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It’s nearly time for the 2024 “short session” of the Oregon Legislature, in which lawmakers will attempt to compress some of the major issues facing the state into a 35-day sprint — unless, of course, there’s another walkout.

But while the session begins on Feb. 5, it’s the date on which it ends that carries with it a slice of symbolic irony for those who watch and wonder whether the goings-on in Salem will be productive before the clock runs out.

More on that in a moment. First, though, those in the Democrats’ slim majority and their Republican counterparts have made known in recent weeks that two items should be atop the agenda when the session convenes: the state’s housing crisis, and changes to the highly controversial Measure 110, which relaxed drug laws.

On housing, Gov. Tina Kotek announced earlier this month that the lone piece of legislation she would introduce during the short session is an ambitious $500 million package that would cover a laundry list of issues related to the state’s dilemma — including infrastructure, middle-income housing, strict affordability requirements, climate-friendly housing and a new state office for housing affordability and production.

Whether the overall package gains any traction obviously will depend on determining just where that $500 million will come from, and whether any other state priorities could continue to be met if the money is found.

GOP Senate Leader Tim Knopp of Bend similarly stressed the importance of dealing in the upcoming session with housing and homelessness in an Oregon Capital Insider interview last fall, as long as partisan priorities could be put aside.

The recent severe winter storms across the state prompted Knopp to repeat that focus last week on X, formerly known as Twitter:

“This session, I hope all parties can come together,” he wrote, “and help alleviate these persisting problems for the betterment of our entire state.”

Finding agreements on what’s to become of Measure 110, however, might be a narrower needle to thread.

Both parties are introducing bills that would reinstitute criminal penalties for possession of drugs such as fentanyl, targets drug suppliers and creates a pathway for treatment for users.

Knopp, other Republicans, and members of law enforcement agencies, however, believe the Democratic proposal does not go far enough.

A Republican proposal would impose tougher sentencing including mandatory treatment to avoid jail time.

Senate Majority Leader Kate Lieber, D-Beaverton, told the Oregon Capital Chronicle that she hopes there’s enough common ground to enact legislation.

“We know we cannot go back to the failed war on drugs,” Lieber said. “We cannot continue to allow Oregonians to die of drug overdoses on our streets.”

Whether any significant action will be taken on either of these priorities remains to be seen — although recent trends would indicate that those looking for bipartisan agreement shouldn’t get their hopes up.

Still, if on the big issues the can is only kicked down the road, perhaps there’s some hope at last for another longstanding (if certainly less critical) nightmare.

The final day of the upcoming session is scheduled to be Sunday, March 10, which — you guessed it — is also the day we’re due to set our clocks ahead.

State Sen. Kim Thatcher, R-Keizer, has joined with legislators in Washington, California and Idaho to make a permanent switch to Standard Time, and will introduce the corresponding bill during the February session.

Of course, Oregon and Washington voted to get rid of the clock-switching four years ago, only to have the California Legislature muck up the works by failing to pass its legislation.

As it goes with any legislative effort, if not this time … then when?