Rep. Nancy Nathanson

Maddy summarySB 468 prohibits noncompete agreements in employment contracts for health professionals in Oregon, making such clauses void and unenforceable. This directly affects health professionals (e.g., doctors, nurses, therapists) licensed or certified by Oregon health regulatory boards. The bill ensures these workers cannot be restricted from seeking new employment within the state after leaving a job, removing barriers to career mobility. It does not apply to bonus restrictions or non-solicitation agreements, and requires specific conditions for enforceable noncompetes in other cases.

Directs the Department of Education to review and update information collected for a survey of the academic assessments administered to the students of this state by school districts. Requires the department to submit an updated report to the State Board of Education and to an interim committee of the Legislative Assembly related to education no later than December 15, 2026.

Prohibits a hospital from closing or ceasing, reducing or relocating health services without first providing notice 275 days in advance. Requires the hospital to provide notice to the Oregon Health Authority, local governments, patients, employees and the public. Allows the authority to impose civil penalties for violations.

Directs the Housing and Community Services Department to give a grant to an organization to support first-time home buyers that purchase residential property to build equity ownership in the residential property through reduced interest rate loans and accelerated loan terms. Specifies qualifications for loan recipients. Declares an emergency, effective July 1, 2025.

] Appropriates moneys to and limits expenditures by the Department of Human Services , the Oregon Health Authority and the Department of State Police for implementation of programs related to criminal records checks, including the Rap Back program. Declares an emergency, effective on passage.

Prohibits a mail-order, specialty or online pharmacy from transferring prescription drugs intended for dispensation to a patient to a pharmacy located in this state unless the pharmacy has agreed to receive the prescription drugs. Prohibits pharmacy benefit managers from requiring a pharmacy to receive transfers of prescription drugs intended for a patient from a mail-order, specialty or online pharmacy. Takes effect on the 91st day following adjournment sine die.

Specifies qualifications for a physician who is among the majority of the shareholders or directors of a professional corporation organized for the purpose of practicing medicine. Takes effect on the 91st day following adjournment sine die.

Requires the Oregon Health Authority to study the effectiveness of current laws and rules governing the certificate of need process in this state. Directs the authority to submit findings to the interim committees of the Legislative Assembly related to health no later than September 15, 2026. Sunsets on January 2, 2027.

] [ Requires a person or government unit that is establishing or operating an urgent care center in this state to register the urgent care center with the Oregon Health Authority. Defines "urgent care center." ] [ Requires certain minimum health service capabilities for an urgent care center. Requires certain information to be posted on-site of an urgent care center. Requires an urgent care center to provide a patient with a clinical summary and copy of medical notes made during a visit. Requires the authority to establish procedures for filing a complaint as to an urgent care center. ] Prohibits a person or government entity that is not registered with the Oregon Health Authority from using a business or trade name with the terms "urgent" or "urgent care" or from holding itself out using the terms "urgent" or "urgent care" in any external sign or advertisement. Directs the authority to adopt a process and criteria for registering an urgent care center in this state. Makes registration optional. Requires an urgent care center that is registered in this state to provide certain information to the authority, have minimum health service capabilities and meet certain requirements. Defines "urgent care center" and "specialty urgent care center" for the purposes of the Act. Directs the authority to establish and maintain a website to provide the public information on urgent care centers registered in this state. [ Directs the authority to conduct a study on incentives for urgent care centers to accept all patients. ] Takes effect on the 91st day following adjournment sine die.

Disallows, for purposes of personal income taxation, the mortgage interest deduction for a residence other than the taxpayer's principal residence, unless the taxpayer sells the residence or actively markets the residence for sale. Phases out the allowable deduction for the interest for a principal residence based upon income. Disallows a deduction for a principal residence above the threshold income amount. Establishes the Oregon Housing Opportunity Account. Transfers an amount equal to the estimated increase in revenue attributable to restrictions on the deduction of mortgage interest to the account. Applies to tax years beginning on or after January 1, 2026. Takes effect on the 91st day following adjournment sine die.