KLS Keeping Law Simple Legislation in plain English

Straight-ahead summaries built from the official bill text. We keep the source links front and center and leave the decision up to you.

Back to Oregon

HB3538 • 2025

Establishes the Secretary of State as the chief civics officer of this state and establishes the Division of Civic Engagement within the Secretary of State office.

Establishes the Secretary of State as the chief civics officer of this state and establishes the Division of Civic Engagement within the Secretary of State office.

Education
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

The plain English breakdown is still being put together. The official documents below are already here.

Bill History

  1. 2025-06-27 House

    In committee upon adjournment.

  2. 2025-02-12 House

    Referred to Rules.

  3. 2025-02-11 House

    First reading. Referred to Speaker's desk.

Official Summary Text

Digest: The Act makes the SOS the chief civics officer in the state and establishes a division in the SOS office for civics. The Act says that civics shall be taught in schools and that civics programs shall be given to adults. The Act creates a task force to study and propose ideas to improve civics in this state. The Act creates the PRC as an office for people to make complaints about false campaign statements, investigate the complaints and make findings, including required warnings near certain statements. The Act takes effect when signed. (Flesch Readability Score: 66.9).
Establishes the Secretary of State as the chief civics officer of this state and establishes the Division of Civic Engagement within the Secretary of State office. Directs the division to establish civics education in public schools and develop programs and outreach for adults to enhance civic engagement.
Establishes the Civics Action Benchmarks Task Force to study and make recommendations on the steps to be taken to enhance the participation of Oregonians in civic affairs.
Establishes the Commission on Political Rhetoric. Directs the commission to receive complaints alleging that a candidate for public office has made false statements with purposeful malice or reckless intent. Provides that if a supermajority of the commission determines that the subject of a complaint made false statements with purposeful malice or reckless intent, the voters' pamphlet and other publications containing the candidate's statements must also contain a warning statement specified by the Act.
Appropriates moneys to the Secretary of State and Commission on Political Rhetoric to fund the programs established in the Act.
Declares an emergency, effective on passage.
Relating to: Relating to civics; declaring an emergency.
Current location: In House Committee