HB 3638 Oregon House · 2025 Regular Session

Relating to executive sessions.

HB 3638 extends the deadline for filing complaints about violations of executive session rules from 30 days to one year. It directly affects residents or stakeholders who believe a local government body (like a city council or school board) broke rules governing private meetings. The bill amends Oregon law to give people more time to submit written grievances to the governing body if they think executive sessions were improperly held or conducted. This change specifically applies to violations of sections covering executive session requirements (ORS 192.640-192.670), not general open-meeting rules. The policy change provides greater opportunity to address alleged violations without requiring immediate action.
Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Feb 2025
Committee Review
Jun 2025
House Passage
Jun 2025
Senate Passage
Governor
Introduced Feb 20, 2025 Last action Jun 28, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Introduced A-Engrossed · 3 edits · Jun 17, 2025
MINOR
This bill changes the deadline for filing grievances about executive session violations from one year to 90 days after the record becomes public. It also reorganizes the response options public bodies must provide, moving the 'admitting violation' option to a separate subsection and adding a new definition for 'record'.
Scope change
The bill's scope remains the same regarding which violations can be challenged, but the timeline for filing grievances has been shortened.
TIMELINE

Changed the filing deadline for grievances from one year after the alleged violation to 90 days after the record of the alleged violation becomes available to the public.

REQUIREMENT

Restructured the response options public bodies must provide when receiving a grievance, renumbering subsections and separating the 'admitting violation' option into its own subsection.

DEFINITION

Added a new definition for 'record' to clarify it means information inscribed on a tangible medium or stored electronically that is retrievable in perceivable form.

Floor votes · House Jun 17, 2025

How they voted

466
Passed · 7 other
Total votes 59
Jun 17, 2025
D Democratic36
28 Yea 4 Nay 4
77% Yea
R Republican23
18 Yea 2 Nay 3
78% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
11
Key actions
3
Committee
4
Jun 28, 2025
Upper · Passed
In committee upon adjournment.
upper
Jun 18, 2025
Committee
Referred to Rules.
upper
Jun 18, 2025
Introduced
First reading. Referred to President's desk.
upper
Jun 17, 2025
Lower · Passed
Third reading. Carried by Helfrich. Passed.
lower
Jun 13, 2025
Lower · Passed
Recommendation: Do pass with amendments and be printed A-Engrossed.
lower
Feb 21, 2025
Committee
Referred to Rules.
lower
Feb 20, 2025
Introduced
First reading. Referred to Speaker's desk.
lower
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Photo of Jeff Helfrich
Jeff Helfrich
RRepublican
OR
52