Mid Session Legislative Report for February 2026

February 16, 2026

Horst Meister

The Oregon Legislature is about halfway through its even-year short session. The session began on February 2 and is scheduled to end on March 9. Legislators have been busy. As of February 16, 298 measures have been introduced; the House passed 20 bills and the Senate passed 8.
Unlike the hyper-partisan United States Congress which struggles to pass gas and can’t seem to keep the government open, about 80% of the bills in the Oregon legislature are bipartisan. Oregon legislators seem to have a genuine interest in getting the job done for Oregonians – except when they don’t want to. Every so often, our esteemed representatives decide to prove the observation that each political party is worse than all of the others.

Your opinion matters. Contract our elected representatives on bills that interest you and make your voice heard.
Our Representative is Vikki Breese-Iverson, https://www.oregonlegislature.gov/breese-iverson Our Senator is Mike McLane, https://www.oregonlegislature.gov/mclane

Listing all the bills under consideration is not practical, so here are a selected few that most Democrats would probably support.

Senate Bill 1541- Digest: This Act creates a program to recover the costs of climate change.
Establishes the Climate Superfund Cost Recovery Program as an interagency response to the effects of climate change. Directs the Department of Land Conservation and Development to serve as the lead agency of an interagency team. Requires [the department] certain agencies to conduct an assessment on the costs of greenhouse gas emissions.
Directs the Department of Environmental Quality to issue cost recovery demand notices to entities determined to be responsible for the costs of climate change.
Establishes the Climate Superfund Cost Recovery Program Account.
Takes effect on the 91st day following adjournment sine die.

House Bill 4138 – Digest: The Act sets police ID rules and limits the actions of public employees when working with U.S. or out-of-state law enforcement. The Act also creates a cause of action when the rules are violated. The Act goes into effect when the Governor signs it.
Requires law enforcement agencies to enact policies concerning identifying information on law enforcement uniforms. Broadens the application of laws specifying identification requirements for
law enforcement officers.
Requires law enforcement agencies to enact policies prohibiting the wearing of facial coverings
by officers except in specified circumstances. Prohibits the wearing of facial coverings by law
enforcement officers except in specified circumstances.
Creates the offense of misrepresentation by a law enforcement officer. Punishes by a maximum penalty of a $2,000 fine.
Includes federal officers in the definition of “peace officer” for purposes of the crime of criminal impersonation of a peace officer.
Prohibits employees of public bodies in this state from participating in certain actions. Directs public bodies to enact policies prohibiting engagement in certain actions.
Specifies disclosure requirements for law enforcement agencies that enter into joint task forces or cross-deputization agreements with federal law enforcement agencies or law enforcement agencies of another state.
Provides that volunteers in a civil defense force are agents of a public body for purposes of the Oregon Tort Claims Act.
Allows a person harmed by violations of certain provisions to bring a civil cause of action. Allows a person to seek an injunction.
Declares an emergency, effective on passage.

(NOTE – HB 4138 would require ICE to follow the rules that Oregon law enforcement agencies already follow.)

House Bill 4088 – Digest: The Act says that it is the policy of this state to make sure people are allowed to get certain kinds of health care, including care for their bodies and gender identity. The Act also makes
changes to laws about helping the federal government and other states in cases arising involving
this kind of care, makes some records and information private and says that midwives who give this
kind of care will not get in trouble if they follow the rules. The new law starts right away.
Declares this state’s policy to protect engagement in certain activities relating to reproductive health care and gender-affirming treatment.
Prohibits cooperation with law enforcement agencies of the federal government or other states
in actions involving legally-protected reproductive or gender-affirming health care activities.
Modifies provisions regarding interstate actions involving legally-protected reproductive or gender-affirming health care activities.
Makes specified records and information confidential.
Provides protection from disciplinary action for direct entry midwives who provide reproductive health care and gender-affirming treatment under specified circumstances.
Declares an emergency, effective on passage.

Senate Bill 1538 – Digest: Tells schools how to respond to immigration issues.
Requires district school boards to admit all students to all schools and instructional programs of the school district.
Prohibits discrimination in education related to immigration or citizenship status. Makes limited exceptions.
Adds requirements for model policies prepared by the Attorney General related to immigration enforcement at public schools. Requires school districts and education service districts to adopt related policies and procedures and to provide training to district employees related to the policies and procedures to provide applicable model policies to employees.
Takes effect July 1, 2026.

House Bill 4079 – Digest: Tells public schools to have a policy for how to respond to immigration issues at the school.
Directs school district boards and governing bodies of institutions of higher education to adopt policies that address how the school district or the institution of higher education will respond when a federal immigration authority enters school property or a campus. Prescribes the requirements of the policies.
[Declares an emergency, effective on passage.]
Takes effect on September 30, 2026.

House Bill 4001 – Digest: The Act directs the DOJ to study immigration enforcement. The Act directs the DOJ to give the results of the study to the legislature.
Requires the Department of Justice to study ways the state may address unlawful immigration enforcement activity. Directs the department to submit findings to the interim committees of the Legislative Assembly related to the judiciary no later than September 15, 2027.
Sunsets on January 2, 2028.

To find the Oregon legislature webpage for a particular bill, search for HB (House bill) or SB (Senate Bill) followed by the bill number and “Oregon 2026 OLIS” in your web browser, like this: “SB1541 Oregon 2026 OLIS” and the link should be in the top 10 of your search results. (OLIS stands for Oregon Legislature Information System)

The Oregonian hosts a handy online service that allows persons to search for bills, track bills and find your representatives. The URL is gov.oregonlive.com

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