Oregon Legislation

Oregon House Bill 4003 aimed to change how the Oregon Health Authority (OHA) determines which health services are covered by the state's Medicaid program. It proposed to remove the existing prioritized list of health services and required the OHA to define what constitutes medical necessity. The bill also called for the Health Evidence Review Commission to create clinical coverage policies that align with this new definition.

Oregon HB4006 aimed to change some laws about water rights on the Columbia River, specifically between river miles 252 and 303. It would have allowed certain water rights holders to change where they take their water and use it on different land without needing to follow some usual application processes. Additionally, it would have exempted certain irrigation systems from specific regulations and required a commission to report on the bill's impact over ten years.

Oregon House Bill 4008 aimed to create a Transit Funding Task Force tasked with studying and reporting on transit funding solutions. The task force was required to submit its findings to a legislative committee by December 1, 2026. The bill declared an emergency, meaning it would take effect immediately upon passage.

Oregon House Bill 4009 proposed a new charge for electric and hybrid vehicle owners based on the miles they drive, particularly targeting those using delivery vans for e-commerce. It also offered an option for a flat annual fee instead of the per-mile charge. Additionally, the bill aimed to limit certain electric vehicle rebates and required the Department of Transportation to recommend a sustainable rate for maintaining highways.

Oregon HB4010 aimed to ensure that if state agencies wanted to add more work to a construction project, they had to officially request the changes by a certain deadline or pay interest for delays. It also required contractors to do the same with their subcontractors and private project owners to do likewise with contractors. The bill sought to streamline the process and encourage timely payments in construction projects.

Oregon House Bill 4011 aimed to change the rules for collective bargaining in school districts by requiring discussions about class size and caseload to be included as mandatory topics. This means that school districts would have to negotiate these issues with teachers' unions. The bill ultimately did not pass.

Oregon House Bill 4014 aimed to create a task force to study how the state taxes income from companies operating internationally. The task force would explore potential changes to make Oregon's tax system simpler and more effective for international income and was supposed to report its findings by December 2026. However, the bill ultimately failed to pass.

Oregon House Bill 4015 aimed to update the state's connection to the federal tax laws, specifically the Internal Revenue Code. The bill proposed that these updates would take effect 91 days after the legislative session ended. However, the bill ultimately did not pass.

Oregon HB4019 aimed to require certain agencies to make decisions on permit applications based on the rules in effect when the application is deemed complete. This means that if the rules change after an application is submitted, the new rules would not apply to that application. The bill ultimately did not pass.

Oregon HB4023 aimed to limit the ways some mass transit districts could finance their operations. The bill sought to restore previous restrictions on these financing methods. Although it was introduced, it ultimately failed to pass.

Oregon HB4026 aimed to have a state agency study consumer protection issues and report its findings to lawmakers by September 2027. The bill was intended to help improve consumer rights and safety in the state. However, it ultimately failed to pass.

Oregon House Bill 4028 aimed to set limits on how insurance companies and health organizations audit claims from behavioral health treatment providers. It also required certain insurers to report additional information to the Department of Consumer and Business Services to ensure compliance with behavioral health parity laws. Although the bill failed, it was designed to improve oversight and transparency in behavioral health care reimbursement processes.

Oregon HB4030 aimed to exempt packaging used for certain berries, meat, poultry, fish, and seafood from existing recycling laws. This means that producers of these specific food items would not be responsible for recycling their packaging under the new requirements. The bill did not pass and therefore will not become law.

Oregon House Bill 4032 aimed to have the State Department of Energy study emergency fuel storage sites across the state. The bill required the department to evaluate these sites and report their findings to legislative committees. Ultimately, the bill did not pass.

Oregon House Bill 4038 aimed to pause the enforcement of the Health Care Cost Growth Target program for ten years. This means that the Oregon Health Authority could not take action against healthcare providers or payers regarding cost growth until January 1, 2036. The bill would have taken effect 91 days after the legislative session ended.

Oregon House Bill 4042 aimed to change how child-caring agencies are regulated, allowing for more flexibility in placing children in care. It proposed to expand the actions the Department of Human Services could take against these agencies if they were found to be failing in their duties. The bill also sought to modify rules about using restraints on children and create exceptions to existing placement limits.

Oregon House Bill 4044 aimed to create a new office within the Department of Human Services (DHS) focused on providing human services during emergencies. It proposed establishing grant programs to help government entities and nonprofits with emergency-related work, as well as offering assistance to individuals facing critical needs during such situations. However, the bill ultimately failed to pass.

Oregon House Bill 4046 aimed to direct the State Department of Energy to study nuclear energy, including advanced reactors. The bill required the department to engage with tribal governments and various organizations, report on funding sources, and provide updates on the study's progress. An emergency declaration was included, making the bill effective immediately upon passage, but it ultimately failed.

This bill aimed to provide a tax credit to pharmacists who work in rural areas of Oregon. It would have expanded existing tax credits for rural health care to include services provided by pharmacists. The bill was intended to encourage more pharmacists to serve in underserved rural communities.

Oregon House Bill 4049 aimed to allow users of ground water in Harney Valley to create agreements to limit their water usage. The goal was to help maintain stable ground water levels in the area. The bill would have taken effect 91 days after the legislative session ended.

Oregon House Bill 4050 aimed to study how educational funding is aligned with the actual costs of education. It required a report to be submitted by November 15, 2026, and was set to expire on January 2, 2027. The bill also declared an emergency, meaning it would take effect immediately upon passage.

Oregon House Bill 4051 aimed to help first-time home buyers by providing loans to cover closing costs. These loans would need to be repaid when the home is sold, the buyer moves out, or if the home is a mobile home and is relocated out of state. The program was intended to last for three years and would be declared an emergency measure upon passage.

Oregon House Bill 4054 aimed to require certain health insurers to notify healthcare providers whenever they used artificial intelligence to lower the reimbursement amount for a claim. The bill also sought to ensure that providers could appeal these decisions if their claims were downcoded automatically. However, the bill ultimately failed to pass.

Oregon House Bill 4055 aimed to require local public bodies to report any information security incidents, including ransomware attacks, to the State Chief Information Officer within 48 hours. The bill also called for the creation of a secure reporting system and a webpage with instructions for local governments. It sought to keep incident reports confidential while ensuring the state could track and manage these security issues effectively.