Rep. Emily McIntire

Requires school districts to have a school year of 175 days and to have a class schedule that operates throughout the year. Directs the Department of Education to convene an advisory group to assist school districts with transitioning to a schedule that complies with the daily and yearly requirements. Declares an emergency, effective on passage.

Directs the Oregon State Board of Nursing to establish an advisory committee to study the nursing educator shortage and make recommendations to address the issues identified by the committee. Requires a report on the nursing education shortage to the board and to interim committees of the Legislative Assembly no later than March 15, 2026. Directs the board to dissolve the first advisory committee by March 31, 2026. Directs the board to then establish an advisory committee to study recruitment and retention challenges in the nursing workforce and make recommendations to address the issues identified by the committee. Requires a report on the nursing workforce to the board and to interim committees of the Legislative Assembly no later than December 15, 2026. Allows the board to enter into an agreement with a nonprofit organization to convene the advisory committees. Sunsets on June 2, 2027. [ Takes effect on the 91st day following adjournment sine die. ] Declares an emergency, effective on passage.

Requires the Department of Education to transfer from the State School Fund to the Talented and Gifted Education Account an amount that equals one percent of the total amount available to school districts as general purpose grants. Establishes the Talented and Gifted Education Account. Prescribes the distribution of the account. Declares an emergency, effective July 1, 2025.

Creates the offense of a minor purchasing or attempting to purchase, possessing or attempting to possess or using in public an alternative nicotine product, inhalant delivery system or tobacco product. Punishes violation by a maximum fine of $50, community service or participation in a health promotion and risk reduction program, or a combination thereof.

Requires manufacturers of consumer products that enable access to the Internet, that have operating systems that recognize the geographical location where the device is being used and that determine a user's age during setup to also have a parental control filter that blocks access to software applications and Internet sites that provide access to obscene material and to turn the parental control filter on automatically during setup for users who are younger than 18 years of age. Authorizes the Attorney General to investigate and bring an action against consumer product manufacturers that sell devices that do not comply with the requirements of the Act. Becomes operative on July 1, 2026.

Increases the percentage of federal earned income credit allowable as a credit against Oregon personal income tax. Provides an additional percentage tier based upon the age of the youngest dependent of the taxpayer. Applies to tax years beginning on or after January 1, 2026, and before January 1, 2032. Extends the sunset for the earned income tax credit. Takes effect on the 91st day following adjournment sine die.

Requires local government approval of a project to create, enhance or restore wetlands if the project would convert lands used for agricultural purposes to wetlands.

Digest: The measure makes changes to LBPR 27 to limit the role of secrecy in investigations made under the rule. The measure says that a person being investigated has a right to a lawyer, with the costs paid for by the LEO, a right to discover evidence and question witnesses and a right to appeal to a court. The measure makes changes to the standard of proof for facts. (Flesch Readability Score 60.6). Modifies Legislative Branch Personnel Rule 27 to eliminate confidential reports or information being used for investigations performed under the rule by requiring disclosure at conclusion of investigation. Authorizes an investigation respondent to obtain independent counsel to be paid for by the Legislative Equity Officer. Provides that an investigation respondent has the right to discover evidence and depose witnesses. Requires that findings of fact must be established beyond a reasonable doubt. Provides that a respondent who is subject to remedial measures has the right to appeal the determination to a court for de novo judicial review. Provides that a person subject to the rule may not be accused of violating the rule for the same conduct that was previously not found to violate the rule.

Maddy summaryHB 2946 requires Oregon's Secretary of State to conduct a fiscal audit of the Department of Transportation (DOT) and complete it by June 30, 2027. The bill mandates a financial review of the DOT's operations but does not alter the department's existing responsibilities or funding. This procedural measure directly affects the DOT through oversight by the Secretary of State's office, with no changes to DOT's day-to-day functions.

Appropriates moneys from the General Fund to the Oregon Health Authority for the purpose of screening newborns for five specific diseases under the Northwest Regional Newborn Bloodspot Screening Program.