HB 4124 Oregon House · 2026 Regular Session

Relating to the state post-secondary education system; and declaring an emergency.

Summary

] Directs the Higher Education Coordinating Commission to conduct a study of the condition of Oregon's post-secondary education system and to develop detailed recommendations for the design, implementation and operation of a viable and superior institutional framework. [ Directs the commission to submit a report to the interim committees of the Legislative Assembly related to higher education on or before December 1, 2026. ] Directs the commission to submit a preliminary report by October 1, 2026, and a final report by April 1, 2027, to the interim or regular committees of the Legislative Assembly related to higher education. Declares an emergency, effective on passage.

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Feb 2026

Committee Review

Mar 2026

House Passage

Mar 2026

Senate Passage

Mar 2026

Signed into Law

Mar 2026

Introduced Feb 2, 2026 Signed Mar 31, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 3 comparisons

What changed between versions

B-Engrossed → Enrolled · 4 edits · Mar 6, 2026

MODERATE

The bill was finalized into its Enrolled version, adding the full list of sponsors and updating the timeline for required reports. The most significant policy change is the specific deadline for the Higher Education Coordinating Commission to submit a preliminary report by October 1, 2026, and a final report by April 1, 2027, replacing the previous vague instruction to submit reports by December 1, 2026. The bill also explicitly allows the commission to hire third-party contractors to assist with the study.

Scope change

The bill's scope remains focused on studying Oregon's post-secondary education system, but the specific deadlines for delivering study results have been tightened and clarified.

TIMELINE

Changed the report deadline from a single date of December 1, 2026, to a two-step process requiring a preliminary report by October 1, 2026, and a final report by April 1, 2027.

REQUIREMENT

Added explicit authorization for the commission to utilize third-party contractors to carry out the study.

TECHNICAL

Added the complete list of all sponsors (Representatives and Senators) to the Enrolled version, which was missing in the previous draft.

Updated the bill header from 'B-Engrossed' to 'Enrolled' and included signatures from the House Speaker and Governor, indicating final passage.

Floor votes · House Feb 27, 2026

How they voted

This bill passed the Senate by voice vote (no roll call recorded).

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Mar 31, 2026

Signed into law

Governor signed.

lower

Mar 6, 2026

Upper · Passed

President signed.

upper

Mar 5, 2026

Lower · Passed

Speaker signed.

lower

Mar 4, 2026

Upper · Passed

Third reading. Carried by Sollman. Passed.

upper

Mar 3, 2026

Upper · Passed

Recommendation: Do pass the B-Eng. bill.

upper

Mar 2, 2026

Committee

Referred to Ways and Means.

upper

Mar 2, 2026

Introduced

First reading. Referred to President's desk.

upper

Feb 27, 2026

Lower · Passed

Third reading. Carried by Marsh. Passed.

lower

Feb 25, 2026

Lower · Passed

Recommendation: Do pass with amendments and be printed B-Engrossed.

lower

Feb 24, 2026

Lower · Passed

Returned to Full Committee.

lower

Feb 19, 2026

Committee

Assigned to Subcommittee On Education.

lower

Feb 12, 2026

Committee

Referred to Ways and Means by prior reference.

lower

Feb 12, 2026

Lower · Passed

Recommendation: Do pass with amendments, be printed A-Engrossed, and be referred to Ways and Means by prior reference.

lower

Feb 2, 2026

Committee

Referred to Education with subsequent referral to Ways and Means.

lower

Feb 2, 2026

Introduced

First reading. Referred to Speaker's desk.

lower

11 primary · 13 co-sponsors