Oregon Bills

Directs the Psychiatric Security Review Board to study progress in developing a restorative justice program, and to provide the results of the study to the appropriate interim committees of the Legislative Assembly no later than December 31, 2026. Sunsets January 2, 2027.

Requires each electric company to develop a distributed power plant program for the procurement of grid services to be provided by distributed energy resources. Specifies the grid services that may be eligible for compensation and the classes of distributed energy resources technologies that must be eligible to provide the grid services. Allows a customer to enroll directly or through a third party in an electric company's distributed power plant program. Requires an electric company to use a standard offer, open access tariff. Allows an electric company to recover in rates prudently incurred costs associated with the program. Directs the Public Utility Commission to develop and adopt annual procurement targets and performance incentives. Allows an electric company to earn performance incentives for meeting program targets. Requires each electric company to file an annual report with the commission on the status of the electric company's distributed power plant program, including the capacity enrolled in the program. Provides for initial requirements and an implementing timeline. Requires an initial distributed power plant program to provide compensation for system-wide peak load reduction that is provided by an energy storage device that is a battery. Takes effect on the 91st day following adjournment sine die.

HB 3579 requires Oregon voters to approve any new tolls proposed by the Oregon Transportation Commission before implementation. The bill amends state law to mandate that tolls can only be assessed after a majority of voters approve them in a referendum. This directly affects the Transportation Commission (which must seek voter approval) and Oregon residents (who gain a direct vote on tolls). The key provision replaces the Commission's authority to implement tolls with a voter approval requirement, applying to all new tolling proposals across the state.

Increases the threshold amount of understated income tax above which a penalty applies. Applies to tax years beginning on or after January 1, 2025. Takes effect on the 91st day following adjournment sine die.

Directs the Department of State Police to release sex offender information for level two sex offenders to certain entities on a website maintained by the department.

Requires the State Department of Fish and Wildlife to submit a report on the effects on Oregon wolf populations of changes in certain protections for the gray wolf during the last 10 years. Declares an emergency, effective on passage.

Creates an Oregon personal income tax subtraction for income of a taxpayer with three or more dependent children under the age of 18. Applies to tax years beginning on or after January 1, 2026, and before January 1, 2032. Takes effect on the 91st day following adjournment sine die.

Requires the Department of Consumer and Business Services to study insurance. Directs the department to submit findings to the interim committees of the Legislative Assembly related to insurance not later than September 15, 2026. Sunsets January 2, 2027.

Removes the cap on the amounts distributed from the State School Fund to school districts for students who are eligible for special education as children with disabilities. Allows for an additional weight for students who are homeless for purposes of calculating distributions of State School Fund moneys to school districts. Declares an emergency, effective July 1, 2025.

Requires the Housing and Community Services Department to study housing and to report to the interim committees of the Legislative Assembly related to housing by September 15, 2026.

Defines a "work session" for purposes of public meetings. Requires a governing body of a public body to include a time for public comment and requires notice of the public comment period if the body votes.

Directs the Office of Outdoor Recreation to establish a rural community and land stewardship technical assistance and planning pilot program. Appropriates moneys out of the General Fund for the program. Sunsets the program on January 2, 2031. Declares an emergency, effective on passage.