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SB12 • 2025

Prohibits the designation of incumbent for any candidate for specified judgeships who was appointed and is seeking election in the first election since that appointment.

Prohibits the designation of incumbent for any candidate for specified judgeships who was appointed and is seeking election in the first election since that appointment.

Elections
Passed Legislature

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

Sponsor
Senator Thatcher, Representative Diehl,, Levy B,
Last action
2025-06-27
Official status
In Senate 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.

Prohibits the designation of incumbent for any candidate for specified judgeships who was appointed and is seeking election in the first election since that appointment.

Digest: The Act does not allow the SOS to mark certain judge candidates as incumbent.

What This Bill Does

  • Digest: The Act does not allow the SOS to mark certain judge candidates as incumbent.
  • (Flesch Readability Score: 71.7).
  • Prohibits the designation of incumbent for any candidate for specified judgeships who was appointed and is seeking election in the first election since that appointment.
  • Relating to: Relating to designation of incumbent for certain judicial candidates.

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 Senate

    In committee upon adjournment.

  2. 2025-04-07 Senate

    Public Hearing held.

  3. 2025-01-17 Senate

    Referred to Rules.

  4. 2025-01-13 Senate

    Introduction and first reading. Referred to President's desk.

Official Summary Text

Digest: The Act does not allow the SOS to mark certain judge candidates as incumbent. (Flesch Readability Score: 71.7).
Prohibits the designation of incumbent for any candidate for specified judgeships who was appointed and is seeking election in the first election since that appointment.
Relating to: Relating to designation of incumbent for certain judicial candidates.
Current location: In Senate Committee

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
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83rd OREGON LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY--2025 Regular Session
Senate Bill 12
Sponsored by Senator THATCHER; Representatives DIEHL, LEVY B (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 does not allow the SOS to mark certain judge candidates as incumbent. (Flesch
Readability Score: 71.7).
Prohibits the designation of incumbent for any candidate for specified judgeships who was ap-
pointed and is seeking election in the first election since that appointment.
A BILL FOR AN ACT
Relating to designation of incumbent for certain judicial candidates; amending ORS 254.085.
Be It Enacted by the People of the State of Oregon:
SECTION 1.
ORS 254.085 is amended to read:
254.085. (1) The Secretary of State, not later than the 61st day before the date of a primary or
general election, shall file with each county clerk a statement of the federal and state offices to be
filled or for which candidates are to be nominated in the county at the election, information con-
cerning all candidates for the offices, and the state measures to be voted on.
(2)(a) Except as provided in paragraph (b) of this subsection, the information concerning
candidates for the Supreme Court, Court of Appeals, Oregon Tax Court and circuit court shall in-
clude a designation of incumbent for each candidate who is the regularly elected [ or appointed ] judge
of the court to which the candidate seeks election. If a candidate was regularly elected [or
appointed] to a specific position or department on the court, the candidate shall be designated as the
incumbent only if the person is a candidate for that position or department.
(b) For any candidate for the Supreme Court, Court of Appeals, Oregon Tax Court or
circuit court who was appointed and is seeking election in the first election since being ap-
pointed, the designation of incumbent may not be included in the information concerning
candidates for that candidate.
(3) Included with each state measure shall be the measure number, the latest ballot title certi-
fied by the Attorney General under ORS 250.067 (2) or, if the Supreme Court has reviewed the title
under ORS 250.085, the title certified by the court and the financial estimates under ORS 250.125.
The Secretary of State shall keep a copy of the statement.
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 851