SB 686 Oregon Senate · 2025 Regular Session

Relating to civic information.

Summary

] [ Requires online platforms to pay moneys to digital journalism providers and the Oregon Civic Information Consortium. Allows an online platform to use an arbitration process to determine the percentage of an online platform's advertising revenue to be remitted to digital journalism providers. ] Prohibits a covered platform from accessing for an Oregon audience the online content of a digital journalism provider without an agreement. Specifies requirements that an agreement must meet. Creates a private cause of action that a digital journalism provider may bring against a covered platform if the covered platform accesses for an Oregon audience the online content of the digital journalism provider without an agreement or fails to comply with an agreement. Allows for the recovery of the greater of statutory or actual damages, and for punitive damages. Bars a cause of action if the covered platform is participating in arbitration or in compliance with a final arbitration order, judgment or settlement agreement. Bars a cause of action for access that occurs between January 1, 2026, and December 31, 2027, if the covered platform elects to pay a certain sum amount. Allows a covered platform or group of digital journalism providers to initiate an arbitration process to determine a percentage of the covered platform's advertising revenue to be remitted to the digital journalism providers. Requires online platforms to report annually certain information about compensation paid to digital journalism providers. Establishes the Oregon Civic Information Consortium. Directs the consortium to award grants for applicants that seek to improve civic information.

Bill status failed 1 of 4 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2025

Committee Review

Floor Vote

Governor

Introduced Jan 13, 2025 Last action Jun 28, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

A-Engrossed → B-Engrossed · 7 edits

MODERATE

The bill was amended to significantly strengthen its provisions by adding a 'Whereas' clause to establish legislative intent, replacing the original digest summary with more detailed language, and substantially expanding the definitions and requirements for covered platforms and digital journalism providers. The changes shift the bill from a simple payment mandate to a more complex framework requiring agreements between platforms and news providers, while also adding new enforcement mechanisms like private causes of action and arbitration processes.

Scope change

The bill's scope was expanded from a straightforward payment requirement to a more comprehensive framework that includes mandatory agreements between platforms and news providers, with specific provisions for arbitration, damages, and exemptions based on arbitration compliance.

SCOPE

Added a 'Whereas' clause at the beginning of the bill to establish the legislative intent behind supporting local news and addressing anticompetitive practices by major technology platforms.

REQUIREMENT

Changed the core requirement from platforms simply paying news providers to platforms needing an agreement to access news content for Oregon audiences, with specific requirements for what those agreements must contain.

ENFORCEMENT

Created a new private cause of action allowing digital journalism providers to sue platforms that access their content without an agreement or fail to comply with agreements, with provisions for statutory, actual, and punitive damages.

TIMELINE

Added a temporary exemption from lawsuits for platforms that elect to pay a certain sum amount between January 1, 2026, and December 31, 2027.

DEFINITION

Reorganized and expanded the definitions section, removing specific criteria for 'covered platform' eligibility that included user thresholds and market capitalization requirements.

FISCAL

Added provisions for an arbitration process where platforms and journalism providers can determine what percentage of advertising revenue should be remitted to digital journalism providers.

ELIGIBILITY

Removed specific eligibility criteria for 'covered platform' that included having 50 million monthly active users or market capitalization over $550 billion, making the definition less clear.

Floor votes

How they voted

No floor votes recorded yet.

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Jun 28, 2025

Upper · Passed

In committee upon adjournment.

upper

Jun 24, 2025

Introduced

Vote explanation(s) filed by Sollman.

upper

Jun 24, 2025

Upper · Passed

Motion to rerefer to Committee on Rules carried.

upper

Jun 20, 2025

Upper · Passed

Recommendation: Do pass with amendments to the A-Eng. bill. (Printed B-Eng.)

upper

Jun 10, 2025

Upper · Passed

Motion to rerefer to Committee on Rules carried by voice vote.

upper

Jun 6, 2025

Upper · Passed

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

upper

Jun 6, 2025

Upper · Passed

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

upper

Jan 17, 2025

Committee

Referred to Rules.

upper

Jan 13, 2025

Introduced

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

upper

8 primary · 7 co-sponsors