Our Legislative Practice Group recognizes the need to balance both political and practical realities in order to produce good policy. At Harrang Long Gary Rudnick P. C., our legislative practice is an integral component of the services we offer our business, nonprofit and government clients whether they seek new legislation, want to change current state law, or just need to keep informed on legislative issues and developments. We recognize that legislative advocacy often can help our clients to achieve their goals more effectively and economically than traditional legal services.

Oregon's Legislative Assembly is unusual among states on several fronts. While they meet in regular session only in odd-numbered years, Oregon legislators work year-round, whether in their local districts or at the Capitol, on legislative and administrative matters. The 17-member Legislative Emergency Board meets frequently during the period between regular sessions to make budget adjustments and Emergency Fund appropriations. Legislative and executive interim committees, task forces and other groups meet to oversee existing programs or to develop new ones.

While we regularly appear before a wide range of legislative committees, we maintain particularly close contact with Oregon's healthcare, business, judiciary and budget committees. Recent major representations include issues involving healthcare provider taxes, liability reform, business enterprise zones and community college funding. To be able to best serve our clients, we maintain positive bipartisan working relationships with legislators and other state government officials.

• Ballot Title Challenges - We help our clients deal with the legal and electoral complications of Oregon's initiative and referendum system. During a recent election cycle, we challenged more than a dozen measures at the Oregon Supreme Court, successfully keeping all, except the one our client wanted, off the ballot.
  
  
• Full Advocacy Services - Our advocacy services range from researching public policy options, to drafting legislation, to advocating for (or against) legislative decisions that affect our clients' interests.
  
  
• Healthcare Policy - Our Legislative Practice Group has particular expertise in matters involving healthcare policy and budgets, health professional and facility regulation, employee and health insurance benefits, and human service and mental health programs.
  
  
• Comprehensive Legislative Involvement - In recent legislative sessions, we also have been involved in workers' compensation and employment legislation, agriculture and business affairs, and in tribal government and economic development activities.