The atmosphere at the Oregon State Capitol is intense as legislators, staff, and advocates work diligently toward the fast-approaching April 9th chamber deadline.
Published March 31, 2025 at 9:33 AM · Legislative Advocacy - Oregon
This deadline marks the last day a bill must be voted out of its committee of origin—either in the House or Senate—to remain viable for the rest of the legislative session. If a bill hasn’t cleared this initial hurdle, it’s typically considered dead for the session.
Committee schedules are packed to capacity, with back-to-back hearings and little room for flexibility. Meanwhile, nonpartisan offices tasked with providing bill analysis and drafting amendments are stretched thin, resulting in delays due to the overwhelming volume of requests. Despite the urgency, it’s important to remember that this deadline does not apply to bills in the Revenue, Rules, or Ways & Means committees, or any joint committees—many of which will continue to consider legislation beyond the cutoff.
Amid the flurry of legislative, conversations at the Capitol are increasingly focused on the state budget. The Joint Ways & Means Committee is in the midst of its statewide “road show,” holding public hearings across Oregon to gather input from residents on budget priorities. These meetings give lawmakers a chance to hear directly from communities about their needs and help shape funding decisions for the remainder of the session.
Significant attention is being directed toward House Bill 3944, a Republican-led initiative aimed at repealing the state’s wildfire hazard map and associated regulations. This bill seeks to eliminate provisions related to building code standards for wildfire mitigation, defensible space requirements, and fire protection measures for lands outside forest protection districts. A public hearing and possible work session for HB 3944 are scheduled for April 8th in the House Committee on Climate, Energy, and Environment. The bill has garnered support from both House and Senate Republicans. This development underscores the ongoing debates surrounding wildfire prevention strategies and land-use policies in Oregon.
ARTICLES
Senate Press Release: Senators Broadman and McLane Urge Insurance Companies to Pause Homeowner Policy Drops Based on Insurance Company Risk Maps
Oregon Lawmakers Ask Insurers To Pause Dropping Policies Based On Internal Wildfire Risk Maps
Judge Blocks Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek’s Requirement For Union Labor On Many State Projects
Oregon Transit Agencies Warn Lawmakers Of Service Cuts Without A Funding Hike
UPCOMING LEGISLATIVE DEADLINES:
Apr. 9 – First Chamber Deadline
May 9 – Work Session Deadline
May 23 - Second Chamber Deadline
BAD BILLS TRACKER
Relating to violations of the Insurance Code as unlawful trade practices.
Provides that a violation of prohibitions against certain practices with respect to insurance is subject to an enforcement action under the Unlawful Trade Practices Act. -1 amendment includes an exclusion for agents, PIA/O has moved to neutral as amended.
Relating to business practices that reduce access to health care in this state; prescribing an effective date.
Authorizes the Attorney General, at the Attorney General's own initiative, but in consultation and cooperation with the Director of the Department of Consumer and Business Services, to investigate and bring an action against a health insurer or affiliate of a health insurer in a court of this state to enforce a violation of the antitrust laws of this state, to obtain damages, a civil penalty or restitution, and to enjoin an act or practice that constitutes a monopoly, a business combination in restraint of trade or commerce or a substantial reduction or elimination of competition or competitors within a region or market of this state, or that otherwise constitutes an unlawful trade practice.
Relating to explanations required in connection with premium increases upon renewals of certain insurance policies; prescribing an effective date.
Requires an insurer to provide to an insured a clear and reasonable explanation of the reasons for any increase in the premium amount for a qualified policy upon renewal of the qualified policy. The -1 amendment removes the automatic notification requirement. Instead, explanations will be required only if requested by the insured. PIA/O has moved to neutral as amended and will participate in the rulemaking process after session.
Relating to litigation costs for prevailing claimants.
Removes the cap on reasonable litigation costs and expenses and attorney fees for a claimant who prevails in a workers' compensation dispute.
Relating to prohibiting geographic tracking in connection with motor vehicle liability insurance policies; prescribing an effective date.
Prohibits insurers from using any device or technology that records, discloses or allows access to information that tracks or reveals the geographic location of an insured during any time in which the insured is occupying or operating a motor vehicle that the motor vehicle liability insurance policy covers.
Relating to medical debt reporting.
Prohibits medical service providers from reporting the amount or existence of medical debt to a consumer reporting agency.
Relating to occupational disease.
Adds certain health care employees to the list of workers for whom certain stress disorders give rise to a presumption that a workers' compensation claim is compensable as an occupational disease.
Relating to insurance for unmanned aircraft systems; prescribing an effective date; providing for revenue raising that requires approval by a three-fifths majority.
Requires commercial operators of unmanned aircraft systems to maintain liability insurance.
HB 3423 DEAD
Relating to information permitted for insurer's decisions concerning motor vehicle liability insurance; prescribing an effective date.
Prohibits an insurer from using any of the following when determining eligibility, premiums or rates for a motor vehicle liability insurance policy: an applicant’s or insured’s credit history, including an insurance score based on the applicant’s or insured’s credit history; an applicant’s or insured’s sex or gender; or an applicant’s or insured’s marital status
HB 2744 DEAD
Relating to exclusions of insurance coverage for veterinary services on the basis of a preexisting condition; prescribing an effective date.
Prohibits insurers that issue a policy of insurance that provides coverage or benefits to an insured for veterinary services for the insured's pet from excluding, limiting or reducing the coverage or benefits on the basis of a preexisting condition that affects the pet's health or physical condition.
HB 2786 DEAD
Relating to compensation for accrued leave upon termination of employment.
Requires employers who provide sick leave, vacation leave or personal business leave benefits to employees to compensate employees for all earned but unused accrued leave when employment terminates
HB 2562 DEAD
Relating to underwriting practices for motor vehicle liability insurance policies in this state; prescribing an effective date.
Requires the Department of Consumer and Business Services to collect a series of data related to the underwriting practices and criteria involved in issuing motor vehicle liability insurance policies in this state
HB 2962 DEAD
Relating to minimum wage rates; prescribing an effective date.
Provides for calculation of the minimum wage rate beginning July 1, 2026.
SB 60 DEAD
Relating to the Oregon Tort Claims Act.
Exempts claims based on conduct that constitutes child abuse, or conduct that constitutes knowingly allowing, permitting or encouraging child abuse, from the notice requirement of the Oregon Tort Claims Act.
SB 340 DEAD
Relating to fire insurance that covers properties at particular risk of wildfires; prescribing an effective date.
Prohibits an insurer from canceling fire insurance policies, or raising policy premiums by more than three percent, if an insured's property is located within the wildland-urban interface or the insured's primary employment or economic or business activity is farming or resource extraction.
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