Governor Tina Kotek criticized the Oregon Legislature for their inability to pass adequate transportation funding, announcing imminent layoffs at the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT). A total of 483 layoffs have begun, with projections estimating up to 700 total, unless emergency funds are allocated. Additionally, Kotek mandated a statewide ban on cellphones in classrooms, to be enforced by January 2026, after a legislative bill on the matter did not pass. This includes a requirement for schools to create implementation systems by October.
Governor Tina Kotek lambasted the Oregon Legislature for failing to pass a sufficient transportation funding package, warning of "the largest layoff in the history of Oregon state government." Kotek stated that ODOT has initiated 483 of an estimated 600 to 700 total layoffs, with another round planned for early 2026 unless emergency funding is provided. This could lead to significant cutbacks in essential transportation services and materials, as well as hampered emergency responses.
Kotek's ban on cellphones in classrooms will require Oregon schools to implement a system for banning student cellphone use by October, with the ban set to take effect statewide in January 2026. This move followed the Legislature's failure to pass a bill that called for the cellphone ban.
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