Sen. Suzanne Weber

Directs the Department of Justice to report annually to the Joint Committee on Ways and Means and the committees of the Legislative Assembly related to the judiciary on the use of outside counsel to defend state agencies in lawsuits. Takes effect on the 91st day following adjournment sine die.

Deletes two bases for a worker to refuse an offer of modified employment without losing temporary total disability benefits to increase possible modified employment placements.

Requires the Oregon Business Development Department to establish an education course for land use planners for local governments, special districts and state agencies. Requires completion of the course at least once every two years.

Exempts from commercial activity subject to corporate activity tax reimbursements for certain health care services, including care provided to medical assistance recipients and to Medicare recipients. Exempts receipts from medications administered or dispensed in a clinical setting other than a hospital. Applies to tax years beginning on or after January 1, 2026. Takes effect on the 91st day following adjournment sine die.

Prohibits public bodies and private entities from requiring a person to receive an experimental medical intervention or vaccination or to possess an immunity passport, immunity pass or other evidence certifying a vaccination or immunity status. Prohibits public bodies and private entities from discriminating against a person because the person chooses not to receive an experimental medical intervention or vaccination or fails to possess an immunity passport, immunity pass or other evidence certifying vaccination or immunity status. Prohibits public bodies and private entities from interfering with certain rights on account of risks presented by a pandemic. Declares an emergency, effective on passage.

Appropriates moneys from the General Fund to the Oregon Department of Administrative Services for distribution to Marion-Polk Food Share, Inc., for a capital expansion project. Declares an emergency, effective July 1, 2025.

Creates a refundable income tax credit for certain child care workers. Provides for a child care worker to elect to deposit the refund attributable to the credit in the Oregon Retirement Savings Plan. Provides for the credit to be claimed on the personal income tax return for the 2026 tax year. Takes effect on the 91st day following adjournment sine die.

Maddy summarySB 379 removes the expiration date for a tax exemption on prescription drug sales by certain pharmacies under Oregon's corporate activity tax. This means pharmacies selling prescriptions will no longer face a temporary tax on those sales, as the exemption now applies indefinitely. The change applies to all tax years beginning January 1, 2022, and onward. It directly affects community pharmacies that dispense prescription medications.

Appropriates moneys to the Department of Education for distribution as grants to address the causes of chronic absenteeism. Declares an emergency, effective July 1, 2025.

Requires a physician who prescribes drugs for a chemical abortion to provide certain information to a person to whom such drugs are prescribed. Requires the Oregon Health Authority to publish, on a website developed and maintained by the authority, specified information regarding the possible reversal of a chemical abortion. Allows specified persons to bring a cause of action for actual and punitive damages. Takes effect on the 91st day following adjournment sine die.