Sen. Deb Patterson

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.

Allows the State Board of Sign Language Interpreters to establish by rule criteria for the issuance of a supervisory sign language interpreter license [ or sign language interpreter license by endorsement ]. Allows a person authorized to provide signed language interpretation services in another state to provide those services in this state without a license under certain conditions. Directs the Health Licensing Office to issue a sign language interpreter-in-training license to a qualified applicant. Allows a specified person to provide signed language interpretation services on a temporary basis without a license. Directs the board to establish licensure fees. Repeals the specialty sign language interpreter licenses. Takes effect on the 91st day following adjournment sine die.

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.

Directs the Oregon State University Extension Service to oversee a project to accelerate the promotion of behavioral health in Oregon. Declares an emergency, effective on passage.

Provides that certain laws establishing crimes do not apply to the act of informing another person of the other person's civil or constitutional rights.

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.

Requires the Bureau of Labor and Industries to conduct an effort to publicize and explain the obligation to accept cash as payment for goods and services to places of public accommodation and residents of this state. Requires the bureau to continue the effort until the bureau determines that a high rate of compliance exists among persons that are subject to the obligation. Takes effect on the 91st day following adjournment sine die.

Provides that a licensed physician associate or nurse practitioner may be a medical examiner. Includes a licensure requirement for a physician who serves as a medical examiner.

Requires a seller in a motor vehicle transaction that involves a retail installment contract or lease agreement to make a good faith effort to sell the retail installment contract or lease agreement to a lender on the exact terms that the seller and buyer negotiated. Requires the seller to undertake certain actions if the lender does not agree to buy the retail installment contract or lease agreement within 10 calendar days after the buyer takes possession of the motor vehicle. Prohibits the seller from selling or paying off a loan balance for any trade-in vehicle that is part of the transaction before receiving a lender's final approval of funding. Specifies the liabilities a seller has for failing to comply with the prohibitions. Requires the seller to provide the buyer with certain disclosures before concluding the transaction. Punishes a violation of the Act as an unlawful practice under the Unlawful Trade Practices Act.

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. ].