SALEM, Ore. — Here’s a look at highlights of the past week in the Oregon Legislature.
• Minimum wage: Oregon lawmakers are considering a proposal gradually raising the state’s minimum wage to $13 an hour by 2018 and giving local governments the option to go even higher if they choose. If House Speaker Tina Kotek’s bill passes, Oregon will have the nation’s highest minimum wage on Jan. 1, when all employees would have to make at least $11 an hour. After that, the wage floor would increase $1 a year until it reaches $13 an hour by 2018.
• Legalizing marijuana: A joint House-Senate committee cleared a bill setting up Oregon’s legal marijuana system, ending weeks of speculation and stalled discussions. It includes a compromise allowing local governments to ban recreational and medical marijuana businesses in counties that voted overwhelmingly against Measure 91 in last year’s election. The bill now moves to the House floor.
• Retirement savings: Oregon employees working at companies not offering retirements will soon be automatically enrolled into one under a bill cleared by the Oregon Legislature.
