HJR17 • 2025

Proposes an amendment to the Oregon Constitution to make the Secretary of State a nonpartisan office with a term of six years that would apply to elections to the office that occur on or after January 1, 2032. Refers the proposed amendment to the people for their approval or rejection at the next regular general election.

Elections

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.

Proposes an amendment to the Oregon Constitution to make the Secretary of State a nonpartisan office with a term of six years that would apply to elections to the office that occur on or after January 1, 2032. Refers the proposed amendment to the people for their approval or rejection at the next regular general election.

Digest: The measure proposes to make the SOS a nonpartisan office with a term of six years.

What This Bill Does

Digest: The measure proposes to make the SOS a nonpartisan office with a term of six years.
This change would apply to elections for the SOS that are on or after 2032.
The measure asks voters to say yes or no at the next general election.
(Flesch Readability Score: 67.5).

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

2025-06-27 House
In committee upon adjournment.
2025-02-12 House
Referred to Rules.
2025-02-11 House
First reading. Referred to Speaker's desk.

Official Summary Text

Digest: The measure proposes to make the SOS a nonpartisan office with a term of six years. This change would apply to elections for the SOS that are on or after 2032. The measure asks voters to say yes or no at the next general election. (Flesch Readability Score: 67.5).
Proposes an amendment to the Oregon Constitution to make the Secretary of State a nonpartisan office with a term of six years that would apply to elections to the office that occur on or after January 1, 2032.
Refers the proposed amendment to the people for their approval or rejection at the next regular general election.
Relating to: Proposing an amendment to the Oregon Constitution relating to the Secretary of State.
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 Joint Resolution 17
Sponsored by Representative EVANS
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 measure proposes to make the SOS a nonpartisan office with a term of six years.
This change would apply to elections for the SOS that are on or after 2032. The measure asks voters
to say yes or no at the next general election. (Flesch Readability Score: 67.5).
Proposes an amendment to the Oregon Constitution to make the Secretary of State a nonparti-
san office with a term of six years that would apply to elections to the office that occur on or after
January 1, 2032.
Refers the proposed amendment to the people for their approval or rejection at the next regular
general election.
JOINT RESOLUTION
Be It Resolved by the Legislative Assembly of the State of Oregon:
PARAGRAPH 1.
The Constitution of the State of Oregon is amended by creating a new section
1a to be added to and made a part of Article VI, and by amending section 1, Article VI, such
sections to read:
Sec. 1. (1) There shall be elected by the qualified electors of the State of Oregon, a non-
partisan Secretary of State, who shall serve for a six year term. At all times when in office,
the Secretary of State shall remain unaffiliated with any major or minor political party. No
person shall be eligible to the office of Secretary of State more than 12 in any period of 18
years.
(2) There shall be elected by the qualified electors of the State of Oregon , at the times and
places of choosing Members of the Legislative Assembly, a [ Secretary, and Treasurer of State, who
shall severally hold their offices for the term of four years; but no person shall be eligible to either of
said offices more than Eight in any period of Twelve years.- ] State Treasurer, who shall hold their
office for the term of four years; but no person shall be eligible to be State Treasurer more
than eight in any period of 12 years.
(3) The four year limit on the tenure of office in section 2, Article XV of this Constitu-
tion, does not apply to the office of the Secretary of State.
SECTION 1a. (1) The amendment to section 1 of this Article by House Joint Resolution
17 (2025) applies to primary and general elections occurring on or after January 1, 2032.
(2) This section is repealed on January 1, 2034.
PARAGRAPH 2.
The amendment proposed by this resolution shall be submitted to the
people for their approval or rejection at the next regular general election held throughout
this state.
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 3791-3