Oregon

The Act makes budget changes for the current biennium. (Flesch Readability Score: 66.1). Establishes and modifies certain biennial appropriations made from the General Fund to specified state agencies and the Emergency Board. Establishes and modifies limitations on expenditures for certain biennial expenses for specified state agencies. Declares an emergency, effective on passage.

This Act changes some housing programs, agencies and laws and rules about home building. (Flesch Readability Score: 65.7). Adjusts certain terms of the revolving loan program for cities and counties to fund affordable housing projects. Allows state agencies to adjust terms of a grant made to the Network for Oregon Affordable Housing in the last biennium. Limits the building permit plan review for housing with two or fewer dwelling units. Establishes a local government process for land use approvals for housing subject only to clear and objective standards, conditions and procedures. Becomes operative on July 1, 2026. Establishes responsibilities for landlords and tenants for residential tenancies destroyed by natural disasters. Requires state agencies to give priority to housing providers when transferring surplus real property. Requires the Land Conservation and Development Commission to adopt rules regarding prioritization of lands added to urban reserves. Limits the amount of commercial lands within certain planned areas that may be used for affordable housing. Takes effect on the 91st day following adjournment sine die.

The Act allows a public body to give public employees certain things. (Flesch Readability Score: 60.7). Provides exceptions to the prohibited use by a public official of official position or office to obtain financial gain or avoid financial detriment that permit a public body to give public officials food, beverages and merchandise. Declares an emergency, effective on passage.

The Act says that one person put on the OGEC must have a certain background. The Act protects certain protected words during investigations by the OGEC. (Flesch Readability Score: 63.4). [Digest: The Act says that the Governor has to put a person with a certain background on the OGEC. The Act protects certain protected words during investigations by the OGEC. (Flesch Readability Score: 60.8).] [Provides that the Governor shall appoint one member of the Oregon Government Ethics Commission who has local government experience.] Provides that at least one member who is appointed to the Oregon Government Ethics Commission must have local government experience. Provides that attorney-client privilege is not waived when a communication is made to the commission for purposes of providing information regarding a complaint alleging a violation of government ethics laws or public meetings laws.

The Act says that some entities have to write a policy and teach their staff about the medical use of marijuana. (Flesch Readability Score: 60.6). Expands the definition of "debilitating medical condition" for the medical use of marijuana. Requires an organization or residential facility that is designated as an additional caregiver for a medical marijuana cardholder to create and maintain a written policy and provide educational training for certain staff regarding the medical use of marijuana. Exempts hospitals and hospital-affiliated clinics from the requirements. Requires that in order to engage in the medical use of marijuana, the patient or resident of the organization or residential facility must be a medical marijuana cardholder or have applied to be a medical marijuana cardholder. Protects an organization or residential facility [and its employees and contractors] from certain criminal liability related to the medical use of marijuana. Prohibits the Oregon State Board of Nursing from taking disciplinary action against a nurse for discussing the medical use of marijuana with a patient. Takes effect on the 91st day following adjournment sine die.

The Act allows places of public accommodation and public bodies to round some transactions to the nearest five cents. Says it is an emergency. (Flesch Readability Score: 60.7). [Digest: The Act allows places of public accommodation to round some transactions to the nearest five cents. Says it is an emergency. (Flesch Readability Score: 63.2).] Allows [a] some [place] places of public accommodation offering goods or services to adopt a rounding policy under which the final digit of the total amount due or remaining amount due in certain in-person transactions will be rounded to the nearest five-cent increment. Specifies rounding procedures. Provides an exception for a buyer who pays in exact change. Requires a place of public accommodation to post signs giving notice of the rounding policy. [Declares that rounding done in accordance with the Act is not an unlawful distinction, discrimination or restriction against United States coins or currency under ORS chapter 659A or price misrepresentation under ORS 618.236.] Exempts from liability as an unlawful trade or business practice any rounding done in accordance with the Act. Allows a public body to establish a reasonable rounding policy under which the final digit of the total amount due or remaining amount due in certain in-person transactions with the public body may be rounded to the nearest five-cent increment. Requires a public body to post signs giving notice of the rounding policy and publicize the rounding policy. Declares that rounding done in accordance with the Act by a place of public accommodation or a public body is not an unlawful distinction, discrimination or restriction against United States coins or currency under ORS chapter 659A or price misrepresentation under ORS 618.236. Declares an emergency, effective on passage.

The Act would grant the tax break for land that is in "farm use" to land under a processing facility. The Act would clarify what "preparing" farmland products and by-products means in the context of the tax break. (Flesch Readability Score: 69.5). [Digest: The Act would clarify what "preparing" farmland products and by-products means in the context of the tax break for land that is in "farm use." (Flesch Readability Score: 66.4).] Allows property tax special assessment for land under processing facilities. Clarifies, for purposes of the special assessment, the meaning of "preparing" products or by-products raised for human or animal use on a farm unit for purposes of the definition of "farm use."

The Act creates new systems and structures and changes law to improve emergency response in the state. (Flesch Readability Score: 65.1). Creates [statewide emergency preparedness offices and authorities] authority to coordinate emergency management. [Authorizes bonding for public safety projects.] Requires state agencies to designate liaisons for emergency management. Imposes duties on the Oregon Department of Emergency Management related to management of emergency preparedness assets. Modifies the definitions of and grant requirements for Resilience Hubs and Resilience Networks. Authorizes certain training facilities to host overnight training activities. Requires the Oregon Department of Emergency Management to obtain fingerprints of employees and contractors. Authorizes counties to waive certain civil penalties related to food service facilities during emergencies. Requires the Department of the State Fire Marshal to study health coverage for firefighters. [Requires legislative committees to identify a revenue source for certain public safety programs.] Establishes grant programs for emergencies.

Allows farm stores on farmlands. (Flesch Readability Score: 90.9). Allows counties to approve farm stores[, instead of farm stands,] as nonfarm use on lands zoned for farm use.

The Act says the BOP has to give a license to run a mobile pharmacy to someone who meets the requirements. (Flesch Readability Score: 64.6). Directs the State Board of Pharmacy to issue a license to operate a mobile pharmacy to a qualified applicant. Establishes requirements for a mobile pharmacy. Takes effect on the 91st day following adjournment sine die.