Oregon Bills

Authorizes a city within Marion County to control or direct the disposal, transfer or material or energy recovery of solid waste generated within the city.

Prohibits the recovery from customers of certain costs and expenses that an electric company incurs if a court or jury finds that a wildfire resulted from the negligence or a higher degree of fault on the part of the electric company. [ Prohibits an electric company from paying or distributing dividends, income, interest or profits or paying, distributing or repurchasing stock or other ownership interest to any person or individual with an ownership or beneficial interest in the electric company if the electric company owes any debt on an outstanding judgment that is based on a finding by a court or jury that a wildfire resulted from the negligence or a higher degree of fault on the part of the electric company. ] [ Sets the rate of interest on the judgment at nine percent per annum to accrue from the date the wildfire was ignited if a plaintiff establishes that a wildfire resulted from the negligence or a higher degree of fault on the part of the electric company. ] [ Provides that an electric company is liable for all taxes that may be owed by a prevailing party on a judgment that the electric company has not satisfied by January 1, 2026, for a judgment that is based on a finding by a court or jury that a wildfire resulted from the negligence or a higher degree of fault on the part of the electric company. ] Requires an electric company to request that the Public Utility Commission open an investigation if the electric company owes more than a certain amount of debt on an outstanding judgment or judgments that are based on a wildfire that resulted from the negligence or a higher degree of fault on the part of the electric company and the electric company plans to make a payment, distribution or repurchase related to dividends, income, interest, profits, stock or other ownership interest. Directs the commission to suspend the payment, distribution or repurchase during the investigation and allows the commission to issue a final order that imposes restrictions, requirements or conditions. Allows a plaintiff to file motions in a civil action based on a wildfire caused by an electric company to require the electric company to file a security or bond if the electric company has been found to be liable to other plaintiffs for damages, losses or other harms resulting from the same wildfire, to have prejudgment interest accrue from the date the wildfire caused damages, losses or other harm and for a supplemental judgment for any additional tax liabilities that the plaintiff may owe on the underlying final judgment. Requires an electric company to apply for a wildfire safety certification. Directs the commission to issue a certification if the applicant is implementing a wildfire protection plan and meets certain requirements. Provides that a certification establishes that the applicant has implemented wildfire policies and practices consistent with wildfire safety standards. Provides that a certification does not establish immunity against claims for damages resulting from a wildfire. Directs the commission to commission a study to examine issues related to catastrophic wildfire risk and recovery and develop scenarios for a balanced solution. Directs the commission to provide an interim report on the study's findings and recommendations to the committees of the Legislative Assembly related to energy and environment during the 2026 regular session and provide recommendations for a stakeholder process to follow the final study report. Declares an emergency, effective on passage.

] Voids noncompetition agreements between a licensed health care provider and another person, with specified exceptions. Applies to noncompetition agreements entered into before, on or after the effective date of the Act. Declares an emergency, effective on passage.

[ Changes the calculation of ] Increases the Retirement Health Insurance Account subsidy under the Public Employees Retirement System. Allows members of the Oregon Public Service Retirement Plan to receive the Retiree Health Insurance Premium Account subsidy.

] Prohibits a person that [ advertises ] offers or sells consumer goods or [ consumer ] services [ for sale ] in this state from [ displaying in an advertisement or quoting during a transaction ] advertising, displaying or offering a price for the consumer goods or [ consumer ] services that does not include [ or disclose every fee ] all fees and charges that [ the consumer ] a resident must pay to complete the [ sale of ] transaction in the consumer goods or [ consumer ] services other than taxes or fees that a governmental body imposes on the transaction or reasonable charges actually incurred for shipping the goods or providing the services . Punishes a violation of the Act as an unlawful trade practice under the Unlawful Trade Practices Act.

Adds "nicotine derived from any source" to the definitions of "inhalant delivery system" and "tobacco products." Repeals existing criminal prohibition on the sale of inhalant delivery systems or tobacco products to a person under 21 years of age and replaces the repealed law with a civil prohibition enforced by the Oregon Health Authority. Authorizes imposition of civil penalties for violations. Establishes a civil prohibition on providing, without compensation, inhalant delivery systems or tobacco products. Authorizes the authority to adopt rules to administer certain laws that apply to inhalant delivery systems and tobacco products. Requires any sale of cigarettes, inhalant delivery systems or smokeless tobacco products to occur at licensed premises. [ Expands the definition of "tobacco products" for taxation purposes to include nicotine pouches, nicotine lozenges and other products containing nicotine derived from any source. ] Takes effect on the 91st day following adjournment sine die.

Provides for a property tax credit against the ad valorem taxes imposed on the homestead of a resident serving on active military duty. Provides for a property tax credit for the homesteads of disabled veterans and their surviving spouses, including when they reside in nonprofit homes for elderly persons. Phases out both of the current partial exemption programs for such homesteads. Takes effect on the 91st day following adjournment sine die.

Requires an electric utility to recover costs for storing the waste produced by an energy facility in generating electricity. Requires a person who develops an energy facility to disclose the costs of storing the waste produced by the energy facility in generating electricity. Takes effect on the 91st day following adjournment sine die.

] [ Requires the Department of Public Safety Standards and Training to study issues relating to law enforcement officers. Directs the department to submit findings to the interim committees of the Legislative Assembly related to the judiciary not later than September 15, 2026. ] Modifies provisions relating to the use of unmanned aircraft systems by law enforcement officers and agencies.

] [ Requires the Legislative Revenue Officer to study issues of local taxation. Directs the Legislative Revenue Officer to submit findings to the interim committees of the Legislative Assembly related to revenue not later than December 1, 2026. ] Allows city and county services for which net local transient lodging tax revenue may be used to be provided either directly by the city or county or indirectly by a special district. Changes the division of allowable uses of net local transient lodging tax revenue from at least 70 percent for tourism-related expenses and no more than 30 percent for city or county services, to at least 40 percent and no more than 60 percent, respectively. Allows units of local government with restricted grandfathered local transient lodging tax regimes to take advantage of the new provisions of the Act. Takes effect on the 91st day following adjournment sine die.

HB 2251 requires Oregon school districts to adopt policies banning student use of personal electronic devices on school grounds, during school activities, on school transportation, or at school bus stops. The policy must allow exceptions only for devices supporting academic activities or independent communications under a student's individualized education program (IEP) or 504 plan. Districts must also outline consequences for violations and ensure policies are accessible to staff, students, and parents. This bill directly affects all public school students and districts in Oregon, shifting from previous allowances to a near-universal ban with narrow disability-related exceptions. The policy must include a process for student requests and appeals regarding device use.

Increases the fee paid for alcohol and drug screening specialists. Expands uses of moneys in the Intoxicated Driver Program Fund for indigent defendants. Provides some limitations. Allows an individual who is not a resident of Oregon to complete a treatment program out of state. Takes effect on the 91st day following adjournment sine die.