Hello Friends,
We are heading into week seven of the 2025 Oregon Legislative Session.
As I have done during the 2023 & 2024 Legislative Sessions, I am trying to stay ahead of some Bills of Concern and Bills to Support that are coming up for Public Hearings during the 2025 Legislative Session. I am sending you this information so that you may help me and my Legislative Colleagues by bringing your voice to the Legislative Process.
Please forward this to your friends and neighbors that might offer their testimony as well.
You can also click the "View Online" tab in the top right hand corner of this newsletter that will take you to the online version of this newsletter, which will allow you to share the link.
Thank you for all of your work for our beautiful state. It is greatly appreciated.
Be Safe and God Bless.
To Register to Testify or Submit Testimony
Clicking the bill number will allow you access to more information on the bill. The bill text, any submitted amendments and testimony that may have already been submitted is available in the tabs at the top of the webpage. By clicking the “Register to Testify” tab, you can fill out the form to sign up to testify remotely through Microsoft Teams for the bill either via Teams Video or on the phone. If you would like to submit written testimony, click the “Submit Testimony” tab and then either fill out testimony form or upload your written testimony.
This of course does not incapsulate all the bills for the coming week. Bills could also be added to committee agendas at any time and after the work to put this list together.
Remember, when reading the Bill, Bold Type in the bill is new language that will be added to law.
Italic Type is language that will be omitted from the bill and existing law.
Legislation of Concern & Bills to Support for the Coming Week
March 3rd through March 7th
Bills of Concern
Monday
Senate Committee On Education 8:00 am
SB 1098 - Digest: Prohibits the exclusion of certain school books based on the topic or author of the book. (Flesch Readability Score: 68.9). Prohibits discrimination when selecting or retaining school library materials, textbooks or instructional materials or when developing and implementing a curriculum. Prescribes requirements for the removal of library materials, textbooks and instructional materials. Directs the Department of Education to provide technical assistance for school library programs. Declares an emergency, effective on passage.
House Committee On Rules 8:00 am
HB 3012 - Digest: The Act lets someone who is 16 or 17 years old and registered to vote to cast a ballot in school district elections. (Flesch Readability Score: 62.1). Permits an individual who is 16 or 17 years of age and registered to vote to cast a ballot in school district elections.
Senate Committee On Housing and Development 1:00 pm
SB 973 - Digest: Amends the notices that a landlord must give to tenants warning when the landlord's obligation to charge the tenant low rent will end. (Flesch Readability Score: 62.1). Requires a landlord of publicly supported housing to provide all applicants and new tenants notice of when the affordability restrictions may be terminated. Becomes operative January 1, 2026. Extends from 20 months to 30 months the minimum notice landlords must give existing tenants regarding expiring affordability restrictions. Requires the Housing and Community Services Department to adopt rules by December 1, 2025, that prescribe the form of the notice and translations. Applies to properties with restrictions ending on or after July 1, 2028.
House Committee On Labor and Workplace Standards 3:00 pm
HB 2746 - Digest: The Act makes new laws regarding pay transparency. The Act takes effect 91 days after sine die. (Flesch Readability Score: 73.7). Requires employers and employment agencies to include certain wage and benefit information in job postings for job, promotion and transfer opportunities. Requires employers to maintain certain employment records for each employee. Makes a violation an unlawful practice and permits the Commissioner of the Bureau of Labor and Industries to assess civil penalties for a violation. Establishes circumstances under which the commissioner may dismiss a complaint about a violation. Makes employment agencies subject to the prohibition against inquiries regarding salary history and past criminal convictions.
-1 Amendment
Tuesday
House Committee On Climate, Energy, and Environment 8:00 am
HB 2679 - Digest: This Act puts limits on the use of pesticides that have some neonicotinoids in them. (Flesch Readability Score: 61.8). Directs the State Department of Agriculture to classify certain pesticides containing neonicotinoids as restricted-use. Prohibits application of restricted-use neonicotinoid pesticides on residential landscapes, subject to certain exceptions. Becomes operative on January 1, 2027.
Senate Committee On Labor and Business 8:00 am
SB 916 - Digest: The Act would repeal the law that denies benefits to a person who is unemployed due to an active labor dispute. (Flesch Readability Score: 60.6). Provides that an individual otherwise eligible for unemployment insurance benefits is not disqualified for any week that the individual's unemployment is due to a labor dispute in active progress at the individual's place of employment. Declares an emergency, effective on passage.
Senate Committee On Early Childhood and Behavioral Health 1:00 pm
SB 702 - Digest: The Act bans the sale of flavored products with tobacco or nicotine. (Flesch Readability Score: 67.7). Prohibits distributing, selling, attempting to sell or offering to sell flavored inhalant delivery system products or flavored tobacco products in this state. 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. Declares an emergency, effective on passage.
Joint Committee On Transportation 5:00 pm
HB 3362 – TAX ALERT - Digest: This Act creates a tax on tires to pay for rail transit, tire pollution and wildlife crossings. (Flesch Readability Score: 80.0). Imposes an excise tax on retail sales of tires. Directs the Department of Revenue to transfer tax revenue to specified funds for purposes related to rail transit, tire pollution prevention and mitigation and wildlife passage infrastructure. Establishes the Tire Pollution and Rail Transit Fund. Establishes the Wildlife-Vehicle Collision Reduction Fund. Directs the Department of Transportation to establish a tire pollution prevention and mitigation program.
Wednesday
Senate Committee On Judiciary 3:00 pm
SB 599 - Digest: This Act bans biases in the rent or sale of property based on immigration status. (Flesch Readability Score: 61.8). Prohibits landlords from inquiring about or disclosing immigration status or rejecting an applicant due to immigration status. Prohibits discrimination based on immigration status for real property transactions.
Thursday
Senate Committee On Labor and Business 8:00 am
SB 705 - Digest: The Act would add to workers' comp law a floor of pay per week for temporary total disability that the worker must get. (Flesch Readability Score: 62.1). Provides an alternative weekly minimum amount of workers' compensation benefits for temporary total disability.
Senate Committee On Natural Resources and Wildfire 1:00 pm
SB 77 - THREAT TO PRIVATE PROPERTY RIGHTS by Senator Golden - Digest: This Act describes work that may be done from within homes on forest or farm land. (Flesch Readability Score: 90.1). Describes allowable home occupations on lands zoned for forest or farm use.
SB 78 - THREAT TO PRIVATE PROPERTY RIGHTS by Senator Golden - Digest: This Act limits the size of replacement homes on forest or farm land. (Flesch Readability Score: 76.5). Establishes maximum size of replacement dwellings on lands zoned for forest or farm use.
House Committee On Judiciary 3:00 pm HB 3194 - THREAT TO PRIVATE PROPERTY RIGHTS - Digest: The Act makes new laws about farmworker camps. (Flesch Readability Score: 82.3). Establishes that landowners and persons acting as farmworker camp operators are jointly and severally liable for operating a farmworker camp on the landowner's property unless certain conditions are met. Modifies remedies that may be sought for violations of certain requirements for farmworker camps.
Friday
Bills to Support
Monday
Senate Committee On Finance and Revenue 8:30 am
SB 381 - Digest: Raises the exempt amount and the filing threshold for the CAT. (Flesch Readability Score: 72.6). Increases the exempt amount and the filing threshold for purposes of the corporate activity tax. Applies to tax years beginning on or after January 1, 2026.
SB 440 - Digest: The Act raises the exemption amount and the filing threshold for the CAT for home builders. (Flesch Readability Score: 68.9). Increases the exempt amount and the filing threshold for purposes of the corporate activity tax as applicable to homebuilding contracts. Applies to tax years beginning on or after January 1, 2026.
SB 490 - Digest: Raises the exempt amount and the filing threshold for the CAT. (Flesch Readability Score: 72.6). Increases the exempt amount and the filing threshold for purposes of the corporate activity tax. Applies to tax years beginning on or after January 1, 2026.
House Committee On Agriculture, Land Use, Natural Resources, and Water 8:00 am
HB 3103 - Digest: The Act directs the State Forester to create harvest levels for cutting timber on state forestland. The Act directs the State Forester to develop a timber inventory model. The Act directs the State Forester to sell timber at the harvest level. The Act gives moneys to the State Forester. (Flesch Readability Score: 61.4). Directs the State Forester to establish sustainable harvest levels for harvesting timber on state forestland and develop a timber inventory model to inform sustainable harvest levels. Directs the State Forester to offer timber for sale at the sustainable harvest level, annually report on sales of timber relative to the sustainable harvest level and address any deficit in timber sales. Confers standing on certain persons to challenge a failure to address a deficit. Directs the State Forester to adopt sustainable harvest levels, forest management plans and related significant policy documents by rule. Establishes certain requirements for judicial review of the rules. Makes certain changes concerning forest management reports by the State Forester. Appropriates moneys to the State Forester out of the General Fund for developing a timber inventory model and a sustainable harvest level.
Tuesday
House Committee On Higher Education and Workforce Development 8:00 am
HB 3700 - Digest: This Act tells the EQC and OHA to adopt rules to certify operators of water and sewage plants from other states. (Flesch Readability Score: 60.6). Directs the Environmental Quality Commission to adopt by rule standards for certification of sewage treatment works operators from nonreciprocal states, provinces or other certifying entities. Directs the Oregon Health Authority to adopt by rule standards for the certification of potable water treatment plants and water distribution systems from nonreciprocal states, provinces or other certifying entities.
Senate Committee On Human Services 8:00 am
SB 1021 - Digest: This Act stops CCRCs from ending programs without tenant consent. (Flesch Readability Score: 61.3). Prohibits a continuing care retirement community from eliminating or reducing a resident's services or programs that were included in the resident's initial residency agreement without the consent of the resident.
House Committee On Revenue 3:00 pm
HB 2271 - Digest: The Act would give a credit against UI taxes to employers whose rate for 2025 is less than their rate for the prior year by at least three percentage points. (Flesch Readability Score: 60.7). Provides a credit against an employer's unemployment insurance taxes for calendar years 2025, 2026 and 2027 if the employer's tax rate for calendar year 2025 is at least three percentage points less than the employer's tax rate for calendar year 2024.
HB 2197 - Digest: The Act makes a new tax subtraction for banks that loan for rural farms, houses or boats. (Flesch Readability Score: 72.3). Creates Oregon tax subtraction for interest received by financial institutions from loans made for purchase or improvement of agricultural real estate, rural residences and coastal fishing boats. Applies to tax years beginning on or after January 1, 2026, and before January 1, 2032. Exempts from commercial activity subject to corporate activity tax interest received by financial institutions from loans made for purchase or improvement of agricultural real estate, rural residences and coastal fishing boats. Applies to tax years beginning on or after January 1, 2026, and before January 1, 2032.
Wednesday
House Committee On Economic Development, Small Business, and Trade 8:00 Am
HB 2145 Digest: The Act removes a limit on lottery proceeds allocated to the County Fair Account. The Act tells an agency to create a master plan for building on county fairgrounds. The Act gives money for related services. (Flesch Readability Score: 63.0). Removes the requirement that the amount of net proceeds from the Oregon State Lottery allocated to the County Fair Account not exceed $1.53 million annually. Requires the Oregon Business Development Department to prepare and report a master plan for county fairground capital construction. Specifies content and procedural requirements for the report. Appropriates moneys to the department out of the General Fund for consultant services related to the report.
HB 2304 - Digest: The Act addresses how lottery money is allocated to the County Fair Account. The Act allocates lottery money to the State Fair Council. The Act tells an agency to create a master plan for county fair building. The Act gives money related to the master plan. The Act allows the issuance of bonds for an emergency and evacuee center. (Flesch Readability Score: 61.5). Removes the requirement that the amount of net proceeds from the Oregon State Lottery allocated to the County Fair Account not exceed $1.53 million annually. Requires the Oregon Business Development Department to prepare and report a master plan for county fairground capital construction. Specifies content and procedural requirements for the report. Appropriates moneys to the department out of the General Fund for consultant services related to the report. Authorizes the issuance of bonds under Article XI-Q of the Oregon Constitution to support the use of the Oregon State Fair and Exposition Center as a regional emergency and evacuee center.
HB 3101 - Digest: The Act addresses how lottery money is allocated to the County Fair Account. The Act allocates lottery money to a new Horse Racing Account. The Act tells an agency to create a master plan for county fair building. The Act gives money related to the master plan. The Act creates the new Horse Racing Account. (Flesch Readability Score: 68.0). Removes the requirement that the amount of net proceeds from the Oregon State Lottery allocated to the County Fair Account not exceed $1.53 million annually. Allocates eight-tenths of one percent of net proceeds from the lottery to the County Fair Account and two-tenths of one percent of net proceeds from the lottery to the Horse Racing Account. Requires the Oregon Business Development Department to prepare and report a master plan for county fairground capital construction. Specifies content and procedural requirements for the report. Appropriates moneys to the department out of the General Fund for consultant services related to the report. Establishes the Horse Racing Account separate and distinct from the General Fund.
Senate Committee On Finance and Revenue 8:00 am
SB 382 - Digest: The Act makes all pharmacy drug sale receipts not taxed by the corporate activity tax. (Flesch Readability Score: 61.8). Exempts receipts from the sale of prescription drugs by all licensed retail pharmacies from commercial activity subject to the corporate activity tax. Applies to tax years beginning on or after January 1, 2026.
SB 707 - Digest: The Act makes certain rural pharmacy drug sale receipts not taxed by the CAT. (Flesch Readability Score: 77.8). Expands the exemption for receipts from the sale of prescription drugs from commercial activity subject to the corporate activity tax to include critical access pharmacies. Applies to tax years beginning on or after January 1, 2026.
Senate Committee On Energy and Environment 3:00 pm
SB 215 - Digest: Repeals the law that requires there to be a place for radioactive waste to be disposed of before a nuclear power plant may be sited in this state. Repeals the law that requires a proposed nuclear power plant first receive approval from the electors of this state. Refers the Act to the people for their approval or rejection. (Flesch Readability Score: 64.6). Repeals the requirement that there be a licensed repository for the disposal of high-level radioactive waste before a site certificate for a nuclear-fueled thermal power plant may be issued. Repeals the requirement that a proposed site certificate for a nuclear-fueled thermal power plant be submitted to the electors of this state for their approval or rejection. Refers the Act to the people for their approval or rejection at the next regular general election.
SB 216 - Digest: Repeals the law that requires there to be a place for radioactive waste to be disposed of before a nuclear power plant may be sited in this state. Repeals the law that requires a proposed nuclear power plant first receive approval from the electors of this state. (Flesch Readability Score: 62.3). Repeals the requirement that there be a licensed repository for the disposal of high-level radioactive waste before a site certificate for a nuclear-fueled thermal power plant may be issued. Repeals the requirement that a proposed site certificate for a nuclear-fueled thermal power plant be submitted to the electors of this state for their approval or rejection.
SB 635 - Digest: This Act tells OSU to study and make a report on nuclear energy. (Flesch Readability Score: 69.9). Directs Oregon State University to conduct a feasibility study on nuclear energy generation in this state.
SB 926 - Digest: Bans the recoupment of certain costs that a power company incurs from claims based on a wildfire. (Flesch Readability Score: 65.1). Prohibits the recovery from customers of certain costs and expenses that an electric company incurs as a result of allegations of a wildfire resulting from the negligence or a higher degree of fault on the part of the electric company.
Thursday
Senate Committee On Early Childhood and Behavioral Health 1:00 pm
SB 567 - Digest: The Act would create an incentive program for child care. (Flesch Readability Score: 86.7). Directs the Department of Early Learning and Care to establish and implement a child care provider incentive program. Establishes the Child Care Provider Incentive Fund.
SB 962 - Digest: The Act tells DELC to run a grant program to support tenants with updating dwellings for use as a family child care home. (Flesch Readability Score: 69.4). Directs the Department of Early Learning and Care to administer a grant program to award moneys to tenants to update dwellings for use as a family child care home. Sunsets January 2, 2045.
Senate Committee On Natural Resources and Wildfire 1:00 pm
SB 788 - Digest: This Act allows some events on eastern Oregon farm land. (Flesch Readability Score: 69.7). Allows lands zoned for exclusive farm use to be used for weddings or events east of the summit of the Cascade Range.
Senate Committee On Health Care 3:00 pm
SB 942 - Digest: Tells some health plans to cover a child over the age of 26 in certain circumstances. (Flesch Readability Score: 74.2). Requires individual and group health benefit plans to cover a child over the age of 26 in certain circumstances.
Friday
Yours Truly,
 Senator David Brock Smith
Together, We Will Build a Better Oregon
 Senate District 1
Curry, Coos, and Douglas Counties
Southwest Oregon’s Fish, Farm, and Forestry District.
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1701
Capitol Address: 900 Court St. NE, S-316, Salem, Oregon 97301
Email: Sen.DavidBrockSmith@oregonlegislature.gov
Website: http://www.oregonlegislature.gov/smithd
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