ORS 171.015
Emergency legislative sessions

  • procedure for determining legislators’ request for or refusal of emergency sessions
  • time and manner of convening sessions

(1)

When a majority of the members of each house of the Legislative Assembly has cause to believe that an emergency exists and so notifies the presiding officers of each house in the manner described in this section, the presiding officers shall invoke section 10a, Article IV of the Oregon Constitution.

(2)

Members of the Legislative Assembly may give notice of intent to invoke the provisions of subsection (1) of this section by filing written notice thereof with the Legislative Administrator. The notice shall be accompanied by a written statement giving justification of the need for a special session. The filing may be signed by more than one member of each house but must be signed by at least one member of each house.

(3)

Upon receipt of a properly signed notice and statement described in subsection (2) of this section, the Legislative Administrator shall send to each member of the Legislative Assembly a form to be signed and returned by the member indicating whether the member requests a special session or does not so request. The form shall be as prescribed by the Legislative Administration Committee and shall contain the text of this section, the names of the members who filed the notice, and the text of the accompanying statement. The form shall be dated and shall bear the date 14 days later, computed as provided in subsection (7) of this section, by 5 p.m. on which date the form must be returned to the Secretary of the Senate or the Chief Clerk of the House of Representatives, respectively, or the person designated to serve in that capacity in order to be counted in determining whether the minimum requisite number of signatures requesting a special session has been obtained. The form sent to the members shall be sent by certified mail, addressee only, return receipt requested.

(4)

The return of the signed form by a member to the Secretary of the Senate or the Chief Clerk of the House of Representatives or person designated to serve in that capacity constitutes an irrevocable request for or refusal of the special session requested by the members filing under subsection (2) of this section and described in the form.

(5)

The Secretary of the Senate and the Chief Clerk of the House of Representatives, respectively, or the person designated to serve in that capacity shall verify the signatures in the return form and tally the requests and refusals, note the date and time of the receipt of each returned form. When each receives the requisite minimum number of signed forms agreeing to the special session from members of the house of which the person is an officer, each immediately shall notify the presiding officer of each house.

(6)

Upon receiving notice from the Secretary of the Senate and the Chief Clerk of the House of Representatives or the person designated to serve in that capacity that the minimum requisite number of signed requests for a special session has been received and verified for both houses, the presiding officers jointly shall convene the Legislative Assembly into emergency session by joint proclamation, fixing the date thereof. The date must be within five days after receipt by the presiding officers of the notice from the Secretary of the Senate and Chief Clerk of the House of Representatives. The original of the proclamations shall be filed with the Secretary of State.

(7)

The period of time for purposes of subsection (3) of this section shall be computed by excluding the first day and including the last day unless the last day falls on any legal holiday or on Saturday, in which case the last day is also excluded. The period of time for purposes of subsection (6) of this section shall be computed by beginning on the day after which the presiding officers receive the notice described in subsection (6) of this section and ending five days later, regardless of legal holidays or Saturdays. [1977 c.689 §1]

Source: Section 171.015 — Emergency legislative sessions; procedure for determining legislators’ request for or refusal of emergency sessions; time and manner of convening sessions, https://www.­oregonlegislature.­gov/bills_laws/ors/ors171.­html (accessed May 26, 2025).

Notes of Decisions

Statement of justification for declaration of emergency need not identify specific reasons for special session. George v. Courtney, 344 Or 76, 176 P3d 1265 (2008)

171.010
Time and place of holding regular legislative sessions 171.015
Emergency legislative sessions 171.022
Effective date for Act of Legislative Assembly 171.023
When member-elect may resign 171.051
Filling vacancies in Legislative Assembly 171.060
Procedure for filling vacancy by appointment 171.062
Filling vacancies in multicounty legislative districts 171.064
Apportioning votes for filling vacancies in multicounty legislative districts 171.068
Procedure when vacancy filled after reapportionment 171.072
Salary of members and presiding officers 171.113
Use of state provided telephones 171.115
Revolving fund 171.117
Lounge Revolving Account 171.120
Purpose of ORS 171.120 to 171.125 171.122
Rights and benefits of legislators and prospective legislators in relation to their regular employment 171.125
Proceeding to require compliance with ORS 171.120 and 171.122 171.127
When proposed measure to bear name of person other than member requesting introduction 171.130
Presession filing of proposed measures 171.133
Approval of Governor required for state agency measure introduction 171.134
Readability test for legislative digests and summaries 171.136
Supplies and equipment 171.150
Applications for amendment convention withdrawn 171.180
State policy governing election dates 171.185
Dates for legislatively prescribed elections 171.200
“Publications” defined for ORS 171.206 171.206
Legislative publications 171.236
Session laws 171.245
Legislative Publications Account 171.255
Evidentiary status of published session laws 171.270
Legislative materials furnished to public officers without charge are public property 171.275
Oregon Revised Statutes 171.285
Legislative Counsel certificate 171.295
Preservation and use of ORS medium 171.305
ORS Revolving Account 171.315
Distribution of ORS 171.325
Certified copy of statute or rule of civil procedure published in Oregon Revised Statutes 171.405
Binding original enrolled laws and joint resolutions 171.407
Sound recordings of legislative proceedings 171.410
“Legislative record” defined for ORS 171.410 to 171.430 171.415
Delivery to Legislative Administration Committee 171.420
Classification and arrangement 171.425
Borrowing by certain legislative personnel 171.427
Schedule for retention, destruction or disposition of records 171.430
Disposal by certain committees 171.450
Legislative intent 171.455
Complaint of elector 171.460
Secretary of State to conduct investigation 171.465
Credentials committee 171.505
Administering oaths or affirmations to witnesses 171.510
Legislative process to compel attendance and production of papers 171.515
Reimbursement of witnesses appearing under legislative process 171.520
Reporting violations of ORS 171.510 171.522
Judicial enforcement of legislative process 171.525
Immunities of witness before legislative committee 171.530
Privilege of witness before legislative committee 171.555
Joint Committee on Ways and Means 171.557
State budget policy 171.558
Furnishing budget information to Oregon Department of Administrative Services 171.562
Procedures for confirmation 171.565
Vote required for confirmation 171.575
Oversight over state compensation and classification system 171.580
Joint Legislative Audit Committee 171.585
Duties of committee 171.590
Cooperation of state agencies 171.605
Construction of ORS 171.605 to 171.635 171.610
Functions 171.615
Periods during which committees function 171.620
Powers 171.630
Vacancies 171.635
Appointment of nonlegislators 171.640
Appointment of interim committees 171.650
Interim staff for presiding officers 171.670
Authority for approval of disbursements during interim 171.725
Definitions for ORS 171.725 to 171.785 171.730
Legislative finding 171.735
Exceptions to application of ORS 171.740 and 171.745 171.740
Lobbyist registration 171.742
Annual training 171.745
Lobbyist statements of expenditures 171.750
Lobbyist employer statements of expenditures 171.752
Time for filing statements 171.756
Prohibited conduct 171.757
Restriction on serving as chairperson of work group or task force 171.762
Verification of reports, registrations and statements 171.764
False statement or misrepresentation by lobbyist or public official 171.766
Status of reports, registrations and statements 171.772
Forms for reports, registrations and statements 171.776
Commission duties 171.778
Complaint and adjudicatory process 171.785
Sanctions prescribed by either chamber of Legislative Assembly 171.790
Contact with Legislative Assembly by local government officials and employees 171.795
Electronic distribution of information 171.852
Joint Legislative Committee on Information Management and Technology 171.855
Duties of committee 171.857
Appointment 171.858
Joint Committee on Transportation 171.861
Duties of committee 171.870
Legislative findings 171.875
Report required to accompany measures proposing mandated coverage 171.880
Content of report 171.990
Penalty for witness failing to appear or to give testimony in legislative proceeding 171.992
Civil penalty for violation of lobby regulation
Green check means up to date. Up to date

Current through early 2026

§ 171.015’s source at oregon​.gov

 


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