Oregon lawmakers will return to the Capitol Monday for the first time since June. It's the first round of “Legislative Days” since the whirlwind closing days of the 2019 legislative session.
The three-day series of meetings is a time for lawmakers to get updates on bills they passed during the previous session, as well as work on issues that might come up during the next session. For Rep. Marty Wilde, D-Eugene, the return to Salem will feature the first meeting of the newly created House Committee on Water.
Wilde said he hopes the panel will focus on ways to conserve water that also benefit farmers and businesses that depend on it. “I think there’s a lot of room in the Water Committee to promote economic development while protecting the environment,” he said. "I think we tend to view those in opposition, but we don't need to. I think there are solutions that can do both."
Other panels meeting this week will get updates on the Jordan Cove Energy Project, the state’s child welfare program, and preparations for the 2020 census.
