Landmark Citizens' Initiative Review Legislation Signed Into Law

After receiving strong bipartisan support in both the House and the Senate, legislation continuing the Citizens’ Initiative Review (HB 2634) was signed into law by Governor Kitzhaber on June 16.  

HB 2634 establishes a new state commission to administer future Citizens’ Initiative Reviews (CIRs) and details strict provisions for maintaining the integrity of the CIR process.  The funding for the program will be provided by foundations and private donations, incurring no additional cost to the taxpayers.  

Oregonians were the first to put the initiative process into motion. In enacting this landmark legislation, the state continues to lead the nation in innovative democratic processes.

 “This is a great day for democracy,” said Tyrone Reitman, Healthy Democracy Oregon Co-Director.  “Oregon, the first state to use the initiative process, has just pioneered the best way to improve it." 

By passing HB 2634 the Citizens’ Initiative Review will continue to provide Oregon voters with a reliable source of high-quality information about ballot measures.  The program is based upon a successful ‘pilot’ run in 2010 election, during which two measures were reviewed.  The 2010 CIRs were in turn evaluated by a research team funded by the National Science Foundation.  The research team determined that the CIR process was a high quality deliberation, and that voters valued this new source of information.

"This is an historic act for Oregon,” said Elliot Shuford, Healthy Democracy Oregon’s other co-director. “We're the first state to bring this innovative review process to voters. Now Oregon not only has a great way for voters to get clearer, more trustworthy information about ballot measures, but we have a powerful new democratic model as part of our initiative process."

The public and lawmakers have received the Citizens’ Initiative Review with enthusiasm. Thousands of Oregonians have signed their names in support of the process, and hundreds have donated.
Thank you to our supporters who have made the bill’s success possible.