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HB2667 • 2025

Creates the crime of criminal defamation of a servicemember.

Creates the crime of criminal defamation of a servicemember.

Crime
Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor
Representative Evans
Last action
2025-06-27
Official status
In House Committee
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

Using official source text because the generated explanation was unavailable or could not be confirmed against the official bill text.

Creates the crime of criminal defamation of a servicemember.

Digest: The Act makes two new crimes about servicemembers.

What This Bill Does

  • Digest: The Act makes two new crimes about servicemembers.
  • (Flesch Readability Score: 61.2).
  • Creates the crime of criminal defamation of a servicemember.
  • Punishes by a maximum of 364 days' imprisonment, $6,250 fine, or both.

Limits and Unknowns

  • This entry is temporarily using official source text because the generated explanation could not be confirmed against the official bill text during the last sync.

Bill History

  1. 2025-06-27 House

    In committee upon adjournment.

  2. 2025-01-17 House

    Referred to Judiciary with subsequent referral to Ways and Means.

  3. 2025-01-13 House

    First reading. Referred to Speaker's desk.

Official Summary Text

Digest: The Act makes two new crimes about servicemembers. (Flesch Readability Score: 61.2).
Creates the crime of criminal defamation of a servicemember. Punishes by a maximum of 364 days' imprisonment, $6,250 fine, or both.
Creates the crime of unlawful appropriation of the identity of a servicemember. Punishes by a maximum of 364 days' imprisonment, $6,250 fine, or both.
Relating to: Relating to servicemembers.
Current location: In House Committee

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text
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83rd OREGON LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY--2025 Regular Session
House Bill 2667
Sponsored by Representative EVANS (Presession filed.)
SUMMARY
The following summary is not prepared by the sponsors of the measure and is not a part of the body thereof subject
to consideration by the Legislative Assembly. It is an editor’s brief statement of the essential features of the
measure as introduced. The statement includes a measure digest written in compliance with applicable readability
standards.
Digest: The Act makes two new crimes about servicemembers. (Flesch Readability Score: 61.2).
Creates the crime of criminal defamation of a servicemember. Punishes by a maximum of 364
days’ imprisonment, $6,250 fine, or both.
Creates the crime of unlawful appropriation of the identity of a servicemember. Punishes by a
maximum of 364 days’ imprisonment, $6,250 fine, or both.
A BILL FOR AN ACT
Relating to servicemembers; creating new provisions; and amending ORS 161.005.
Be It Enacted by the People of the State of Oregon:
SECTION 1.
(1) A person commits the crime of criminal defamation of a servicemember
if:
(a) The person intentionally harasses a servicemember by making a statement alleging
less than honorable military service by the servicemember to a third person;
(b) The statement is made with the intent to cause the servicemember financial or rep-
utational harm; and
(c) A reasonable person would interpret the statement as likely to cause financial or
reputational harm to the servicemember.
(2) Criminal defamation of a servicemember is a Class A misdemeanor.
(3) It is an affirmative defense to a prosecution under this section that:
(a) The statement is true; or
(b) The servicemember who is the subject of the statement was discharged from service
in any manner other than an honorable discharge.
(4) As used in this section, “servicemember” means a current or former member of the
Armed Forces of the United States, the reserve components of the Armed Forces of the
United States or the National Guard.
SECTION 2.
(1) A person commits the crime of unlawful appropriation of the identity of
a servicemember if the person, with the intent to deceive or to defraud:
(a) Falsely claims to be a servicemember; or
(b) Falsely claims an official affiliation with a nonprofit or charitable organization for
servicemembers.
(2) Unlawful appropriation of the identity of a servicemember is a Class A misdemeanor.
(3) As used in this section, “servicemember” means a current or former member of the
Armed Forces of the United States, the reserve components of the Armed Forces of the
United States or the National Guard.
SECTION 3.
ORS 161.005 is amended to read:
NOTE: Matter in boldfaced type in an amended section is new; matter [ italic and bracketed] is existing law to be omitted.
New sections are in boldfaced type.
LC 3168
HB 2667
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161.005. ORS 161.005 to 161.055, 161.065, 161.085 to 161.125, 161.150 to 161.175, 161.190 to
161.275, 161.290 to 161.373, 161.405 to 161.485, 161.505 to 161.585, 161.605, 161.615 to 161.685, 161.705
to 161.737, 162.005, 162.015 to 162.035, 162.055 to 162.115, 162.135 to 162.205, 162.225 to 162.375,
162.405 to 162.425, 162.465, 163.005, 163.095, 163.107, 163.115, 163.125 to 163.145, 163.149, 163.160 to
163.208, 163.191, 163.196, 163.215 to 163.257, 163.261, 163.263, 163.264, 163.266, 163.275, 163.285,
163.305 to 163.467, 163.429, 163.432, 163.433, 163.472, 163.505 to 163.575, 163.665 to 163.693, 163.700,
163.701, 163.715, 164.005, 164.015 to 164.135, 164.138, 164.140, 164.205 to 164.270, 164.305 to 164.377,
164.395 to 164.415, 164.805, 164.857, 164.886, 165.002 to 165.102, 165.109, 165.118, 165.805, 165.815,
166.005 to 166.095, 166.119, 166.125, 166.128, 166.350, 166.382, 166.384, 166.660, 167.002 to 167.027,
167.057, 167.060 to 167.100, 167.117, 167.122 to 167.162, 167.203 to 167.252, 167.310 to 167.340, 167.350,
167.810 and 167.820 and sections 1 and 2 of this 2025 Act shall be known and may be cited as
Oregon Criminal Code of 1971.
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