Relating to public meetings; and prescribing an effective date.
Summary
Restates the serial communications prohibitions for public meetings law purposes. Identifies the types of communications between governing body members that are excluded from public meetings requirements. Changes the obligation to provide notice for meetings from a governing body to the public body for each of its governing bodies. Changes the obligation to provide for the sound, video or digital recording or the taking of written minutes from a governing body to the public body for each of its governing bodies. Clarifies that public meetings may be held in person, through use of electronic means or in a hybrid format of in-person and electronic means. Requires public meetings law complainants to provide specified documentation to the Oregon Government Ethics Commission before complaints are considered filed. Requires complainants to proceed in court if the complaint alleges a public meetings law violation by one or more members of the commission. Modifies requirements concerning which public officials must attend public meetings law training and when those officials must attend the training. Allows the commission to proceed against a public body or a public official associated with a public body for violations of public meetings laws. Establishes methods by which governing bodies and public bodies may cure public meetings law violations under certain circumstances. Clarifies the imposition of penalties by the Oregon Government Ethics Commission against public bodies and public officials. Takes effect on the 91st day following adjournment sine die.
Bill status
vetoed
4 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Feb 2026
Committee Review
Mar 2026
House Passage
Mar 2026
Senate Passage
Mar 2026
Vetoed
Apr 2026
Introduced Feb 5, 2026
Vetoed Apr 16, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 3 comparisons
What changed between versions
B-Engrossed
→
Enrolled
·
4 edits
·
Mar 10, 2026
MODERATE
This bill transitions from a draft version to the final enrolled version, incorporating significant substantive changes to Oregon's public meetings law. The most critical updates include expanding where meetings can be held to include locations within Indian country and allowing joint meetings with federally recognized tribes. Additionally, the bill strengthens accessibility requirements by mandating interpreters for deaf or hard-of-hearing individuals and clarifies the definition of 'convening' to include electronic, video, or telephonic technology.
Scope change
The scope of applicability was expanded to explicitly include federally recognized Oregon Indian tribes in joint meeting provisions and clarified the definition of 'Indian country' for meeting locations.
REQUIREMENT
Added new requirements for accessibility, mandating that governing bodies provide interpreters for deaf or hard-of-hearing individuals upon request with at least 48 hours' notice.
Expanded meeting location rules to allow joint meetings with federally recognized Oregon Indian tribes and clarified that meetings can be held in Indian country.
DEFINITION
Updated the definition of 'convening' to explicitly include using electronic, video, or telephonic technology to communicate contemporaneously among participants.
Removed definitions for 'serial electronic written communication' and 'using an intermediary' from the definition of convening, narrowing the scope of what constitutes a meeting.
Floor votes · Senate Mar 6, 2026 · House Mar 4, 2026
How they voted
25–3
Passed · 2 other
Total votes 30
Mar 6, 2026
D
Democratic18
94% Yea
R
Republican12
66% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea
All Nay
Mixed
No data
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
21
Key actions
8
Committee
8
Apr 16, 2026
Vetoed
Governor vetoed.
lower
Mar 10, 2026
Upper · Passed
President signed.
upper
Mar 10, 2026
Lower · Passed
Speaker signed.
lower
Mar 6, 2026
Upper · Passed
Third reading. Carried by Lieber. Passed.
upper
Mar 5, 2026
Upper · Passed
Recommendation: Do pass the B-Eng. bill.
upper
Mar 5, 2026
Committee
Referred to Ways and Means.
upper
Mar 4, 2026
Introduced
First reading. Referred to President's desk.
upper
Mar 4, 2026
Lower · Passed
Third reading. Carried by Sosa. Passed.
lower
Mar 3, 2026
Lower · Passed
Recommendation: Do pass with amendments and be printed B-Engrossed.
lower
Feb 27, 2026
Lower · Passed
Returned to Full Committee.
lower
Feb 25, 2026
Committee
Assigned to Subcommittee On Capital Construction.
lower
Feb 23, 2026
Committee
Referred to Ways and Means by order of Speaker.
lower
Feb 23, 2026
Lower · Passed
Recommendation: Do pass with amendments, be printed A-Engrossed, and be referred to Ways and Means.
lower
Feb 5, 2026
Committee
Referred to Rules.
lower
Feb 5, 2026
Introduced
First reading. Referred to Speaker's desk.
lower
0 primary · 0 co-sponsors
Sponsors
No sponsor information available.
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