SALEM, OR – On January 1, 2025, new laws will go into effect to make Oregon safer, cleaner, and more affordable. These changes will directly impact the day-to-day lives of Oregonians, covering everything from stopping drug use on public transportation and lowering the cost of prescription drugs to making it cheaper to repair electronic devices and increasing transparency in public education.
"Oregonians aren't satisfied with the status quo, and neither are we. These changes in the new year mark just one phase in our mission to improve quality of life in Oregon. In 2025, we will continue to fight for affordability, safety, and freedom in our state," said Senate Majority Leader Kayse Jama (D - E Portland & N Clackamas County).
"Oregon House Democrats are laser-focused on keeping Oregonians safe, making Oregon more affordable, and protecting our rights and freedoms," said House Majority Leader Ben Bowman (D-Tigard, Metzger, & S. Beaverton). "In the 2024 session, we made progress toward these goals, and many of these new laws will be in effect by January 1. In 2025, we will build on this work and deliver results for Oregonians."
Information about the key laws going into effect on January 1, 2025 is available below. Find the full list of 2024 Session accomplishments here.
Stopping Dangerous Drug Use on Public Transit (SB 1553)
Drug use on public transit is significantly impacting Oregonians across the state. TriMet reports a 30% drop in riders feeling safe on buses and trains. The Tillamook County Transportation District was forced to close their transit center to the public because of drug use and drug smoke exposure incidents. Schools are reporting that students are finding drug paraphernalia on transit vehicles provided by ride connection partners. SB 1553 expands the existing crime of Interfering with Public Transportation to include drug use on public transit. This is a drug-designated Class A misdemeanor, which would open up access to state-funded treatment for those convicted of the crime in many cases.
Lowering Costs, Protecting Consumers with Right to Repair (SB 1596)
SB 1596 makes repairing electronic devices more fair and affordable in Oregon. It requires original equipment manufacturers to provide repair tools and information to owners and independent repair providers so consumers have more choices when it comes to fixing their electronic devices.
Preventing Insurers from Mandating How Patients Get Prescription Drugs (HB 4012)
This law prevents health benefit plans from requiring that physician-administered drugs, like chemotherapy, be dispensed at specialty pharmacies. Traditionally, physicians have been able to "buy-and-bill" physician-administered drugs for patients, but in recent years, insurers have sought to reduce costs by requiring that physician-administered drugs be purchased from a specialty pharmacy. This practice sparked safety concerns from providers because it made it difficult for them to adjust dosages and could cause delays in care due to drug shipping issues.
Making Prescription Drugs More Affordable for Oregonians (HB 4113)
This legislation will help people reach out of pocket maximums easier, bringing down overall costs that Oregonians will have to spend on their prescription medications. By including all amounts paid towards prescription drugs in the calculation of an enrollee's out-of-pocket maximum, this bill ensures that individuals aren't unfairly burdened by high drug costs.
Safeguarding Oregon's Economic and Environmental Future (HB 4083)
This new law directs the Oregon Investment Council and the State Treasurer to make efforts to eliminate investments in coal companies and funds containing coal companies. The bill requires that these divestments must be accomplished without monetary loss to the investment funds. HB 4083 incentivizes emissions reductions, by requiring divestment from such emitters, unless they demonstrate they are transitioning to clean energy within a reasonable timeline.
Ensuring Safety and Fairness for Oregon Workers (HB 4127)
Warehouse work can be very dangerous, and workers in this field face higher injury rates than coal miners, lumberjacks, trash collectors, and police officers. Advocates for warehouse workers cite the use of productivity quotas and productivity metrics as a contributing factor to the elevated injury rate in warehouse distribution centers. HB 4127 requires transparency about productivity quotas, giving workers the information they need to perform their work safely, effectively and advocate for themselves. The bill also protects workers from discipline or dismissal for failure to meet a quota that was not adequately communicated by an employer.
Protecting Kids Getting On and Off School Buses (HB 4147)
When school buses extend their stop-arm and turn on their red flashing lights, motorists are supposed to stop and allow kids to safely get on or off the bus. However, bus drivers report thousands of instances of motorists illegally passing stopped school buses every day, putting students in danger. HB 4147 allows schools to install cameras on buses to record drivers who fail to stop for bus safety lights and enable law enforcement to cite those who fail to stop based on those recordings.
Improving Transparency in School Boards (SB 1502)
SB 1502 requires that education boards of public school districts, community colleges, and universities video record their meetings and upload those recordings for the public to view online. The bill exempts school districts with fewer than 50 students and provides that school districts that lack adequate internet access can comply by uploading an audio recording instead. The requirement to record does not apply to meetings that aren't already public under Oregon's public meeting law, such as executive sessions.
Reader Comments(0)