We go behind the scenes of Oregon’s short legislative session
Published on Mar 9, 2026, 5:00:00 AM
Total time: 00:24:41
Published on Mar 9, 2026, 5:00:00 AM
Total time: 00:24:41
Oregon state lawmakers packed a lot into the 2026 short session before it adjourned last week. It's also been years since lawmakers, lobbyists, the public and the press have worked together in the State Capitol building. The building has been under construction for the past three years and it has only been partially open during that time. Before the construction project, the COVID-19 pandemic made pretty much everything virtual. The short session that just wrapped up brought everyone back together under one roof to work on a range of policies — from transportation funding to foster care — in just 35 days.
Evergreen producer Julie Sabatier tagged along with OPB politics reporter Lauren Dake just before the session adjourned to hear what it was like in the Capitol building.
To keep up with everything our politics team is doing, be sure to subscribe to the OPB Politics Now podcast.
Don’t forget to check out our many podcasts, which can be found on any of your favorite podcast apps:
And many more! Check out our full show list here.
OPB’s weekly podcast creates an audio portrait of the Pacific Northwest. We tell the stories of the people, places, communities and cultures that make up this region. It’s a podcast about the place YOU live, the places you love, and the geography you feel connected to.