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 2025 Social Policy bills.

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• Afterschool, Summer, and Child Issues

• Education

• Gun Policy

• Healthcare

• Housing Legislation

• Immigration

Afterschool, Summer, and Child Issues

by Katie Riley

Not much is happening right now in afterschool and summer since HB 2007 was passed and signed into law.  We are waiting to hear the outcome of bills that were sent to Ways and Means.

HB 3835 modifying rules regarding the use of restraint and involuntary seclusion for young people will have a public hearing on Monday, May 12 at 8 am in  the House Committee on Rules.  This bill applies to public education programs and children receiving public support including child care programs and foster children.  It defines the terms and states behavior that is allowed vs behavior that is not permitted.

Education

By Jean Pierce

In a work session on May 7th, the Senate Committee on Education voted to recommend Do Pass HB 2586-A which would permit asylum seekers to pay in-state fees for higher education. The League submitted testimony.

 The House Education Committee work session for the  “Freedom to Read” bill, SB 1098, has been postponed until May 12. 

Impact of federal actions on education in Oregon

In the April 14th Legislative Report, we noted that  the Oregon Department of Education had ended 5 math and literacy projects when the U.S. Department of Education terminated more than $3.5 million of funding 10 months ahead of schedule. The money had been approved by Congress in response to needs identified during the pandemic.  The next week, it was reported that Attorney General Rayfield had joined a coalition of 15 other attorneys general to bring suit challenging the executive branch action.   This week Judge Edgardo Ramos of the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York  issued a preliminary injunction ordering the Department of Education to restore states’ access to these critical funds immediately while the case continues.

Gun Policy

By Marge Easley

The League submitted supportive testimony on SB 243 A, which is scheduled for a May 12th hearing and a May 14th work session in Senate Rules. The omnibus bill passed out of Senate Judiciary on April 9 with a do-pass recommendation and was assigned to Senate Rules to allow more time for consideration. The three parts of the bill include a ban on rapid-fire devices,  a 72-hour waiting period between a background check approval and the transfer of a firearm, and an expansion of the number of public areas that may be designated as “gun free zones.” As is common with hearings on bills related to gun regulations, opposition testimony has been flooding in, and a lot of media attention is expected.

There was good news on May 8 from the Washington Supreme Court with their ruling that the 2022 law banning sales of high-capacity magazines is constitutional and can remain in force. This bodes well for Oregon’s Measure 114, which contains a similar provision and is currently under review by the Oregon Supreme Court.

Healthcare

By Christa Danielson

SB 951 A would strengthen bans against corporations practicing medicine by not allowing management service organizations to make patient care decisions in outpatient clinics. It would also eliminate non-compete and non-disparage contracts in medical professional contracts. These two provisions would only allow providers of care to make medical decisions and allow medical professionals to speak up without fear of retribution if there is a safety issue with patient care. The League submitted testimony in support. It has passed the Senate, has had  positive testimony in the House and heads to a work session next week in the House Committee on Behavioral Health and Healthcare.

This week the League of Women Voters of the United States joined a sign-on letter urging Congress to oppose cuts to Medicaid to help prevent medical debt. Oregon spent about $13 billion on its Medicaid program in 2024, picking up about 25% of the cost for the program covering 1.43 million Oregonians.

Housing

By Nancy Donovan and Debbie Aiona

Affordable Homeownership News

Oregon Housing and Community Services announced funding for 11 affordable homeownership developments around the state. Two of the developments will preserve and rehab 45 existing homes. The remainder will be new developments. The housing aims to serve families, seniors, persons with disabilities, the agricultural workforce, immigrants, and people experiencing homelessness. You can see the full list of projects here.

Individual Development Accounts

The House Revenue Committee held an informational meeting on HB 2735.The bill passed the House Committee on Housing and Homelessness in early April. If passed, it would raise the cap on the tax credit that funds this program from $7.5 million/year to $16.5 million/year. The state matches participants’ savings up to 5–to-1 giving them the opportunity to put aside money for college, homeownership, starting a business, among other things. The League submitted testimony supporting this bill. 

Rent Stabilization for Manufactured Home Parks and Marinas

HB 3054 would limit rent increases for homeowners in manufactured home parks and marinas and curtail other landlord practices that can threaten residents’ ability to stay in their homes. The bill passed the House and is scheduled for a hearing in the Senate Committee on Housing and Development and a work session on May 14. LWVOR submitted a letter in support. 

Immigration

By Becky Gladstone and Claudia Keith

Highlights - News 

• 2025 Legislative Session Update | ACLU of Oregon

• Our Defense Against Trump: 100 Days In | ACLU of Oregon

• May 6: U.S. Government Ordered to Comply with Court Orders in Refugee Ban Lawsuit or Face Sanctions | HIAS

• Oregon Department of Human Services :Office of Immigrant and Refugee Advancement :  State of Oregon

• OIRA community updates --April 2025

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