Legislative update: Oregon’s 2026 Short Session
Oregon's 2026 legislative session brought meaningful steps forward, both on emerging challenges and on the issues our community has been engaged with, year after year, side by side. Together, we saw progress protecting immigrants and their families, expanding access to health care and economic security, strengthening legal rights and representation, and defending community privacy. Throughout the session, we worked to keep our community informed and shared educational resources so that people could participate and make their voices heard in the process. We collaborated with partners to ensure that accurate, timely information reached the people who needed it most. Not every bill crossed the finish line, but this session is a reminder of how much is possible when communities are informed, engaged, and working together. We remain committed to this work and to making sure every voice continues to be part of the conversation. Read on for details on the bills the Alliance followed this session.
IMMIGRANT JUSTICE PACKAGE
PASSED: HB 4114 — Protect Your Door Act
This law protects Oregonians’ Fourth Amendment rights by prohibiting warrantless entry into homes and property by anyone acting “under color of law.” Individuals may file civil lawsuits if an official enters their property without a warrant, and the winning party can recover attorney fees. While some of the original provisions were removed during amendments, the core civil remedy remains.
PASSED: HB 4111 — Strengthen Anti-Discrimination Protections
Immigration status cannot be used as evidence against someone in a civil lawsuit. Employers cannot retaliate against workers who update their personal information after receiving new work authorization documents. Law enforcement cannot profile individuals based on immigration status which is now a protected category under Oregon law. Workers who face retaliation for exercising these rights have legal recourse.
PASSED: HB 4079 — School Communication on ICE
Each school district must designate at least one administrator to confirm and communicate any federal immigration authority presence on school property to students, families, and staff. Schools must also make reasonable efforts to notify students or parents/guardians if student information is shared with federal immigration authorities.
PASSED: HB 4138 — Law Enforcement Visibility & Accountability Act (LEVAA)
Officers must display their name or badge number, identify their agency, wear their badge visibly, and refrain from covering their face in a way that hides their identity (with limited exceptions). A Senate amendment requires that when Oregon law enforcement works alongside federal agents, they request written confirmation those agents are following the same identification rules.
PASSED: SB 1570 — Healthcare Without Fear Act
Hospitals are now prohibited from sharing a patient’s health information or immigration status with law enforcement, except when required by law, a court order, or for continuity of care. Immigration status and country of birth are classified as protected health information under Oregon law, going beyond what federal HIPAA rules currently require. Hospital employees are protected from retaliation for following these rules.
NO MAJOR CHANGES: The Healthier Oregon Program
The Healthier Oregon Program did not see major legislative changes this session, but it continues to face significant pressure. We believe this coverage is essential to our community's health and well-being, and we remain committed to educating and engaging community members so that their voices are part of decisions that affect them.
DID NOT PASS: HB 4117 — Ensure Equal Access to Justice
We are disappointed that HB 4117 did not move forward this session. This bill would have invested $10 million in the Universal Representation Fund, helping immigrants with low incomes access legal support for asylum applications, work authorization, and detention proceedings. Access to legal representation is fundamental to a fair and just system, and we remain committed to educating our community about this issue and ensuring people have the resources and information they need to understand their rights.
DID NOT PASS: SB 1581 — Anti-Hunger Package (Free School Meals)
SB 1581 did not make it through the budget process, but Oregon still took some important steps to protect food access for our communities. $111 million was set aside to protect SNAP benefits from federal cuts, and the state will update SNAP card technology to help prevent benefit theft. $2 million was secured for refugees, asylees, and humanitarian immigrants who lost SNAP eligibility under HR 1. Lawmakers also rejected proposed cuts to school meal programs and kept efforts moving to make it easier for seniors to apply for SNAP.
OTHER IMPORTANT WINS
PASSED: SB 1507 — Federal Tax Code Disconnect
Oregon’s tax code usually changes whenever federal tax law changes, which meant the federal “One Big Beautiful Bill” (HR 1) would have cost our state nearly $900 million over two years. SB 1507 stops that automatic link for three specific federal tax breaks that mostly benefit wealthy investors and large businesses. This helps Oregon keep about $291 million in state revenue over the next 18 months, protecting resources for our communities.
PASSED: SB 1587 — Data Broker Act
State and local government agencies are prohibited from selling or transferring personal information to data brokers for immigration enforcement purposes. Data brokers must provide written assurance the information won’t be used for that purpose. Sharing is still permitted when required by Oregon’s public records law or a court order.
PASSED: HB 4088 — Patient & Provider Privacy Protection (Oregon Shield Law)
Establishes Oregon’s commitment to protecting access to reproductive health care and gender-affirming treatment. Protects patient health data, shields providers and anyone who assists patients from legal liability, and ensures Oregon’s governor cannot extradite someone for receiving or providing care that is legal in this state. State and local agencies cannot cooperate with federal or out-of-state law enforcement investigating these activities as long as they are legal in Oregon.