HB 3979 prohibits strikes by Oregon public employees, including teachers, police, and other government workers, and requires labor disputes to be resolved through binding arbitration instead. The bill amends labor laws to mandate final decisions by a neutral third party for unresolved issues like wages, hours, and working conditions. It clarifies which topics qualify as negotiable "employment relations" (e.g., excluding school calendars or minor conduct rules) and defines key terms for dispute resolution. This directly changes how public employee contracts are negotiated, removing strike options as a bargaining tool.
Requires the Oregon Criminal Justice Commission to study the effect of different types of sentences on rates of recidivism. Directs the commission to submit findings to the interim committees of the Legislative Assembly related to the judiciary not later than September 15, 2026. Sunsets on January 2, 2027.
Allows the State Forester to lease forestlands for the purpose of siting energy facilities that use wind energy. Takes effect on the 91st day following adjournment sine die.
HB 3737 creates a new $4 million exclusion for Oregon's estate tax, in addition to existing exclusions. It applies to estates of decedents dying on or after January 1, 2026, directly affecting Oregon residents and non-residents owning property in Oregon. The exclusion amount will automatically adjust annually for inflation starting January 1, 2027, based on the U.S. Consumer Price Index. The bill takes effect 91 days after the 2025 legislative session concludes, modifying how Oregon calculates taxable estate for tax purposes.
HB 2855 requires Oregon's Department of State Police to establish public exchange stations for parents or guardians to transfer children and personal property. These stations must be accessible 24/7, monitored by cameras storing video for 30 days (as public records), and clearly signed. The bill prohibits denying public record requests for child exchange videos due to unpaid fees, while allowing standard fees for other requests. It directly affects parents/guardians using these stations and the State Police, which must maintain the equipment and create implementing rules. The policy creates a standardized, transparent process for child exchanges between caregivers.
Requires the Secretary of State to study small business. Directs the Secretary to submit findings to the interim committees of the Legislative Assembly related to small business not later than September 15, 2026. Sunsets January 2, 2027.
Directs the Department of Transportation to study issues related to improving ground transportation infrastructure resilience and to report to an appropriate committee or interim committee of the Legislative Assembly on or before September 15, 2026. Sunsets January 2, 2027.
Requires a member of the Legislative Assembly who has a relative or a member of the household who receives a salary for serving on the member's personal legislative staff to file a statement with the Oregon Government Ethics Commission naming each relative or member of the household and stating the amount of the salary each relative or member of the household receives for serving on the member's personal legislative staff.
Directs contracting agencies to give preference to a bidder or proposer who is certified by the Oregon Department of Emergency Management as an emergency preparedness partner. Directs the department to establish a program for certification of business organizations as emergency preparedness partners. Provides that organizations shall be certified if a minimum number of individuals in the organization complete the required training and meet other requirements.
Permits the Higher Education Coordinating Commission to cancel the commission's approval of a school to confer any academic degree or provide services purporting to lead to a degree in whole or in part.
HB 3204 requires Oregon school districts and public charter schools to collect and report quarterly data on student attendance. It defines "chronically absent" as missing 10% or more of school days and "regular attender" as missing less than 10%. Schools must submit specific metrics including total students, regular attenders, chronically absent students, and disaggregated data by student groups. The Oregon Department of Education will compile this data quarterly and make it publicly available on its website in an accessible format.
Requires the Oregon Business Development Department to conduct a study of economic development in Oregon. Directs the department to submit a report of the study to the interim committees of the Legislative Assembly related to economic development no later than September 15, 2026.
