Rep. Paul Evans

Modifies law regarding the requirement that a public employer grant preference to a veteran or disabled veteran in the selection process for a civil service position. Limits eligibility for preference to a veteran who applies for a position within 10 years of discharge or release from service in the Armed Forces of the United States. Requires evidence of eligibility and disability to be provided at the time of application. Sets forth processes for granting one or more preferences. Allows a public employer to exercise discretion to not appoint a qualified veteran or disabled veteran to a civil service position based solely on the veteran's or disabled veteran's merits or qualification in the final stage of the selection process. Requires a public employer to provide written reasons for not appointing a veteran or disabled veteran to a position under certain circumstances. Requires an aggrieved veteran or disabled veteran to exhaust nonjudicial remedies with the Bureau of Labor and Industries before filing a civil action for an unlawful employment practice.

Prohibits an online business from operating in this state unless the online business maintains a permanent telephone number and electronic mail address that allows customers to contact the online business with concerns and receive a timely and substantive response. Permits the Secretary of State to test compliance with the Act and to impose civil penalties for a failure to comply or to administratively dissolve an online business or revoke the online business's authority to transact business in this state if the Secretary of State determines that the failure to comply is intentional, willful and repeated.

Provides that new construction in certain school districts must meet specified resiliency standards for the districts to be eligible to receive a matching grant under a certain grant program financed with the proceeds of Article XI-P bonds. Directs the State Resilience Officer to convene an advisory committee to clarify responsibilities related to newly constructed large rooms that serve as emergency shelters.

Creates an income tax credit for a member of a military organization that contributes financial resources to the Veterans' Educational Aid Account prior to the organization's dissolution. 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 Housing and Community Services Department to develop a housing stipend pilot program to provide housing stipends to individuals to move to a city where their labor is expected to benefit economic development of the city. Establishes an advisory board to consult with the department on the development of the program. Requires the department to report to an interim committee of the Legislative Assembly on the program on or before September 15, 2028. Appropriates moneys from the General Fund to the department for the program. Sunsets on January 2, 2031.

Authorizes local governments to adopt additional criteria to encourage energy efficiency and energy generation on property granted certain exemptions from ad valorem property taxation. Takes effect on the 91st day following adjournment sine die.

Establishes the Task Force on Innovative Housing Strategies for Veterans. Directs the task force to study innovative housing strategies for veterans and submit its findings to the interim committees of the Legislative Assembly related to housing and veterans' affairs not later than September 15, 2026. Sunsets on January 2, 2027. Declares an emergency, effective on passage.

Appropriates moneys from the General Fund to specified state agencies for specified purposes related to emergency management for the biennium beginning July 1, 2025. Declares an emergency, effective July 1, 2025.

Maddy summaryHB 3268 changes how school board directors are elected in the Salem-Keizer School District, which is the district containing Oregon's State Capitol. The bill requires that directors be nominated and elected by geographic zone (not at-large), meaning candidates must live in the specific zone they seek to represent. This replaces current election rules for the district, mandating that zone-based candidates must be residents of that zone and that vacancies be filled by appointing someone from the same zone if possible. The bill directly affects the Salem-Keizer School District's governance structure and its voters.

Provides that the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court may impound funds and eliminate benefits available to a judge that are not compensation to which a judge is entitled under the Oregon Constitution.