Limits duties of the Oregon Government Ethics Commission in conducting investigations, making findings and imposing penalties regarding violations of quorum requirements in public meetings law to intentional violations. Provides that the use of serial electronic written communication among members of a governing body within a 30-day period may constitute a meeting of a governing body subject to public meetings law if other specified conditions are satisfied. Exempts from the prohibition on the use of official positions or office to obtain financial gain or avoid financial detriment any legal expenses incurred by a public official or governmental agency for specified purposes. Permits local government officials to vote on matters related to official compensation. Increases the size of the commission to 11 members and requires the Governor to appoint two practicing attorneys to the commission.
Sponsored bills
Requires a person that intends to register to do business in this state as a pharmacy benefit manager to demonstrate to the satisfaction of the Director of the Department of Consumer and Business Services that the person is not owned or operated by an insurer or an affiliate of an insurer. Applies the requirement to renewals of registration beginning January 1, 2031.
Requires a hospital to establish, update and make public a list of standard charges that lists the regular rates or prices established by the hospital for items or services and shoppable services offered or provided by the hospital. Specifies the information that a list of standard charges must include. Requires a hospital to provide each newly created or updated list of standard charges to the Oregon Health Authority. Directs the authority to create an electronic form for submitting complaints to the authority. Directs the authority to require a hospital to take immediate or corrective action to remedy any violations. Provides for a private right of action if a hospital initiates or pursues a collection action for a debt owed on an item or service if the hospital is not in compliance. Provides for civil penalties.
] Appropriates moneys to and limits expenditures by the Department of Human Services , the Oregon Health Authority and the Department of State Police for implementation of programs related to criminal records checks, including the Rap Back program. Declares an emergency, effective on passage.
] Appropriates moneys to the Oregon Department of Administrative Services for distribution to an organization and Polk County for [ expanding a program ] programs for providing free drop-in childcare for people with business at a county courthouse or with other governmental business and data collection regarding the [ program ] programs . Declares an emergency, effective on passage.
Maddy summaryHB 3883 requires all public bodies in Oregon (such as city councils, school boards, and county commissions) to begin every public meeting with a dedicated period for public comments, except for meetings specifically exempted under existing law. The bill mandates that this comment period must be of "reasonable duration" and occur at the start of each meeting. It directly affects local government entities by structuring how they engage with community members during official proceedings. The bill does not change substantive policies but establishes a procedural requirement for transparency in public meetings.
Maddy summaryHB 2298 modifies Oregon's expungement laws, allowing individuals convicted of certain offenses to petition courts to set aside their convictions or arrests after meeting specific waiting periods. It increases eligibility waiting times: five years for Class C felonies and misdemeanors (up from three years for some misdemeanors), and one year for lower-level misdemeanors or contempt findings. The bill eliminates filing fees for expungement requests, requires fingerprint checks for record verification, and clarifies that courts may only consider recent criminal behavior - not traffic violations or civil debts - when evaluating applications. This directly affects Oregon residents with past convictions who have completed their sentences and meet the revised timeframes.
Maddy summaryHB 2135 allows battery-charged fences (electric fences powered by battery) on commercial and industrial properties not used for residential purposes. It requires these fences to use ≤12 volts, meet IEC safety standards, include a 5-foot non-electric perimeter barrier, and display warning signs every 30 feet. The bill prohibits local governments from banning such fences or imposing additional requirements beyond state standards on non-residential properties. This directly affects business and property owners in commercial/industrial zones, ensuring consistent safety rules across Oregon.
Maintains current time standards in Oregon unless certain conditions are met. For the part of the state located in the Pacific Time Zone, abolishes the annual one-hour change in time from standard time to daylight saving time and maintains the Pacific Time Zone portion of Oregon on standard time for all 12 months of the calendar year, if California and Washington make the same change within the next 10 years. Restores current time standards if California and Washington do not make the standard time change within 10 years. Alternatively, for the part of the state located in the Pacific Time Zone, abolishes the annual one-hour change in time and maintains the Pacific Time Zone portion of Oregon on daylight saving time for all 12 months of the calendar year, if Congress enacts a law authorizing states to elect year-round daylight saving time and if California and Washington establish daylight saving time as the standard of time year-round. Restores current time standards if Congress fails to authorize daylight saving time or if California and Washington do not make daylight saving time their year-round standard of time within 10 years. Provides that standards of time in the Mountain Time Zone portion of Oregon remain unchanged.
Defines a "work session" for purposes of public meetings. Requires a governing body of a public body to include a time for public comment and requires notice of the public comment period if the body votes.