Our Pledge to Every Oregonian

2019 Legislative Successes

Ensuring Government is Responsive and Effective

Dark Money Reform: Before the passage of HB 2983, non-profit organizations could contribute virtually unlimited amounts of money to campaigns, allowing organizations to take partisan political actions while concealing who is paying for them and maintaining their tax-exempt status. HB 2983 provides transparency into these independent expenditures by requiring organizations that make political communications in excess of specified amounts (e.g., $25,000 per legislative race) to disclose information related to donations that exceed $10,000.

Campaign Contribution Limits: HB 2714 enacts limits on campaign contributions that may be accepted by candidates and political committees. It requires political committees to identify as caucus, measure, multicandidate, political party, recall or small donor political committee, and prohibits individuals from controlling more than one of each committee.

Ending the Lobby “Revolving Door”: HB 2595 updates Oregon’s “revolving door” statute to prohibit former legislators from receiving compensation for lobbying for one year after the member ceases to hold office.

Oregon Voting Rights Act: HB 3310 A creates a state law similar to Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 which prohibits the denial or abridgment of the right to vote on account of certain immutable characteristics. The prohibition applies to school districts, education service districts, and community college districts, providing both a cause of action and a mechanism by which district boards may modify their election systems.

National Popular Vote: SB 870 enacts the Interstate Compact for Agreement Among the States to Elect the President by National Popular Vote.

Public Records Transparency: HB 2353 allows the Attorney General, a district attorney, or a court to require a public body to pay a penalty of $200 for failing to respond to a public records request in a timely manner.

Paid Postage: SB 861 requires the state to provide every Oregon voter with a postage paid return envelope for their ballot beginning in 2020.