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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• Behavioral Health

• Criminal Justice

• Education

• Gun Policy

• Healthcare

• Housing Legislation

• Immigration

Behavioral Health

By Trish Garner

HB 2005 is an omnibus bill that combines the provisions of two bills (HB 2467 and HB 2481) which had been filed and considered earlier in the Session. HB 2005 has passed both the House and Senate and awaits the Governor’s signature, which is anticipated to take place. The bill addresses two primary issues:  civil commitments and when defendants charged with a crime can be determined to be unable to “aid and assist” in their defense. 

At the present time as a result of several court decisions, the standards for civil commitment or involuntary treatment are unclear, but HB 2005 identifies specific reasons for commitment. It also redefines the previous legal standard for civil commitment which required that a danger to self and others be “imminent” to a danger “in the near future.”  The bill also provides that dangerousness to self requires that a person engage in or threaten to engage in behavior that is likely to result in serious physical harm, while the “danger to others” standard uses similar language but omits the word “serious.”

HB 2005 also defines the factors that courts may consider when determining whether defendants are mentally competent to proceed in their defense. These include, for example, prior evaluations, evidence of a prior diagnosis by a certified evaluator or qualified mental health practitioner, prior commitments, and/or the defendant’s conduct as observed in court. It also requires courts to appoint counsel for these defendants and if the defendant is unable to afford counsel, the court will appoint one at state expense.

The A - 6 Amendment provides $6.5 million to the Oregon Health Authority for payments to community mental health programs regarding civil commitments and providing public defense to financially eligible persons who are civilly committed. 

At least four other bills have passed and are awaiting the Governor’s signature which seek to improve the provision of services to those who are seriously mentally ill. They include:

HB 2015  modifies a number of residential treatment facility practices. For example, the Oregon Health Authority is mandated to adopt rules to support early transition programs and adjust nursing ratios. It also appropriates $1.3 million in General Fund and $977,888 in federal fund monies.

HB 2024 appropriates $7,000,000 to the Oregon Health Authority to establish a grant program that would support the recruitment and retention of behavioral health workers at facilities such as programs related to health services to youth or youth or adults where at least half of the clients are uninsured or enrolled in Medicare or the state medical assistance program.

HB 2059 directs OHA to establish a unit dedicated to developing residential treatment facilities that provide adult behavioral health services across state trauma regions and that $65,000,000,00 be appropriated to OHA for this purpose.  The League submitted testimony in support. 

HB 3294 proposes changes to previous laws regarding hospital staffing plans and minimum nurse-to-patient ratios.

A bill that did not make it is HB 2056 which sought to modify current practices in residential treatment facilities such as those relating to early transition programs, nurse staffing and grouping patients who have similar needs for services in the same facilities and thereby optimize care. 

SB 920 has been signed into law by the Governor.  It directs the Oregon State University Extension Service to accelerate the promotion of behavioral health in Oregon by convening local communities to develop plans that promote behavioral health and facilitate community conversations about mental health and substance abuse.

Criminal Justice

By Marge Easley

HB 3582, which removes the civil statute of limitations for sexual assault victims, was signed by the Governor on June 26. 

The League is pleased to see that the Legal Services Pilot Program for Coffee Creek Correctional Facility received $1.2 million in the end-of-session “Christmas Tree” Bill (HB 5006). Early in the session  the League submitted testimony in support of HB 2233, which authorized the continuation of this pilot program.

Education

By Jean Pierce

Senate Bill 5516 has been signed by the Governor. The bill will increase the budget for Oregon’s State School Fund by more than 11% from the last biennium. Unfortunately, this increase is needed simply to keep funding at current service levels.  According to the American Institute on Research (AIR), in order to provide adequate funding for education, Oregon would need a 30% increase, with more attention to equitable spending for the education of low income and high needs students.

SB 5525, which appropriates money for the Higher Education Coordinating Committee, is headed to the Governor for a signature.  For the most part, the proposed budget maintains the Current Service Level, (CSL). It is important to note that the Oregon Opportunity Grant and Benefits Navigators would at least be maintained at CSL. The allocation is 6.2% below the last biennium,  so this bill does nothing to address the fact that Oregon has been ranked 46th in the nation for state investment in higher education. They recognized that in future sessions, the thinking needs to shift from CSL to setting a higher target. 

Gun Policy

By Marge Easley

To the disappointment of the League and other gun safety advocates, only one gun bill survived this session and awaits the Governor’s signature: SB 243. This omnibus bill bans rapid-fire devices and allows cities and counties to ban firearms in public buildings. It also sets the date of March 15, 2026, for implementation of Measure 114, with the condition that the Oregon Supreme Court  decides favorably on its constitutionality later this year. The League filed testimony in support of earlier versions of the bill, and SB 243 was supported through our Lobby Day. To fund the provisions of the bill, the end of session “Christmas Tree” Bill (HB 5006) allocated over $14 million to the Oregon State Police for Criminal Justice Information Services and other associated costs.  

HB 3076, which creates a gun dealer licensing program in Oregon, was killed during the final acrimonious days of the session—another instance of a gun bill being traded away at the last minute in an effort to gain votes for other legislation. Given the anticipated gutting of the Bureau of Alcohol, Firearms, Tobacco and Explosives and the loss of federal regulation of gun dealers, this bill was a session priority for gun safety advocates. Rep. Kropf, one of the bills’ chief sponsors, stated that he would reintroduce it in a future session. The League filed testimony in support of the bill.

Healthcare

By Christa Danielson

HB 2010 This bill extends the coverage for Medicaid which is funded by assessments to health care earnings from hospitals, health plans and long term care facilities. The League provided testimony in support.This bill is essentially funding Medicaid or Oregon Health Plan. It has been signed by the Governor. However this form of funding may be cut by the bill currently in the Federal House called H.R. 1 or the budget reconciliation act.

SB 951 Strengthens Bans against Corporate Ownership of Medicine by limiting the power of Management Service Organizations. This bill does not allow a corporate management organization to make health care decisions. The League testified in support. This has been signed by the Governor but expect to hear more about this important bill. This law will start January 2026 for new operational models, but will otherwise begin in January of 2029 for established models. An MSO can still give advice, but cannot control clinical operations of a professional medical entity. This bill also includes making non-compete and non-disparagement clauses illegal, allowing medical professionals to disclose if they see a problem.

HB 3134 The Governor signed this bill, which requires additional reporting about prior authorization from insurers to the Department of Consumer and Business Services and tells the Department to make the data available. This will  make sure that the insurers are doing timely reviews of prior authorizations, allowing surgical care to continue without interruption and make care more efficient. Hopefully this will also decrease the burden on health care clinics and facilities. The LWVOR filed testimony supporting the bill.

SB 296 Directs the Department of Human Services and the Oregon Health Authority to study ways to expedite the discharge process for a hospital. There are multiple areas to study included in this bill including expedited Medicaid determinations from the hospital, studying options to expand respite programs, and studying regulatory framework for certain facilities. This bill also includes funding for 100 days of Skilled Nursing care for Medicaid patients post discharge from a hospital allowing more space in the hospital for patients who need inpatient care.

Housing

By Nancy Donovan and Debbie Aiona

After a flurry of activity by state legislators, the Governor’s office, housing advocates, the League of Women Voters of Oregon, and many others, on June 23, 2025, lawmakers released three major budget bills: 

• General Obligation bonds (SB 5505)

• Lottery bonds (SB 5531)

• End-of-session omnibus funding bill, the “Christmas Tree” bill (HB 5006)

Below is a list of budget bills and funding allocations approved during the session. Due to declining state revenues, cuts were made across the board to agencies such as the Housing and Community Services Department, that received $2.6 billion, representing $1 billion less as compared to last year.   

Key session takeaways are: $204.9 million for a statewide shelter program; $468.2 million for the Local Innovation and Fast Track (LIFT) program to build new affordable rental housing through LIFT and Permanent Supportive Housing programs; $100.9 million in bonds to build new homes for affordable homeownership; $10 million in bonds for a new housing infrastructure fund; and $11.2 million to develop, rehab or preserve housing for older adults and people with disabilities. 

Most concerning is the $44.6 million for emergency rental assistance and homeless prevention services, representing a 74% cut from the $173.2 million needed to maintain the current level of statewide services. 

LWVOR is a member of the Oregon Housing Alliance that includes over 110 member organizations and represents a diverse membership that spans the state. During the session they worked tirelessly to advocate for additional funding for emergency rent assistance and homeless prevention. That advocacy resulted in an additional $11 million included in HB 5006 (Christmas tree bill). This will prevent evictions for an additional 1,400 households and increase funding for legal aid and other services by about $4 million. The Legislature is funding only 26% of what’s needed to maintain the current level of homeless prevention services. Housing remains a huge issue statewide with rising homelessness, thousands facing eviction and not enough affordable housing being produced. 

The League submitted testimony during this session on many of the bills listed below. These are Housing Alliance priority bills that received funding from the Legislature, along with amounts requested. 

Housing Bills funded by the General Fund

Homeless Prevention and Response

• HB 5011 Emergency Rental Assistance and Homeless Prevention Services: $44.6 million (requested $173.2M)

• HB 3644 and HB 5011 Statewide Shelter Program: $204.9 million (requested $217.9 million)

• HB 5011 Rehousing Initiative: $50.3 million (requested $188.2 million)

• SB 814 Modifies long term rental assistance for youth: $87.4 million (requested $105.2 million) 

Stabilize Existing Affordable Housing 

• HB 5011 and HB 5006 Permanent Supportive Housing operations and resident services: $10.5 million (requested $11.1 million)

• SB 51 Property management and asset management staffing and training: $3.3 million (requested $7.3 million) 

• SB 829 Insurance relief and cost-reduction study: $2.5 million (requested $5 million)

Expand Affordable Homeownership: 

• HB 5011 Foreclosure prevention:  $2 million (requested $2.5 million)

• HB 2139 Tribal Housing Grants: $10 million ($12.8 million requested) 

• HB 5006 Development, rehabilitation or preservation of housing for older adults and persons with disabilities: $11.2 million

• HB 3031 Developing manufactured homes and infrastructure: $2.5 million (requested $25 million)

Housing bills funded by Lottery bonds

Housing Production and Preservation 

• SB 5505 Local Innovation and Fast Track (LIFT) Rental:  $468.2 million (requested $600 million) 

• SB 5505 Permanent supportive housing:  $80.9 million (requested $80 million)

• SB 5531 Rental housing preservation: $50 million (requested $260 million) 

• SB 5531 Manufactured housing park preservation: $2.5 million (requested $25 million)

• SB 5531 Housing infrastructure fund:  $10 million (requested $100 million)

Expand Affordable Homeownership

• SB 5505 LIFT Homeownership:  $100.9 million (requested $100.9 million) 

Immigration

By Becky Gladstone and Claudia Keith

As reported in previous LR’s, a number of topics have been approved and funded in the end of session reconciliation bill HB5006. See comments' column below for existing program funding. It appears all the topics in the Immigrant Justice budget package request can be found in HB5006.

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