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.

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• Behavioral Health

• Criminal Justice

• Education

• Gun Safety

• Healthcare

• Housing

Behavioral Health 

Trish Garner

HB 4028 was heard in the House Behavioral Health Committee. It relates to how insurers, the Oregon Health Authority and coordinated care organizations can conduct audits of behavioral health care providers. The bill delves into the details of the auditing process. It seeks to ensure these audits are conducted fairly and that everyone knows and follows the same rules.  There are time limits for the completion of audits and health care professionals must review them. Providers cannot be charged for conducting the audit. A 5-year lookback period is prescribed. As might be anticipated, most of the providers testified in favor of this legislation; the auditing entities largely opposed them. Amendments may be forthcoming.

HB 4069 and HB 4069-1 The House Behavioral Health Committee held a public hearing on this bill which mandates that residential treatment facilities, detoxification and sobering centers and mobile crisis intervention teams develop and implement written safety plans for workers and the built environment which will be filed with the Oregon Health Authority. If the facility uses individuals who work in a situations or locations without a colleague nearby or close supervision, it must include protections for them as well.

HB 4083 and the HB 4083-1. A public hearing was held in the House Behavioral Health Committee on this bill which arose out of Governor Tina Kotek’s Behavioral Health Talent Council, chaired by First Lady Aimee Kotek Wilson, a former social worker. It is designed to “cut the red tape” for behavioral health worker licensure and to ease a bottleneck that has formed due to a lack of qualified clinical supervisors.  It requires the Oregon Health Authority to create a uniform credentialing process for behavioral health providers, along with an accompanying internet portal. Coordinated care organizations are barred from adding any additional requirements. Another portion of the bill expands the types of behavioral health professionals that can provide supervision to social workers and licensed professional counselors. For example, social workers could now be supervised by psychologists, marriage and family therapists and professional counselors, and vice versa.

Finally, the State Board of Licensed Social Workers is placed under the supervision of the State Mental Health Regulatory Agency, joining the Board of Psychology and the Board of Licensed Professional Counselors and Therapists. Most behavioral health care workers oppose the mutual supervisory provisions, arguing that the current process is working well and oversight should be conducted by the professionals familiar with their area of expertise. The number of people sending in testimony opposing the bill far exceeds its supporters.

HB 4127 was heard in the House Committee on Health Care. A Work Session has been scheduled for next week (February 10^th). It seeks to ensure that nonprofit reproductive health care providers who are not eligible to receive federal Medicaid funds or who are not enrolled in the Oregon medical assistance program will be reimbursed for covered services using state funds. Two providers meet the criteria here: Planned Parenthood affiliates of the Columbia Willamette and of Southern Oregon.  HB 4127 represents an effort to stem the tide of anti-abortion efforts which coalesced in the passage of federal House Resolution 1, signed into law on July 4, 2025, and its one-year prohibition on Medicaid reimbursement for these providers. On July 29, 2025, several states, including Oregon, filed a complaint in federal court seeking an injunction against the prohibition on federal reimbursement to these prohibited entities. As of November 21, 2025, the prohibition remained in effect as the matter remained pending before the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts. 

SB 1532 was heard by the Senate Committee on Human Services and a Work Session on it is scheduled for next week (February 10^th).  It modifies the authority of the Oregon

Department of Human Services regarding residential and long-term care facilities, developmental disabilities services and children in care. Using specified criteria, ODHS is required to impose a license condition based on a preliminary or substantiated finding of “immediate jeopardy.” Immediate jeopardy takes place when a residential or long-term care facility fails to comply with an ODHS rule that has or is likely to cause serious injury, serious harm, serious impairment or death of a resident. A preliminary finding means one that is objective and based on the evidence available at the time the ODHS conducts its investigation. SB 1532 -1 and -2  require ODHS to pay providers of attendant care to clients with intellectual or developmental disabilities at different rates depending on whether they also reside with their clients.  It also changes out of state placement requirements if the child is Indian or has an eating disorder.

Criminal Justice

By Marge Easley and Sharron Noone

The Senate and House Judiciary Committees got off to a quick start by scheduling hearings on several important bills during the first few days. The League submitted testimony on SB 1515, which establishes a new post-conviction process for wrongful conviction cases to correct flaws in the current system. The Oregon Attorney General must review a wrongful conviction petition within 180 days, and applicants may petition to have their cases reopened if convictions were based on discredited forensic science, including hair comparison, bite mark analysis, and comparative bullet lead analysis. 

Two bills related to the recent actions of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents were  on the agenda on February 3 in House Judiciary. Passionate public testimony made it clear that the lives of immigrant and non-immigrant communities throughout Oregon have been greatly impacted by the overzealous and often violent actions of ICE agents.  

• League testimony on HB 4114 included this excerpt from a LWVUS statement issued on January 26:  “The League of Women Voters condemns the escalating actions by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) that put people at risk, deny individuals their constitutional rights, and undermine the democratic values meant to protect us all.” A -1 amendment narrowed the bill considerably by eliminating a requirement for ICE agents to give 48 hours’ notice to the Oregon Department of Justice before any actions within the state. The bill as amended relates only to 4^th Amendment rights by allowing an individual whose privacy and civil rights are violated by the warrantless actions of a federal or out-of-state law enforcement agent to file a civil suit against that agent. 

• The League also submitted testimony on HB 4138, which establishes identification requirements and places prohibitions on facial coverings for federal law enforcement officers. A -3 amendment changed the bill by requiring federal law enforcement agencies that operate in the state to maintain and post written policies regarding identification on uniforms and the wearing of facial coverings. These policies should affirm “the agency’s commitment to transparency, accountability, and public trust.” 

Education

By Jean Pierce

This week LWVOR submitted testimony supporting three education bills:

• SB 1538 prohibits discrimination in education related to immigration or citizenship. Currently, access to a public education is protected by a Supreme Court ruling from 1982. However, Oregon needs to ensure that right is guaranteed.   In 2023, Oregon’s immigrants paid $2.1 billion in state and local taxes which help fund public education.  LWVOR wrote testimony in suport.

•  HB 4079 requires public schools to inform parents, students, and community members when ICE is present on the campus. This would assure immigrants that they have accurate information to base decisions protecting their children. LWVOR submitted testimony in support. 

•  HB 4149 directs school districts to enroll and provide services for homeless students. Currently, the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act assures unhoused students of their right to a free, appropriate, public education, but that act is managed by the U.S. Department of Education, which has experienced severe staffing cuts recently.   LWVOR submitted testimony in support. 

Gun Safety       

By Marge Easley

HB 4145, which makes modifications to Measure 114 (2022), was heard in House Judiciary on the first day of the session. Despite the short notice, supporters of the Second Amendment showed up in force to oppose it. This significant gun bill sets out in detail how the firearm permitting portion of Measure 114 will be implemented, dependent on a positive ruling by the Oregon Supreme Court on its constitutionality. The League delivered  testimony in support of the bill, which we believe will make the permitting process work more efficiently and effectively. The bill does the following:

• Specifies where to apply for permits for those who live in both incorporated and unincorporated areas 

• Defines permit eligibility requirements 

• Provides that all records related to the permitting process are exempt from disclosure 

• Extends the time limit from 30 to 60 days for a permit agent to either issue or deny a permit 

• Sets limits on the fees charged by the permit agent and the Oregon State Police 

• Establishes alternatives for the required firearm safety training course 

• Provides civil and criminal liability exemptions where applicable 

• Provides an exception to the permit requirement for current and retired law enforcement officers 

• Requires that state court actions challenging the legality of the Act be filed in Marion County Circuit Court

Healthcare

By Christa Danielson

Bills for which LWVOR submitted testimony:

• HB4054  bill addresses the area of AI downcoding. During a visit to a health care facility a billing code is generated by the healthcare provider. Sometimes AI technology is used by an insurance company to automatically change the billing code to a lower code with less reimbursement without informing the provider. This bill would require reporting of downcoding events by AI to the physician or other healthcare provider for transparency  LWVOR submitted testimony supporting the bill.

• SB1527-1   bill would provide access to screening with colposcopy when there is an abnormal pap. The National Health Resources and Services Administration HRSA: Health Resources and Services Administration has agreed that further testing with colposcopy would be considered screening with an indeterminate or low-grade pap but that screening recommendation will not be in place until 2027. The Oregon Capital Chronicle published an article describing the bill.  LWVOR filed testimony in support. The Senate Health committee is recommending DO PASS as amended.

•  SB 1570-1 provides safety for healthcare providers and patients. It would require consistent established guidelines from administrative areas in healthcare about how to interface with Federal Immigration Services.  LWVOR wrote testimony.

 Bills we are tracking:

• HB4040  This is a large bill attempting to fix many technical areas. It is generally well perceived. We will continue to track this bill as it does cover some aspects of getting people onto Medicaid faster while they're in the hospital.   

• HB 4147   would require reporting by employers  who have greater than 50 employees as to how many of their employees are on the Oregon Health plan. We are currently tracking this bill.

Housing 

Debbie Aiona and Nancy Donovan

Now that the 2026 session is officially underway, the Senate and House Committees are meeting to review housing proposals during this short session. Committee agendas and bills are posted to meet the 35-day deadline. Information on the 2026 session is live! 

The Housing Alliance, of which we are a member developed lists of priority bills selected by its membership. We are tracking housing bills and reporting on their status during the weekly sessions. 

House Interim Committee on Housing and Homelessness  

HB 4036 would preserve low-cost housing at risk of being lost due to expiring contracts or physical deterioration. Investing to maintain these properties is more efficient and cost-effective than building new units. During the next ten years 87 properties with nearly 3,000 units are at risk due to expiring federal project-based rental assistance. An investment of bond funds will protect tenants from losing their homes.  A public hearing was held on Feb. 3 with a possible work session on Feb.10. 

HB 4123 would add clear provisions to Oregon’s Landlord Tenant law regarding the disclosure of confidential information on certain personally identifying, financially sensitive and other private information. Landlord–tenant confidentiality laws establish rules governing how landlords and property managers collect, use, store, and disclose information about tenants and rental applicants. Under this proposal, private information may not be disclosed without the tenant’s written consent unless in response to a court order. A public hearing was held on Feb. 5 with a possible work session on Feb. 10.

Senate Committee on Housing and Development

SB 1576 would require the Department of Consumer and Business Services to adopt rules to conform to the state building code so that it aligns with federal fair housing accessibility requirements and American National Standards Institute (ANSI) standards. A key requirement is that in new, large multi-unit residential buildings at least 10% of units must be wheelchair-accessible. OHCS would not be authorized to fund new government-subsidized rental developments unless they meet the accessibility requirements. A Public Hearing was held on Feb. 5 and a work session is scheduled on Feb. 10.

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

• Public Safety

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