SB 139 Oregon Senate · 2025 Regular Session

Relating to infectious waste.

SB 139 allows healthcare facilities to consolidate sharps (like needles and scalpels) and discarded medicines into a single container, rather than requiring separate containers. The bill specifies that this combined container must be leakproof, rigid, puncture-resistant, a distinctive color (not red), and clearly labeled with the biohazard symbol. It directly affects hospitals, clinics, labs, and other facilities generating infectious waste by changing how they handle two common waste streams. The law maintains that all consolidated waste must still be treated as infectious waste under Oregon's existing regulations. This change simplifies waste management while ensuring safety through specific container requirements.

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2025

Committee Review

May 2025

Senate Passage

May 2025

House Passage

May 2025

Signed into Law

Jun 2025

Introduced Jan 13, 2025 Signed Jun 3, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 3 comparisons

What changed between versions

B-Engrossed → Enrolled · 6 edits · Jun 3, 2025

MODERATE

The bill was finalized from its B-Engrossed version to Enrolled status, incorporating formatting changes and adding new requirements for infectious waste management. The core policy allowing sharps and waste pharmaceuticals to be mixed in containers remains, but new rules were added for container cleaning, trash chute restrictions, and exemptions for small waste generators.

Scope change

The bill's scope remains focused on infectious waste management in Oregon, with no change to its applicability across the state.

REQUIREMENT

Added requirement that reusable infectious waste containers must be thoroughly washed and decontaminated each time they are emptied, unless protected by a disposable liner.

Added prohibition on using trash chutes to transfer infectious waste between storage or containment locations.

Modified container labeling requirements to specify that biohazard symbols must be visible from any lateral direction when containers are upright.

Added new subsection (9) prohibiting trash chute use for infectious waste transfer and subsection (10) creating exemptions for small waste generators.

ELIGIBILITY

Added exemption for generators producing 50 pounds or less of infectious waste per month from specific storage, labeling, and cleaning requirements.

TECHNICAL

Removed editorial notes and formatting instructions that were present in the B-Engrossed version but not needed in the final Enrolled bill.

Floor votes · Senate Apr 10, 2025 · House May 21, 2025

How they voted

27–0

Passed · 2 other

Total votes 29

Apr 10, 2025

D Democratic17

17 Yea

100% Yea

R Republican12

10 Yea 2

83% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Jun 3, 2025

Signed into law

Governor signed.

upper

May 29, 2025

Lower · Passed

Speaker signed.

lower

May 28, 2025

Upper · Passed

President signed.

upper

May 27, 2025

Upper · Passed

Senate concurred in House amendments and repassed bill.

upper

May 21, 2025

Lower · Passed

Third reading. Carried by Levy E. Passed.

lower

May 19, 2025

Lower · Passed

Recommendation: Do pass with amendments and be printed B-Engrossed.

lower

Apr 15, 2025

Committee

Referred to Climate, Energy, and Environment.

lower

Apr 10, 2025

Introduced

First reading. Referred to Speaker's desk.

lower

Apr 10, 2025

Upper · Passed

Third reading. Carried by Patterson. Passed.

upper

Apr 7, 2025

Upper · Passed

Recommendation: Do pass with amendments. (Printed A-Eng.)

upper

Jan 17, 2025

Committee

Referred to Energy and Environment.

upper

Jan 13, 2025

Introduced

Introduction and first reading. Referred to President's desk.

upper

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors