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83rd OREGON LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY--2025 Regular Session
A-Engrossed
House Bill 3390
Ordered by the House June 18
Including House Amendments dated June 18
Sponsored by COMMITTEE ON RULES (at the request of Representative Ben Bowman)
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. The statement includes a measure digest written in compliance with applicable readability standards.
Digest: The Act tells a legislative group to write certain voter information for bills and
const. amends. that passed the 2025 legislature and that voters must vote yes or no on at
the 2026 general election for the bills or const. amends. to become law. (Flesch Readability
Score: 60.4).
[Digest: Tells the Secretary of State to study voting. (Flesch Readability Score: 61.2). ]
[Requires the Secretary of State to study elections. Directs the secretary to submit findings to the
interim committees of the Legislative Assembly related to elections not later than September 15, 2026. ]
Prescribes the method for creating a ballot title and explanatory statement by a joint
legislative committee for any amendment to the Oregon Constitution that passes both houses
of the Legislative Assembly during the 2025 regular session and is referred to the people by
the Legislative Assembly and for any Act that passes both houses of the Legislative Assem-
bly during the 2025 regular session if the Act is referred to the people by either the Legis-
lative Assembly or by referendum petition.
[Sunsets on January 2, 2027. ]
Declares an emergency, effective on passage.
A BILL FOR AN ACT
Relating to elections; and declaring an emergency.
Be It Enacted by the People of the State of Oregon:
SECTION 1.
(1) If an amendment to the Oregon Constitution is referred to the people by
the Eighty-third Legislative Assembly during its 2025 regular session under Article XVII,
section 1, of the Oregon Constitution, or if all or part of any Act of the Eighty-third Legis-
lative Assembly that passes both houses of the Legislative Assembly during its 2025 regular
session is referred to the people by the Legislative Assembly under Article IV, section 1
(3)(c), of the Oregon Constitution, or by petition under Article IV, section 1 (3)(b), of the
Oregon Constitution:
(a) Notwithstanding ORS 250.035, 250.067, 250.075 (2) and 250.085, the ballot title for a
measure or part of a measure described in this subsection shall be prepared by the joint
legislative committee appointed under section 6 of this 2025 Act and filed with the Secretary
of State not later than the date set by the Secretary of State by rule. The word limits de-
scribed in ORS 250.035 (2) do not apply to a ballot title for a measure described in this sub-
section that is prepared by the joint legislative committee under this subsection. Unless
modified under section 4 of this 2025 Act, the ballot title prepared by the committee under
this subsection must be the ballot title printed in the voters’ pamphlet and printed on, or
included with, the ballot.
(b) Notwithstanding ORS 251.205, 251.215, 251.225, 251.230 and 251.235, the explanatory
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 3221
A-Eng. HB 3390
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statement to be printed in the voters’ pamphlet for a measure or part of a measure described
in this subsection shall be prepared by the joint legislative committee appointed under sec-
tion 6 of this 2025 Act and filed with the Secretary of State not later than the date set by
the Secretary of State by rule. Except as provided under section 5 of this 2025 Act, the ex-
planatory statement prepared by the committee under this subsection must be the explana-
tory statement printed in the voters’ pamphlet.
(2) The joint legislative committee may begin preparation of the ballot title or explana-
tory statement:
(a) For a measure referred to the people by the Legislative Assembly under Article XVII,
section 1, or Article IV, section 1 (3)(c), of the Oregon Constitution, on the date the measure
is filed with the Secretary of State; and
(b) For a measure referred to the people by petition under Article IV, section 1 (3)(b),
of the Oregon Constitution, on the date that a prospective petition to refer the measure is
filed with the Secretary of State under ORS 250.045.
(3) Except as otherwise provided in sections 1 to 7 of this 2025 Act, ORS chapters 250,
251 and 254 apply to an election held on a measure or part of a measure described in sub-
section (1) of this section.
(4) As used in sections 1 to 7 of this 2025 Act, “measure” has the meaning given that
term in ORS 250.005.
SECTION 2.
(1) The Secretary of State shall cause to be printed in the voters’ pamphlet
the number, ballot title and text of a measure described in section 1 of this 2025 Act and the
financial estimate, explanatory statement and arguments relating to the measure. The Sec-
retary of State shall also cause to be printed in the voters’ pamphlet any other information
required by law.
(2) For purposes of sections 1 to 7 of this 2025 Act, the election referred to in ORS 251.295
is the general election.
SECTION 3.
(1) Notwithstanding the deadline specified in ORS 254.085, the Secretary of
State shall prepare and deliver to each county clerk by the most expeditious means practi-
cable a certified statement of a measure described in section 1 of this 2025 Act. The Secre-
tary of State shall include with the statement the number, financial estimate and ballot title
of the measure and any other information required by law. The Secretary of State shall keep
a copy of the statement.
(2) Each county clerk shall print on the ballot the number, financial estimate and ballot
title of the measure, along with any other information required by law. In lieu of printing
the financial estimate, the summary portion of the ballot title or other information required
by law on the ballot, a county clerk may include with the ballot the complete text of the
ballot title, the financial estimate and any other information required by law.
SECTION 4.
Notwithstanding ORS 250.085:
(1) Any elector dissatisfied with the ballot title for a measure described in section 1 of
this 2025 Act prepared by the joint legislative committee appointed under section 6 of this
2025 Act may petition the Supreme Court seeking a different ballot title. The petition shall
state the reasons that the ballot title filed with the Secretary of State does not substantially
comply with the requirements of ORS 250.035 and section 1 of this 2025 Act.
(2) The petition shall name the Attorney General as the respondent and must be filed not
later than the fifth business day after the joint legislative committee files the ballot title
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with the Secretary of State.
(3) An elector filing a petition under this section shall notify the Secretary of State in
writing that the petition has been filed. The notice must be received in the office of the
Secretary of State not later than 5 p.m. on the next business day following the day the pe-
tition is filed.
(4) The Supreme Court shall review the ballot title for substantial compliance with the
requirements of ORS 250.035 and section 1 of this 2025 Act.
(5) The review by the Supreme Court shall be conducted expeditiously to ensure the or-
derly and timely conduct of the election at which the measure is to be submitted to the
electors.
(6) If the Supreme Court determines that the ballot title prepared by the joint legislative
committee substantially complies with the requirements of ORS 250.035 and section 1 of this
2025 Act, the court shall certify the ballot title to the Secretary of State. If the Supreme
Court determines that the ballot title prepared by the joint legislative committee does not
substantially comply with the requirements of ORS 250.035 and section 1 of this 2025 Act, the
court shall modify the ballot title and certify the ballot title to the Secretary of State or
refer the ballot title to the Attorney General for modification.
(7) Not later than five business days after the Supreme Court refers a ballot title to the
Attorney General for modification under this section, the Attorney General shall certify a
modified ballot title to the Secretary of State. The modified ballot title is not subject to ju-
dicial review.
SECTION 5.
Notwithstanding ORS 251.235:
(1) Any person dissatisfied with the explanatory statement for a measure described in
section 1 of this 2025 Act prepared by the joint legislative committee appointed under section
6 of this 2025 Act may petition the Supreme Court seeking a different explanatory statement
and stating the reasons the explanatory statement filed with the court is insufficient or un-
clear.
(2) The court shall review the explanatory statement and certify an explanatory state-
ment to the Secretary of State if the petition is filed and served as required in subsection
(4) of this section not later than the fifth business day after the joint legislative committee
files the explanatory statement with the Secretary of State.
(3) Failure to file and serve the petition within the time prescribed in subsection (2) of
this section precludes Supreme Court review and certification of an explanatory statement.
If the court considers the petition, the court may allow oral argument. The review by the
Supreme Court shall be conducted expeditiously to ensure the orderly and timely conduct of
the election at which the measure is to be submitted to the electors. The explanatory
statement certified by the court must be the explanatory statement printed in the voters’
pamphlet.
(4) At the time a person petitions the Supreme Court under subsection (1) of this section,
the person also shall serve a copy of the petition on:
(a) The Attorney General;
(b) The Legislative Assembly; and
(c) The chief petitioners of the measure.
SECTION 6.
(1) For each measure described in section 1 of this 2025 Act, a joint legisla-
tive committee consisting of three Senators and three Representatives shall be appointed to
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prepare and file with the Secretary of State the ballot title and explanatory statement for
the measure.
(2)(a) The President of the Senate shall appoint three members of a committee from
among members of the Senate, two from the majority party and one from the minority party.
(b) The Speaker of the House of Representatives shall appoint three members of a com-
mittee from among members of the House of Representatives, two from the majority party
and one from the minority party.
SECTION 7.
The Secretary of State shall adopt rules governing the procedures for con-
ducting an election on a measure described in section 1 of this 2025 Act as may be necessary
to implement sections 1 to 7 of this 2025 Act. Rules adopted under this section may not re-
quire the joint legislative committee appointed under section 6 of this 2025 Act to:
(1) Prepare or make publicly available a draft ballot title; or
(2) File a ballot title with the Secretary of State before March 10, 2026.
SECTION 8.
This 2025 Act being necessary for the immediate preservation of the public
peace, health and safety, an emergency is declared to exist, and this 2025 Act takes effect
on its passage.
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