Note:  These updates are informational only.  It is not legal advice.  
If you have questions about the information in any update, please contact us so we can properly assess
your situation and discuss a resolution that best suits your government.

One Year of Recreational Immunity

Oregon’s “recreational immunity” law has been a hot topic in the local government world this past year. After a July 2023 Court of Appeals decision, which interpreted and applied the statutory protection in a new way, the Oregon legislature recently passed a bill temporarily re-framing recreational immunity under law.

Ordinances, Resolutions, and Motions

Unlike Federal and State systems, local governments typically do not have separation of powers.  For instance, a Fire District Board may in a single meeting act like a legislature by passing a fire code, or act as an executive branch by approving a contract.  The type of decision will dictate the form used.

Serial Meetings and Oregon Government Ethics Commission Oversight

Did you think public meeting hazards couldn’t get stickier? Think again!
The 2023 Legislature adopted House Bill (HB) 2805, which amends Oregon’s
public meetings law in four ways.

Ordinances, Resolutions, Motions, and Orders

In law school, one of my professors encouraged students to review familiar rules (Rules
of Civil Procedures or Trial Court Rules) no less than annually to avoid complacency in
our knowledge and understanding of them. This is a practice…