Clatsop County staff reviewed a draft 2026 state legislative guide and the Board of Commissioners agreed the county should receive regular legislative updates as the short session approaches. Amanda Rapincheck, the county’s management and policy analyst, told the board the 2026 session will be a short session running February 2 through March 8 and is expected to occur in a “very challenging fiscal environment.”

The guide, Rapincheck said, is intended as a living document to coordinate county advocacy and to outline guiding principles, an engagement framework, anticipated priorities and key dates. She told the board the state is projecting an $888,200,000 reduction in anticipated general fund resources for the current biennium, a shortfall that will narrow discretionary dollars and increase scrutiny of new spending proposals. Rapincheck also corrected a draft date in the guide, noting the session ends March 8 rather than March 9.

Rapincheck summarized bill‑filing limits for the short session and identified exceptions: the governor and chief justice may each file up to three bills, House and Senate members up to two apiece, and legislative committees up to three bills, with particular exceptions for the Joint Committee on Ways and Means and certain leadership and rules committees. Staff told the board that, because short sessions have bill limits and the legislature is focused on funding gaps and urgent needs, the county should expect a narrower policy agenda than in long sessions.

The board discussed how often it wanted formal updates during the session. Commissioner Webb said having reports at every work session helps her coordinate with Association of Oregon Counties (AOC) committees; Commissioner Banks and Commissioner Thompson also supported frequent briefings. The board agreed to begin providing legislative updates at each work session starting in January and to begin tracking bills in advance of the session. No formal motion or vote was recorded; the transcript reflects consensus to provide regular updates.

Rapincheck described how the priorities section is organized into three tiers — primary initiatives the county is directly engaged in, high‑priority session‑driven issues, and other items to keep on the radar — and said county staff will provide an internal tracker of bills relevant to Clatsop County and CFM advocates for real‑time updates. The guide will be used to coordinate with state and federal lobbyists as staff monitor potential funding opportunities and emerging proposals.