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Our policy agenda addresses a wide range of consumer issues, including protecting people from predatory lending practices, transparency in auto purchases, protecting consumer credit from medical debt, and ensuring consumers have tools to protect their investments when insurance companies act in bad faith. We are encouraged by the progress many bills, including all four of our priority bills, have made toward becoming law.
While uncertainty looms over consumer rights and protections at the federal level, we remain steadfast in our commitment to advocating for strong consumer protection laws here in Oregon and are ready for the work ahead of us as we move into the final months of the legislative session.
SB 174 A would add the insurance industry to the list of consumer industries covered by Oregon’s foundational consumer protection law, the Unlawful Trade Practices Act. The bill had a public hearing on March 5, during which OCJ provided in-person testimony in support of the legislation, alongside representatives from the Consumer Federation of America and the Oregon Consumer League. After a work session in the Senate Committee on Judiciary on April 8, SB 174 passed as amended out of committee and now moves to the Senate floor for a vote. Read OCJ’s written testimony in support of SB 174.
SB 605 A would remove medical debt from Oregonians' credit reports, helping to remove unnecessary barriers to opportunities like new employment or renting an apartment. The bill had its first public hearing on January 30 in the Senate Committee on Labor and Business, where OCJ provided public testimony in support and arranged for constituent testimony from impacted community members. SB 605 passed as amended out of the Committee on April 8 and now goes to the Senate floor for a vote. Read OCJ’s written testimony in support of SB 605.
HB 3178 A creates a plain-language disclosure in Oregon's top six spoken languages so consumers can understand their rights when purchasing a car. It also shortens the timeframe a dealer has to finalize an auto loan from 14 to 10 calendar days and requires dealers to notify consumers within two days of voiding their contract. In Oregon, some dealers currently extend the financing process beyond 14 days, with the customer unaware that the deal has not been finalized.
OCJ provided in-person testimony and supported constituent testimony for the public hearing on February 6 in the House Committee on Commerce and Consumer Protection. On April 1, HB 3178 A unanimously passed as amended out of committee. On April 10 it unanimously passed the House and is scheduled for a public hearing in the Senate Committee on Labor and Business on April 17. Read OCJ’s written testimony in support of HB 3178 A.
HB 2561 A closes a loophole in federal law that permits lenders to circumvent Oregon's 36% interest rate cap by partnering with banks in other states. The bill seeks to end excessively high interest rates on consumer loans by exempting Oregon from the provision of the Depository Institutions Deregulation Monetary Control Act (DIDMCA) that enables these predatory interest rate practices.
OCJ provided in-person testimony in support of the bill during its public hearing in the House Committee on Commerce and Consumer Protection on January 28. HB 2561 is currently awaiting a hearing in the Senate Committee on Labor and Business after passing out of the House on February 27. Read OCJ’s written testimony in support of HB 2561.
After multiple calls to the Oregon dealership and several attempts to redo financing paperwork, I was ultimately told they could not find financing for the car and that I would need to cover the full cost of the vehicle if I wanted to keep it. This was shocking and disappointing given that I insured the vehicle, transported it to Colorado, and felt like the purchase was complete.
OCJ is a proud member of the Consumer Alliance of Oregon (CAO), collaboratively working to build the power and broad support needed to pass pro-consumer legislation. All five of CAO’s 2025 legislative priorities met the April 9 session deadline and will continue to advance toward becoming law!
Beyond our policy priorities, OCJ is actively working on a range of legislation that will affect Oregon consumers by promoting impactful consumer protection policies and defending against bills that could make it harder for Oregon communities to thrive. Of the 37 pro-consumer bills that OCJ has testified on during the first half of the legislative session, 25 remain on track to become law! The five bills that OCJ flagged as problematic for consumers will not advance this session.
Use links to learn more about the bills advancing by topic:
Financial Protection and Transparency | Public Utilities | Cyber Security and Digital Privacy | Consumer Protection and Housing | Health Care Protections
Scams are constantly evolving and becoming more difficult to identify. They cause real harm to individuals and families and strip our communities of wealth while eroding trust in small community businesses. Strong laws that protect consumers and ensure ethical business practices are vital to protect Oregonians from deceptive sales or unlawful practices that undermine our economic well-being.
HB 2131 and SB 481, identical bills proposed in the House and Senate, would undermine Oregon’s consumer protections by introducing weak regulations for harmful payday lending products, often called earned wage access (EWA).
Across the country, state legislatures introduced similar bills to exempt EWA products from their lending laws. States like Oregon, which have taken steps to regulate harmful payday lending practices, have not yet adopted these bills as they introduce a new form of payday loans.
HB 2131 never had a hearing and will not move forward. While SB 481 had public hearings on February 4 and February 6, it did not meet the legislative deadline to move out of committee and will not advance this year. Read OCJ’s Testimony in opposition to SB 481.
SB 1176 directs Oregon’s Bureau of Labor and Industries to create advertising and education for businesses about the Oregon law requiring acceptance of cash payment for goods and services. This bill had a public hearing on March 12 and passed unanimously out of the Senate Committee on Judiciary on March 24. It was voted off the Senate floor on April 1 and has been referred to the House Commerce and Consumer Protection. Read OCJ’s written testimony in support of SB 1176.
SB 430 would prohibit and create a violation of the Unlawful Trades Practice Act for businesses selling goods or services online that advertise, display, or offer a price that does not include all fees and charges, except for taxes and fees for shipping. SB 430 had hearings on January 23, March 13, and March 18 and passed as amended out of the Senate Committee on Labor and Business on April 8. It awaits a vote on the Senate floor. Read OCJ’s written testimony in support of SB 430.
HB 2330 A would create a task force focused on protecting Oregonians aged 50 and older from fraudulent schemes. It passed as amended out of the House Committee on Commerce and Consumer Protection. It is currently in Ways and Means. Read OCJ’s written testimony in support of HB 2330 A.
HB 3167 A would require ticket sellers for concerts, sports, and other entertainment events to display the total price of tickets upfront, giving Oregonians the specifics they need to easily compare prices and make informed purchases. The bill also strengthens laws around scam event websites. HB 3167 A passed as amended out of the House Committee on Commerce and Consumer Protection on April 8 and awaits consideration by the full Oregon House. Read OCJ’s written testimony in support of HB 3167 A.
HB 3533 A would prohibit businesses that sell consumer goods from advertising, displaying, or offering a price that does not include all fees and charges, except for taxes or shipping. The bill passed as amended out of the House Committee on Commerce and Consumer Protection on April 3 and passed the House on April 14. Read OCJ’s written testimony in support of HB 3533 A.
Ways and Means is the primary legislative committee in charge of setting the state’s budget. Members from both the Oregon House of Representatives and Senate serve on the committee, which is not subject to chamber deadlines.
HB 3605 A creates a violation of the Unlawful Trades Practice Act for home and telephone solicitation sales. The bill passed as amended out of the House Committee on Commerce and Consumer Protection on March 25. After passing the House on April 7, it is awaiting a hearing in the Senate Committee on Judiciary. Read OCJ’s written testimony in support of HB 3605.
HB 3865 updates the definition of telephone and text solicitation, creates guardrails around the hours a solicitor can call and the number of times they can call or text in a day, and creates a violation of the Unlawful Trades Practice Act. HB 3865 passed as amended out of the House Committee on Commerce and Consumer Protection on April 1. After passing the House on April 10 it awaits a hearing in the Senate. Read OCJ’s written testimony in support of HB 3865.
HB 3118 establishes clear requirements for the Department of Corrections to contract with a third-party business to provide up to 60 minutes a day of voice communication services at no cost to persons who are incarcerated. This bill passed out of the House Committee on Judiciary on April 2 and is currently in Ways and Means. Read OCJ’s written testimony in support of HB 3118
Equitable access to essential resources like water, electricity, and gas—without fear of fraud or unnecessary hardship—is foundational to a dignified life. OCJ supports policies that ensure utility companies responsibly and transparently operate and provide affordable, safe, and reliable services to Oregonians.
SB 88 would prevent power companies from using consumer dollars for advertising, legal fees, and lobbyist expenses, and require transparent disclosure of these expenses to Oregon’s Public Utility Commission (PUC). This bill is currently in the Senate Rules Committee awaiting a hearing. Read OCJ’s testimony in support of SB 88.
The Oregon House of Representatives and Senate both have a standing Rules Committee. When bills are not able to meet chamber deadlines and there is support for more work on them, they can be moved to one of the Rules Committees before the deadline. The Rules Committees do not have any deadlines and are the very last committees to close every session.
SB 688 A would require the PUC to create performance-based regulations for electric utility companies. This would give the PUC the flexibility to explore and implement the most effective model for delivering utilities to Oregon consumers, ensuring utilities prioritize public interests over profits. SB 688 passed as amended out of the Senate Committee on Energy and Environment on March 24 and is currently in Ways and Means. Read OCJ’s written testimony in support of SB 688 A.
HB 3179, the Fair Energy Act, would ban winter utility rate increases and create a mandatory waiting period between rate increases. It would also give the PUC explicit authority to set utility rates, determine when to make rate increases, and consider various household economic factors when approving rate increases. HB 3179 is in the House Committee on Rules. Read OCJ testimony in support of HB 3179.
HB 3546 A would require electric utility companies to create a service classification specifically for large energy-use facilities and assign the costs of serving these facilities directly to those facilities, thereby reducing the financial risks to other retail electricity consumers, including consumers. HB 3546 passed as amended out of the House Committee on Climate, Energy, and Environment on April 8 and is waiting for a vote in the House. Read OCJ’s written testimony in support of HB 3546 A.
We live in a digital age where companies track, sell, and use consumer information, often without our knowledge. Our digital privacy laws should preserve and enhance our ability to control and secure our private information.
HB 2008 builds on the critical steps forward gained with the passage of the Oregon Consumer Privacy Act (SB 619) in 2023 to address gaps in the law that continue to leave minors and consumers at risk of data exploitation. HB 2008 expands data protection for minors and prohibits the sale of specific geolocation data. HB 2008 passed as amended out of the House Commerce and Consumer Protection and is currently waiting for a vote in the House. Read OCJ’s written testimony in support of HB 2008.
HB 3875 would clarify that all vehicle manufacturers and their affiliates must comply with Oregon's existing data privacy laws. It ensures that consumers have the right to access, delete, and opt out of the sale of their vehicle-generated private data, just as they would with other businesses that collect their personal information. It passed out of the House Committee on Commerce and Consumer Protection on April 1 and passed the full House on April 10. It is now in the Senate Committee on Labor and Business waiting for a hearing. Read OCJ’s testimony in support of HB 3875
Housing is a human right, and every Oregonian who purchases a home should not have to worry about losing their hard-earned equity to unfair property tax foreclosure schemes.
HB 2089 would establish new consumer-focused procedures in Oregon to comply with the U.S. Supreme Court decision in Tyler v. Hennepin and stop the unconstitutional practice of Oregon counties stripping home equity from families during a property tax foreclosure. Hearings were held on January 30 and April 8. This bill is in the House Committee on Revenue and is not subject to first-chamber deadlines.
Bills are assigned to the House Committee on Revenue, and the Senate Committee on Finance and Revenue to address any revenue-related issues at all levels of government. These committees also receive the quarterly revenue forecast from the State Economist, which sets the parameters for the state budget.
In Oregon and across the county, consumers are spending too much and getting too little in return for health care. OCJ believes that access to health care is a human right and every family deserves to know the price of treatment before receiving medical care. The following bills support equitable access to health care for all Oregonians that is transparent and free of deceptive practices, regardless of socioeconomic status, background, or identity.
SB 539 would eliminate unexpected facility fees unless treatment is on a hospital campus and patients are notified. The bill passed as amended out of the Senate Committee on Health Care on April 8 and is waiting for a vote on the Senate floor. Read OCJ’s written testimony in support of SB 539.
SB 549 A would require the Oregon Health Authority and coordinated care organizations to process a request for prior authorization for the repair of complex rehabilitation technology within 72 hours for low-income Oregonians on the Oregon Health Plan. HB 549 A passed as amended out of the Senate Committee on Health Care on April 8 and is waiting for a vote on the Senate floor. Read OCJ’s written testimony in support of SB 549 A.
SB 550 would add electric wheelchairs and other mobility devices to Oregon’s right-to-repair law. It passed the Senate on February 20 and is now in the House Committee on Commerce and Consumer Protection, waiting for a hearing. Read OCJ’s written testimony in support of SB 550.
SB 822 A would expand access to in-network culturally competent health care providers and establish clear standards for geographic access, provider-to-patient ratios, and patient wait times. After passing out of the Senate Committee on Health Care on April 1, it was sent to Ways and Means. Read OCJ’s written testimony in support of SB 822 A.
SB 1060 A would require hospitals to establish, update, and make public a list of prices and rates for the services they offer. It is currently in the Senate Committee on Rules. Read OCJ’s written testimony in support of SB 1060 A.
SB 951 A would clarify and strengthen the Corporate Practice of Medicine (CPOM) doctrine, first enacted in Oregon in 1947. As more private equity firms have entered the health care space, now more than ever, we need to ensure that clinicians, not corporations, are in charge of health care decisions and patient well-being. SB 951 A passed out of the Oregon Senate on April 8 and now awaits consideration in the House. Read OCJ’s written testimony in support of SB 951 A.
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