SB 865 Oregon Senate · 2025 Regular Session

Relating to work performed by a landscape contracting business; and prescribing an effective date.

Summary
Requires the State Landscape Contractors Board to determine that a landscape contracting business is an independent contractor with responsibility for obtaining workers' compensation insurance if the landscape contracting business performs certain work related to backflow assemblies for irrigation systems and ornamental water features, to landscape irrigation control wiring and outdoor landscape lighting or to removing or pruning trees or tree limbs or stumps or performing tree or tree limb guying. Exempts persons or businesses who are licensed with the Construction Contractors Board and who install ornamental water features from a requirement to obtain a landscape contractors license. Removes the requirement that a person who intends to rescind a contract with a landscape contracting business for work on real property own or lease the real property. Takes effect on the 91st day following adjournment sine die.
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
May 2025
Introduced Jan 13, 2025 Signed May 28, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Introduced Enrolled · 5 edits · May 28, 2025
MODERATE
This bill transitions from a draft summary to an enacted law, establishing clearer rules for landscape contracting licenses in Oregon. It adds specific work categories that require landscape contractor licensing, clarifies exemptions for Construction Contractors Board licensees, and modifies contract rescission rules. The changes make licensing requirements more precise and expand protections for consumers by clarifying when landscape work falls under state regulation.
Scope change
The bill's scope expanded to explicitly include backflow assembly testing, irrigation control wiring, and outdoor lighting work under landscape contractor licensing requirements, while maintaining exemptions for Construction Contractors Board licensees performing certain water feature installations.
REQUIREMENT

Added specific work categories requiring landscape contractor licensing, including backflow assembly testing, irrigation control wiring, outdoor landscape lighting, and tree removal/pruning services.

ELIGIBILITY

Modified contract rescission rules to allow cancellation within three days regardless of property ownership status, removing the previous requirement that the consumer must own or lease the property.

ENFORCEMENT

Added penalties and proof requirements for licensees who hire employees or fall into nonexempt categories, strengthening enforcement mechanisms.

EXEMPTIONS

Clarified exemptions for Construction Contractors Board licensees performing fence, deck, and water feature installations, maintaining their existing licensing pathway.

TECHNICAL

Changed document status from 'Introduced' to 'Enrolled' with updated formatting and removed editorial summary section, indicating final passage.

Floor votes · Senate Mar 6, 2025 · House May 15, 2025

How they voted

281
Passed
Total votes 29
Mar 6, 2025
D Democratic17
17 Yea
100% Yea
R Republican12
11 Yea 1 Nay
91% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
22
Key actions
7
Committee
4
May 28, 2025
Signed into law
Governor signed.
upper
May 20, 2025
Lower · Passed
Speaker signed.
lower
May 19, 2025
Upper · Passed
President signed.
upper
May 15, 2025
Lower · Passed
Third reading. Carried by Fragala. Passed.
lower
May 9, 2025
Lower · Passed
Recommendation: Do pass.
lower
Mar 13, 2025
Committee
Referred to Labor and Workplace Standards.
lower
Mar 10, 2025
Introduced
First reading. Referred to Speaker's desk.
lower
Mar 6, 2025
Upper · Passed
Third reading. Carried by Hayden. Passed.
upper
Mar 4, 2025
Upper · Passed
Recommendation: Do pass.
upper
Jan 17, 2025
Committee
Referred to Labor and Business.
upper
Jan 13, 2025
Introduced
Introduction and first reading. Referred to President's desk.
upper
0 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

No sponsor information available.