The 72nd Oregon Legislative Assembly convened in January 2003 for its regular session, which on August 8 of that year surpassed the 1993 session as the longest in the U.S. state of

Oregon Oregon () is a U.S. state, state in the Pacific Northwest region of the Western United States. The Columbia River delineates much of Oregon's northern boundary with Washington (state), Washington, while the Snake River delineates much of it ...

's history. In the

senate A senate is a deliberative assembly, often the upper house or chamber of a bicameral legislature. The name comes from the ancient Roman Senate (Latin: ''Senatus''), so-called as an assembly of the senior (Latin: ''senex'' meaning "the el ...

, which was evenly divided between 15 Democrats and 15

Republicans Republican can refer to: Political ideology * An advocate of a republic, a type of government that is not a monarchy or dictatorship, and is usually associated with the rule of law. ** Republicanism, the ideology in support of republics or agains ...

, Democratic President

Peter Courtney Peter Michael Coleman Courtney (born June 18, 1943) is an American politician, lawyer, and professor who is currently a Democratic member of the Oregon State Senate, representing the 11th District (in Marion County and including parts of Salem ...

and Republican President Pro Tempore Lenn Hannon were praised by ''

The Oregonian ''The Oregonian'' is a daily newspaper based in Portland, Oregon, United States, owned by Advance Publications. It is the oldest continuously published newspaper on the U.S. west coast, founded as a weekly by Thomas J. Dryer on December 4, 185 ...

'' for managing to avoid partisan gridlock. The House was composed of 35 Republicans and 25 Democrats. Then-state senator

Betsy Johnson Elizabeth Katharine Johnson (born January 12, 1951) is an American aviator, entrepreneur, and politician who served in the Oregon House of Representatives from the 1st and 31st House districts from 2001 to 2005, and in the Oregon Senate from ...

cited reasons for the extended session in a legislative update: a need to revamp the state budget in the face of declining revenues, and the political dynamics of a new Democratic governor (

Ted Kulongoski Theodore Ralph Kulongoski ( ; born November 5, 1940) is an American politician, judge, and lawyer who served as the 36th Governor of Oregon from 2003 to 2011. A member of the Democratic Party, he served in both houses of the Oregon Legislative As ...

), a Republican-controlled

House of Representatives House of Representatives is the name of legislative bodies in many countries and sub-national entitles. In many countries, the House of Representatives is the lower house of a bicameral legislature, with the corresponding upper house often c ...

, and the evenly divided Senate. The legislature passed a major reform of the state public pension program,

PERS Pers may refer to: * Pers, Cantal, France, a commune near Aurillac * Pers, Deux-Sèvres, France, a commune near Poitiers * ''Pers.'', taxonomic author abbreviation for mycologist Christiaan Hendrik Persoon *Persian language PERS may refer to: ...

, and approved the biggest state transportation investment plan in Oregon history. In contrast with the 71st Oregon Legislative Assembly, which held five special sessions in 2002, the 72nd convened only for its regular 2003 session, and did not convene in 2004.

Senate

The Senate was composed of 15 Democrats and 15 Republicans.

Senate members

House members

The House was composed of 25 Democrats and 35 Republicans. , 1 , ,

Gold Beach Gold, commonly known as Gold Beach, was the code name for one of the five areas of the Allied invasion of German-occupied France in the Normandy landings on 6 June 1944, during the Second World War. Gold, the central of the five areas, was lo ...

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Wayne Krieger Wayne Krieger (born September 1940) is an American Oregon Republican Party, Republican politician, retired game warden, and tree farmer from Gold Beach, Oregon, Gold Beach on the southern Oregon Coast, coast of the U.S. state of Oregon. He served ...

, , , Republican , - , 2 , , Myrtle Creek , , Susan Morgan , , , Republican , - , 3 , ,

Grants Pass Grants Pass is the county seat of Josephine County, Oregon, United States. The city is located on Interstate 5, northwest of Medford, along the Rogue River. The population was 39,189 at the 2020 census. History Early Hudson's Bay Company hunt ...

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Gordon Anderson Gordon Anderson may refer to: * Gordon Anderson (author) (born 1947), author and Secretary-General of the Professors World Peace Academy * Gordon Anderson (cricketer) (1922–2013), New Zealand cricketer * Gordon Anderson (politician) (1897–1958) ...

, , , Republican , - , 4 , , Central Point , , Dennis Richardson , , , Republican , - , 5 , , Ashland , ,

Alan Bates Sir Alan Arthur Bates (17 February 1934 – 27 December 2003) was an English actor who came to prominence in the 1960s, when he appeared in films ranging from the popular children's story '' Whistle Down the Wind'' to the " kitchen sink" dram ...

, , , Democratic , - , 6 , , Medford , , Rob Patridge , , , Republican , - , 7 , , Roseburg , ,

Jeff Kruse Jeff Kruse (born September 7, 1951) is a former Republican member of the Oregon Senate, representing the 1st District from 1996 until his resignation for sexual harassment in 2018. Committees Kruse formerly sat on the following Senate Committe ...

, , , Republican , - , rowspan=2, 8 , , rowspan=2, Eugene , ,

Floyd Prozanski Floyd Prozanski (born 1954) is an American Democratic politician who is a current member of the Oregon State Senate, representing the 4th District, since 2004. He previously served in the Oregon House of Representatives, from 1995 through 20 ...

Resigned upon appointment to the Senate. , , rowspan=2 , Democratic , - ,

Paul Holvey Paul R. Holvey (born January 1954) is an American politician. He is a Democratic Party (United States), Democratic member of the Oregon House of Representatives, representing District 8 since his appointment in January 2004, and serves as the Spea ...

, - , 9 , ,

Coos Bay Coos Bay is an estuary where the Coos River enters the Pacific Ocean, the estuary is approximately 12 miles long and up to two miles wide. It is the largest estuary completely within Oregon state lines. The Coos Bay watershed covers an area of abou ...

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Joanne Verger Joanne Verger (1930-2023) was an Oregon Democratic politician and the first female mayor of Coos Bay, the largest city on the Oregon Coast, serving four terms. She served in the Oregon House of Representatives from 2001 to 2004, and was elected ...

, , , Democratic , - , 10 , , Newport , , Alan Brown , , , Republican , - , 11 , , Eugene , ,

Phil Barnhart Phil Barnhart (born 1946) is an American politician and psychologist from the state of Oregon. He was a Democratic member of the Oregon House of Representatives, representing District 11 from 2003 to 2019 and District 40 from 2001 to 2003. Ea ...

, , , Democratic , - , 12 , ,

Springfield Springfield may refer to: * Springfield (toponym), the place name in general Places and locations Australia * Springfield, New South Wales (Central Coast) * Springfield, New South Wales (Snowy Monaro Regional Council) * Springfield, Queenslan ...

, ,

Terry Beyer Elizabeth Terry Beyer (born January 26, 1951) is a Democratic politician from the U.S. state of Oregon. She served in the Oregon House of Representatives representing District 12 in the city of Springfield from 2001 to 2013. Early life and c ...

, , , Democratic , - , 13 , , rowspan="2", Eugene , , Robert Ackerman , , , Democratic , - , 14 , , Pat Farr , , , Republican , - , 15 , , Albany , ,

Betsy Close Betsy L. Close (born May 4, 1950) is a Republican politician who served in the Oregon State Senate. Close was sworn into office in October 2012, replacing Frank Morse, who retired before his term ended. Prior to serving as Senator, Close served ...

, , , Republican , - , 16 , , Corvallis , , Kelley Wirth , , , Democratic , - , 17 , ,

Sublimity In aesthetics, the sublime (from the Latin '' sublīmis'') is the quality of greatness, whether physical, moral, intellectual, metaphysical, aesthetic, spiritual, or artistic. The term especially refers to a greatness beyond all possibility ...

, ,

Jeff Kropf Jeff Kropf (born February 7, 1959) is a former Oregon State Representative and fifth generation Oregon farmer from Halsey, Oregon. Kropf served as Chairman of the House Agriculture Committee for two legislative sessions and served two sessions ...

, , , Republican , - , 18 , , Mulino , ,

Tootie Smith Tootie Smith (born March 3, 1957) is an American politician and hazelnut farmer from the state of Oregon. A Republican, she served in the state legislature from 2001 until 2005, and on the Clackamas County Board of Commissioners from 2013 until 20 ...

, , , Republican , - , 19 , , rowspan=3,

Salem Salem may refer to: Places Canada Ontario * Bruce County ** Salem, Arran–Elderslie, Ontario, in the municipality of Arran–Elderslie ** Salem, South Bruce, Ontario, in the municipality of South Bruce * Salem, Dufferin County, Ontario, part ...

, , Dan Doyle , , , Republican , - , 20 , ,

Vicki Berger Vicki Berger (born 1949) is an American businessperson and politician in the state of Oregon. A native Oregonian, she is a Salem civic leader and a former Republican member of the Oregon House of Representatives. Her father, Richard Chambers, ca ...

, , , Republican , - , 21 , ,

Billy Dalto Luis Guillermo "Billy" Dalto (born October 21, 1976) is an American politician. A Republican, he represented parts of Salem in the Oregon House of Representatives from 2003 until 2007. Early life Dalto was born in 1976 in New York City, to Jorge ...

, , , Republican , - , 22 , , Woodburn , ,

Cliff Zauner In geography and geology, a cliff is an area of Rock (geology), rock which has a general angle defined by the vertical, or nearly vertical. Cliffs are formed by the processes of weathering and erosion, with the effect of gravity. Cliffs a ...

, , , Republican , - , rowspan=2, 23 , , rowspan=2,

Dallas Dallas () is the List of municipalities in Texas, third largest city in Texas and the largest city in the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex, the List of metropolitan statistical areas, fourth-largest metropolitan area in the United States at 7.5 ...

, , Lane ShetterlyResigned , , rowspan=2 , Republican , - , Jim Thompson , - , 24 , , McMinnville , , Donna G. Nelson , , , Republican , - , 25 , , Keizer , , Vic Backlund , , , Republican , - , 26 , , Wilsonville , , Jerry Krummel , , , Republican , - , 27 , , Beaverton , ,

Mark Hass Mark Hass (born December 10, 1956) is an American politician from the US state of Oregon. A Democrat, he was the representative for District 14 in the Oregon State Senate from November 21, 2007, until January 10, 2021. He sought the office of ...

, , , Democratic , - , 28 , ,

Aloha ''Aloha'' ( , ) is the Hawaiian language, Hawaiian word for love, affection, peace, compassion and mercy, that is commonly used as a simple greeting but has a deeper cultural and spiritual significance to native Hawaiians, for whom the term is u ...

, , Jeff Barker , , , Democratic , - , 29 , , rowspan=2, Cornelius , , Mary Gallegos , , , Republican , - , 30 , ,

Derrick Kitts Derrick Kitts (born c. 1973) is a Republican politician from Hillsboro in the U.S. state of Oregon. A native of Washington, he served two terms in the Oregon House of Representatives before giving up his seat in an unsuccessful bid for Congress ...

, , , Republican , - , 31 , , Scappoose , ,

, , , Democratic , - , rowspan=2, 32 , ,

Tillamook Tillamook may refer to: Places: * Tillamook County, Oregon, United States * Tillamook, Oregon, a city, the seat of Tillamook County * Tillamook River, United States * Tillamook Bay, a bay in the northwestern part of Oregon * Tillamook Head, a natur ...

, , Elaine Hopson , , rowspan=2 , Democratic , - ,

Cannon Beach Cannon Beach is a city in Clatsop County, Oregon, United States. Its population was 1,690 at the 2010 census. It is a popular coastal Oregon tourist destination, famous for Haystack Rock, a sea stack that juts out along the coast. In 2013, ''Nati ...

, , Deborah Boone , - , 33 , ,

Portland Portland most commonly refers to: * Portland, Oregon, the largest city in the state of Oregon, in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States * Portland, Maine, the largest city in the state of Maine, in the New England region of the northeas ...

, ,

Mitch Greenlick Merwyn Ronald "Mitch" Greenlick (March 12, 1935 – May 15, 2020) was a Democratic politician from the U.S. state of Oregon. He represented District 33 of the Oregon House of Representatives. Early life and career Greenlick was born in 19 ...

, , , Democratic , - , 34 , , Beaverton , ,

Brad Avakian Brad Peter Avakian (born February 4, 1961) is an American politician who served as a Democrat in the Oregon House, the Oregon Senate, and as the state's nonpartisan elected Labor Commissioner. He was appointed Labor Commissioner by Governor Ted ...

, , , Democratic , - , 35 , , Tigard , , Max Williams , , , Republican , - , 36 , , Portland , ,

Mary Nolan Mary Nolan (born Mariam Imogene Robertson; December 18, 1902 – October 31, 1948) was an American stage and film actress, singer and dancer. She began her career as a Ziegfeld girl in the 1920s performing under the stage name Imogene "Bubbles ...

, , , Democratic , - , 37 , , rowspan=2,

Lake Oswego Lake Oswego () is a city in the U.S. state of Oregon, primarily in Clackamas County, with small portions extending into neighboring Multnomah and Washington counties. Located about south of Portland and surrounding the Oswego Lake, the town was ...

, , Randy Miller , , , Republican , - , 38 , ,

Greg Macpherson Gregory Hector Macpherson (born May 3, 1950) is a Democratic politician in the US state of Oregon. From 2003 to 2009, he served as the state representative from District 38, which includes most of Lake Oswego and portions of southwestern Port ...

, , , Democratic , - , 39 , ,

Canby Canby may refer to: People * Canby (surname) Places

;In the United States * Canby, California * Canby, Iowa * Canby, Minnesota * Canby, Oregon * Canby Creek, a stream in Minnesota * Canby Mountains, Oregon {{disambiguation, geo ...

, , Wayne Scott, , , Republican , - , 40 , , rowspan=2, Milwaukie , , Dave Hunt , , , Democratic , - , 41 , ,

Carolyn Tomei Carolyn Tomei (born 1936) is a Democratic politician from the US state of Oregon. She served in the Oregon House of Representatives for District 41, representing Milwaukie and parts of Southeast Portland, including Sellwood and Eastmoreland ...

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, ,

Diane Rosenbaum Diane M. Rosenbaum (born 1949) is an American politician in the US state of Oregon who was the Majority Leader, majority leader of the Oregon State Senate. She was a Democratic Party (United States), Democratic member of the Oregon House of Rep ...

, , , Democratic , - , 43 , ,

Deborah Kafoury Deborah Kafoury (born August 19, 1967) is a politician in the U.S. state of Oregon. Born in Walla Walla, Washington, Kafoury received her bachelor's degree from Whitman College. She is the chair of the Multnomah County Commission, where she suc ...

, , , Democratic , - , 44 , ,

Gary Hansen Gary Duane Hansen (born c. 1958) is an American macroeconomist at UCLA. He is known for creating the theory of indivisible labor, as part of this doctoral thesis at the University of Minnesota. Hansen graduated from the University of Puget Soun ...

, , , Democratic , - , 45 , ,

Jackie Dingfelder Jackie Dingfelder is a Democratic Party of Oregon, Democratic politician in the U.S. state of Oregon. She is a former member of the Oregon State Senate and the Oregon House of Representatives, and later served as a part of Portland, Oregon Mayo ...

, , , Democratic , - , 46 , , Steve March , , , Democratic , - , 47 , ,

Jeff Merkley Jeffrey Alan Merkley (born October 24, 1956) is an American politician serving as the junior United States senator from Oregon since 2009. A member of the Democratic Party, Merkley served as the 64th speaker of the Oregon House of Representatives ...

, , , Democratic , - , 48 , , Happy Valley , ,

Mike Schaufler Mike Schaufler is a former Democratic member of the Oregon House of Representatives who represented District 48 from 2003 to 2013. Early life After growing up and graduating from high school in Webster City, Iowa, Schaufler developed an earl ...

, , , Democratic , - , 49 , , Fairview , ,

Karen Minnis Karen Minnis (born July 1954) is an Oregon Republican politician in United States. She was a member of the Oregon House of Representatives from 1998 to 2009, and served as Speaker of the House from 2003 to 2007 Early life Born and raised in Po ...

, , , Republican , - , 50 , , Gresham , ,

Laurie Monnes Anderson Laurie Monnes Anderson (born December 31, 1945) is an American Democratic politician who most recently served in the Oregon Senate, representing District 25 in eastern Multnomah County, Oregon, including parts of the cities of Fairview, Gresh ...

, , , Democratic , - , 51 , , Clackamas , ,

Linda Flores Linda Flores (born 1947) is an American Republican politician who served in the Oregon House of Representatives from 2003 until 2009. Career Flores was first elected to the Oregon House in 2002, defeating Democratic incumbent Jan Lee. She was re ...

, , , Republican , - , 52 , ,

Corbett Corbett may refer to: * List of Corbetts (mountains), 222 mountains in Scotland between , with prominence over * Corbett, Oregon, a community in the United States * Corbett Award, US award for athletics administrators * Corbett (surname), people w ...

, ,

Patti Smith Patricia Lee Smith (born December 30, 1946) is an American singer, songwriter, poet, painter and author who became an influential component of the New York City punk rock movement with her 1975 debut album '' Horses''. Called the "punk poe ...

, , , Republican , - , 53 , , rowspan=2, Bend , ,

Ben Westlund Bernard John "Ben" Westlund II (September 3, 1949 – March 7, 2010) was an American politician in the U.S. state of Oregon. A Democrat, he was elected State Treasurer in 2008. Previously, Westlund served in both houses of the Oregon Legislative ...

, , , Republican , - , 54 , ,

Tim Knopp Tim Knopp is an American Republican politician from Oregon. He is a member of the Oregon State Senate and has been the senate minority leader since 2021. He previously served as a member of the Oregon House of Representatives from 1999 to 2005. ...

, , , Republican , - , 55 , , Medford , ,

George Gilman George Francis Gilman (1826 – March 3, 1901) was an American businessman. A native of Waterville, Maine, he moved to Manhattan when he joined his father's leather tanning business. By age 30, he had his own leather business in New York. Af ...

, , , Republican , - , 56 , ,

Klamath Falls Klamath Falls ( ) is a city in and the county seat of Klamath County, Oregon, United States. The city was originally called ''Linkville'' when George Nurse founded the town in 1867. It was named after the Link River, on whose falls the city was ...

, ,

Bill Garrard Bill Garrard (May 10, 1940 – November 28, 2022) was a Republican politician who served as state representative for District 56 of the Oregon House of Representatives The Oregon House of Representatives is the lower house of the Oregon ...

, , , Republican , - , 57 , , Heppner , , Greg Smith , , , Republican , - , 58 , ,

Pendleton Pendleton may refer to: Places ;United Kingdom *Pendleton, Lancashire, England *Pendleton, Greater Manchester, England ;United States *Pendleton, Indiana * Pendleton, Missouri *Pendleton, New York *Pendleton, Oregon *Pendleton, South Carolina *Pe ...

, ,

Bob Jenson Robert Eugene Jenson (May 11, 1931 – January 6, 2018) was a Oregon Republican Party, Republican politician from the U.S. state of Oregon. He served in the Oregon House of Representatives representing District 58, which encompassed Union County, ...

, , , Republican , - , rowspan=2, 59 , , rowspan=2,

The Dalles The Dalles is the largest city of Wasco County, Oregon, United States. The population was 16,010 at the 2020 census, and it is the largest city on the Oregon side of the Columbia River between the Portland Metropolitan Area, and Hermiston ...

, , John Mabrey , , rowspan=2 , Republican , - , John Dallum , - , 60 , ,

Ontario Ontario ( ; ) is one of the thirteen provinces and territories of Canada.Ontario is located in the geographic eastern half of Canada, but it has historically and politically been considered to be part of Central Canada. Located in Central Ca ...

, , R. Tom Butler , , , Republican

References

External links

Official overview of bills
considered and passed in 2003 regular session {{OR legislatures Oregon legislative sessions 2003 in Oregon 2004 in Oregon 2003 in American politics 2004 in American politics 2003 U.S. legislative sessions 2004 U.S. legislative sessions