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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• Child Care

• Behavioral Health

• Criminal Justice

• Education

• Gun Policy

• Healthcare

• Housing

• Immigration

• Reproductive Healthcare

• Summer Learning

Behavioral Health

Trish Garner

HB 1532  has passed both chambers and has been signed by the Speaker of the House. It delineates certain aspects of the OR Department of Human Services’ authority regarding residential and long-term care facilities, including requiring ODHS to impose a license condition on such a facility if a person is in “immediate jeopardy.”  ODHS is also allowed to place a child in care in an out-of-state placement that is not licensed as a child-caring agency if the placement is in a relative foster home or pre-adoptive family place, is in an eating disorder program approved by that state’s Medicaid program or is pursuant to the OR Indian Child Welfare Act.

HB 1533 has passed both chambers and been signed by the Speaker of the House.  It permits a court to limit, deny, or prohibit contact between a foster child and the foster child's sibling to ensure safe and appropriate contact between the siblings. It also expands the Oregon Foster Children’s Bill of Rights to include the right to (1) be protected from abuse, exploitation, neglect, intimidation and inappropriate use of restraint or seclusion, (2) have access to a free and appropriate public education; (3) be assigned an attorney to represent the child’s interests; and (4) maintain, have access to and be able to transport to their personal belongings. 

 HB 1546 B has passed both chambers. Because the Senate added an amendment after passing the House, It had to be sent back to the House for its consideration. The bill attempts to restrict the impact of AI (“artificial intelligence”) chatbots that are increasingly affecting the lives of children, as well as adults. The system must remind a user that it is using AI. AI operators are required to set up a protocol to deal with persons with suicidal or self-harm ideation which are more stringent if the user is under 25. The Amendment added language requiring AI operators to use clinical best practices and expertise on how it will provide additional information for a user who continues to express this ideation.

HB 1547  has passed both chambers and been signed by the Speaker of the House. The bill authorizes the Oregon Board of Psychology to issue licenses to “behavioral health and wellness practitioners“ after completion of relevant education, clinical hours and training. HB 1547 also sets standards for licensure.

 HB 4039 has passed both chambers and been signed by both the Senate President and the Speaker of the House. It changes the method that Oregon Health Authority must use in setting payment rates for coordinated care organizations, which are the regional networks which receive and manage state and Medicaid funding and then distribute it to health care providers based on their services. It also mandates that CCO’s establish a transparent, data-driven process when developing capitation rates, which are the set amounts of Medicaid funds Oregon pays a CCO per member, per month to cover that person’s healthcare. The bill also requires that CCO’s use a part of their income or reserves to address social determinants of health and health disparities.  Finally, the Oregon Health Policy Board is mandated to establish a review process for collecting public comment when setting rates. 

HB 4069  has passed both chambers and been signed by both the Senate President and the Speaker of the House. It requires residential treatment facilities, detoxification and sobering centers and mobile crisis intervention teams to develop and implement written safety plans for workers and the built environment to 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 4070 has passed both chambers and been signed by both the Senate President and the Speaker of the House.  The bill provides that the Oregon Health Authority must ensure that access to mental health and substance use disorder treatment and services is comparable to medical and surgical treatment and services. Crisis stabilization centers are required to have the capacity to screen individuals for physical health needs. Subject to legislatively appropriated funding, services must be made available to all persons with mental health, substance use disorders or intellectual or developmental disabilities. 

HB 4083 has been signed into law by the Governor. It requires the Oregon Health Authority to create a uniform process to credential behavioral health care providers.  By June 30, 2027, it must select this system and by July 3, 2027, coordinated care organizations must begin using it.  It also requires the State Board of Licensed Social Workers and the OR Board of Licensed Professional Counselors and Therapists to adopt rules that would allow behavioral health providers of a type other than those licensed by these boards to provide supervision to individuals seeking authorization to practice.

Child Care

By Katie Riley

  SB 1535A  related to  the Employment Related Day Care (ERDC) lack of funding to meet the needs of their extensive waitlist was approved to temporarily pause the requirement that gives TANF recipients priority eligibility for the waitlist and make it optional and to establish a work group to study the cost and availability of liability insurance as well as other liability issues affecting child care providers.  The work group is to provide a report by November 1, 2027.

The Department of Early Learning and Care (DELC) also was approved to move a surplus of approximately $67 million due to a lack of use of the Oregon Prenatal to Kindergarten (Oregon Head Start) and Preschool Promise federal funds to help address the ERDC deficit of approximately $80 million. It was recommended that the existing programs be reviewed for possible changes. The two programs with surpluses may have lower enrollments due to their partial day coverage for enrollees vs the ERDC coverage for all day care.  

Criminal Justice              

By Marge Easley & Sharron Noone

Immigration Bills

In a race to the finish line, only a handful of the thirteen bills in the “immigration justice package” successfully passed through both chambers, on largely party line votes. Bills that are soon to become law in the criminal justice category include:

Warrantless Searches:  HB 4114 allows Oregonians to sue in cases of warrantless searches of property by law enforcement or anyone acting under color of law. This is a rejection of the federal rule, known as the “open fields doctrine” that allows such searches. Oregon joins six other states (Mississippi, Montana, New York, Tennessee, Vermont, and Washington) that have enacted similar laws. See League testimony.

Court Immigration Protections:  HB 4111 prohibits data about a party’s or a witness’s immigration status from being used in a civil case and prohibits employers from retaliating against workers who update their employment authorization status. 

Immigration Policies:  SB 1594 directs the Oregon Office of Immigration and Refugee Advancement to create model policies relating to citizenship or immigration status.

Law Enforcement Uniform Rules: HB 4138 specifies identification requirements for law enforcement uniforms and prohibits facial coverings except in certain narrow instances. See League testimony

Bills that died along the way include 

• HB 4091 (limits use of the Oregon National Guard), 

• SJR 203 A (forbids secret police in Oregon), 

• SB 1563 (allows for civil action against law enforcement officer),

• HB 4117 (appropriates money from General Fund to Universal Representation Fund, established in 2022 to provide grants to nonprofits who work with immigrants), 

• HB 4150 (prohibits contractors for state agencies to transport individuals for deportation),  

•  HB 4143 A (authorizes state to withhold money from federal government if federal money is withheld from Oregon) 

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Other Criminal Justice Bills

The League also supported the following bills that await the Governor’s signature:

HB 4045 requires communication providers to respond to a search warrant withing a specified time when domestic violence is involved. See League testimony.

SB 1515 modifies provisions for wrongful convictions to allow for more timely compensation and to allow for review of cases involving discredited forensic science disciplines. See League  testimony   

Education

By Jean Pierce

Bill  which the League supported and the Governor signed

SB 1538 A  creates a new protected class in educational antidiscrimination law (schools cannot discriminate based on immigration or citizenship status), and guarantees admission to Oregon school districts’ instructional programs  The League submitted  testimony  in support

 Bills which the League supported passed both chambers:

HB 4079 A  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 to protect their children. The League submitted testimony in support of the bill.

HB 4149 directs school districts to enroll and provide services for homeless students. The bill codifies provisions of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act in Oregon law.   LWVOR submitted testimony in support.      

 Bills that did not advance:

SB 1555 would have eliminated the Quality Education Commission and made other changes related to how public education is funded. 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 raised a number of issues that the legislature should address, there was no time for these issues  to be resolved in the short session

 SJR 201 would have allocated part of Oregon’s “kicker” tax refund to the state school fund. Ninety-seven percent of the testimony opposed the bill.

Gun Policy            

By Marge Easley

One of the biggest disappointments in the waning days of the session was the behind-the-scenes deal-making between the two parties that caused HB 4145 to be stripped of nearly all its provisions before its final passage on the Senate floor. The initial purpose of the bill, sponsored by Rep. Jason Kropf, was to provide implementation details for Measure 114 (2022) as well as delay implementation until 2028 to give agencies sufficient time to institute the changes needed for the required firearm permitting system. See League testimony for the original version. Court challenges have held up the measure since 2022, but it is hoped that the Oregon Supreme Court will deliver a favorable ruling on its constitutionality within the next few months.  

After much passionate opposition HB 4145 A was able to pass the House on a party-line vote. However, when it passed to the other chamber, Senate Democrats needed a bargaining chip to avoid a Republican walkout. Thus, a deal was made to pass a gutted version of the bill, leaving only the provision that delayed Measure 114’s implementation until 2028. Despite this setback, Rep. Kropf reiterated his commitment for gun violence prevention and vowed to bring the bill back in 2027. 

Healthcare

Christa Danielson

Bill which the League supported and the Governor signed:

SB 1527–A prohibits cost sharing on colposcopy. Makes colposcopy part of screening procedure. See League testimony.

Bills which the League supported that passed both chambers

SB 1570 establishes protections in healthcare facilities. Requires hospitals to have policies around law-enforcement at hospitals and to designate private areas in the hospital.. See League testimony.

SB 1598 Requires insurance to pay for recommended vaccines. Allows pharmacies to use standing orders. See League testimony.

Other Bills:

SB 1575 establishes new requirements for hospice programs to be constructed by OHA. Prevents fraud, favors good care. This is going to Governor’s desk. Enrolled

HB 4040 Numerous fixes to a variety of administrative issues in health care. Testimony has been given in previous years about multiple parts of this bill. Enrolled.HB 4054. Down coding by AI. Not going further, died in committee.

Housing

Nancy Donovan and Debbie Aiona

Bills Governor Kotek has signed into law

SB 1523 Enrolled Electronic Barriers to Residential Tenancies  The Governor signed this bill on March 5, 2026. It will require landlords to provide tenants and prospective tenants with non-electronic means of conducting business. Tenants will have the option of submitting rental applications on paper rather than through a tenant portal. The bill also requires landlords to provide access to common areas by means other than software loaded onto smartphones, such as keys, access codes, fobs, etc. 

Bills awaiting Governor Kotek’s signature 

SB 1576 Enrolled Housing Accessibility Act:  This legislation requires the Department of Consumer and Business Services and Housing and Community Services Department to adopt rules that conform to the state building code so they align with federal fair housing accessibility requirements and American National Standards Institute standards. The rules will apply to multi-family housing and will increase the future supply of housing accessible to people with disabilities. 

SB 5702 Enrolled Affordable Housing LIFT:  Local Innovation and Fast Track (LIFT) Affordable Rental Housing Program received approval for an increase of $75 million in Other Funds (Article XI-Q Bonds) capital construction with a six-year expenditure limitation to acquire, construct, remodel, repair, equip or furnish real property in which the Housing and Community Services Department will take an operational or ownership interest to provide affordable rental housing for Oregonians with low-incomes and citizens in historically underserved communities and communities of color. The increase brings the total of other Funds for capital construction expenditure limitation approved for the LIFT program to $540 million.

HB 4036 Enrolled Affordable Housing Preservation Bonds:  This bill establishes the Housing Opportunity, Longevity and Durability (HOLD) Fund to support the preservation of affordable housing that it at risk of loss. It would authorize the use of $25 million in Article XI-Q general obligation bonds into the fund. Money could be used for acquiring, constructing, remodeling, repairing, equipping, or furnishing affordable housing that is or will be operated by the state. Preserving existing low-income housing is a cost-effective and efficient way to maintain our supply. 

HB 4123 Enrolled Tenant Information Privacy Protections:  This bill will 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. The amendments would allow landlords to share tenant contact information with repair and maintenance workers and release confidential information if required by an administrative or judicial warrant. 

HB 4128 Enrolled Restricts large investors from purchasing single-family homes: This bill places restrictions on the purchase of single-family residences by certain large institutional real estate investors and related entities. Before such entities could purchase the home, it must have been listed for sale to the general public for at least 90 consecutive days. 

Immigration

News, Updates and other Resources: 

Oregon lawmakers approve key immigration bills to shield immigrants from Trump deportation campaign - oregonlive.com

Office of Immigrant and Refugee Advancement:   OIRA Update: February 2026

Oregon Legislature: 

Experiences of Immigrant and Refugee Oregonians Will Inform State

Responses to Federal Immigration Practices

Senate Bill 1594 directs the Oregon Department of Justice to consult with Office of Immigrant and Refugee Advancement

Experiences of Immigrant and Refugee Oregonians Will Inform State Responses to Federal Immigration Practices

Oregon Moves to Ensure Community Voice in Immigration Policy Updates

PDF Document · 211 KB

Immigration Policy Updates

Important Policy Updates from OLIS

Reproductive Healthcare

Trish Garner

SB 1568 requires Medicaid coverage for a minimum of 12 visits by doulas, 24 hours of doula services or a comparable combination of visits and service hours, as well as coverage for these services of up to $3,750 per a 12-month period.  Lactation counseling services must also be covered without prior health care provide referral.  After passing in the House, an Amendment was added In the Senate which clarified that OHA is required to adopt qualification criteria for birth doula and postpartum doula. The bill was approved by the House as amended. 

Bills which the League supported passed both chambers

HB 4088 has passed both chambers. The League provided testimony in favor of the bill. It declares that it is Oregon’s policy to ensure that people are allowed to get reproductive health care and gender identity treatment services. Several protections are given to providers of these services, including directing public bodies not to cooperate with investigations into reproductive and gender affirming care and a ban on extradition by the Governor related to a person’s engagement with these activities. Disclosure of public records regarding providers of these services is expanded from a person’s name, and home or professional address to also include images and home telephone numbers. Senators Kim Thatcher and Mike McLane had filed a Minority Report which essentially converted the bill into a study bill, reportable to the legislature by September 15, 2027. It was not adopted. 

HB 4127 has passed both chambers.  The bill ensures that certain providers, including Planned Parenthood affiliates of the Columbia Willamette and of Southern Oregon, are paid for their services. The League submitted testimony.

Summer Learning

By Katie Riley

The Ways and Means Joint Subcommittee on Education held an information session regarding the report from the Oregon Department of Education on the results of implementation of the 2025 legislative session SB 2007 which provided funding over three summers for summer school care (2025-2027).   The results have received praise both in print and from legislators in the committee, although there were many questions in the hearing asking for more detail on findings and a separate article asked if the expenditure was worthwhile.  Approximately 74% of the recipients reported meeting their literacy-based goals and an additional 24% reported partially meeting them.  The goals were set by each recipient and were not the same across the board.  This issue will be addressed by ODE in the future.  ODE is conducting a competitive process for the 2026 allocations.  There was no explicit mention of the participation of students in after school hours programs although some community based organizations administered the grants.  

Please see the Legislation Tracker for 2026 Social Policy bills for which the League submitted testimony.

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

• Basic Needs: Food

• Basic Needs: Income

• Juvenile Justice

• Public Safety

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