SALEM, Ore.-Hundreds of new laws will take effect in Oregon on January 1, after a record-setting year of legislation in Salem.
During the 160-day 2025 Regular Legislative Session 3,466 bills and resolutions were introduced, with 640 ultimately being sent to Governor Tina Kotek to be signed into law.
Governor Kotek vetoed seven of the bills and signed 633 into law. Some of the new laws took effect immediately, others 91 days after being signed, and the remaining 282 are set to go into effect January 1.
Some of the key laws taking effect with the New Year concern hidden costs, access to healthcare, employee protections, and public safety.
“Oregon families are being squeezed by rising costs, and these new laws will help people afford everything from rent to concert tickets to medical care,” said House Majority Leader Ben Bowman (D-Tigard, Metzger and South Beaverton). “Oregonians shouldn’t get stuck paying hidden costs just to live their lives.”
Hidden Costs
- HB 3167: Known as the Fan Fairness and Transparency Act, this law blocks the use of “bots” to get around ticket purchase limits and bans the resale of tickets obtained by bots. Look-alike websites that could confuse ticket purchasers trying to buy tickets directly from an entertainment venue will also be prohibited under the new law.
- SB 430: Requires online ticket sellers to include all fees in the advertised price.
Access to Healthcare
- SB 605: Prevents medical debt from appearing on credit reports. This new law will prohibit medical providers from giving patient billing information to reporting agencies if a patient has medical debt.
- HB 3064: Health insurance plans regulated by the State of Oregon will be required to cover perimenopause, menopause, and postmenopausal treatments.
Employee Protections
- SB 916: Workers unemployed due to strikes or labor negotiations will be eligible for unemployment benefits under the new law.
- SB 1108: Law allows workers to get Paid Time Off (PTO) for donating blood. Employees can receive up to four hours of PTO per calendar year for donating blood.
- SB 906: Employers must provide a written breakdown of earnings and deductions to employees at the time of hire.
Public Safety
- SB 548: Law aimed at protecting against sexual exploitation raises the legal marriage age from 17 to 18 in Oregon.
- HB 2299: Includes AI-generated deepfake images into laws against non-consensual intimate image sharing, creates first and second-degree offenses while making repeat offenses a felony.
- HB 2005: Changes the standards for how someone can be civilly committed into Oregon State custody for treatment. Under the new law a Judge will no longer need to find the “imminent” likelihood that a person will harm themselves or others if not committed.
Tenant and Landlord Protections
- HB 3522: New law will allow property owners to more easily evict squatters through a simple eviction process. Property owners will be able to provide 24-hour’s notice before filing a complaint in County Court.
- HB 3521: Grants potential tenants more protection for getting a deposit back before signing rental agreements. Under the new law, landlords must return a deposit if problems that make the home uninhabitable are found.
A full list of all laws taking effect on January 1 in Oregon is available online.
