Tomorrow is the start of Oregon's 2019 Legislative Session. The 160-day-long whirlwind of state-level lawmaking is poised to take on some pressing issues that impact all Oregonians: Like putting an end to onion inspection or declaring Oregon's state dog the Border Collie.

There are also a number of slightly more impactful bills introduced—from investigating cop shootings to gender equality laws in the workplace—that we'll be paying close attention to after the session kicks off. While it's no way an exhaustive list of all impactful bills, it's a good starting place. Let's get you up to speed:

Expanding Residential Zoning

This bill would directly impact the makeup of Portland. Proposed by House Speaker Tina Kotek, House Bill 2001 would re-legalize types of housing that are currently banned from certain neighborhoods, thanks to outdated zoning codes rooted in racism.

Specifically, this bill would allow property owners to construct buildings with up to four units—like a duplex or triplex or cluster of tiny homes—on property that was exclusively reserved for a single home. The bill is expected to chip away at Portland's sky-high rents by increasing the sheer number of homes that exist within the city's exceedingly cozy urban growth boundary.

Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler has endorsed this bill, which shares similarities with the city-level Residential Infill Project (RIP) that's heading to a city council vote this year.

Unanimous Juries

Oregon remains the only state in the country where you can be convicted of a felony without unanimous jury agreement. Even if one or two members of the jury think you're not guilty, you're going to jail. House Joint Resolution 10 would make it mandatory for all juries to reach an unanimous verdict when considering felony charges.

Regulating Street Speeds

Here's a weird fact: Portland isn't allowed to alter the speed limits on city roads. It's a privilege only granted to the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT). Last legislative session, lawmakers were able to pass legislation allowing the city to tweak speed limits in residential areas (hence the "Twenty is Plenty" signs that popped up in your neighborhood).

This time around, lawmakers are pitching House Bill 2702 to control the speeds on Portland's main arterials, like Burnside, Grand, and Division (to name a few). Sure, it's one of the wonkier bills on the agenda, but it could significantly help the city reach its goal to eliminate all traffic fatalities by 2025.

Renter Protections

This bill is a double-header: Not only would Senate Bill 608 ban landlords from evicting renters who pay month-to-month after a year tenancy without cause, it caps annual rent increases for residential renters at seven percent. While tenant rights advocates say this doesn't go far enough to protect vulnerable renters, it's a big step toward legalizing rent control in the state.

This piece of legislation is expected to soar through Salem, with Speaker Kotek, Senate Majority Leader Ginny Burdick, and Governor Kate Brown openly backing it.

Social Weed Consumption

Weed tourists in Portland don't have many places to (legally) get high. House Bill 2233 would allow stores that sell cannabis let their customers consume or smoke the product on the premises. The same would go for temporary cannabis-related events.

According to co-sponsor Rep. Rob Nosse, this bill could greatly benefit Portland's tourism economy (and keep tourists from setting off the smoke alarm in their hotels).

Investigating Police Use-of-Force

This bill, introduced by Portland Sen. Lew Frederick, addresses use of deadly force by a police officer. Senate Bill 427 would require that, in cases where a member of law enforcement kills a member of the public, the Attorney General appoints an attorney from a different county to lead the investigation into that officer's use of deadly force. If passed, this bill would seriously impact the way fatal officer shootings play out in Portland—and across the state.

Workplace Pregnancy Accommodations

Current Oregon anti-discrimination law is scant when it comes to protecting pregnant employees. House Bill 2341 would make it illegal for employers to deny opportunities to pregnant employers and job applicants, and require them to provide medically necessary accommodations to pregnant workers.

While these rights are already guaranteed under federal law, this bill would them a step further by requiring the Bureau of Labor and Industries (BOLI) to create educational training materials for employers and employees.

Sexual Assault in Prison

Senate Bill 269 aims to reduce sexual assault in Oregon prisons. The bill directs the Oregon Department of Corrections (DOC) to conduct a study of sexual assault in women’s prisons, and use its findings to develop written policy to help reduce and prevent assaults. It would also require the DOC and Oregon Corrections Enterprises, which oversees work programs in state prisons, from hiring or continuing to employ anyone convicted of a sex crime against a prison inmate or employee.

Opioid Addiction Treatment

If House Bill 2257 passes, drug addiction will be considered a chronic illness in Oregon.

Last month, the Secretary of State’s office released an audit that found that opioid addiction continues to plague the state. By designating substance use disorder as a chronic illness, this bill—which specifically mentions opioid abuse—would prompt several different initiatives aimed at curbing the problem.

That includes launching studies into how to care for prison inmates and pregnant people with addiction; strengthening accreditation standards for addiction treatment centers; easing legal repercussions for people found in possession of drugs or needles; and possibly requiring insurance providers to offer better coverage for substance abuse treatment.

Gun Locks

House Bill 2505 would require that gun owners secure their firearms with a trigger or cable lock and lock them in a safe container when not in use. The bill, sponsored by Portland Rep. Barbara Smith Warner, is named the Cindy Yuille and Steve Forsyth Act, after two victims of the 2012 Clackamas Town Center Shooting.