SB 1537 Oregon Senate · 2026 Regular Session

Relating to boards of education of community college districts; declaring an emergency.

Summary
Requires the members of a board of education of a community college district to have an official electronic mail address that is posted on a publicly accessible website. Requires the board to include at least one nonvoting member of the board who is a student at a community college in the district. Requires the board to report to the Legislative Assembly on the board's compliance with certain provisions of the Act. Modifies requirements for filling vacancies on the board. Declares an emergency, effective on passage.
Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Feb 2026
Committee Review
Mar 2026
Senate Passage
Feb 2026
House Passage
Governor
Introduced Feb 2, 2026 Last action Mar 7, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

Introduced A-Engrossed · 5 edits · Feb 18, 2026
MODERATE
This bill modifies Oregon community college board composition and governance rules, adding a nonvoting student member, adjusting eligibility requirements, and clarifying student participation in executive sessions.
Scope change
The bill applies to all community college districts in Oregon, expanding board composition requirements to include at least one student member.
ELIGIBILITY

Requires each community college board to include at least one nonvoting student member enrolled in at least six in-person credits per term.

Removed the age requirement of at least 18 years for student board members, while maintaining other requirements like student government election and Oregon residency.

REQUIREMENT

Requires each board member to have an official institutional email address posted on a publicly available website.

Limits student member participation in executive sessions to only what board-adopted rules authorize.

TIMELINE

Changed effective date for ORS 341.275 amendments from July 1, 2027 to July 1, 2027 (no substantive change), but reorganized section numbering.

Floor votes · Senate Feb 18, 2026

How they voted

219
Passed
Total votes 30
Feb 18, 2026
D Democratic18
18 Yea
100% Yea
R Republican12
3 Yea 9 Nay
75% Nay
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
17
Key actions
4
Committee
6
Mar 7, 2026
Lower · Passed
In committee upon adjournment.
lower
Feb 27, 2026
Committee
Motion to re-refer to Education carried. Re-referred.
lower
Feb 25, 2026
Lower · Passed
Recommendation: Do pass with amendments and be printed B-Engrossed.
lower
Feb 19, 2026
Committee
Referred to Education.
lower
Feb 18, 2026
Introduced
First reading. Referred to Speaker's desk.
lower
Feb 18, 2026
Upper · Passed
Third reading. Carried by Frederick. Passed.
upper
Feb 13, 2026
Upper · Passed
Recommendation: Do pass with amendments. (Printed A-Eng.)
upper
Feb 2, 2026
Committee
Referred to Education.
upper
Feb 2, 2026
Introduced
Introduction and first reading. Referred to President's desk.
upper
0 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

No sponsor information available.