Researching legislative history can sometimes require more than plowing through dusty hearing transcripts. Guides to legislative history and intent always suggest searching the secondary literature, e.g. newspaper and journal articles that are written before the legislation is passed, shortly thereafter, and reflective articles long after the law has been enacted:
Willamette Law Review (Winter 2008, vol. 45, no. 2) has this Comment:
“The Battle Over Property Rights in Oregon: Measures 37 and 40 and the Need for Sustainable Land Use Planning,” by David J. Boulanger.
(This article is not yet at the Willamette Law Review website, but will be, eventually. Please contact your local law library for a copy of the article, which will be available from a number of online subscription services.)