills.

How It Works

Measure 113 establishes a clear threshold for disqualification based on attendance, embedding consequences directly into the state constitution.

• Term: The disqualification applies to any term of office beginning on or after January 1, 2025. Lawmakers elected before that date are not immediately affected.
• Threshold of 10 absences must be unexcused and occur during the same legislative session, creating a high but achievable bar for removal.
• Unexcused absences are defined as missing floor sessions without approval from the chamber’s presiding officer for medical, family, or emergency reasons.
• Enforcement is automatic; once the Secretary of State confirms the absentee threshold, the individual is ineligible to run or be appointed.
• No retroactive application means past walkouts, including those in 2019 and 2021, do not count toward the 10-session limit.
• Applies per legislative session, meaning a new count begins with each biennial session, resetting the tally every two years.

Comparison at a Glance

Below is a comparison of Oregon’s previous rules and the changes introduced by Measure 113:

This table illustrates how Measure 113 introduces structural consequences where none previously existed. While quorum rules remained unchanged, the new penalty aims to deter obstruction through absence. The policy shift reflects a move from political accountability to constitutional enforcement, making walkouts riskier for career legislators.

Why It Matters

Measure 113 represents a significant shift in how Oregon handles legislative accountability, directly responding to years of political paralysis.

• Reduces legislative obstruction by raising the personal cost of walkouts, potentially leading to more productive sessions.
• Strengthens democratic norms by requiring elected officials to fulfill basic duties or face disqualification.
• Targets chronic absenteeism, not occasional absences, ensuring the rule applies only to sustained, intentional walkouts.
• May shift party strategies, as Republicans may avoid mass walkouts to prevent losing seats due to disqualification.
• Could influence other states facing similar gridlock, serving as a model for constitutional remedies to political obstruction.
• Preserves voter choice by allowing citizens to re-elect lawmakers who serve full terms, while limiting those who avoid duty.

By embedding attendance requirements into the state constitution, Measure 113 aims to restore functional governance in Oregon. Its long-term impact will depend on enforcement and political response, but it marks a clear stance against legislative walkouts as a tool of obstruction.