Rep. Zach Hudson

Increases the age limit for tuition waivers for qualified students. Permits a qualified student to receive a tuition waiver for a master's degree notwithstanding whether the qualified student received a waiver for a baccalaureate degree. Removes the requirement that a qualified student apply for a master's degree within 12 months of receiving a baccalaureate degree to receive a tuition waiver for a master's degree. Permits a qualified student to receive a tuition waiver for a master's degree if the student presents proof of eligibility for specified federal assistance. Takes effect on the 91st day following adjournment sine die.

] Prohibits restaurants and retailers from providing single-use checkout bags to consumers. [ Prohibits food and beverage providers and convenience stores from providing single-use plastic utensils or single-use plastic condiment packaging to consumers unless requested. ] [ Prohibits lodging establishments from providing small plastic personal health or beauty product containers unless requested. ].

] Expands the health insurance coverage of prosthetic and orthotic devices and exempts the Public Employees' Benefit Board and Oregon Educators Benefit Board from the expansion of covered services unless the boards provide notice to the Department of Consumer and Business Services . [ Declares an emergency, effective on passage. ].

Permits an asylum seeker who is a student at a public university in this state or Oregon Health and Science University to receive an exemption from nonresident tuition and fees. Declares an emergency, effective on passage.

Requires public employer employment policies to provide for a pay differential for sign language skills in the same manner that pay differentials are provided for other bilingual or multilingual skills.

Directs the Department of Education to establish an advisory committee to study and develop recommendations to modernize the adequate service levels for early intervention and early childhood special education in this state. Directs the advisory committee to submit a report to the interim committees of the Legislative Assembly related to education no later than September 15, 2026. Sunsets on January 2, 2027.

Requires a landlord of publicly supported housing to provide all applicants and new tenants notice of when the affordability restrictions may be terminated. Becomes operative January 1, 2026. Extends from 20 months to 30 months the minimum notice landlords must give existing tenants regarding expiring affordability restrictions. Requires the Housing and Community Services Department to adopt rules by December 1, 2025, that prescribe the form of the notice and translations. Applies to properties with restrictions ending on or after July 1, 2028. Takes effect on the 91st day following adjournment sine die.

Maddy summarySB 548 raises Oregon's minimum legal marriage age from 17 to 18 years for all residents. It amends multiple statutes (including ORS 106.010 and 106.050) to remove exceptions allowing minors under 18 to marry, and repeals the prior exception (ORS 106.060) that permitted underage marriage with parental consent or court approval. The bill directly affects anyone seeking a marriage license in Oregon, requiring all applicants to be at least 18 years old without exceptions. This change eliminates all pathways for minors to marry in Oregon, effective January 1, 2026. The law applies uniformly to all marriages solemnized under Oregon law.

Establishes the right of a resident of a residential care facility to [ the formation of a ] organize and participate in resident groups, including an independent family council. Prohibits a residential care facility from willfully interfering with the formation, maintenance or promotion of [ a ] an independent family council or discriminating or retaliating against a resident based on [ a family member's or representative's participation in a family council ] the participation of the resident or the resident's family member or legal representative in an independent family council . [ Imposes civil penalties, not to exceed $500 per day of violation. ].

Directs the governing board of a public university to [ request and review ] ensure that background information about special campus security officers is requested from the Department of Public Safety Standards and Training and reviewed before commissioning the officer. Allows the department [ of Public Safety Standards and Training ] to share information about applicants with a public university.