The 2025 Legislative Session ended abruptly on Friday June 27, two days before the legally required sine die, with much unfinished business.  OPB reported that Oregon Legislature adjourns 2025 session as Democrats’ transportation plans stumble.   The Oregon Capital Chronicle reported that Oregon Legislature wraps for 2025 after eleventh-hour strife, historic funding shortfall.  Scroll down to see the results of all the bills COIN endorsed or opposed. 

Page last updated: Monday June 30. 

Use the links below to jump to each section.

Using  this page: HOW TO MAKE YOUR VOICE HEARD

It takes only a few minutes to write a short letter or note to support or to oppose a bill. 

Here is a 'how to': 

1. Scroll down (or jump to a topic) to find a bill you're interested in that has an ACTION ALERT. 

2. Use the various links provided to learn more about the bill. 

3. Click on the Bill Number to open up the official bill summary. 

4. Click “Submit Testimony” on menu bar near the top.

5. Fill in your name, email, and city.

6. At “Position on Measure,” select SUPPORT or OPPOSE or NEUTRAL

7. At “Submit text or upload a PDF,” select “Text Testimony.”

8. Paste your testimony text into the box below “Submit text testimony below.”

9. Click “Submit Testimony.”

Thanks to Kevin Walsh for this step-by-step guide to submitting testimony.

We hope to have a video demonstrating this process available soon.

Oregon has passed legislation over the last few sessions attempting to ease the housing shortage. Click here to read an in-depth discussion of the progress and shortfalls to date from OPB. 

HB 3970 Enrolled has replaced HB 3079 - Preventing Youth Homelessness   COIN has ENDORSED this bill.  BILL PASSED. 

Oregon has the 4th highest number of houseless youth in the nation.  HB 3079 provides funding support for homeless youth services across Oregon through the Youth Experiencing Homelessness Program, a model with a strong national reputation, for which Oregon is considered a leader. 

HB 3970 directs the Department of Human Services and the Housing and Community Services Department to collaborate on recommendations for funding to meet the needs of youth experiencing homelessness. It modifies the list of persons who may receive services and assistance funded by the Emergency Housing Account to include children from birth to grade 12 and their families, and pregnant persons. The bill establishes grant programs for these youth and their families.    

• HB 3079 testimony template 

• HB 3079 one-pager

UPDATE!  HB 3079 didn't make it out of committee before the deadline, according to the committee chair, because  an amendment (-4) was introduced shortly before the deadline without time for an additional public hearing.  So, the bill sponsor, Rep Emerson Levy, reintroduced it as a priority bill including the amendment language, and it is now in the House Rules Committee where the deadlines don't apply. 

HB 3970 had a public hearing Monday June 2. You can watch the session here. 

MOVEMENT ALERT!  In a June 17 work session the committee passed the bill unanimously with 1 member excused but after adopting the -1 amendment that basically guts the bill's proposed new services for unhoused youth. The bill as amended does expand those eligible for existing services to include all school aged children and youth regardless of whether they are enrolled in school and pregnant individuals.  Watch the work session here. 

SUCCESS! This bill passed in the House 42-0 (with 18 absent) on 6/23. The bill has moved to the Senate and assigned to Senate Rules Committee.

MOVEMENT ALERT! A public hearing was held on June 24 by the Senate Rules Committee. Watch the public hearing here. The bill passed 5-0 during the work session on June 25 with a Do Pass recommendation.  Watch the work session here.

SUCCESS! On 6/26, the Senate voted unanimously to pass HB 3970. The Speaker and the President haves signed, waiting for the governor's signature.

SB 599 Enrolled - Bans Immigration Status Discrimination for Tenants.  COIN has ENDORSED this bill.  BILL PASSED. 

This bill will prevents landlords from asking about immigration status or rejecting prospective tenants because of immigration status. It prohibits landlords from reporting the tenant's information to customs officials and from using the threat to report the tenant's information.

Numerous coalitions, consisting of dozens of community-based organizations and labor unions, support this legislation. This includes Stable Homes for Oregon Families, Fair Shot for All, and Our Children Oregon. 

Originally assigned to the Senate Judiciary Committee.

• COIN Worksheet on SB 722/SB 599

• COIN Testimony for SB 599

• COIN Testimony for SB 722

A public hearing was held for SB 599 on Mar 5. Watch the session here. 

The adopted amendment also prohibits landlords from asking for documentation that would reveal the tenant's or applicant's immigration status.

SB 599 moved out of committee Mar 12 after a clarifying amendment with a "Do pass" recommendation by a 5-1 vote. Watch the recording here. 

SUCCESS! This bill passed the Senate by a 21-8 vote Monday Mar 24.  It now moves to House Committee On Judiciary.

This bill had a public hearing on 4/23. You can watch the proceedings here. During a work session March 19 SB 586 was moved out of committee with a "Do pass" recommendation by a 5-1 vote (2 absent). View the session here. 

SUCCESS! SB 599 passed the House by a vote of 36-15 on 5/19.  Legislative leaders and the governor have signed it!

SB 586 Enrolled - Changes the Notice Period for Termination of Rental Agreement   COIN is neutral on this bill as amended.  BILL PASSED.

Originally we opposed this bill as it reduced the length of the required notice period from 90 days to 45 days that a landlord must provide a tenant before termination of their rental agreement if the landlord has accepted an offer to sell the dwelling unit. Especially in our cities, low vacancy rates and high housing costs make the search for a new rental unit terrifying and expensive. Having 90 days to find a new unit and move gives tenants a small cushion to make the transition, which is occurring through no fault of their own. They need time to save for a new deposit, as the previous one is not due to be returned until 31 days after they vacate. Asking regular Oregonians to save $1500- $2000 for a deposit in 45 days is an unreasonable expectation. Additionally, changing notice periods confuses both landlords and tenants, as more complicated rules make compliance more difficult for unsophisticated parties. ORS 90 does not need more loopholes to reduce tenants' rights. 

A public hearing was held on Mar 3. You can watch it here. During a work session March 19 SB 586 was amended and moved out of committee with a "Do pass" recommendation by a 4-0 vote (1 absent). Watch the session here.  

The adopted amendment leaves the notification to 90 days unless the landlord gives the tenant compensation equivalent to one month's rent at which point 60 days notice would be sufficient. COIN feels this is an acceptable compromise. The tenant might use the compensation towards a deposit for the next place they rent.

CHAMBER PASSAGE: This bill passed the Senate with a 26-0 vote with 4 absent Tuesday Apr 1. Now goes to the House Committee On Housing and Homelessness.

A public hearing was held on 4/16. You can watch the hearing here.  A work session was held on 5/21 and the committee voted 11-0 for a Do Pass recommendation. View the 5/21 work session here.

2nd CHAMBER PASSAGE:  SB 586 -1 passed the House with a vote of 46-1 (11 absent). The President, the Speaker, and the Governor have signed. 

HB 3851 - Similar to SB 586 above. BILL DID NOT PASS

This bill also would replace the current 90 day notice requirement for termination. Allows a residential landlord to give 59 days' notice after accepting an offer from a buyer who intends to occupy the premises, to terminate a tenancy. If the landlord is successful in quickly finding a buyer, this could reduce the current 90 day notice to the tenant by up to 30 days. The shortened amount of time could place an unacceptable burden on the tenant.

HB 2964 Enrolled - Affordable Housing Pre-Development Assistance     COIN has ENDORSED this bill.   BILL PASSED. 

Requires the Housing and Community Services Department to establish the Affordable Housing Predevelopment Loan Fund and award grants for the predevelopment costs of affordable housing plans being considered by nonprofit groups, including faith-based groups, tribes, housing authorities and other agencies. Appropriates moneys from the General Fund to the department for grants and loans.

Especially with the instability of federal money, nonprofit groups with the desire to renovate older buildings to provide valuable low-cost housing are unable to find money for feasibility studies, site assessments, and other costs associated with decision-making and finalizing plans. These costs can total upwards of $100,000.  

Started in the House Committee On Housing and Homelessness .

• COIN Worksheet

• Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon EMO HB 2964 Support

• EMO Testimony Suggestions

This bill had a public hearing on 3/19. You can watch the hearing here. The bill passed out of committee with a bipartisan vote of 12-0 and a Do Pass recommendation on 4/7. You can watch the work session here.

SUCCESS! We are pleased to see that this bill passed the House on 4/15 by a vote of 37-16, but disappointed with the -5 amendment that removed the grant program. Now moved to the Senate Committee On Housing and Development.

A public hearing for this bill was held on 5/14. Watch the proceedings here. 

MOVEMENT ALERT: A work session was held on 5/21 and the committee voted 5-0 for a Do Pass recommendation. 

SUCCESS! We are pleased to see that this bill passed the Senate on 6/12 by a vote of 24-4. The Speaker, the President of the Senate, and Governor have signed. 

HB 3525 Enrolled - Drinking water testing for rental units  COIN has ENDORSED this bill.    BILL PASSED. 

This bill would require landlords to collect and test samples of drinking water for certain contaminants if the dwelling unit has one or more exempt wells as a source of drinking water. It would also require landlords to provide test results to the tenant and to the Oregon Health Authority (OHA), and establish requirements for associated testing laboratories and the OHA. The original bill would have required the landlord, upon finding levels of contamination in excess of the federal Safe Drinking Water Act standards, to repair the well and test it again. The -6 amendment removed that requirement, so all the landlord has to do is notify the tenant that the water is contaminated.

• COIN testimony in support of HB 3524

• Testimony in support of HB 3525 by the Oregon Environmental Council

COIN supports the testing requirements and advocates that landlord be required to make repairs, if possible.  Sometimes landlords cannot fix the problem, as with contamination by factory farms.

This bill proceeded to the House Committee On Rules.

HB 3525 had a public hearing on Wednesday April 30. You can watch the proceedings here. 

MOVEMENT ALERT! After several cancelled work sessions, the bill was passed by a 4-1 vote with 2 excused in a June 16 work session with the A-12 amendment that limited the testing requirements to exempt wells within a groundwater management area. While this amended bill is not nearly as strong as the original bill, it is still a small step in the right direction. 

SUCCESS! This bill passed the House on June 20 by a vote of 39-8 with 13 excused. The  bill now moves to the state Senate.  

MOVEMENT ALERT! A public hearing was held on June 24 by the Senate Rules Committee. Watch the public hearing here. The bill passed 4-1 during the work session on June 25 with a Do Pass recommendation.  Watch the work session here. 

SUCCESS! On 6/26, the Senate voted 23-6 to pass HB 3525. The House concurred with amendments and passed it 36-14. Now it is awaiting signatures. 

HB 2138 Enrolled - Land Use Revisions to Support Middle-Income Housing    COIN has ENDORSED this bill.    BILL PASSED. 

• Expands allowable middle housing and expands middle housing requirements to include urban unincorporated lands. 

• Expands allowable single room occupancies. 

• Makes retroactive the prohibition on private restrictions, including restrictions in governing documents of planned communities, that would limit middle housing, accessory dwelling units or housing density. 

• Limits a local government's ability to reduce density requirements or allowances within urban growth boundaries. 

• Reforms expedited land division provisions and makes such divisions land use decisions. 

• Allows for plats that consolidate a land division and a middle housing land division and requires review within 120 days.

Originally assigned to the House Committee on Housing and Homelessness.

Astoria Housing Alliance HB 2138 Testimony

Most testimony opposing this measure targets just one issue, section 22 (1) (f), which removes a demolition review process for historic homes. At least one of the possible amendments deletes this provision. As amended, this provision has been deleted.

This bill had a public hearing on 3/3. You can watch the hearing here. 

This bill had a 2nd public hearing on 3/26. You can watch the hearing here. 

There was a work session Wednesday April 2 at 1:00 PM.  You can watch the work session here. 

At a second work session and -6 amendment on 4/9 the committee voted 9-2 with a Do Pass recommendation to move HB 2138. You can watch the work session here.  The bill was assigned to the Joint Committee On Ways and Means Subcommittee On Transportation and Economic Development where it will had a work session and was moved to the full  Joint Ways and Means Committee Tuesday June 10. You an watch the session here. 

MOVEMENT ALERT:  By a vote of 18-3, HB 2138 A got a Do Pass recommendation from the full JW&M Committee with the -A8 amendment.  You can watch that session here.  

SUCCESS! HB 2138 passed the House by a vote of 33-17 on 6/18. Was moved back to the full  Joint Ways and Means Committee Thursday June 19.

At a June 20 work session the full Committee took up and passed over Republicans' objections the Conflict Amendment Recommendation to resolve conflicts between this and 2 other bills. The -B9 amendment repealed deed restrictions that limit building on site to single-home dwellings. View the proceedings here. 

SUCCESS! The bill passed the Senate by a vote of 21-8 on June 24. And on 6/26, the House concurred on the Senate amendment. Now the bill awaits signatures. 

HB 3928  Counties Ignoring Rural Land Use Laws    
COIN OPPOSES this bill.   BILL DID NOT PASS.

Allows counties to designate certain rural lands for rural housing development, regardless of statewide land use planning laws. This bill would open up forests and farms to unlimited development without regard to infrastructure, water, and public services availability. It does not address affordable housing needs nor does it provide an avenue for appeal of the county decisions. Farmers hoping to purchase farmland would be priced out of land sales by developers, resulting in the steady loss of land devoted to agriculture.

Currently in the House Committee on Housing and Homelessness.

• HB 3928 COIN Testimony

The bill was given a public hearing 3/31. The  testimony has been overwhelmingly opposed to HB 3928.

A second public hearing was held April 9. View the meeting here.

SB 54 - Providing Cooling Spaces for Residential Renters    COIN has ENDORSED this bill.  BILL DID NOT PASS.

SB 1530, passed in 2022, required landlords to allow portable cooling devices if residential renters bought one for themselves. This bill, SB 54, sets a timeline by which indoor cooling must be provided by the landlord as an "essential service" for residential tenants, putting cooling in the same category as heating, water, and electricity. 

For current rentals: Landlords must provide residential tenants with indoor cooling or a shared cooling space for multi unit buildings with 10 units or more. Grants to assist with costs are available.

For new rentals: For multi unit buildings with 10 or more units permitted on or after Jan 1, 2026, landlords must provide residential tenants with indoor cooling for each rental unit. 

Landlords of buildings with few units are given a longer grace period, but by January 1, 2036, every landlord must provide indoor cooling for every residential rental unit. 

Sunsets, on January 1, 2036, the requirement that the State Department of Energy provide grants for landlords to provide community cooling spaces. 

• COIN Worksheet for SB 54.

• Laura Allen's COIN Testimony in Support of SB 54

Currently in the Senate Committee On Housing and Development. 

There was a public hearing on SB 54 Wednesday, Mar 19 at 1:00PM.  View the session here.

There was a 2nd public hearing Monday Mar 24 at 1:00PM.  View that session here.

A work session planned for Monday April 7 was cancelled. 

HB 2967 - Prohibits Renter Screening Fees       
COIN is WATCHING this bill.  BILL DID NOT PASS.

Under current law, landlords can charge rental applicants a "screening charge" to cover the cost of investigating the applicant. This bill will ban such applicant screening charges. Currently, these screening charges range from $40-$100 each, and if a potential tenant is not offered the rental unit, they might not be refunded the screening charge. There are elaborate rules for when the applicant can get a refund. Understanding those rules plus jumping though all the hoops can be difficult for many people. However, we also recognize that landlords have multiple tenant applications to process, which can also be expensive. We'll continue watching this bill, advocating for some compromise. For example, develop a system that would require a reasonable fee for one applicant screening, but allow multiple landlords to access the same applicant screening for a specified period of time, similar to the universal college application.  

Currently in the House Committee On Housing and Homelessness.

A public hearing for HB 2967 was held on  Feb 17. Watch the session here.  Read the testimony here. 

A proposed amendment would allow a maximum screening fee of $10. While this would be an acceptable compromise, we still prefer our recommendation of a "universal" screening process.

A tentative work session scheduled for this bill Monday April 7 has been cancelled. 

SB 722 - Bans Rental Fee Maximizing Software 
COIN has ENDORSED this bill.  BILL DID NOT PASS.

This bill will ban certain software landlords use to make rental decisions based on non-public information – the software synthesizes info from many landlords to maximize rental fees. The bill also reduces the period when new rental units are exempt from rent increase caps. SB722 provides penalties for violations. 

Oregon is among the worst in the nation for housing affordability. Rents are high, and wages have not kept up. Partially, this is due to the fact that we have extreme shortages of affordable units, and partially this is because the private market is still not regulated enough – all units less than 15 years old are entirely exempt from rent stabilization statutes. The tight market means that in newer units, prices have spiked exorbitantly, and even in units that are covered by rent stabilization, landlords are able to charge right up to the annual cap, which is not protective enough. The use of price-fixing algorithmic software exacerbates this situation, maximizing profit on any unit while destabilizing Oregon’s families. 

Consequently, the risk of eviction and homelessness is one of the biggest fears for low and moderate income households across the state, and the eviction rate is higher than ever. The solution is to ban the use of price-fixing algorithmic software and to strengthen and improve coverage of Oregon’s rent stabilization statutes.

SB 722 is in the Senate Committee on Housing and Development. 

The committee was a public hearing Wednesday, Mar 19.  View the session here.

There are amendments that may be adopted.

There was a 2nd public hearing Wednesday Mar 26.  View that session here. A work session and possible committee vote scheduled for Wednesday April 2 at 1:00 PM has been cancelled. 

SB 951 Enrolled - Corporate Practice of Medicine Ban    
COIN has ENDORSED this bill.   BILL PASSED. 

Corporatization significantly increases the costs of health care. This bill protects against the corporatization of health care in Oregon.  It stops people in charge of companies that do not do medical work from running both the company and another entity that does medical work. It stops companies from telling their workers that they cannot work for someone else, say that the company is bad or speak out about bad acts. It also stops companies from punishing those who speak out. COIN endorsed HB 4130, the 2024 version of this bill. That bill passed the full House with bipartisan support and through 2 Senate committees on partisan votes but never made it to the full Senate. The bill was overhauled over the summer and fall. “This workgroup included representatives from local insurance companies, CCOs, physician associations, independent clinics, hospitals, think tank partners, academic researchers, multinational corporations, patient advocacy groups, organized labor representatives, pharmacy chains, trade associations, emerging medical startups, and others.” Changes include revising control provisions, closing a loophole in dual compensation, modifying definitions of key phrases, clarifying enforcement responsibilities, restricting the use of NDA’s and Non-Disclosure agreements, and more. Authors of the bill feel this legislation will update Oregon standards for the 21st century to ensure physicians maintain autonomy in their practices and Oregonians receive access to high-quality care. 

COIN encourages legislators to address corporate take overs of hospitals with the same diligence as with this bill and private medical practices.

• Much of the information provided here is from the CPOM Report prepared by Rep. Bowman’s office. This document describes the long hours of work spent to develop a consensus satisfactory to most constituencies.

• See SB 951 Worksheet 

• KLCC 3.6.25 SB 951 article

• Frequently Asked Questions, prepared by Se. Patterson

This bill started in the Senate Health Care Committee .

A public hearing was held on 3/4. Watch the session here. A work session was held on 3/25. By a vote of 3-2 the committee voted Do Pass with the -8 amendment. You can watch the work session here. 

SUCCESS! This bill passed the senate by a vote of 21-8 on 4/8. It's now in the House Committee On Behavioral Health and Health Care.  

A public hearing was held at 3:00 PM on Tuesday 4/29. View the proceedings here. Another public hearing was held Thursday 5/1.  Watch the second hearing here.

MOVEMENT ALERT: This bill had a work session on 5/15. The committee voted 7-2 with a Do Pass recommendation to move this bill the House floor for a vote. You can view the work session here.  

SUCCESS! This bill passed the senate by a vote of 21-8 on 4/28. Legislative leaders and the Governor have signed.

HB 3198 A - OHA to Lead Murdered & Missing Indigenous Persons Efforts   COIN has ENDORSED this bill.   BILL DID NOT PASS.

Native groups have long suffered from high rates of murdered and missing indigenous people, MMIP. The societal issues that contribute to this are inadequate health care, community education, social services, violence prevention, and programs to support youth; and also insufficient collaboration between state and federal law enforcement agencies and tribal-led governments, native-led organizations and tribal and urban American Indian and Alaska Native communities. This bill, originally a study bill, was amended (-1) and now directs the Oregon Health Authority to dedicate staff in the office of the authority that is responsible for tribal affairs to lead the work of addressing these issues.

• HB 3198 Worksheet

• Investigate West Oregon Bill Takes Aim at Epidemic of Violence 

This bill has already had a public hearing (Feb 3 video recording) and a work session (Feb 10 video recording). By an 8-0 vote, the House Judiciary amended and passed HB 3198 A. 

ACTION ALERT: The bill is now in the Joint Ways and Means Committee.  Contact committee members and urge them to fund this bill.  Read COIN Letter in Support of HB 3198 A to the Joint Ways and Means Committee.

SB 1137 Enrolled - Insurance Coverage for Breast Reconstruction  
COIN ENDORSES this bill.   BILL PASSED. 

This bill require health benefit plans to cover autologous breast reconstruction procedures and related services with specific requirements. This type of procedure is typically used for women who have experienced breast cancer and had a mastectomy.  This type of breast reconstruction is covered by many but not all insurance providers, so this bill would make it a requirement for all insurance providers in Oregon. 

The bill started in the Senate Committee On Health Care. 

Read Kevin Walsh's testimony on SB 1137 on COIN's behalf.

SB 1137 had a public hearing Tuesday Mar 18. You can watch the hearing here.  

By a vote of 5-0 the committee voted Do Pass with the -1 clarifying amendment at the work session on 4/8. Watch the session here. The bill now moves to the Joint Ways and Means Human Services Subcommittee.

A work was held on 5/28. Watch the session here. The subcommittee voted without objection to move this bill to the full Joint Ways and Means Committee for a vote.

MOVEMENT ALERT: The full W&M committee held work session on this (and many other bills) on 6/6. They voted unanimously for a Do Pass recommendation after some very moving testimony in support of this bill. We highly recommend watching the recorded session here starting at the 3:00 mark and running to the 3:06 mark. Senator Lieber shares her very personal experience about the importance of this bill, and it is worth 6 minutes of your day to hear first-hand why this bill is so critical for women.  

MOVEMENT ALERT!  The bill passed the Senate on June 16 by a vote of 25-0 with 5 excused. The bill next moved to the House where it was referred again to the Joint Committee on Ways and Means, and where it again got a Do Pass recommendation. 

SUCCESS! The bill passed the House on June 24 by a vote of 48-7. Signed by legislative leaders and now goes to the governor's desk for her signature. 

HB 3497 A - Shared Future Task Force  
COIN ENDORSES this bill.   BILL DID NOT PASS.

This bill will form the Shared Future Oregon Task Force comprised of representatives from 15 state agencies who will develop a multi-sector plan for aging.  According to AGE+,  "by 2034, Oregonians 65 and older will outnumber those 18 and under. This permanent shift in our population affects individuals, families and communities, especially in rural areas where this shift is already underway. While the challenges ahead are great, so is the potential. AGE+ is proposing a comprehensive strategy to rethink how aging affects the way society perceives, plans for and responds to our changing demographics—a multi-sector plan for aging." The -1 amendment modified the membership of the task force. 

• Worksheet for HB 3497

• OPB Think Out Loud 1-29-25:  Oregon residents are getting older. How can the state prepare?     

This bill was originally assigned to the House Committee On Early Childhood and Human Services.

HB 3497 had a hearing Mar 6. Watch the hearing here. This bill passed out of committee with an 8-0 vote Tuesday April 1. You can watch the work session here.  The bill is now stuck in the Joint Ways and Means Committee as we approach the end of the session. 

HB 2528 B  Closes loopholes in tobacco and nicotine regulatory laws.
COIN ENDORSES this bill, but suggests stronger penalties for violations.
BILL DID NOT PASS.

This bill was brought forward by the Governor and the Oregon Health Authority to close loopholes in our tobacco and nicotine regulatory laws.  Among other things, this bill seeks to include tobacco-free nicotine products within the definition of “tobacco products” so that they can be regulated. This includes products like nicotine pouches, nicotine lozenges and other products containing nicotine not derived from tobacco. These products are as addictive and involve many of the same health risks as tobacco products, and so should be subject to the same regulations. 

The COIN Legislative Team recommends endorsement, but we would prefer to see amendments that include criminal penalties rather than civil penalties, and assign enforcement to Oregon Liquor and Cannabis Commission rather than OHA because they have experience  and enforcement authority that OHA lacks. 

• Read more about HB 2528 here.

• COIN testimony in support of HB 2528

This bill is currently in the House Committee On Commerce and Consumer Protection.

A hearing was held on 2/27 and unfortunately, the tobacco and vaping industry got the word out to many in the industry to submit testimony opposing this bill. We'll be watching for future opportunities to submit testimony in support of this bill.  You can view the recorded hearing here. 

At the 4/8 work session, committee members voted 6-3 with a -1 amendment but without recommendation as to passage to send this bill to the House Revenue Committee.  This bill had a public hearing on Tuesday 5/13. Watch the proceedings here.  

A work session was held on 5/29 and on 6/3. Watch the 5/29 session here and the 6/3 session here. 

MOVEMENT ALERT: At a work session on 6/4, the committee adopted the -A3 amendment and then passed the bill with a 5-1 vote. Watch the proceeding here. 

SUCCESS! We are pleased to see that this bill passed the House on 6/12 by a vote of 33-24. It is now in the Senate where it has been assigned to the Finance and Revenue Committee.  

ACTION ALERT!  A public hearing and work session was held 6/23 and the committee voted 3-2 for a Do Pass recommendation. Watch the proceedings here.  It now moves to the Senate floor for a vote so contact your state senator and urge them to vote YES for HB 2528 B. 

SB 702 - Permits only OLCC to sell flavored inhalant/tobacco products    
COIN ENDORSES this bill.  BILL DID NOT PASS.

The original bill banned sale of flavored tobacco products and inhalants.  The adopted amendment replaced the ban with limiting such sales to Oregon licensed liquor stores

What this bill does:

• Prohibits distributing, selling, attempting to sell or offering to sell flavored inhalant delivery system products or flavored tobacco products in this state, except from premises established as a store by the Oregon Liquor and Cannabis Commission and licensed by the Department of Revenue or authorized by a local government.

• Defines “flavored inhalant delivery system product” and “flavored tobacco product.”

• Prohibits distributing, offering or providing, without compensation, any tobacco product or inhalant delivery system.

• Requires any sale of cigarettes, inhalant delivery systems or smokeless tobacco products to occur at licensed premises.

• Authorizes local governments to adopt regulations that are stricter than state law on the sale of inhalant delivery system products or tobacco products.  For example, Washington County already bans flavored products, I believe.

It does not preempt a local government, as defined in ORS 174.116, from enacting an ordinance, rule or resolution, or from taking other legislative action, that imposes requirements or prohibitions on the sale of inhalant delivery system products or tobacco products that are more stringent than the requirements or prohibitions set forth in this section.

The first public hearing was in the Senate Early Childhood and Behavioral Health Committee on March 4.  There are 398 written testimonies.  

MOVEMENT ALERT: The committee adopted the -3 amendment and then by party line 3-2 vote referred it to Senate Finance and Revenue Committee, which heard it May 21.  

It went there due to its original revenue impact, estimated at $104 million in the first biennium, resulting from the complete banning of sales of flavored inhalant or tobacco products.  But the current bill does not have such a ban.  It limits such sales to retailers licensed by OLCC (“liquor stores”).  So there is likely to be a reduction in sales revenue but no current impact statement estimates the revenue reduction.  Of course, there is no attempt to quantify the enormous health and economic benefits of curtailing use of these products that would more than make up for the sales revenue reduction. 

The bill is stuck in the Senate Committee On Finance and Revenue and the work session scheduled for 6/11 was cancelled. It looks like this bill won't see any more action this year. 

These two bills are part of the "Momnibus Package" sponsored by Senator Lisa Reynolds, MD. Perinatal Care COIN has ENDORSED these bills. 

SB 692 Enrolled - Expanding Perinatal Care to Include Doulas
BILL PASSED. 

This bill establishes a community-based program providing access to culturally specific  perinatal providers. Plainly, those providers are known as doulas who give pregnant women  care and support during the later stage of their pregnancy, during labor and as they are  adjusting to the care of an infant. Statistics show that women supported by competently  trained doulas have fewer pre-term births, fewer C-section births, and healthier birth weights  through the care of these culturally/linguistically specific providers. By giving structure to the  doula community with stable remuneration, workforce development, and expanded medical  insurance coverage for doula and lactation services, this bill will improve maternal care.  

• SB 692 Worksheet

• SB 692 COIN Testimony

Originally assigned to the Senate Committee on Early Childhood and Behavioral Health.

This bill had a public hearing Feb 18. View the recording here.

MOVEMENT ALERT: A work session was held on 4/8 and by a vote of 4-1, the committee adopted the -2 amendment and gave the a Do Pass recommendation. You can watch it here. The bill is now in Joint Committee On Ways and Means Subcommittee on Human Services. 

MOVEMENT ALERT!  This bill, SB 692 passed out of the subcommittee and was returned to the full  Joint Committee on Ways and Means where it was heard and reported out with the A-4 amendment on June 17. That amendment provided increased funding. Watch the work session here. 

SUCCESS! This bill passed in the Senate floor 26-3 (1 absent) on 6/23 and then moved to the House where it was referred again to Ways and Means and received a Do Pass recommendation. 

SUCCESS!  On 6/26, the House passed SB 692 by a vote of 44-4. The President has signed.  Awaiting signatures from the Speaker and Governor. 

SB 693 A - Perinatal Workforce Task Force
BILL DID NOT PASS. 

Senate Bill 693 will empower a task force to evaluate the existing  perinatal workforce in Oregon and make recommendations for improvement to interim  health care committees of the Legislative Assembly. It is already understood that there is a  shortage of maternal healthcare support during the late stage of pregnancy, labor, delivery  and the immediate period following childbirth. This task force will provide recommendations  for the improved care of Oregon moms and their babies throughout the state. Many rural hospitals don’t have enough funding so save money by not adequately staffing. This bill will help take a new look at outdated staffing models. 

SB 693 Worksheet

Originally assigned to the Senate Committee on Early Childhood and Behavioral Health

This bill had a public hearing Feb 18. View the recording here. 

MOVEMENT ALERT: A work session was held on 4/3 and the committee voted 4-1 with a Do Pass recommendation. You can watch it here. The bill has been moved to Joint Committee On Ways and Means, where it seems to be stuck. It may be done for this session.

HB 2029 A - "Claw Back” Restrictions On Behavioral Health Payments
COIN has ENDORSED this bill.  BILL DID NOT PASS.

Modifies auditing standards insurers can apply to behavioral health specialists. It limits the permissible auditing period to one year from the date the claim was submitted; requires insurers to give providers a detailed written description of all requirements for the successful resolution of a claim that may be audited; prohibits recoupment based on clerical errors; and prohibits offering financial incentives based upon the number of errors found.

There are currently no restrictions or regulations on how insurance companies can audit payments to mental health providers and then take back payments. Little guidance is given to providers to prevent claw backs as well. HB 2029 would be a significant overhaul that would give much more confidence to therapists that they won’t have to pay back thousands of dollars years down the road for clerical errors.

• HB 2029 Worksheet

• Read Anthony Estrada's testimony on HB 2029 on COIN's behalf.

Started in the House Committee on Behavioral Health and Health Care.

A public hearing was held Thursday Mar 13. Watch the recorded hearing here.

MOVEMENT ALERT! HB 2029 had a work session on 4/8. The committee gave it a Do Pass recommendation by a vote of 9-0. View the session here. The bill is currently in the Joint Committee On Ways and Means, where it seems to be stuck for this session. 

HB 2992 A  Provides eyeglasses for students from low-income households   COIN has ENDORSED this bill.  BILL DID NOT PASS.

This bill directs the Department of Education and the Oregon Health Authority to jointly establish and implement a program that provides eye examinations and prescription eyeglasses to students from low-income families. It also would provide replacements for lost or broken glasses and other services related to vision. Eyeglasses can be such a simple fix for a struggling student. We're rooting for this bill!  

• HB 2992 Worksheet

A public hearing for HB 2992 was held Feb 3. Watch the recorded session here.

MOVEMENT ALERT! The House Committee on Education voted 8-0 Apr 7 with a Do Pass recommendation and a -3 amendment to keep this bill moving forward. View the session here.  The bill is now in the Joint Committee On Ways and Means, where it seems to be stuck for this session. 

HB 2292 Enrolled - Expands coverage for HIV-related illnesses  
COIN has ENDORSED this bill.  BILL PASSED. 

This bill would require health benefit plans and medical assistance managed plans to provide coverage with no cost-sharing for additional treatment for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and prohibit requiring prior authorization.

• HB 2292 Worksheet

A public hearing for HB 2292 was held Feb  11. Watch the session here. 

MOVEMENT ALERT: This bill passed out of the House Committee on Behavioral Health and Health Care with a 9-0 vote on 4/1. View the session here. 

The bill moved to the Joint Committee On Ways and Means Subcommittee On Human Services, where it was passed on to the full Joint Ways and Means Committee. Contact committee members and urge them to support this bill. 

The full JW&M Committee voted 21-0 in favor of funding this bill. Great news!  

SUCCESS! HB 2292 A has passed the House 53-0 (7 excused)!

SUCCESS!  It also passed the Senate 30-0 on 6/23. The Speaker and Senate President have signed, and the bill has been sent to the governor for signature. 

HB  2202 A - Enacts OHA Recommendations From Redundancies WorkGroup   COIN has ENDORSED this bill.  BILL DID NOT PASS.

This bill is based on the first round of recommendations required by HB 4092 (2024 session) from the work group formed from stakeholders deeply involved with behavioral health, both providers and consumers. These recommended solutions are to address or resolve the issues that increase efficiencies in the Oregon behavioral health system, specifically evaluating provisions of ORS chapters 414 and 430. They should reflect best current practices, clarify and simplify reporting, and specify responsibilities for accountability. Directs the work group to continue this evaluation and recommendations process to submit findings to the interim committees of the Legislative Assembly related to health not later than September 15, 2026. The -1 amendment explains the recommendations in detail and was adopted.

• HB 2202 Worksheet

• See the Preliminary Report to Legislature from the HB 4092 Work Group 

• COIN Testimony in Support of HB 2202

Originally assigned to the House Committee on Behavioral Health and Health Care

MOVEMENT ALERT: HB 2202 had a public hearing on 3/25. You can watch the hearing here. It had a work session on 4/8 and the committee gave it a Do Pass recommendation with the -1 amendment by a vote of 6-3. Click here to view the session. The bill has moved to the Joint Committee On Ways and Means, where it seems to be stuck for this session. 

HB 3193 A - Farm Workers Disaster Relief    COIN has ENDORSED this bill.
BILL DID NOT PASS, but some funding was provided from the Christmas Tree bill.

Requires the Oregon Health Authority to establish and implement a permanent farmworker disaster relief program.

This bill is a small step toward equity. Federal law does not include agricultural workers in labor protection of workers. This state depends heavily on agriculture and thus depends heavily on the labor of farmworkers, many of whom do not qualify for unemployment, Medicaid or SNAP because of their immigration status. This bill will help farmworker families pay rent, buy food and other essentials of daily life during times of disaster.   The -4 amendment removes all tree planting workers except those who plant Christmas trees.

HB 3193 Worksheet 

Started in the House Committee On Labor and Workplace Standards 

A public hearing was held Monday Mar 10. Watch the hearing here. 

MOVEMENT ALERT! There was a work session on 3/24. The committee voted 4-1 with a Do Pass recommendation.   View the session here.  

SUCCESS! It appears that this bill was funded for $2 million in the Christmas Tree bill this year. 

HB 2467 A - Revises dangerousness criteria for civil commitment
COIN has ENDORSED this bill.    BILL DID NOT PASS.

Revises dangerousness criteria for civil commitment of mentally ill persons to focus on risk instead of immediacy to better protect persons with mental illness from the consequences of their behavior while ill.  Defines "dangerous to self," "dangerous to others" and "serious physical harm" for the purpose of involuntarily committing a person with mental illness. 

Opponents of the bill rightly claim there is little capacity for treatment of these individuals at this time. That issue needs to be addressed but should not prevent the proper categorization of an individual.

• HB 2467/SB 171 Worksheet

• COIN Testimony by Dr. Henry Elder

Started in the Senate Judiciary Committee.

MOVEMENT ALERT: HB 2467 had a public hearing on 4/3. You can watch the hearing here. A work session was held on 4/8 and the committee gave it a Do Pass recommendation with the -3 amendment by a vote of 8-0. You can watch the work session here.  The bill is now in the Joint Committee On Ways and Means Subcommittee On Public Safety.

ACTION ALERT! HB 2467 had a work session and committee vote on 6/10 to return it to the full Joint Ways and Means Committee. You can watch the session here.  And you can contact JW&M Committee members and urge them to fund and pass this bill. 

SB 171 Senate version of HB 2467.  BILL DID NOT PASS.

HB 3435-A13 - Modifications of Child Welfare Laws 
COIN is WATCHING this bill.   BILL DID NOT PASS.

The Act makes changes to laws involving the welfare of young people. 

• Modifies provisions regarding the use of restraint and involuntary seclusion on certain young people. 

• Modifies provisions regarding investigations of abuse of certain young people. 

• Modifies provisions regarding licensing of child-caring agencies. 

• Modifies provisions regarding out-of-state placements of children in care. 

• Modifies provisions regarding older children in care. 

Most testimony is in opposition of HB 3835.

From Senator Sara Gelser Blouin, May 2025), who opposes HB 3435 in its current form:

“HB 3835A with the -A8 amendment substantially revises Oregon law related to the safety, placement and wellbeing of children in the care of the Oregon Department of Human Services and those privately placed in residential care by their parents.

The issues covered by this measure span nearly a dozen pieces of legislation passed with significant public process over the last decade. It also makes significant changes to laws that stretch back to the last century, circumvents regulations and recommendations from Congress and federal agencies, weakens the implementation of the federal Family First Act and substantially expands the power and reach of the System of Care Advisory Council."

• See Sen. Gelser Blouin's  Policy Overview of HB 3835 and the A5 Amendment

• Sen. Gelser Blouin's HB 3835 Comparison of -8 and -11 Amendments 

• Disability Rights Oregon Fact-checking the Oregon Department of Health re: HB 3835A

• Oregon Psychiatric Physicians Association Testimony in Support of HB 3835 A

Originally assigned to the House Early Childhood and Human Services Committee. The bill was passed on without recommendation with a 7-0 vote.

Currently in House Rules Committee where a public hearing was held 5/12. Watch the proceedings here.

MOVEMENT ALERT: HB 3435 A had a work session on 6/11 where the -A13 amendment was adopted and with a 4-3 vote for a Do Pass recommendation. It has been referred to the Joint Ways and Means Committee. Watch the session here. 

HB 2439 - Eliminating Gender Identity Protection
COIN OPPOSES this bill.    BILL DID NOT PASS.

“Gender identity” is currently a protected class under Oregon civil rights laws which prohibit discrimination. This bill would remove the term “gender identity” and its current meaning; “Gender identity means an individual’s gender-related identity, appearance, expression or behavior, regardless of whether the identity, appearance, expression or behavior differs from that associated with the gender assigned to the individual at birth” from nearly every Oregon statute in which it is now included. 

By removing this language, discrimination would be allowed against individuals solely based on their “gender identity.” This could prevent these individuals from being considered for or fired from employment, refused housing, refused the ability to purchase, rent or lease real property, refused services at public agencies including refusal of health care, admission to substance abuse treatment facilities, long-term care facilities and health insurance coverage. It would allow businesses to refuse services, schools to refuse admission to students (in specific circumstances), and would allow abuses such as cyberbullying, harassment and bullying against individuals while also removing the ability for complaints to be brought for this discrimination through civil action and in some cases criminal courts. This is not an exhaustive list of all areas of an individual’s life that could be impacted by this law. 

• Worksheet for HB2439 

• Letter to Chair Bowman opposing HB 2439

Currently in the House Rules Committee, so the work session deadline does not apply.

This bill hasn't seen any action this session. Democrats are very unlikely to support this so it probably won't move forward.  We'll keep watching to make sure it is good and dead.  

SJR 31 - Prohibits requiring vaccines 
COIN opposes this bill.   BILL DID NOT PASS.

Proposes an amendment to the Oregon Constitution that would prohibit the governor or any executive agency from requiring vaccines or medical procedures without a law passed by the Legislature that specifies the vaccine or procedure and the individuals or classes of individuals to receive the vaccine or procedure. This would hamstring the ability for rapid responses and delay action until the next meeting of the Legislature.

• Here is a COIN Worksheet for this anti-vaccine bill. 

Currently in the Senate Rules Committee so the work session deadline does not apply.

This bill hasn't seen any action this session.

COIN ENDORSED these three bills:

HB 3085 - Emergency Behavioral Health Services for Children
BILL DID NOT PASS.   

Oregon ranks dead last in the U.S. when it comes to our young people (under 18) wrestling with mental illness AND their ability to get the vital care they need. HB3085 establishes the Emergency Behavioral Health Services for Children program within the Oregon Health Authority to advance timely and appropriate care for children presenting at a hospital in crisis. The Oregon Health Authority will be charged with implementing 3 pilot programs in 3 different regions where one hospital will house a Regional Child Psychiatric Center. The success of this program will hopefully open more centers to serve our youth in crisis. Currently in House Committee on Behavioral Health and Health Care

• HB 3085 Worksheet

HB 2993 - Requires medical information and forms to be provided in a language the patient can understand.
BILL DID NOT PASS.

Currently in the House Committee on Behavioral Health and Health Care

HB 2317 - Requires staff  from federally qualified health centers and public health agencies to serve on coordinated care organization governing boards.
BILL DID NOT PASS.
Currently in the House Committee on Behavioral Health and Health Care

A public hearing was held on Mar 4. Watch the event here. 

SB 376 - Expanding the Definition of Rural Healthcare  
COIN OPPOSES this bill.  BILL DID NOT PASS.

Bill defines "rural" for purposes of the rural health care provider incentive program. In Oregon, there’s an extreme shortage of health care providers in rural areas. The health care provider incentive program helps attract more young health care providers to practice in rural areas. This bill will change the definition of “rural” to include many suburbs of Portland. The Office of Rural Health is against the bill as it will provide the same incentives to go to Portland suburbs as real rural areas, and real rural health will continue to suffer from a shortage of providers.  

COIN Worksheet for SB 376 

The bill is currently in the Senate Committee On Health Care. 

A public hearing was held on Feb 6. You can watch the recording here. 

COIN OPPOSES these bills that would deny reproductive freedom and jeopardize the health and lives of pregnant persons. BILLS DID NOT PASS.

SB 384, SB 918, SB 666, HB 2372, HB 2381, HB 2382, HB 3248 

HB 3330  and HB 2429 would also interfere with the right to gender-affirming treatment
HB 3330 expand laws that protect a health care worker's right to object to take part in abortions, physician-assisted suicide, or gender-affirming care. Allows health care facilities to opt out as well.

Here is a COIN Worksheet  with details about each of these bills.

COIN OPPOSES this anti-vaccine bill.  BILL DID NOT PASS.

HB 2193  

Basically, under this bill a person couldn’t refuse to do business with or decline any “economic relationship” with someone who refuses to be vaccinated or because of their religious or political beliefs or social standing. The bill is poorly written and unclear, but could be construed to prohibit a school district from requiring a child be immunized in order to attend school and the like. 

HB 2953 A - Removes the percentage cap on funds distributed to schools for students eligible for special education   
COIN ENDORSES this bill.   BILL DID NOT PASS.

This bill would remove the cap on special education funding that was implemented in the 1990s. That current cap only funds special education services for up to 11% of students in a school, even though today nearly 15% of students in the average Oregon school are enrolled in special education programs. With the current cap, about 19,000 students with special needs among the 80,000 total don’t count for additional funding under the school funding formula. 

The state offers a waiver for some districts with high numbers of students with special needs, but this covers only about 7,000 additional students. 

The Oregon PTA and Oregon Education Association support this bill. It was originally assigned to the House Committee on Education. Now in the House Revenue Committee, so the Mar 21 work session deadline does not apply.

• Here is the COIN Worksheet for SB 2953.

• Oregon Capital Chronicle article about SB 2953

A public hearing for HB 2953 was held Monday Feb 17. Watch the session here. 

MOVEMENT ALERT: HB 2953 moved out of the House Education Committee Feb 19, by a 6-1 vote, with a "Do pass" recommendation, and was referred the the House Revenue Committee. Watch the session here. 

A public hearing in Revenue was held on Mar 13. Watch the hearing here.  Read COIN's testimony in support. 

SB 5515 Enrolled is the original school funding bill
COIN ENDORSED this bill.
BILL PASSED.

SB 5516 Enrolled - Increased funds for schools based on Gov. Kotek's recommended budget 
COIN ENDORSED this bill.
BILL PASSED.

COIN definitely supports increased funding for schools. However, advocacy groups take the position that the $1.16 billion increase requested by Gov. Kotek in SB 5516 is a good start but too little to prevent cuts. Thus, COIN was originally "watching" these bills, advocating for more funding.  Cost pressures such as inflation and rising pension costs will soak up most of the proposed increase. Also, the Governor’s proposal is about $2.2B less than the funding recommendation from the state's Quality Education Commission. The Commission’s funding levels have never been fully funded. We need to close the gap.  But since the revenue forecast came out in May, it's been clear that there just isn't enough money to go around, so we're supporting these bills as they are, unfortunately the best we can do for this year.   

Oregon PTA made this introductory video to school finance in Oregon. Advocacy groups supporting more funding include the Oregon PTA, Oregon Education Association, and Oregon School Boards Association. 

• COIN worksheet for SB 5516.

• Oregonian article 2-28-25

• COIN testimony in support of fully funding education

Both education funding bills went to the Joint Committee on Ways and Means Subcommittee on Education. Both bills had public hearings. Watch the SB 5515 hearing here. Watch the SB 5516 hearing here.  A work session was held for SB 5516 for 5/28 and the bill was sent to the full committee with a Do Pass recommendation. Watch the session here. 

MOVEMENT ALERT:  On 5/30, the full Joint Ways and Means Committee voted without objection to pass SB 5516. 

MOVEMENT ALERT! On 6/5, the Senate voted 26-3 to pass SB 5516.  Next, it had a work session in the Joint Committee on Ways and Means Subcommittee on Education on 6/11. The subcommittee voted to return it to the full Joint Committee on Ways and Means.  Watch the session here.  In a work session on  June 17 the bill was heard and reported out by the full Committee with Amendment-2 that provided funding. Watch that session here.  

SUCCESS for SB 5516 A!  The bill passed the House by a vote of 44-6 with 10 excused on June 16. The bill has been signed by the Speaker, President of the Senate, and the Governor.

SUCCESS!  SB 5515 passed the Senate 19-11 on 6/23. It was referred again to Joint Ways and Means and given a Do Pass recommendation. And on 6/26, it passed in the House by a vote of 38-11. The President has signed.  Awaiting signatures from the Speaker and Governor. 

HB 3182 A and HB 3183 A - Student Basic Needs and Workforce Stabilization Act    COIN ENDORSES these bills. 
BILL PASSED.

These bills together make up the Student Basic Needs and Workforce Stabilization Act. Here is more information. 

HB 3182 (1) creates a task force to study student housing, (2) appropriates $6.5 million to the Higher Education Coordinating Commission (HECC) to award grants to organizations that provide low income college students with housing, and (3) appropriates $10 million for basic needs programming which means providing students with assistance in meeting needs such as food, housing, transportation, textbooks, and related needs. Here is the COIN worksheet for HB 3182.

HB 3183  appropriates $4.5 million to the Higher Education  Coordinating Commission (HECC)  for the Open Educational Resources Program (OERP). OERP leverages resources to save students money such as for textbooks and other school materials. OERP has been an invaluable resource in reducing costs for students. 

• COIN worksheet for HB 3183.

• Read COIN's testimony in support here.

• Testimony by Partners for a Hunger Free Oregon

• Testimony from the Oregon Hunger Task Force

• OPB 5.23.25 Oregon college students face political headwinds

A public hearing for both HB 3182 and HB 3183 was held Feb. 27 before the House Committee On Higher Education and Workforce Development.  Watch the hearing here.  

MOVEMENT ALERT: Both bills were approved by the Committee in a work session Thursday Mar 20 except that funding recommended for HB 3183-1 was reduced from $4.5 million to $2 million. Only Rep. Yunker voted no on these bills. View the session here. 

ACTION ALERT! The bills are now in the Joint Committee on Ways and Means. Contact committee members and urge them to vote to fully fund these programs!  

HB 3435 A - Free School Breakfast and Lunch for All Oregon School Children
COIN ENDORSES this bill.   BILL DID NOT PASS.

While most schools in Oregon have opted to serve free meals, there remain some that need help to do so. School meals at no cost is a program that is widely supported by parents, teachers, and other professionals; these no cost meal programs have resulted in improved academic and social outcomes, attendance and health outcomes while reducing food insecurity and behavioral discipline rates. Universal meal programs remove the stigma of school meals and often result in more meals being served. When compared to the free and reduced price meal model, school meals at no cost reduce administrative costs and overhead and result in investing in higher quality ingredients, preparation and service. Meals that meet higher nutritional standards were estimated to save up to $792 million in health care related costs over 10 years. See more info at School Meals for All Coalition.

The bill has some bipartisan support. But these programs, the National School Lunch Program and School Breakfast Program are part of the federal Dept. of Agriculture and some funding is obtained from the federal Dept. of Education. The existence and support of these meal programs depends, at least in part, on any cuts that are pending at the federal level. 

There is already in the Reconciliation Bill before Congress a plan to cut the Community Eligibility Provision which funds these programs.  The Community Eligibility Provision allows the nation’s highest-poverty schools and districts to serve breakfast and lunch at no cost to all enrolled students without collecting household applications. Instead, schools that adopt CEP are reimbursed using a formula based on participation in other specific means-tested programs, such as SNAP and TANF. Currently, schools can qualify if 40 percent of students receive these programs. The proposed budget cut would lift that to 60 percent. Congress is also looking at a provision to require students to submit income verification. All of this means that 285,000 Oregon students already receiving school meals would be cut from the program. This would make it much harder for Oregon to fund school meals for all.

• COIN Worksheet for HB 3435

• Info from School Meals for All Coalition about submitting testimony prior to Feb. 23. 

• School Meals for All 1-pager 

• School Meals for All messaging  

• Read COIN's testimony in support here.

Started in the House Education Committee.

A public hearing for HB 3435 was held on Feb 24. Watch the session here. 

MOVEMENT ALERT:  A work session was held on 3/17  and the committee voted 7-0 with a Do Pass recommendation. Watch the session here. The bill is now in the Joint Ways and Means. Contact committee members and urge them to fund this bill. 

DOUBLE ACTION ALERT: First, Contact Joint Ways and Means Committee Leadership and urge them to fund this important bill to prevent child poverty and increase learning. Second, School Meals for All Coalition would like people to meet with, write or call their members of Congress and urge them not to cut 285,000 Oregon school children from the school lunch and breakfast programs which will happen if cuts are made to the Community Eligibility Provision as proposed in the federal Reconciliation bill. And, it will make it much harder, if not impossible for Oregon to fund a school meals for all program.  Find your Members of Congress here.

SB 1098 Enrolled - Freedom to Read
COIN ENDORSES this bill.  BILL PASSED.

This bill is aptly named: Freedom to Read.  It is written to protect Oregon public school libraries from the assault on books as seen in other parts of this country where the freedom to read certain subjects and authors has been banned.  Senate Bill 1098 prohibits discrimination when selecting or retaining school library materials, textbooks or instructional materials or when developing and implementing a curriculum based on a topic or author protected by Oregon discrimination law.  The bill sets forth requirements for removal of covered materials and directs technical assistance for school library programs.  It will become effective upon passage. There is a coalition supporting Freedom to Read (SB1098) composed of the ACLU Oregon, Basic Rights Oregon, Oregon Education Association, and Oregon Library Association.

• COIN SB 1098 Worksheet

• COIN Testimony in support of SB 1098

• Freedom to Read one-pager

• OPB 3.3.25 article Lawmakers Consider "Freedom to Read" Bill 

• Willamette Weekly 3.31.25 article Senate Advances Freedom to Read Bill

A public hearing was held Monday March 3 in the Senate Committee On Education. Watch the hearing here.  The Senate Committee on Education voted 3-2 along party lines to pass SB 1098 in a Mar 17 work session. You can watch the session here.  

SUCCESS!  On 3/31, the bill passed the full Senate also along party lines by a vote of 18-10.  This bill is now in the House Committee On Education.

This bill had a public hearing on 4/30. You can watch the proceedings here. This is a bill Republicans are strongly opposing. Let's show our legislators that Oregonians truly value the freedom to choose for ourselves what we and our families can read.  

MOVEMENT ALERT: A work session scheduled for May 7 was cancelled, also the one scheduled for  May 12. There were several more cancellations but finally, the bill passed out of committee on 5/21 by a 4-3 vote. You can watch the 5/21 work session here. 

This bill went to the House floor for a vote on Thursday May 29 Monday June 2 Monday June 9. You can watch the session here.  Arguments against were "interesting"!  

SUCCESS! SB 548 passed the full House by a vote of 34-21.  The President and the Speaker have signed, and the Governor signed the bill on June 17.

HB 2448 A  - Increases Funding for SPED Students    
COIN ENDORSES this bill.   BILL DID NOT PASS.

Increases the amount of money transferred each fiscal year by the Department of Education from the State School Fund to the High Cost Disabilities Account. The High Cost Disability Account covers costs for students whose special education expenses exceed $30,000/school year. Currently the Account covers only about 40% of the students’ total costs, leaving about 60% to local school districts.  HB 2448A would increase the transfer from $150M to $200M. This is a 38% increase over the FY 24-25 transfer. 

This bill is supported by Oregon PTA, Oregon Education Association, Oregon School Employees Assn., Portland Public Schools, OR School Boards Assn., OR Coalition of Community Charter Schools, Coalition of OR School Administrators, Disability Rights Oregon, Basic Rights Oregon, FACT. 

• HB 2448 Worksheet

MOVEMENT ALERT:  HB 2448A has already passed out of the House Education Committee with a 6-1 "Do pass" recommendation.  The bill had a public hearing in the House Committee On Revenue on Mar 13. Watch it here.  Read COIN's testimony in support.

ACTION ALERT! It is critically important to local school districts that this bill passes. Call or email every committee member to urge increasing the funding for the CHRONICALLY underfunded (but mandated) SPED program!

SB 548 Enrolled - Bans Marriage Under 18          
COIN has ENDORSED this bill.   BILL PASSED.

 This bill would give law enforcement a tool to protect children, mostly girls, who are disproportionately harmed by child marriage. Child marriage is considered a human rights violation that puts children at greater risk of abuse, domestic violence, maternal mortality, physical illness, and depression and other mental illness. The marriage may be the result of trafficking or some form of control or at least negative influences that the child may have little control over. Brain development continues into the 20s so a child under 18 may be susceptible to coercion or at least poor decision making in marrying as a child. Child marriage not only interrupts education but can trap children in dangerous situations that they cannot easily leave. Children thrust into marriage as emancipated adults may not be ready or able to manage their own financial, social, and health interests. For all of these reasons, it is in the interests of Oregon’s children to limit marriage to those who are at least 18 years old. 

Started in the Senate Judiciary Committee.

SB 548  has the support of the League of Women Voters, National  Coalition to End Child Marriage, Service Women’s Action Network, Unchained at Last, Freedom from Religion Foundation Action Fund, Protect Our Defenders, among others.

• SB 548 Worksheet

SUCCESS! SB 548 passed the full Senate by a 28-1 vote on March 10. Senator Noah Robinson, District 2, was the sole dissenting vote. 

This bill had a public hearing in the House Judiciary Committee on Tuesday May 6. You can watch the proceedings here. 

SB 548 had a work session and the committee voted it forward 7-0 with a Do Pass recommendation on Wednesday May 14. You can watch the work session here. 

SUCCESS! SB 548 passed the full House by a vote of 48-2. All signatures done!

HB 2550 - Expansion of Oregon Promise Program / Free Community College Tuition  COIN ENDORSED this bill.    BILL DID NOT PASS.

The Oregon Promise Program funds free community college for some students. This bill changes the requirements to qualify for the Oregon Promise program by removing the requirements: (1) that a person must receive the person's highest level of education six months prior to enrolling in a community college, (2) that a person must complete high school in this state, (3) that a person must have earned a cumulative grade point average of 2.0 or better in high school and specifying that a person may qualify  (1) if they obtained a high school diploma or GED while incarcerated and (2) by enrolling in a program to earn an applied baccalaureate degree or a Bachelor of Science: Nursing degree. However, the current bill does not add additional funding to the program, and we believe adequate funding must accompany this bill in order for it to fulfill its basic objective. 

• COIN Worksheet on HB 2550.

• Oregon Live article.

A hearing on this bill was held on Feb 4 by the House Committee on Higher Education and Workforce Development. Read testimony submitted. Watch the hearing here.

Because all of these bills are in the Senate or House Rules Committees, the work session deadline does not apply.

HB 3392 Placeholder bill relating to campaign finance reform
COIN OPPOSES THIS BILL.   BILL DID NOT PASS.

A -5 amendment to this bill was just posted on 6/25 that would delay implementation and undermine the campaign finance reform passed in the 2024 session. Rep. Christine Drazan (R) drafted the amendment. A public hearing and possible work session are scheduled for 8 AM on 6/25 before the Rules Committee. Submit testimony here. Watch the hearing and session here. 

• Read COIN testimony in opposition to this bill.

• Read testimony from Dan Meek of Honest Elections and Kate Titus of Common Cause in opposition to this last minute effort to undermine campaign finance reform.

• Read testimony in opposition from Southern Oregon Climate Action Now by Alan Journet

• Op-Ed in the Oregon Capital Chronicle opposing this bill.

Update and ACTION ALERT! The Rules Committee had a public hearing but canceled the work session for noon 6/25. Please contact Rules Committee members in opposition to the -A5 amendment that would delay and undermine campaign finance reform. Don't let legislators renege on their deal on campaign finance reform. 

NEW!  HB 3390-2  Changes Process for Legislative Referrals 
COIN OPPOSES this bill.    BILL DID NOT PASS.

This bill was an innocuous "study elections bill" until June 18 when it got a -2 amendment that replaced the original bill entirely. A public hearing and a work session and committee vote were held that same day, with all Democrats in the House Rules Committee giving it a Do Pass recommendation and sending it to the House floor for a vote. We oppose this (lack of) process. 

But we also oppose the bill for its content: It directs that a legislative committee made up of 4 members of the majority party and 2 members of the minority party write ballot titles and explanatory statements for legislative referrals or initiative referendums. We believe it sets the stage for partisan and biased language intended to mislead and manipulate voters toward the majority party’s desired outcome.

The current process whereby Ballot Titles are drafted by the Attorney General (and are subject to a reasonable public review process) and Explanatory Statements are drafted by a fairly represented committee appointed by the Secretary of State (and are subject to a reasonable public review process) WORKS. It is fair. It is more democratic that what is proposed by HB 3390-2. 

• COIN testimony opposing HB 3390-2

• More testimonies opposing HB 3390-2

• Op-ed in Oregonian opposing HB 2290-2

😡😡MOVEMENT ALERT! 😡😡 This bill passed the House by a vote of 31-19 with 10 excused, just 48 hours after the amendment created a completely new bill. The bill now moves to the Senate. Please contact your state senator ASAP and urge them to vote NO on HB 3390-2.  

ACTION ALERT! A public hearing which you can watch here was held by the Senate Rules Committee on June 24 on this bill. A work session scheduled for June 25 was canceled. So far, a work session has not been rescheduled, but we are watching this one closely. 

HB 3166 - Unified Primaries with Top 2 Advancing    
COIN has ENDORSED this bill.   BILL DID NOT PASS.

Requires all candidates, regardless of political party affiliation or non-affiliation, and including those running for nonpartisan positions, to appear on the same unified primary election ballot; the two candidates receiving the most votes would  advance to the general election ballot. Exempts candidates for President and Vice President of the United States. 

COIN has partnered with the Oregon Election Reform Coalition (OERC) on previous legislation. OERC seeks to avoid another round of "Top 2 with Party Label Hijacking" ballot measures and believes this is a reasonable bill that will allow nonaffiliated voters to vote for candidates in the primary election, while maintaining the integrity of party labels. More information is available at OERC.  

Check out these documents from the Oregon Election Reform Coalition for more information:

• HB 3166-2 Amendment in readable form, thanks to Dan Meek

• HB3166 Report

• HB 3166-2 Slides with Graphics 

Currently in House Committee On Rules.

This bill had a public hearing Wednesday Mar 19. Watch the hearing here. 

HB 2923  - Public Financial Disclosure    
COIN ENDORSES this bill.   BILL DID NOT PASS.

Would add to the list of financial interests that public officials and members of their household must disclose in their annual statements of economic interest: In addition to disclosing positions of officer or director, public officials and the members of their household must disclose any positions they hold as a manager, member or partner. Oregon’s financial disclosure laws are very weak.  This would make them slightly stronger.

• Here is the COIN Worksheet for HB2923

• Here is Dan Meek's testimony about this bill. 

Currently in the House Rules Committee

A public hearing for HB 2923 was held on Jan 27. Watch the recorded hearing here.  The work session scheduled for April 2 was canceled. 

HB 2930 Enrolled - Modifies Conflict of Interest Requirements    
COIN ENDORSES this bill.   BILL PASSED.

HB 2930 adds a “member of the household” to the persons for whom a public official must consider in deciding whether to declare an actual or potential conflict of interest laws.  Currently those persons include only the public official and “relatives.” 

• HB 2930 Worksheet

• COIN testimony in support of HB 2930

Originally assigned to the House Rules Committee

A public hearing for HB 2930 was held on Jan 27. Watch the recorded hearing here. This bill was moved out of committee with a 6-0 vote April 2 with a Do Pass recommendation. The session can be viewed here. 

SUCCESS! The full House passed this with a 53-0 vote April 14.  Was assigned to the Senate Committee On Rules.

MOVEMENT ALERT: This bill had a public hearing on Wednesday May 14. You can watch the proceedings here. A work session was held on 5/19 and the committee voted 5-0 with a Do Pass recommendation. You can watch the work session here. 

SUCCESS!  After the vote carried over eight times, this bill finally got a vote in the Senate and passed 20-2 (with 8 absent). Legislative leaders and the Governor have signed. 

SB 580 Enrolled - Posting of Candidates Within 2 Days    
COIN ENDORSES this bill.   BILL PASSED.

Requires the election officer to post within 2 business days on the website any filed nominating petition, declaration of candidacy, or withdrawal of candidacy.  Other persons potentially interested in running for office should be able to know the status of other potential candidates during the candidacy filing season.

• Here is the COIN Worksheet for SB 580,

Currently in the Senate Rules Committee.

There was a public hearing Wednesday April 2. View the hearing here. There was also a work session on 4/28. The committee voted 5-0 with a Do Pass recommendation. You can watch the session here.

SUCCESS!  The full Senate voted 29-0 to pass SB 580. Now it has been referred to the House Committee On Rules.

SB 580 had a public hearing on 6/6. You can watch the hearing here.  It had a work session June 8 where it passed 7-0. You can watch the work session here. 

SUCCESS!  The full House vote 41-0 (with 19 absent) in favor of SB 580. The bill has been signed by legislative leaders and the Governor. 

SB 44 - Election Formatting Study Bill
COIN ENDORSES this bill with the -4 amendment.  BILL DID NOT PASS.  

Amendments are expected to be discussed/adopted at the May 7 public hearing. The anticipated proposal will prepare the way for current (in local jurisdictions where it has already been adopted) and future adoption of ranked choice voting by indicating how write-ins and audits would be conducted.  

• COIN testimony in support of SB 44

Currently in the Senate Rules Committee.

This bill had a public hearing on 5/7. You can watch the proceedings here. A work session was scheduled for 5/14 then re-scheduled for 5/19. Both have been cancelled.  

HB 3908 Enrolled - Modifies Major Political Party Percentage Requirements   COIN ENDORSES this bill.   BILL PASSED.

Increases the registration requirement to be a major political party in this state from five percent to 10 percent. A major political party is required to hold its own separate primary. COIN believes the requirement should be a larger portion of the voters. This bill is supported by the Independent Party of Oregon and by the Oregon Working Families Party.

• COIN testimony in support of HB 3908

SUCCESS!  HB 3908 narrowly passed the House 31-26 on 6/10. Referred to the Senate Rules Committee.  A public hearing was held Monday 6/16. 

The bill passed unanimously at a 6/17 work session.  Watch the session here. 

SUCCESS! The bill passed the Senate on June 20 by a vote of 19-9 with 2 excused and 1 conflict of interest.  The Speaker and President of the Senate have signed, and the bill has been sent to the governor for signature.

SB 2006 - Limit Bills Introduced in the Long Sessions
COIN is WATCHING this bill.    BILL DID NOT PASS. 

Limits to 25 the number of legislative measures that a member of the Legislative Assembly may ask the Legislative Counsel to prepare for a regular session of the Legislative Assembly that begins in an odd-numbered year.  Legislators could still introduce more but would bypass the usual practice of Legislative Council review.

While the COIN Legislative Team hopes this bill will reduce the number of redundant, frivolous, and performative filings, in it's original form, we don't necessarily think it will do much. Bills can still be introduced without Legislative Council review, and SB 2006 has some loopholes that could allow more than 25 bills to be introduced by a legislator.  

OPB 5.5.25 article As Placeholder Bills Surge

Assigned to the House Rules Committee.

Oregon Capitol Chronicle article 5.28.25 Republican Opposition to Capping Bills Intensifies

SB 2006 had a public hearing on 5/29. The link for the hearing is here. 

HB 2870 - Establishes the Campaign Review Commission    
COIN OPPOSES this bill.   BILL DID NOT PASS.   

Several concerns would need to be addressed before COIN moves this bill off of the watch list. Violations would have to meet the current legal standard for libel, which would mean very few complaints would be heard. The commission would be highly partisan with only Republican and Democratic members. The bill gives no instruction to the Governor to guide member selection. Coin also has issues with the penalties that would apply to campaigns found to be in violation of this legislation.

HB 2870 establishes the Oregon Campaign Review Commission in the Secretary of State's office. It would be made up of 8 members appointed by the Gov, and 4 would be members “from each of the 2 major political parties”. There are no real qualifications other than an appointee must be an Oregon resident and “well informed on the principles of fair and truthful elections”. This commission would basically have the powers to investigate and decide complaints by a candidate or political committee that another candidate or political committee has violated ORS 260.532 That law already provides a cause of action and strong remedies against anyone who makes false statements about a candidate, political committee, or a ballot measure. 

Under this bill upon a finding of violation of ORS 260.532, the commission would issue a statement about the incident and their findings. The second offense would mean in addition banishment of the candidate from the Voters’ Pamphlet for one or more elections; a third offense would mean a permanent ban from the voters pamphlet. Decisions can be “appealed” to the Secretary of State. Maximum fine is $2500.

• Here is the COIN Worksheet for HB 2870

• COIN Testimony for HB 2870

Currently in the House Rules Committee. Rep. Evans is the only sponsor.

This bill had a public hearing on 5/5. You can watch the proceedings here. 

HB 2928 - Repeals Gift Limit for Public Officials   
COIN OPPOSES this bill.   BILL DID NOT PASS.  

HB 2928 would repeal the Oregon law limiting anyone from offering more than $50 per calendar year in gifts to any public official or candidate or their relatives or members of their household. This would leave Oregon with no limit on the offering of gifts to public officials. We have enough dark money and corrupting influences in our politics without repealing this!

• HB 2928 Worksheet

• Sample Testimony from Dan Meek, to use for ideas

• Should Special Gifts Be Allowed? OregonLive looks at HB 2928

Currently in the House Rules Committee

A public hearing for HB 2928 was held on Jan 27.  Read COIN member Dan Meek's opposition to this bill. Watch the recorded hearing here.

SB 392 - Moves Presidential Primary
COIN OPPOSES this bill.  BILL DID NOT PASS.  

SB 392 would change the May primary date to the first Tuesday in March in Presidential election years only. That means that the deadline for filing to run in that primary would likely have to mid December of the previous year. Oregon's state/local office primary is already the 10th earliest in the United States. Candidates would need to decide nearly a year before the election if they want to run for office. Good for professional politicians but could be discouraging to other citizens who need more time to prepare and decide to run for office.   

• Here is the COIN Worksheet for SB 392.

Currently in the Senate Rules Committee.

These bills propose elimination of Oregon's very successful Vote by Mail election process. 

These are two of several bills introduced to make voting harder for people. This is contrary to the highly successful mail in balloting system Oregon has used for years.  

COIN OPPOSES these bills.   NONE OF THESE BILLS PASSED. 

SB 210 - Repeals Vote by Mail as the normal method of voting   
BILL DID NOT PASS.   

Makes voting in person on the day of the election the normal method for voting. Requires voters to show government issued photo ID to vote. Mail in ballots would still be available on request and upon presenting a government issued photo ID; the ballot must be able to be returned 21 days before the election. This would not apply to military or other overseas voters or absentee voters. If passed, this measure would be referred to voters at the next general election.   

Here is the COIN Worksheet for SB 210.

Currently in the Senate Rules Committee.

Oregon Chronicle article 3.31.25 Overwhelming Testimony Opposing SB 210

UPDATE:  This bill had a public hearing Monday Mar 31.  According to the Oregonian, more than 11,000 people submitted testimony with 85% opposing this bill. Thanks to all who have submitted testimony. Watch the hearing here.  From reporting in The Oregonian and elsewhere, Democratic committee members are saying this bill won't go any further.  GOOD! 

HB 3872 - Repeals Vote by Mail as the normal method of voting
BILL DID NOT PASS.   

This is the nearly identical house version of SB 210 above.
Currently in the House Rules Committee.

Timing/Validation of Ballot Receipt 

More examples of bills introduced to make voting harder for people.

SB 403 - Requires Ballots Arrive by Election Day   
COIN OPPOSES this bill.  BILL DID NOT PASS.  

SB 403 disqualifies all ballots not actually received by a county clerk by 8 pm of election day. Whether your vote is counted or not depends on the reliability of the US Post Office in each voter's area.

• Here is the COIN Worksheet for SB 403.

Currently in the Senate Rules Committee.

SB 964 - Changes the Definition of "Postal Indicator"    
COIN OPPOSES this bill.  BILL DID NOT PASS. 

The measure changes the definition of "postal indicator" for ballot envelopes, from "a postmark or other indicator on a mailed ballot, identified by the Secretary of State by rule" to "an official mark stamped on an envelope over the postage stamp by the United States Postal Service." Here is the actual text:

As used in this section, “postal indicator” means [a postmark or other indicator on a mailed ballot, identified by the Secretary of State by rule,] an official mark stamped on an envelope over the postage stamp by the United States Postal Service that demonstrates the date or time at which a ballot was mailed.

This does not make sense. Oregon ballot return envelopes are prepaid. There are no "stamps." The USPS does not date stamp business reply mail, such as ballot return envelopes. This bill would mean something only if the law providing for government prepayment of postage for ballot return envelopes is repealed. 

Assigned to the Senate Rules Committee.

A public hearing was held on 4/7. View the proceedings here. 

SB 1180  Listing Prospective Statewide Initiatives  
COIN OPPOSES this bill.   BILL DID NOT PASS.   

This bill would require the Secretary of State to submit to the Legislative Assembly, by November 1 of each odd-numbered year, a list of each prospective statewide initiative petition that has been filed for the next general election. It would require the submission to include the text, ballot title and total number of signatures gathered for each prospective petition. The SoS already compiles and publishes all of that information on a monthly basis. The number of signatures now reported is the number obtained by paid circulators. There is no way for the SoS to know how many signatures have been gathered by volunteers, as those sheets are ordinarily in the hands of volunteers.  It could be interpreted as requiring the SoS to require chief petitioners to report volunteer-gathered signatures every month, which would be a serious hardship for volunteer-based initiative petition efforts. 

The Legislature can do all of these functions now without enacting a law. But the potential requirement of monthly signature reporting by volunteers makes this bill a big NO for us. 

• COIN testimony opposing SB 1180

Originally assigned to the Senate Committee on Rules.

This bill had a public hearing on 4/16. You can watch the proceedings here. 

MOVEMENT ALERT: There was a work session on 5/19 and the committee voted 5-0 with a Do Pass recommendation. View the session here. The bill is now in the Joint Ways and Means Committee.

ACTION ALERT!  Contact committee members and urge them NOT to fund this bill which would make it harder for citizens to gather signatures for initiative petitions.

These four bills would make it harder for voters to suggest legislation using the initiative process.

COIN OPPOSES these bills.  NONE OF THESE BILLS PASSED.

SJR 30 / HJR 11  - Initiative Petitions Signature Distribution Requirements BILL DID NOT PASS.

These bills both propose an amendment to the Oregon Constitution to require an increase in petition signatures for initiative laws from 6 to 8 percent of the total votes cast for all candidates for Governor at the last general election at which a Governor was elected for a full term, and the signatures must be divided equally among the Congressional districts of this state. 

Proposes to require an increase in petition signatures for initiative amendments to the Oregon Constitution from 8 to 10 percent of the total votes cast for all candidates for Governor at the last general election at which a Governor was elected divided for a full term, and the signatures must be divided equally among the Congressional districts of this state. 

• COIN testimony opposing SJR 30

• Follow-up COIN testimony opposing SJR 30 after hearing to fact-check some of the statements made during the hearing. 

• Taxpayers Association of Oregon Statement opposing SJR 30

  • • Get talking points from Dan Meek's testimony opposing SJR 11.

SJR 30 has been assigned to the Senate Rules Committee. HJR 11 is assigned to the House Rules Committee.

SJR 30 had a public hearing Wednesday April 2. View the hearing here.

HJR 11 had public hearings Monday Mar 10. Watch the proceedings here.

HJR 3  More Initiative Petitions Signature Distribution Requirements
BILL DID NOT PASS.   

Proposes an amendment to the Oregon Constitution to require petitions for proposed initiative laws to be signed by qualified voters in each county in this state in numbers that equal six percent of the total votes cast in the county for all candidates for Governor at the preceding gubernatorial election. Requires petitions for proposed initiative amendments to the Oregon Constitution to be signed by qualified voters in each county in numbers that equal eight percent of the total votes cast in the county for all candidates for Governor at the preceding gubernatorial election. Prohibits persons who are not qualified voters from making contributions in connection with initiatives or to influence elections on initiatives to the extent limitations on contributions are permitted under the Constitution of the United States.
HJR 11 and HJR 3  are assigned to the House Rules Committee.

COIN opposes these bills because they will make the Citizen Initiative process even more difficult and expensive than it currently is. 

HJR 3 had a public hearing Monday Mar 10. Watch the proceedings here.

• Read OPB's 3/10/25 article: Citizen-driven ballot measures could become more rare under new proposals 

• Get talking points from Dan Meek's testimony opposing SJR 3. 

HB 3384  Severely limits initiative / referendum process timing
COIN OPPOSES this bill.   BILL DID NOT PASS.  

This bill would allow local government officials to disregard all initiative and referendum petitions filed during any period 75 days before a May or November election and 35 days after a primary or general election.  That means during a window of 110 days around the May election and then again 110 days around the November election, the local government can just ignore the filing of the petition and not process it.  It would nullify the right to file an initiative or referendum petition for 220 days of the year!  And it would apply to every year, not just an even-numbered year. The bill was sponsored by Oregon Association of County Clerks, presumably because they feel they are too busy with elections to be bothered by citizens' initiatives or referendums. While we acknowledge that county clerks ARE busy during election time, this number of days is absurd, especially when all they have to do initially is refer the initiative petition to a city or county attorney, and those individuals are not involved in elections. COIN strongly opposes this bill as it will severely restrict the rights of citizens to engage in the democratic process at the local level.  

ACTION ALERT!  Write to House Rules Committee members and urge them NOT to move this bill forward.  A public hearing was held on February 3rd, and only four individuals submitted testimony, two of them county clerks.  You can view the hearing here. A work session and committee vote could be scheduled at any time on very short notice, so we encourage everyone to write as soon as possible to express their opposition to this anti-democratic bill. 

These two bills make changes to Oregon's automatic voter registration.

COIN OPPOSES these bills.     BILLS DID NOT PASS.

HB 3473 - Repeals automatic voter registration  
DID NOT PASS.  

This bill was offered by GOP Rep. Christine Drazan to make it harder for people to register to vote in Oregon. Oregon has long had a successful automatic voter registration system that has resulted in record turnouts of voters with more diversity among voters. This means better representation for all Oregonians. There is no reason to repeal automatic voter registration. 

• Here is the COIN Worksheet for HB 3473.

The bill is currently in the House Committee on Rules.

HB 3723 Repeals the OHP as an automatic voter registration agency
DID NOT PASS.   

Oregon legislators added the Oregon Health Authority to the Department of Transportation as an automatic voter registration agency with HB 2107 in 2023, with records being forwarded to the Secretary of State. Oregonians are now automatically registered as a voter, if eligible, when they enroll in the Oregon Health Plan. This bill would repeal HB 2107. HB 3723 includes elimination of the pre-registration of 16-year-olds who apply for a driver's permit. 

The bill is currently in the House Committee on Rules.

The public hearing scheduled for Monday April 7 has been cancelled. 

HB 3470 - Requires Secretary of State to confirm U.S. citizenship for automatic voter registrations.
COIN OPPOSES this bill.  BILL DID NOT PASS.

This bill was offered by GOP Rep. Christine Drazan to undermine Oregon's long established automatic voter registration system and make it harder for people to register to vote in Oregon. 

Oregon Republicans are pouncing on reports that last year some automatic voter registrations slipped through for folks who weren’t citizens. Few of these folks actually voted and they certainly didn’t influence any election.  

People can be registered automatically when they go to the DMV or OHA but must already submit proof of citizenship to be registered. This bill would pointlessly delay voter registrations for every potential voter; some may not be approved in time to vote. It would add an enormous cost and workload to the Secretary of State’s office. It makes more sense for the Secretary of State, as he has already said he would do, to work with agencies and election clerks to minimize errors going forward. 

This is another example of several bills introduced to make voting harder for people.

• Here is the COIN Worksheet for HB 3470.

Currently in the House Committee on Rules.

HB 3470 had a public hearing Wednesday Mar 12. Watch the proceedings here. Our team didn't sound the alarm soon enough so all the current testimony came from supporters of this bill. Write to House Rules Committee members and urge them NOT to move this bill forward.  

SB 12 - Designation of "incumbent" by judge candidates 
COIN OPPOSES this bill.   BILL DID NOT PASS.  

The measure prohibits the Secretary of State from including the word "incumbent" on a ballot next to the name of an appointed judge who is seeking election to that same office for the first time since being appointed. It applies to judges for the Oregon Supreme Court, Court of Appeals, Oregon Tax Court, and circuit court.

Assigned to the Senate Rules Committee.

A public hearing was held on 4/7.  View the proceedings here.  See COIN's testimony opposing this bill here. 

SB 1054 - Requiring Live Video for Ballot Processing   
COIN OPPOSES this bill.   BILL DID NOT PASS.   

The measure requires each county clerk to provide live video feed of rooms where ballots are tallied and of ballot drop sites, until all ballots are tallied and all related duties are complete. The video feed must be accessible any time of day and must be recorded and made available to the public for not less than 2 years following a given election. It also grants the Secretary of State rulemaking authority for the process to ensure that the election security plan is not violated, and that no elector's vote is revealed.

Current law states that after ballots are mailed, the county clerk, if requested, shall permit authorized persons to watch the receiving and counting of votes. The authorization shall be in writing, shall be signed by an officer or its county affiliate of a political party, a candidate or the county clerk and shall be filed with the county clerk. The county clerk shall permit only so many watchers as will not interfere with an orderly procedure at the office of the county clerk.

Some counties already provide live video feed of such rooms but not all do. But requiring all counties to provide video could open the door to litigation. What happens if there is a glitch in a video feed? Is the election invalidated? Could a person disrupt an election by vandalizing the camera at a ballot drop site? While COIN believes providing video is helpful, the onsite watcher allowance is sufficient to maintain vote processing transparency.

Assigned to the Senate Rules Committee.

A public hearing was held on 4/7. View the proceedings here. 

SB 703 - Pathways to Protection and Citizenship Act  
COIN has ENDORSED this bill.   BILL DID NOT PASS.  

SB 703 directs the Department of Human Services (DHS) to distribute grants to culturally specific and nonprofit legal services providers across Oregon to assist eligible noncitizens in paying for immigration legal services to change immigration status. It also declares that it is Oregon state policy to assist eligible individuals in changing their immigration status, sets associated targets, and appropriates $6,000,000 from the General Fund. These funds will help to replace the federal funds that had gone to these non-profits but have been withheld by the Trump administration. 

According to the coalition supporting this bill:

• There are about 285,000 immigrant workers in Oregon’s labor force, including 64% of the workers in crop production. 

• About 120,00 Oregon Immigrants are eligible for naturalization.

• Over 25,000 Oregonians who lack documentation are eligible under existing federal law for protection, but lack access to immigration legal assistance. This is 1 out 3 undocumented Oregonians!

Pathways to lawful permanent status are expensive and often difficult for individuals who are not familiar with immigration law. Oregonians identified to receive immigration legal assistance include: 

• Dreamers 

• Those Who Served as Interpreters for U.S. Armed Forces in Iraq and Afghanistan 

• Those Eligible Under Federal Law to Change Status or Obtain Lawful Permanent Resident Status 

• Citizenship Applicants

SB 703 Worksheet

SB 703/HB 2788 Support Coalition Fact Sheet

COIN Testimony submitted by Jeff Hammarlund

SB 703 was originally assigned to the Senate Judiciary Committee. HB 2788 is in the House Committee On Early Childhood and Human Services and has seen no action.

A public hearing was held on 2/3. Watch it here.

MOVEMENT ALERT:  SB 703 had a work session Wednesday March 26 at 3:00 PM. The Committee voted 4-2 with a Do Pass recommendation. The bill is in the Joint Ways and Means Committee. You can view the work session here.

UPDATE!  We are hearing that SB 703 is dead for the session but that some of its provisions will be included in SB 149 which is still moving forward. 

HB 2788, the House version of SB 703 above, which we also endorsed, will not see movement this session.

SB 149  - Long Term Refugee Support Services   
COIN has ENDORSED this bill.   BILL DID NOT PASS.  

This bill would increase funding for long term refugee supports like rent assistance and help finding employment.  This funding is even more critical now that federal money is being pulled from these programs. 

Originally assigned to the Senate Judiciary Committee 

• Here is Ecumenical Minestry of Oregon’s testimony guide for more info. 

MOVEMENT ALERT! SB 149 had a public hearing on 4/7 and a work session on 4/8. It got a lot of public support and passed out of committee 6-0 with the -3 amendment. The amendment added some of SB 703 to this bill. Transferred to the Joint Ways and Means Committee.

ACTION ALERT!  Contact members of the committee and urge them to fund this bill. 

HB 3551 - Requires Local Law Enforcement to Assist ICE (Undermining Sanctuary Laws)

COIN OPPOSES this bill.   BILL DID NOT PASS. 

Tells public bodies and bodies that enforce state laws to help enforce the nation's immigration laws. Applies only to persons who are convicted of certain crimes. This is a Republican-led effort to weaponize and undermine Oregon’s status as a  sanctuary state. The bill would require state and local law enforcement including campus police to enforce immigration laws and cooperate in the enforcement of such laws against persons convicted of a violent felony, Class A misdemeanor, or felony sexual offense. 

Currently in the House Committee On Judiciary.

SB 11 - Citizenship Status Question During Arrest
COIN OPPOSES this bill.   BILL DID NOT PASS. 

Directs an arresting officer to inquire about citizenship when the officer arrests a person for a crime and the person is in possession of a firearm, which would potentially violate the Oregon Sanctuary Act. We see this as an attempt to chip away at Oregon's sanctuary law by forcing police officers to cooperate with ICE, rather than any effort to hold criminals accountable. The arrest can still take place without this question being asked.

In the Senate Judiciary Committee

Anti-Transgender Bills Limiting Participation in Sports 
COIN OPPOSES all of these bills.  NONE OF THESE BILLS PASSED.

Oregon Republicans have introduced four bills to restrict transgender youth participation in sports. HB 3740, SB 618, and SB 787 would reverse the current Oregon School Athletics Association policies of allowing those that do identify as transgender or non-binary or intersex individuals to compete in athletic competitions or extracurricular sports based on the gender they align with. HB 2037 would do the same and would include college sports as well.  All the bills designate that participation in sports be based on “biological sex.”  These bills are part of an attempt by Trump and his MAGA allies to “erase” any person that identifies as a gender other than “biological male” or “biological female.”  These bills demonstrate the ignorance and/or profound intolerance of many people who claim that “male” and “female” are the only two possibilities in humans. In fact, biological sex has many variations as a result of chromosome differences, gene differences, and physiological differences. As many as 2% of the population have biological variations that don’t fit the narrow definition of “male” or “female.” These variations are sometimes referred to as “intersex.” Here is one resource that describes 48 such variations: Interact – Intersex Variations Glossary.  Additionally, gender identity, one’s innermost concept of self as male, female, a blend of both or neither, is simply not the business of the State. Transgender youth already suffer so much stigma, fear of rejection and even abuse; these bills represent further attacks on some of our most vulnerable young people. 

• COIN Worksheet on all four bills

HB 2037 and HB 3740 are currently in the House Committee On Education.  SB 618 and SB 787 are currently in the Senate Committee On Education. Hopefully, that's where they'll sit for the entire session. We hope Democrats will have the decency not to give them any hearings. 

HB 3198  - OHA to Lead Murdered & Missing Indigenous Persons Efforts  
COIN has ENDORSED this bill.    BILL DID NOT PASS.  

This bill is listed and explained under the Health Care topic above. 

SB 722 / SB 599   Tenant Protections 
COIN ENDORSES these bills.  SB 599 PASSED.  SB 722 DID NOT PASS.

These bills are listed and explained under the Homelessness and Affordable Housing topic above. 

SB 1007 - Compensation for the Wrongly Convicted Revisions     
COIN ENDORSES this bill.   BILL DID NOT PASS.   

COIN endorsed the bill that passed in 2022 providing a process for those wrongly convicted to apply for compensation. ODOJ attorneys are slowing the process with unnecessary obstacles. Legislators are trying to clear some of those obstacles with this bill.

This bill will reform the process for compensating exonerees and guarantee that more of those wrongly convicted and imprisoned are compensated in a timely manner:

• Make clear the legislative intent of resolving claims that meet legislative standards for innocence.

• Recognize newly presented evidence of innocence in review of the petition.

• Improve access to re-entry services.

• Ensure timely Oregon Department of Justice review of cases.

SB 1007 Worksheet 

Oregon AG Agrees, compensation is moving too slowly Portland Tribune 2/27/25 article

Originally assigned to the Senate Committee On Judiciary 

This bill had a hearing Thursday Feb 27. Watch the hearing here. 

MOVEMENT ALERT: A work session was held on Mar 17 and the committee voted 6-0 to pass this bill and has been moved to the Joint Ways and Means Committee. View the session here.  

Steam-lining payout draws support Oregon Capitol Chronicle article 5.28.25 

ACTION ALERT!  Contact members of the committee and urge them to fund this bill. 

HB 3785  - Voting By Adults in Custody 
COIN endorses this bill and endorsed similar bills in 2021 and 2023.
BILL DID NOT PASS. 
 

This bill allows persons convicted of crime to register to vote, update voter registration, and vote in elections while incarcerated. Many people incarcerated in Oregon are currently denied their right to vote, leading to low-income, Black, Indigenous, and Latinx people being disproportionately disenfranchised. Veterans who are convicted of felonies currently cannot vote while incarcerated. 

95% of those incarcerated will return to their community and research shows that those allowed to vote while incarcerated are less likely to re-offend. 

Currently in the House Rules Committee, so the work session deadline does not apply. But it's not getting any action so you can contact committee members and urge them to vote for this bill. 

• COIN worksheet. 

• Talking Points for this bill

• Sample testimony from 2023
  
  

There has been no action taken on this bill. Again. Similar bills have come before the legislature in previous years and have gotten little to no attention. 

HB 2555 Enrolled - Family Sentencing Alternative Program 
COIN ENDORSES this bill.    BILL PASSED.

Makes the pilot program permanent. Modifies eligibility requirements for the program to include all sentences for which a defendant is eligible for a downward dispositional departure.  The pilot programs have proven over a 10-year period to be highly successful. They reduce recidivism, increasing community safety. The program allows qualified parents to be supervised on probation rather than separated from their children, thus improving family stability. And the program costs less than traditional incarceration. 

HB 2555 Worksheet 

Originally assigned to the House Judiciary Committee

Had a public hearing Feb 19. View the recording here.

MOVEMENT ALERT! This bill had a work session on 3/31 and the committee voted 8-0 with a Do Pass recommendation and the -5 amendment. Watch the work session here. 

MOVEMENT ALERT!   The bill had a work session rescheduled from Tuesday to Wednesday to Thursday June 12 at 8:30 am in the Joint Committee On Ways and Means Subcommittee On Public Safety where it was passed and moved forward to the full Joint Ways and Means Committee.  Watch the session here. 

MOVEMENT ALERT!  The bill was heard and passed at a June 17 work session by the full committee with the A-6 funding amendment. Watch the work session here. 

SUCCESS! HB 2555 passed the House on 6/23 by a vote of 40-0 with 20 absent. It was referred to Ways and Means again and then went quickly to the Senate floor for a vote. 

SUCCESS! The bill passed the Senate unanimously on June 24. It's been signed by legislative leaders and is awaiting the governor's signature.

HB 2299 Enrolled - Bans AI-generated “revenge porn” 
COIN ENDORSES this bill.   BILL PASSED.

Bans the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) or other digital manipulation to create and spread nude or sexually explicit photos without consent. Oregon had previously made it illegal to disseminate an intimate image without the person's permission but AI-generated images fell through the loopholes in the law. This bill fixes that and also increases the penalty for any unlawful dissemination of such images.  31 other states already have such laws.  Here’s an article from Oregon Capital Chronicle on 4/15.   Originally assigned to the House Judiciary Committee 

SUCCESS!  This bill passed the House 56-0 and now moves to the Senate. The bill is now in the Senate Judiciary Committee. 

A public hearing was held on 4/28. You can watch the meeting here.  This bill had a work session on 5/5 and the committee voted 5-0 with a Do Pass recommendation and the -1 amendment.  Watch the session here. 

SUCCESS! This bill passed the Senate by a vote of 30-0! It has been signed by the House Speaker, Senate President, and the Governor!

SB 1191 Enrolled - The Right to Inform Others of their Rights   
COIN ENDORSES this bill.   BILL PASSED.

This is an important bill, in light of our expanding police state. It says that criminal laws about interfering with or obstructing or not cooperating with the police or other government authorities do not apply to the act of informing another person about their civil and constitutional rights. The SMS notes:

• The United States Constitution and the Oregon Constitution reserve certain rights to the people that the government may not unreasonably infringe upon. Well known examples include the freedom of speech, association, press, religion, the right to liberty and due process, the right to not self-incriminate oneself, and the right to be free from unreasonable searches and seizures. Civil rights may also guarantee people equal protection and opportunity under the law, without discrimination based on protected class membership, and the right to bring a civil action against a person for a deprivation of a constitutional right.
  
  

• COIN testimony supporting SB 1191

SUCCESS! This bill passed the Senate 28-1 (Bonham dissenting).

This bill was originally assigned to the House Committee On Judiciary.

A public hearing was held on 4/30. Watch the meeting here. A work session was held on 5/8 and the committee voted 5-1 (2 absent) with a Do Pass recommendation. You can view the proceedings here.  The bill goes to the full House for a vote on Monday May 19.  Vote delayed until Tuesday May 20. 

SUCCESS! This bill passed the House by a vote of 32-19. All leadership signed and signed by the governor! 

SB 1121 Enrolled - Doxxing as a Criminal Offense         
COIN ENDORSES this bill.   BILL PASSED.

Oregon law currently provides for civil remedies in cases involving the unauthorized disclosure of personal information with harmful intent. Under ORS 30.835, a person may bring a civil action if another individual knowingly discloses their personal information with intent to stalk, harass, or injure, and the disclosure results in harm. The statute permits recovery of damages and attorney fees if certain conditions are met, including lack of consent and resulting harassment, stalking, or injury.

Senate Bill 1121A establishes a corresponding criminal offense: unlawful disclosure of private information. The measure defines the offense as knowingly disclosing another person's personal information without consent and with the intent to stalk, harass, or injure, where the disclosure results in harm or harassment. The offense is classified as a Class B misdemeanor (penalty of up to six months in jail and/or a fine of up to $2,500). The bill also defines key terms including “personal information,” “harass,” and “stalk.”

In addition, the measure amends ORS 646A.572 to expand exemptions to Oregon’s consumer data privacy law. The amendment adds a new exemption for noncommercial educational broadcast stations that receive funding from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. 

• COIN testimony in support of SB 1121

SUCCESS: This bill passed the Senate 29-0. 

Was in the House Committee On Judiciary

This bill had a public hearing on Tuesday 5/13. You can watch the proceedings here. A work session was held on 5/20 (view it here). 

MOVEMENT ALERT: During the 5/22 session, the committee voted 6-1 (1 absent) with a Do Pass recommendation with the -A5 amendment. You can view the work session here. 

SUCCESS: The House carried this bill over 6 times, but finally passed it on 6/11 with a vote of 54-2. On June 16 the Senate concurred in House amendments and repassed bill by a vote of 28-0 with 2 excused. The Speaker, Senate President, and the Governor have signed the bill. 

 HB 3582 Enrolled - Removing Time Limits on Survivors’ Justice   
COIN ENDORSES this bill.    BILL PASSED.

HB3582 eliminates time limits so the mind can work on its own clock providing victims the option of a civil claim. This bill also clarifies the definition child abuse versus child sexual abuse.  This change would not be retroactive due to the -4 amendment, adopted by the House Rules Committee.

As we know, the human mind works in mysterious ways.  When it comes to a traumatic event like sexual assault, it can be years for a sexual abuse victim’s mind is be able to understand what they have experienced and be able to talk about their trauma. For instance, the average age a sexually abused child is able to discuss their assault is 52 years old.  Presently, Oregon law has time limits when sexual assault civil claims can be made….within 5 years of realization of abuse for an adult and by the age of 40 or 5 years from discovery for a child.  

HB 3582 Worksheet

In support: Oregon Department of Justice, Oregon NOW National Organization for Women, Oregon Crime Victims Law Center, Oregon Child Abuse Solutions 

This bill has had public hearings in both the Judiciary and the Rules committees. During the 5/21 session, the House Rules Committee voted 7-0 with a Do Pass recommendation with the -4 amendment. You can view the work session here. 

SUCCESS!  The House voted 51-0 (with 8 excused) on 5/29. 

MOVEMENT ALERT: The Senate Rules Committee held a public hearing on 6/10 and a work session on 6/11 where they voted 5-0 for a Do Pass recommendation. Watch the 6/10 hearing here and the 6/11 session here. 

SUCCESS! HB 3582 passed in the Senate by a vote of 27-0 (with 3 excused) on 6/18. The Speaker, Senate President, and the Governor have signed.

SB 238 A - Allows law enforcement to use drones with ill-defined and loose limitations.  COIN OPPOSES this bill.   BILL DID NOT PASS.   

SB 238 A allows law enforcement to use unmanned drones to conduct aerial surveillance and collect information with ill-defined and loose limitations; the bill is at odds with the constitutional protections of Article I, Sections 8, 9 of our constitution.  The warrant requirements of ORS 837.320 already provide law enforcement with the ability to act to protect public safety and enforce the law including in exigent circumstances. 

This bill allows law enforcement to monitor the public in the course of “lawful police activity”, which is undefined and open to broad interpretation; the bill would allow unlimited use of drones simply because law enforcement is “[r]esponding to any call” or in a situation where injury or damage “could” occur.  The bill requires no transparency, no reporting at all, by law enforcement, on their proposed extraordinary use of drones to spy on Oregonians. This bill would certainly jeopardize our rights to privacy,  free speech, and assembly including to gather and protest. It also undermines our judiciary and the rule of law. It is a disturbing bill from a Democratic-controlled legislature. 

• Testimony of COIN in Opposition

• Testimony of ACLU Oregon in Opposition

• Testimony of Unite Oregon in Opposition

• Testimony of Latino Network in Opposition

CHAMBER PASSAGE: This bill has already passed the Senate by a vote of 23-3 with 4 excused. It is now in the House Judiciary Committee where public hearings were held on May 7 and 8. You can watch the hearings here.

A work session scheduled for Monday 5/19 was rescheduled for 5/21 and then again for Thursday May 22 at 3 PM.  

MOVEMENT ALERT: During the 5/22 session, the committee voted 5-2 (1 absent) without recommendation as to passage. Moved to the House Rules Committee. 

This bill had a public hearing on 6/11.  Nearly all of the 1100+ written testimonies submitted are in opposition to this bill. 

UPDATE:  Because of the overwhelming opposition to this bill, proponents added the language of SB 238 to a different bill, SB 1125 A, in the -A4 amendment on June 24, and a work session was scheduled on June 25. After MANY people submitted testimony on very short notice, members of the House Rules chose not to adopt the -A4 amendment to SB 1125 A.  You can view the work session here.  HB 1125 passed the Senate on 6/26 (it had already passed the House) without an amendment for warrantless drone surveillance, and SB 238 has not been scheduled for anything further as of 6/26.  

SB 1116 - Coffee Creek Correctional Facility Family Preservation  
COIN ENDORSES this bill.  BILL DID NOT PASS.  

COIN Endorsed a very similar bill in 2023.  This year's bill directs the Oregon Criminal Justice Commission to study the establishment of the Family Preservation Project pilot program at the Coffee Creek Correctional Facility to provide services to parents serving sentences of incarceration at the facility, children of the parents and caregivers of the children. The commission shall submit a report with the results of the study and may include recommendations for legislation, to the interim committees of the Legislative Assembly related to the judiciary no later than September 15, 2026. info@noworegon.org. Oregon NOW “has in past years proudly testified in support of the Family Preservation Project and its bills have historically been priority bills for us. The FPP is not only highly successful in preventing recidivism among its participants, it also provides much needed support for their children. 

• COIN Worksheet for SB 1116

Currently in the Senate Committee on Early Childhood and Behavioral Health 

HB 3551 - Requires Local Law Enforcement to Assist ICE (Undermining Sanctuary Laws)

COIN OPPOSES this bill. BILL DID NOT PASS.   

This bill is also listed under the Immigration and Social Justice category, above.

HB 2851 - Adds Infrastructure Types to 2024 Domestic Terrorism Law   
COIN OPPOSES the bill.   BILL DID NOT PASS.  

This bill is also listed under the Protecting Democracy category, below.

SB 611 - Food for All Oregonians         
COIN ENDORSES this bill.  BILL DID NOT PASS.  

Establishes the Food for All Oregonians Program in the Department of Human Services to provide food for persons under 26 years and over 55 years who would be eligible for SNAP benefits but for their immigration status. SB 611 is originally assigned to the Senate Committee on Human Services.

• SB 611 Worksheet

• Guidance for Testimony on SB 611 provided by Food for All Oregonians

• Research on nutrition and health supports SB 611: Food-Is-Medicine-Plan-2024

• Hungry People Is ... a Policy Choice? Statesman Journal describes the choices to be made about ending hunger in Oregon.

• 1 in 8 Oregonians Experience Hunger The need for food assistance highest since the Great Depression, says OPB 

• 2025 Farm Bill will affect the 20% of rural Oregonian households who receive SNAP benefits.

• Ending Hunger ... Oregon Capitol Chronical article 5.28.25 

COIN is a member of the Food for All Oregonians FFAO coalition. For more info, go here. 

There was a public hearing Tuesday Mar 25 at 8:00am. Watch the recorded hearing here.  

Read COIN Testimony in Support of SB 611.

MOTION ALERT! This bill had a work session on 4/9 and the committee voted 3-2 with a Do Pass recommendation with the -1 amendment. You can watch the work session here. The bill is now in the Joint Ways at Means Committee. 

ACTION ALERT! The FFAO coalition asks that we email Joint Ways at Means Committee members to express your strong support of expanding the SNAP program here in Oregon.

HB 3435  Free School Lunch and Breakfast for all Oregon School Children     COIN ENDORSES this bill.   BILL DID NOT PASS.  

This bill is listed and described under the Education and Children topic above.

HB 3954 - Protecting National Guard Resources  
COIN ENDORSES this bill.   BILL DID NOT PASS.  

In response to increasing instances of federal overreach and the politicized deployment of National Guard units including recent events in Los Angeles, Oregon lawmakers have introduced this bill designed to strengthen state oversight of the Oregon National Guard and establish clear, enforceable limits on when and how Guard units may be mobilized for federal service. 

"We should use our state’s resources to serve our state’s needs. At a time when the president is weaponizing the National Guard against U.S. citizens, this bill is aimed at ensuring that the Oregon National Guard is used lawfully and in service of all Oregonians," said Rep. Chotzen, one of the bill's sponsors. 

• Read the bill sponsors' press release.

MOVEMENT ALERT: HB 3954 had a public hearing on 5/5 and a work session and committee vote on 6/16. You can find the recordings for both here. 

SUCCESS! This bill passed the House by a vote of 32-16 with 12 excused on June 20. The bill now moves to the Senate.

MOVEMENT ALERT: A public hearing was held on June 24 which you can watch here. During the work session on June 25, the Senate Rules Committee voted 3-2 to move HB 3954 forward for a vote by the full Senate. Watch the work session here. 

ACTION ALERT! Contact your state senator and urge them to vote YES on HB 3954! 

Local Newspapers

We have seen many local publications reduce the number of days they publish, switch completely to online only, or close their doors. As a result, many Oregonians no longer have access to a local print newspaper. But Oregon legislation requires the publication of certain information in local newspapers and these publications are a significant source of income as newspapers struggle to stay solvent. 

Currently, notices required by law are published in the nearest local paper, which may be in another county. People don't want to buy or subscribe to a newspaper that has little to no information relevant to their area. For these people, their only source of local news is through digital publications. 

So how do we get the public notice information required by law to everyone who needs to see them without losing more newspapers? COIN suggests the joint passage of two bills, one that increases print newspapers income to offset the losses from public notices, SB 686, and one to allow consumers to access that information via digital news organizations, HB 3431/SB 437 (both need the same amendment). 

SB 686-A9  Oregon Journalism Protection Act   
COIN ENDORSES this bill.  BILL DID NOT PASS. 

SB 686 safeguards Oregon’s local journalism by requiring online big tech platforms like Google and Facebook pay their fair share for profiting off Oregon-based content.  The bill creates a reasonable compliance system for big tech platforms to provide fair compensation to news creators, and creates the Oregon Civic Information Consortium, a non-profit fund supporting local journalism. 

Platforms that currently use Oregon news content for free:

• Amazon: 310 Million users

• Facebook: over 3 billion monthly active users.

• YouTube: 2.5 billion monthly active users.

• WhatsApp: 2 billion monthly active users.

• Instagram: 2 billion monthly active users.

• TikTok: 1.6 billion monthly active users.

• WeChat: 1.38 billion monthly active users.

• Google Search: Google's search engine has over 3.6 billion users.

• Google Drive: Google's cloud storage service has 1 billion users.

• Google Maps: Google's mapping service has 1 billion users.

• Google Play Store: Google's Android app store has 2.5 billion users.

• Google Photos: Google's photo storage service has 1 billion users.

More Info and Articles:

• COIN Worksheet for SB 686

• Op-Ed Two bills: one bad for Oregon journalism, one good Bend Bulletin 2/27/25 article

• OregonLive 4.7.25 article Journalism Essential to Democracy-Support SB 686

• Sen. Phan's Fact Sheet

• Columbia Gorge News article 4.8.25 Why We Support SB 686

• Oregon Live 4/15/24 Oregon lawmakers to decide whether big tech should pay to support local journalism

• COIN's testimony in support of SB 686.

• Willamette Week 4.30.25 article Making big tech share income with local news

• Sen. Pham Open Letter of Support to Oregonian 6.2.25

• Oregonian 6.11.25 Bill advances with fewer legal concerns

• Politico 6-18-25 States are trying to save local news from Big Tech. Trump isn’t helping.

TRACK THIS BILL'S MOVEMENT: 

• Started in the Senate Committee On Rules.

• The -2 amendment clarifies the uses of funds by the Consortium.

• Public hearing on April 9. Watch it here. 

• Another public hearing on 4/23.  Watch it here. 

• Work session on 5/5 and the committee voted 3-2 with a Do Pass recommendation and the -3 amendment. Watch the session here. Bill should move next to Senate floor.

• SB 686 had a second reading in the Senate but was rereferred by voice vote to the Senate Committee On Rules. The committee had a work session on 6/11 and voted 3-2 for a Do Pass recommendation with the -A9 amendment which replaces the original measure, weakening the bill somewhat and changing some of the details but maintaining the original intent of the measure.

• The bill failed to pass the senate in a 14-15 vote on June 24.  A motion to reconsider  was approved by a vote of 18-11, and the bill was rereferred to the Senate  Rules Committee. Here's an article from the Oregon Capital Chronicle that explains the concerns that some legislators have - that big tech companies will simply stop sharing news content from Oregon to avoid paying any fees. 

ACTION ALERT! Contact your state senator and urge them to push for a vote on this bill and to vote YES to protect local journalism with SB 686. 

HB 3431  Digital Public Notices    
COIN ENDORSES this bill if amended as suggested.  BILL DID NOT PASS.   

Expands the application of certain statutes requiring publication in a newspaper to allow publication in online news publications. A proposed amendment is in response to some of the issues brought up during testimony. It would tighten the qualifications for what digital sources would satisfy the state laws governing public notices. These sources would have to been in existence for a significant amount of time, have a physical address, hold themselves to the same standards as are required of print newspapers, and be registered with the state. Access to the public notices must be free of charge (no paywall). This amendment is critical to COIN support.

There is a bill in the Senate, SB 437, similar to the original HB 3431, in the Senate Committee On Rules. It needs the same amendment proposed for HB 3431 for COIN to endorse. Staff for Senator Anderson, chief sponsor of SB 437, suggest there is a  willingness to add the amendment. It had a public hearing Mar 19. Watch the recording here.

Currently in the House Committee On Commerce and Consumer Protection

• HB 3431-1/SB 437 Worksheet 

HB 3431 had a public hearing on Feb 6. Watch the recording here. The HB 3431 work session for Tuesday April 8 was canceled. 

SB 437  Digital Public Notices
COIN ENDORSES this bill if amended as suggested.   BILL DID NOT PASS.   

This bill is similar to the original HB 3431, in the Senate Committee On Rules. It needs the same amendment proposed for HB 3431 for COIN to endorse. Staff for Senator Anderson, chief sponsor of SB 437, suggest there is a willingness to add the amendment.

• HB 3431-1/SB 437 Worksheet 

 This bill had a public hearing Mar 19. Watch the recording here.

HB 3493  Civil Rights for Manufactured and Floating Home Tenants 
COIN has ENDORSED this bill.   BILL DID NOT PASS.

This act stops landlords of mobile and floating home parks from banning political campaigns from knocking on doors. Currently in House Committee On Rules, so work session deadlines do not apply.

• Read COIN testimony in support here. 

A public hearing was held Monday Mar 10. Watch the hearing here.  The work session scheduled for Monday April 21 was canceled.  It looks like this bill won't go any further this session. 

SB 555 - Reducing Transparency of Data Collected by LPRO  
COIN OPPOSES this bill.   BILL DID NOT PASS. 

Makes research requested, collected, maintained or utilized by the Legislative Policy and Research Office confidential unless it is specifically authorized to be released by the legislator who requested it.

There is no good reason to keep this information secret from the public. LPRO staff are government employees. They are not lawyers or doctors or others who would have some sort of privilege against disclosure. This is just another means for the Oregon Legislature to operate behind closed doors. 

Currently in the Senate Rules Committee, so the Mar 21 work session deadline does not apply.

OPB 3.12.25 article SB 555 has skeptics

There was a public hearing Wednesday Mar 12 at 1:00PM. Watch the hearing here. 

HB 2851 - Adds Infrastructure Types to 2024 Domestic Terrorism Law  
COIN OPPOSES this bill.   BILL DID NOT PASS. 

Modifies the definition of "critical infrastructure" to include a terrestrial-based cable or wire communication facility for purposes of the crimes of domestic terrorism in the first degree and domestic terrorism in the second degree. This was a controversial bill in 2023. The 2023 law already includes base transceiver stations and wireless infrastructure. ACLU opposed the original bill and opposes this bill, saying it could be used to arrest protestors exercising First Amendment right. 

Currently in the House Judiciary Committee  

There was a public hearing Wednesday Mar 12 at 3:00PM. Watch the hearing here.  A work session and possible committee vote scheduled for Monday April 7 has been canceled.  

Alliance for a Safe Oregon Legislation Priorities See this list of gun safety bills supported by a coalition of groups deeply concerned about the continued need for better gun regulations.

See also Kotek, Students Demand Action, and others support gun safety legislation.  

Oregon Capitol Chronicle 4.21.25 article Oregon lawmakers consider gun control bills amid legal battle over Measure 114

HB 3075 A - Ballot Measure 114 Revision
COIN ENDORSES this bill.  BILL DID NOT PASS.  However, it was funded as part of the "Christmas Tree" bill at the end of the session so Ballot Measure 114 can finally be implemented!   

Modifies the firearm permit provisions of Ballot Measure 114 (2022). The bill describes more precisely the background application process, modified fees, adds to the those qualified as training course instructors and protects them from civil liability in certain circumstances, and makes it a crime for a dealer to provide a firearm to someone without a valid permit to purchase. Originally assigned to the House Judiciary Committee

Everytown/Moms Demand Action and the coalition Lift Every Voice Oregon LEVO support this legislation. 

• LEVO has requested our support of this bill and given some suggestions: Testimony Tips for HB 3075-1

• Here are some Testimony Tips from MOMS

• Here is the COIN testimony in support of this bill. 

This bill had a public hearing on Mar 17.   You can view the hearing here.

There is an amendment to this bill. 

MOVEMENT ALERT: This bill had a work session on 4/7 and another one on 4/8. You can view the 4/7 work session here and you can view the 4/8 work session here. The committee voted 5-3 for a Do Pass recommendation with the -2 amendment. 

ACTION ALERT! The bill is now in the Joint Ways and Means Committee. Contact committee leaders and urge them to fund this bill. We are running out of time for this session, and this bill needs to get passed to fix some issues so that the 2022 ballot measure 114. 

SB 243 Enrolled - Oregon Community Safety Firearms Act  
COIN ENDORSES this bill.   BILL PASSED.

SB 243 and HB 3074 (not moving forward) started out as identical "study" bills. They both directed the Department of State Police to study whether the process for conducting criminal background checks for firearm transfers can be made more efficient, and submit a report which may include recommendations for legislation, to the Legislature by September 15, 2026.  

However, the bill has been through several amendments, first with the 23-page -1 amendment which placed a number of stand-alone gun safety bills into this one bill, including 

•  a 72-hour waiting period for a purchaser

• more stringent requirements for gun dealers when submitting info on the purchaser for background checks, including verifying the purchaser has a "permit to purchase,"  

• a ban on the manufacture, sale, offer to sell, transport or transfer of rapid fire activators in Oregon,

•  makes it illegal to possess a firearm for persons under the age of 21, with some exceptions such as hunting or target practice

• restrictions on firearms in public buildings

MOVEMENT ALERT:   In the Senate Committee On Judiciary, the -4 amendment was adopted, and it removed the 72-hour waiting period and the age restrictions for purchasing firearms.  SB 243 had a public hearing on 3/27 in the Senate Committee on Judiciary. Watch the hearing here. A work session was held Wednesday April 9 and the committee voted 4-2 with a Do Pass recommendation with the -4 amendment. You can view the work session here. 

We expected the bill to go to the Senate floor for a vote, but then it was referred to the Senate Committee on Rules.  A public hearing was held on Monday May 12. You can and watch the proceedings here.  On 5/14, the Senate Committee on Rules voted 3-2 for a Do Pass recommendation with the -A9 amendment. The -A9 amendment removes provisions in the bill for restrictions on firearms in public buildings, allowing instead that decisions about restrictions will be up to the local governments to decide. Such a bill was considered several years ago, but did not pass due to threats of Republican walkout. You can watch the recorded work session here.  

SO WHAT'S LEFT?   SB 243 A with the -9 amendment:

• requires gun dealers to provide information on the purchaser for background checks, including verifying the purchaser has a "permit to purchase,"

• creates a ban on the manufacture, sale, offer to sell, transport or transfer of rapid fire activators in Oregon, 

• and it will allow local jurisdictions to decide for themselves whether or not to allow firearms in public buildings (not including adjacent grounds). It's not as good of a bill as it was at the start, but it's another step in making Oregonians safer and less intimidated by people with guns. 

SUCCESS!  SB 243 -9 passed the Senate on 5/29 by a party line vote of 17-12. Next, the bill went to the House for its first reading on 6/2 and was assigned to House Committee On Rules.

MOVEMENT ALERT! SB 243 B had a public hearing on 6/11. Watch the proceedings here. The bill was then passed in a June 16 work session by a vote of 4-2 with 1 excused with the B-16 amendment. Watch the work session here. 

On June 17 the bill was referred to the Joint Committee on Ways and Means, and then on June 18, it was referred to the JW&M Subcommittee on Capitol Construction.  The bill was heard and reported out of a work session in the subcommittee on June 20 and later that day was approved by the full Joint Committee on Ways and Means. Watch the subcommittee session here and the full Committee session here. 

SUCCESS! SB 243 passed the full House June 25 by a vote of 33-10 (17 absent or excused). The Senate concurred on amendments with an 18-11 vote on June 27. Awaiting signatures.

HB 3076 A - Gun Dealer Licensing Program
COIN ENDORSES this bill.   BILL DID NOT PASS.  

The original bill directs the Department of Justice to study the establishment of a state gun dealer licensing program, and to provide the results of the study to the appropriate interim committees of the Legislative Assembly no later than December 31, 2026. Hopefully, this study will result in a future bill to stop the illegal flow of guns into our communities by licensing and inspecting gun dealers. 

UPDATE: A -1 Amendment has been requested by Chair Kropf that would actually establish a state gun dealer licensing program with requirements for eligibility for a dealer license and regular inspections that can include unannounced visits. The amendment specifies what constitutes violations of the license and sets forth penalties. COIN supported this amendment.

 Originally assigned to the House Judiciary Committee.

• From the Oregon Capital Chronicle: legislative-bill-would-stem-overflow-of-illegal-guns-violent-crime

• Alliance for Safe Oregon and Everytown/Moms Demand Action support this legislation.

• Testimony Tips from MOMS

• COIN testimony in support of HB 3076

This bill had a work session on 4/7 and has been scheduled for another work session on Tuesday April 8 at 3:00 PM. You can view the 4/7 work session here and you can view the 4/8 work session here. 

MOVEMENT ALERT: The committee voted 5-3 for a Do Pass recommendation with the -2 amendment (which includes aspects of the -1 amendment mentioned above). 

The bill was moved on 6/12 to the Joint Ways and Means Committee Subcommittee on Capitol Construction. A work session was held on 6/18 and the committee vote with a Do Pass recommendation to fund the bill and move it back to the full JW&M Committee. Watch the work session here. 

ACTION ALERT!  The bill was approved at a work session on June 20 over Republicans' objections. Watch the meeting here.  Bill was supposed to get a vote on the House floor on 6/25, but instead it was referred to the House Judiciary Committee. Contact committee members and urge them to vote YES on HB 3076. 

SB 1015 and HB 5014 Enrolled - Community Violence Intervention Funding    COIN ENDORSES these bills. Unfortunately, the DOJ budget no longer funds CVI and the program will not move forward this session.

SB 1015 establishes a grant program to fund Community Violence Intervention (CVI) programs and HB 5014 appropriates moneys from the General Fund to the Department of Justice for biennial expenses, including funding to support CVI programs. These programs use community resources to identify those at greatest risk and provide comprehensive support to de-escalate situations that typically lead to gun violence. Preliminary results suggest these programs can have significant impact with the most successful reducing gun violence by 30% on average. Department of Justice Policy Package #331 is the funding portion related to CVI. See Legislative Fiscal Office 2025-27 Budget Review and HB 5014 BUDGET REPORT and MEASURE SUMMARY.

In the Joint Committee On Ways and Means Subcommittee On Public Safety, so the Mar 21 work session deadline does not apply.

Alliance for Safe Oregon and Everytown/Moms Demand Action supports this legislation.

COIN testimony in support of HB 5014 

SB 1015 passed out of committee by a vote of 6-0 and a Do Pass recommendation. It is currently in the Joint Ways and Means Committee. 

For HB 5014, three information sessions were held April 14, 15, and 16, followed by a public hearing on Thursday April 17, all at 8 am.  Then, a work session and vote was held on Tuesday June 3. The bill is now back in the full Joint Ways and Means Committee. 

MOVEMENT ALERT: The full W&M committee voted for HB 5014 to fund the Department of Justice on 6/6. Watch the session here.  Preliminary analysis suggests the CVI program was not funded. HB 5014 A passed the House by a vote of 39-1 with 20 excused on June 13 and was then referred by the Senate President to the Joint Ways and Means Committee on June 16.  The JW&M Committee gave it a Do Pass recommendation on 6/18.  

Passed both Chambers: HB 5014 passed the Senate 27-2 on June 19 without CVI funding. The Speaker and Senate President have signed, and the bill has been sent to the governor for signature. 

Multiple Stand-Alone Gun Safety Proposals    COIN ENDORSED these bills.

UPDATE:  The public hearing and possible work session scheduled for 4/7 for these bills was canceled. However, the contents of these stand-alone bills have been included in the adopted amendment for the omnibus gun safety bill, SB 243, now being referred to as the "Oregon Community Safety Firearms Act."  

These bills will not move forward separately.

SB 429 - Background Check 72 Hr Requirements 

The Act requires gun dealers to wait 72 hours from the time of asking for a background check, and to have the approval number from the check, before giving a firearm or certain unfinished firearm parts to a buyer. Oregon has high gun suicide rate. A 72 hour waiting period has been shown to reduce suicides by 20%.

In the Senate Judiciary Committee

This legislation is supported by Alliance for a Safe Oregon.

SB 696  - Rapid Fire Activator Ban   

Creates the crime of unlawful transport, manufacture or transfer of a rapid fire activator. Devices like bump stocks and Glock switches increase the firing rate of semiautomatic guns enabling them to function like machine guns.

17 states have enacted laws to ban these devices, often with bipartisan support.

In the Senate Judiciary Committee

Alliance for Safe Oregon and Everytown/Moms Demand Action support this legislation.

SB 697 - Must be 21 to Possess a Rifle

Prohibits a person under 21 years of age from possessing firearms with specified exceptions. Raises the age to purchase semi-automatic rifles and long guns to age 21. 

In the Senate Judiciary Committee

Alliance for Safe Oregon and Everytown/Moms Demand Action support this legislation.

SB 203 - Extreme Risk Protection Order Improvements

Requires the Judicial Department to study the number of extreme risk protection petitions filed and orders issued each year. This bill will improve our Extreme Risk Protection Order (ERPO) law and strengthen protective orders. Alliance for Safe Oregon and Everytown/Moms Demand Action supports this legislation.

In the Senate Judiciary Committee

SB 698 - Public Buildings Gun Bans

Authorizes the governing bodies of certain public entities that own or control public buildings to adopt a policy, ordinance or regulation limiting the affirmative defense for concealed handgun licensees for the crime of possessing a firearm in a public building. Allows ban on concealed carry firearms in public buildings, like the Zoo and city halls.

In the Senate Judiciary Committee

Alliance for Safe Oregon and Everytown/Moms Demand Action support this legislation.

SJR 27 - Right to Carry Ballot Measure Proposal   
COIN OPPOSES this bill.   BILL DID NOT PASS.  

Proposes an amendment to the Oregon Constitution establishing a right to carry concealed firearms. Refers the proposed amendment to the people for their approval or rejection at the next regular general election. 

In the Senate Rules Committee, so the work session deadline does not apply.

HB 3742 Permits Firearms in the Capitol Building
COIN OPPOSES this bill.   BILL DID NOT PASS.  

Provides that members of the Legislative Assembly and legislative branch employees who have a valid concealed handgun license have an affirmative defense to a charge of possessing a firearm within the Capitol, and may not be arrested or charged for the offense while in possession of the license.  

Currently in the House Judiciary Committee.

HB 2396 / HB 2780 - Guaranteed Permit to Purchase 
COIN OPPOSES these bills.    BILLS DID NOT PASS.   

Provides that a person is automatically qualified to obtain a permit to purchase a firearm if the person holds a valid concealed handgun license.  A person with a concealed carry permit would not have to go through the new background check process.     

In the House Judiciary Committee                         

HB 2606    BILL DID NOT PASS.  

A "study" bill that may be a placeholder for additional gun related legislation and will be monitored.