Secretary of the Senate Home Page

Secretary of the Senate

Lori L. Brocker

Oregon State Capitol

900 Court Street NE, Room 233

Salem, OR 97301

(503) 986-1851

Lori.L.Brocker@oregonlegislature.gov

The Secretary of the Senate is an officer of the Senate and serves as the Senate's administrator and parliamentarian. The Secretary is elected by the 30 members of the Senate to a two-year term.

The Secretary of the Senate's Office is responsible for coordinating and documenting the actions of the Senate. In accordance with Senate Rules, the Secretary of the Senate's Office prepares the daily agenda, distributes information about measures throughout session, and keeps the Senate Journal. In addition, the Secretary of the Senate's Office assists the Senate with the confirmation of executive appointments.

2019 Session Calendar & Deadlines

The 80th Oregon Legislative Assembly organized on January 14, 2019.

The 2019 Regular Session of the Oregon Senate convened on January 22, 2019. Please see the following calendar for the regarding session deadlines:

Calendar for 2019 session dates and deadlines.

Rule of proceeding for 2019 Legislative Session was specified in House Concurrent Resolution 19, which was adopted on January 14.

Senate Rules, Protocol & Decorum

The Senate is governed by rules adopted by the members of the Senate.

On January 14, 2019, the Rules of the Senate for the 80th Legislative Assembly were adopted. The current Rules are available by clicking here.

Likewise, each Senate committee is governed by rules adopted by members of the committee.

Certain rules of protocol and decorum guide the Senate's business during session. Please see the Senate's Guide to Protocol and Decorum.

Honorary Page Program

The Senate welcomes Honorary Pages from throughout Oregon to assist the Senate during session. The Senate's Honorary Page Program is available to those 12-years-old and over and operates during the long legislative session in odd-numbered years.

The 2019 Senate Honorary Page Program has concluded.

Contact the Office of the Secretary of the Senate for more information on participation in the Senate Honorary Page Program in future sessions.

Learning the Legislative Process

There are many words and terms unique to the legislative process. To learn more, please visit the Legislative Glossary.

In addition, for those learning about the legislative process in Oregon, please see our short video explaining the basics.

Historical Listing of Secretaries and Chief Clerks of the Oregon Senate

Details
Note: Title of "Chief Clerk of the Senate" was changed to "Secretary of the Senate" in 1963.

Name	Date-Span	Edit
George Carpenter	1858
E. E. Haft	1859
J. C. Peebles	1860
Samuel A. Clarke	1862
E.P. Henderson	1864
J.C. Peebles	1865-1866
J.M. Simpson	1868
Sylvester Simpson	1870-1878
J.C. Peebles	1880
Austin Mires	1882
J. W. Strange	1885
E. G. Hursh	1887
John H. Shupe	1889
O. P. Miller	1891-1893
Walter Sinclair	1895
S. L. Moorhead	1897-1905
Frank S. Grant	1907
William H. Barry	1909
E. H. Flagg	1911
John W. Cochran	1913-1919
John P. Hunt	1921-1937†
Elizabeth J. Glatt	1937*
Zylpha-Zell Burns	1939-1959
Carl H. Cover	1959 (1 month)
Meda Cole	1959-1963
Dale Henderson	1963
Cecil L. Edwards	1965-1975
Maribel Cadmus	1977-1987
Donna Merrill	1989-1993
Judy M. Hall	1995-2011
Robert L. Taylor	2011-2014
Cynthia Johnston	2014*
Lori L. Brocker	2014-Present

Details
* Acting secretary/clerk. † Died in office, February 18, 1937.

Links of Interest

Oregon State Capitol Foundation	Link to the organization dedicated to preserving and enhancing the Oregon State Capitol.
National Conference of State Legislatures	Link to the organization of state lawmakers and staff.
American Society of Legislative Clerks and Secretaries	Link to the organization of state legislative parliamentarians.

Oregon's Historic Senate Chamber

The Secretary of the Senate's Office is the guardian of Oregon's historic Senate Chamber. The Senate Chamber is a unique treasure within Oregon's State Capitol. For those interested in Oregon's historic Senate Chamber, please see the following:

Senate Chamber Photo Gallery

Capitol Names: Historic Names Inscribed Above the Senate Chamber

Video: Tour of the Senate Chamber

Historic Senate Seating Chart - Listing Members Since 1939

History and the Oregon State Senate

Oregon has a citizen legislature, and for over 150 years citizens from throughout Oregon have served in the State Senate. Please join us as we share the history of the Oregon State Senate, the Legislature, and the State Capitol.

Video: 1935 Oregon State Capitol Fire

Video: Oral History - Three Pieces of Advice

Video: Memorial for Sen. Debbs Potts - February 2, 2004

Video: Senate Rooms Honoring Historic Figures

Photo Gallery: Senate History Rooms

Senate History Rooms - Self-Guided Tour Information

Restoration of Dr. McLoughlin's Statue Outside Senate Wing

Featured Senate Chamber Photograph

This photo depicts the main entrance to the Senate Chamber.

The double doors outside the Senate are closed 15 minutes prior to convening and opened 15 minutes after adjournment.

The doors remain closed while the Senate is in session. An exception is upon Sine Die adjournment, when the Senate and House typically open their chamber doors so the President and Speaker can drop the final gavel simultaneously.

Executive Appointments

The record of Senate action on the Governor's executive appointments and reappointments to boards, commissions and other positions requiring Senate confirmation.

2019 Session Executive Appointments

December 14, 2018 Interim Executive Appointments

September 26, 2018 Interim Executive Appointments

May 23, 2018 Interim Executive Appointments

2018 Session Executive Appointments

2017-2018 Interim Executive Appointments

2017 Session Executive Appointments

2015-2016 Interim Executive Appointments

2016 Session Executive Appointments

2015 Session Executive Appointments

2013-2014 Interim Executive Appointments

2014 Session Executive Appointments