Oregon Legislation

Oregon House Bill 4036 creates a special fund to help maintain low-cost housing that might be lost. It allows the state to borrow $100 million to support affordable housing efforts and requires a report on challenges to building more affordable homes by the end of 2026. The bill is effective immediately due to its emergency declaration.

Oregon House Bill 4159 requires that at least one member of the Oregon Government Ethics Commission (OGEC) has experience in local government. The bill also ensures that attorney-client privilege remains intact when individuals communicate with the commission about ethics complaints.

Oregon House Bill 4033 transfers the management of the volunteer database, ORVID, from the Higher Education Coordinating Commission to the Oregon Department of Emergency Management (ODEM). The bill requires ODEM to update and maintain this database to better support emergency volunteers. It also declares an emergency, meaning the changes take effect immediately upon passage.

Oregon House Bill 4161 allows public bodies to provide food, beverages, and merchandise to public officials without violating rules against using their position for personal gain. This bill includes specific exceptions to existing regulations that typically prohibit such benefits. It is effective immediately upon passage due to its emergency declaration.

Oregon HB4121 improves the state's emergency response by creating new offices and authorities to coordinate management during emergencies. It also allows for public safety projects to be funded through bonding and requires state agencies to have designated liaisons for emergency management. The bill modifies rules for emergency preparedness and establishes grant programs to support these efforts.

Oregon House Bill 4178 allows businesses and public agencies to round certain transaction amounts to the nearest five cents. This rounding can only be applied to in-person transactions, and businesses must inform customers about this policy by posting signs. If a customer pays with exact change, the rounding does not apply.

Oregon House Bill 4007 establishes definitions and regulations for powered micromobility devices, requiring children under 16 to wear helmets while riding various types of vehicles. It also lowers the age limits for operating certain e-bikes and e-scooters and prohibits the sale of non-compliant vehicles. Additionally, the bill allows trucks to haul more milk on specific routes and mandates a report on the pilot program's results.

Oregon HB4130 allows land used for processing agricultural products to qualify for tax breaks typically given to farmland. The bill also clarifies what is meant by 'preparing' these products, ensuring that processing facilities can benefit from special property tax assessments while supporting farming activities.

Oregon House Bill 4131 allows the State Board of Pharmacy to issue licenses for mobile pharmacies to qualified applicants. This means that pharmacies can operate from mobile units, making it easier to provide medication and health services to people in various locations. The law will take effect 91 days after the legislative session ends.

Oregon House Bill 4132 updates laws related to veterans, including increasing funding for the Department of Veterans' Affairs and creating new positions to support veterans. It establishes a grant program for suicide prevention and job training, increases the cap on educational grants, and changes access to veteran discharge records. The bill aims to enhance services for veterans across the state.

Oregon House Bill 4057 requires the Department of Early Learning and Care (DELC) to provide information about child care options to individuals seeking assistance, particularly those on the waitlist for the Employment Related Day Care subsidy. It also allows the Department of Human Services to help with this task. Additionally, the bill directs DELC to review background check processes for staff working with children and report findings by September 2026.

Oregon House Bill 4016 requires individuals and businesses that enter into public contracts to comply with tax laws and provide proof of that compliance. Starting January 1, 2027, contractors will need to show they are following tax regulations to secure public contracts. The bill also directs the Secretary of State to explore ways to gather information to ensure tax compliance among businesses in the state.

Oregon House Bill 4017 allows candidates and public officials to use campaign contributions for security-related expenses. It also permits them to keep certain security items for personal use after they leave office, without these actions being considered gifts under ethics laws. The bill was declared an emergency and took effect immediately upon passage.

Oregon House Bill 4020 requires agencies to explain why a permit application is denied and provide information on how to appeal that decision. It also mandates these agencies to track and report how quickly they process permits. The bill aims to improve transparency and efficiency in the permitting process.

Oregon House Bill 4021 updates how some state agencies notify the public about their rules. It requires these agencies to provide contact information on their websites for people who have questions about any rules that are adopted, changed, or removed. The changes will take effect 91 days after the legislature adjourns.

Oregon House Bill 5204 makes changes to the state budget for the current two-year period. It adjusts funding for various state agencies and sets limits on how much they can spend. The bill declares an emergency, meaning it goes into effect immediately upon passing.

Oregon HB4018 updates rules about campaign financing, including changing the names of political committees and adjusting deadlines for financial filings. It allows corporations and labor unions to create special funds for political purposes and reinstates some previously removed regulations. The bill also lets individuals fix minor violations of election laws and is effective immediately due to its emergency declaration.

Oregon House Bill 5203 allows state agencies to implement new or increased fees for their services. It was passed quickly, declaring an emergency to make these changes effective immediately upon passage. This legislation is aimed at improving state financial administration.

Oregon House Bill 4134 increases the tax on short-term lodging, which will help fund natural resource initiatives. It also changes the name of a wildlife-related subaccount to better reflect its purpose and outlines how the new tax revenue will be allocated. The tax increase will apply to lodging charges starting January 1, 2027.

Oregon HB4088 establishes a state policy to ensure access to certain health care services, particularly related to reproductive health and gender identity. It limits cooperation with federal and other state authorities regarding these health care activities, makes specific records confidential, and protects midwives from disciplinary action when providing these services. The law takes effect immediately.

Oregon House Bill 4123 limits the amount of private information that landlords can share about their tenants. It sets rules on when landlords can disclose confidential information and allows tenants to seek damages if landlords violate these rules. The law will take effect 91 days after the legislative session ends.

Oregon House Bill 4124 directs the Higher Education Coordinating Commission (HECC) to study the state's higher education system. The HECC must provide a preliminary report by October 1, 2026, and a final report by April 1, 2027, detailing recommendations for improving the system. The bill declares an emergency and becomes law as soon as the Governor signs it.

Oregon HB4120 allows landlords of multifamily housing to ban smoking in their apartments. Landlords must provide existing tenants with 180 days' written notice before making this change. This rule applies to both new and existing rental agreements.

Oregon House Bill 4115 updates the rules for background checks on caregivers, allowing checks to last three years in most cases and making them transferable between care settings. It also ensures that certain health care providers get paid retroactively when they enroll in the state's Medicaid program, and it simplifies the credentialing process for behavioral health providers when they change jobs.