Note:  Education reports after January, 2024, are included in Social policy reports. Education reports prior to February, 2024, can be found HERE.

Please see the Legislation Tracker for 2026 Social Policy bills.

Jump to topic:

• Criminal Justice

• Education

• Gun Policy

• Housing

Criminal Justice

By Marge Easley & Sharron Noone

Given the time constraints of a short session, it is striking to see the number of bills that relate to current federal government actions on immigration. The list below reflects legislators’ deep concern and sense of urgency on this issue:

• HB 4001 authorizes a study to address unlawful immigration enforcement. The vagueness of the bill title, “relating to immigration” may signify this is a “placeholder” for an omnibus bill. We will closely monitor any amendments.   

• HB 4091 specifies when the Oregon National Guard may be deployed. (See also the Governance Legislative Report)

• HB 4114 allows a civil suit against a federal or out-of-state law enforcement body and requires notice for a planned operation in Oregon.

• HB 4138 requires enactment of policies on identification requirement for law enforcement uniforms and enacts a prohibition on facial coverings. 

• SB 1594 authorizes the Office of Immigration and Refugee Advancement to establish policies, standards and procedures related to enforcement of federal immigration laws.

• SJR 203 amends the Oregon Constitution to include provisions on law enforcement masking and ID requirements. 

Here are other criminal justice bills that the League will be monitoring:

• SB 1515 modifies the 2022 law (SB 1584) related to compensation for wrongful convictions, which passed with support from the League. It creates a new post-conviction process for convictions based on expert testimony or now-discredited forensic science.

• SB 1550 makes changes to the death investigation process in cases of domestic violence or child abuse. 

• SB 1516 and SB 1530 are similar bills adding new provisions to the crime of “aggregated harassment” to include making serious threats to a public official or a member of the official’s family.

• HB 4045 requires a communications provider to comply with a search warrant within 72 hours when the warrant relates to stalking or a domestic violence situation.

• SB 1583 moves responsibility for behavioral/mental health and deflection services to the Criminal Justice Commission.   

Education

By Jean Pierce

According to an article in the Oregon Capitol Chronicle, Oregon saw a high school graduation rate of 83% this year, up slightly from pre-pandemic rate in 2020. But the rate is still less than the 87% national rate reported in 2022 by the National Center for Educational Statistics.

Bills being considered in the legislature this session

SB 1555 would eliminate the Quality Education Commission and make other changes related to how public education is funded.. LWVOR believes that funding is needed to provide an equal and adequate education. There is no question that the current system of determining this level of funding is flawed in Oregon. The Quality Education Commission has not used evidence-based practices in its model calculating school funding needs. While SB1555 raises a number of issues that the legislature should address, it is unlikely that these issues will be resolved in the short session. For instance, there needs to be ample time for discussions around:

• Is it necessary to replace the QEC, or could its model be improved?

•  If it is replaced, what is a better system?

• Should the bill tie funding to a requirement that districts follow state and federal laws?

• What are appropriate quality goals to be used for adequate funding of public education?

• We know that there are vast differences among school districts, but how should standard schools be defined in order to determine adequate funding?

Two proposed bills are consistent with the League position that the government has the responsibility to provide equality of opportunity for education.

SB 1538 would prohibit discrimination in education related to immigration or citizenship status and requires districts to base these policies on models prepared by the Attorney General. This bill adds  “immigration or citizenship status” to a list of demographic characteristics of students protected from discrimination in our schools. Currently, that list includes race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin,  marital status, age or disability.  The League is submitting testimony in support.

HB 4149 would require districts to adopt policies for enrollment, placement, and providing services to  homeless students and directs the Department of Education to designate a state coordinator to oversee the education of homeless students.

Note: Education reports after January, 2024, are included in Social policy reports. Education reports prior to February, 2024, can be found HERE.

Gun Policy

By Marge Easley

Thus far only two bills related to gun policy have been submitted. HB 4145, sponsored by Rep. Kropf, makes important modifications to Measure 114, which voters passed into law in 2022 but has not yet been implemented, pending an imminent Oregon Supreme Court ruling on its constitutionality. The bill adds details to the gun permit and transfer process and to the large capacity magazine prohibition, with the intent of providing clarification and guidance to those most impacted by the measure, including gun owners, the Oregon State Police, local permit agents, and gun dealers. 

HB 4096, sponsored by Rep. Ruiz at the request of Multnomah District Attorney Nathan Vasquez, creates the crime of aggravated felon in possession of a firearm when a person who has been convicted of a felony possesses three or more firearms or has certain prior convictions.

Housing

By Nancy Donovan and Debbie Aiona

LWVOR is a member of the Oregon Housing Alliance. It was established in 2004 and includes over 100 members from local governments, affordable housing developers and operators, housing industry allies, public housing authorities, community action agencies, and the non-profit sector. The Alliance has a process through which work groups propose legislation to the full membership for approval. The Housing Alliance’s 2026 Legislative agenda related to housing is detailed below. 

2026 Legislative priorities

Preservation of affordable rental homes and manufactured housing parks: This proposal (HB 4036) would allocate bond funds for the purpose of preserving existing low-income housing at risk due to expiring affordability restrictions, threat of foreclosure, and the sale of affordable manufactured home housing parks. Over 10,000 homes are at risk of being lost over the next five years. Preserving existing affordable homes is much more cost effective than developing new units. 

Restore funding for eviction prevention and emergency rent assistance:  The 2025-27 budget includes only $44.6 million for emergency rent assistance, legal aid for households facing eviction, and tenant outreach and education. This is a 74 percent cut from the $173.2 million that was needed to maintain the established level of services. Over 20,000 fewer households will receive help as compared to the previous biennium. Funding restoration would prevent more families and individuals from becoming homeless.  

Tenant information and privacy protections: Currently the private information tenants provide to landlords and property managers is not protected. This proposal would require written consent from tenants before this information could be disclosed unless it was in response to a court order.  

End tax break for vacation properties and support first-time homebuyers: Vacation home owners receive a mortgage interest deduction on their taxes in addition to the deduction they can claim for the primary residence. The bill would end the deduction on vacation homes and redirect the savings to downpayment grants for low-income first-time homebuyers.  

Build new home for homeownership through the Local Innovation and Fast Track (LIFT) program: The LIFT program is funded through bond sales and can be used for rental housing development or homeownership programs. This proposal would dedicate bonds from the LIFT program for development of homes for homeownership.  

Housing Accessibility Act: With insufficient housing stock to meet the needs of people with disabilities, the bill would require the Consumer and Business Services to adopt rules to conform with state building code accessibility requirements under the Fair Housing Act. This proposed bill would prohibit the Housing and Community Services Department from funding new subsidized rental housing developments unless the housing meets the specified accessibility standards.

Remove electronic barriers to tenancies: Digital and technology can be barriers for residents accessing common areas of their buildings. This bill would allow a tenant or applicant for housing to opt out of using a tenant portal or to pay by card or by electronic means. Landlords would be required to provide an alternative to access the common areas of the premises. 

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED: What is your passion related to Social Policy? You can help. Volunteers are needed.  We particularly need help tracking legislation concerning 

• Juvenile justice

Interested in reading additional reports? Please see our Climate Emergency, Governance, and Natural Resources, and Revenue report sections.