SJR7 • 2025

Proposes an amendment to the Oregon Constitution to require a two-thirds majority vote in favor in each chamber of the Legislative Assembly to pass bills declaring an emergency. Refers the proposed amendment to the people for their approval or rejection at the next regular general election.

Elections

Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor: Senator Thatcher, Senator Bonham,, Smith DB,, Representative Reschke,
Last action: 2025-06-27
Official status: In Senate Committee
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

Using official source text because the generated explanation was unavailable or could not be confirmed against the official bill text.

Proposes an amendment to the Oregon Constitution to require a two-thirds majority vote in favor in each chamber of the Legislative Assembly to pass bills declaring an emergency. Refers the proposed amendment to the people for their approval or rejection at the next regular general election.

Digest: Requires a two-thirds majority of the members of the House and the Senate to pass bills that take effect early.

What This Bill Does

Digest: Requires a two-thirds majority of the members of the House and the Senate to pass bills that take effect early.
(Flesch Readability Score: 63.8).
Proposes an amendment to the Oregon Constitution to require a two-thirds majority vote in favor in each chamber of the Legislative Assembly to pass bills declaring an emergency.
Refers the proposed amendment to the people for their approval or rejection at the next regular general election.

Limits and Unknowns

This entry is temporarily using official source text because the generated explanation could not be confirmed against the official bill text during the last sync.

Bill History

2025-06-27 Senate
In committee upon adjournment.
2025-01-17 Senate
Referred to Rules.
2025-01-13 Senate
Introduction and first reading. Referred to President's desk.

Official Summary Text

Digest: Requires a two-thirds majority of the members of the House and the Senate to pass bills that take effect early. (Flesch Readability Score: 63.8).
Proposes an amendment to the Oregon Constitution to require a two-thirds majority vote in favor in each chamber of the Legislative Assembly to pass bills declaring an emergency.
Refers the proposed amendment to the people for their approval or rejection at the next regular general election.
Relating to: Proposing an amendment to the Oregon Constitution relating to the declaration of an emergency in legislative bills.
Current location: In Senate Committee

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

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83rd OREGON LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY--2025 Regular Session
Senate Joint Resolution 7
Sponsored by Senator THATCHER; Senator BONHAM, Representative RESCHKE (Presession filed.)
SUMMARY
The following summary is not prepared by the sponsors of the measure and is not a part of the body thereof subject
to consideration by the Legislative Assembly. It is an editor’s brief statement of the essential features of the
measure as introduced. The statement includes a measure digest written in compliance with applicable readability
standards.
Digest: Requires a two-thirds majority of the members of the House and the Senate to pass bills
that take effect early. (Flesch Readability Score: 63.8).
Proposes an amendment to the Oregon Constitution to require a two-thirds majority vote in fa-
vor in each chamber of the Legislative Assembly to pass bills declaring an emergency.
Refers the proposed amendment to the people for their approval or rejection at the next regular
general election.
JOINT RESOLUTION
Be It Resolved by the Legislative Assembly of the State of Oregon:
PARAGRAPH 1.
Section 25, Article IV of the Constitution of the State of Oregon, is amended
to read:
Sec. 25. (1) Except as otherwise provided in [ subsection (2) ] subsections (2) and (3) of this
section, a majority of all the members elected to each House shall be necessary to pass every bill
or Joint resolution.
(2) Three-fifths of all members elected to each House shall be necessary to pass bills for raising
revenue.
(3) Two-thirds of all members elected to each House shall be necessary to pass bills de-
claring an emergency.
[(3)] (4) All bills, and Joint resolutions passed, shall be signed by the presiding officers of the
respective houses.
PARAGRAPH 2. The amendment proposed by this resolution shall be submitted to the
people for their approval or rejection at the next regular general election held throughout
this state.
NOTE: Matter in boldfaced type in an amended section is new; matter [ italic and bracketed] is existing law to be omitted.
New sections are in boldfaced type.
LC 864