SB170 • 2025

Increases the offense level of assault in the fourth degree when the defendant commits the assault against a victim performing official duties as part of the victim's employment and has certain prior convictions for assault in the workplace.

Enacted

This bill passed the Legislature and reached final enactment based on the latest official action.

Sponsor
Last action: 2025-06-23
Official status: Chapter Number Assigned
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.

Increases the offense level of assault in the fourth degree when the defendant commits the assault against a victim performing official duties as part of the victim's employment and has certain prior convictions for assault in the workplace.

Digest: The Act makes assault in the fourth degree more serious when the victim is at work and the assailant assaulted others at work.

What This Bill Does

Digest: The Act makes assault in the fourth degree more serious when the victim is at work and the assailant assaulted others at work.
(Flesch Readability Score: 62.1). [Digest: The Act directs the CJC to study assaults in the workplace.
(Flesch Readability Score: 80.3).] [Requires the Oregon Criminal Justice Commission to study workplace assault convictions and sentences.
Directs the commission to submit findings to the interim committees of the Legislative Assembly related to the judiciary not later than September 15, 2026.] [Sunsets on January 2, 2027.] Increases the offense level of assault in the fourth degree when the defendant commits the assault against a victim performing official duties as part of the victim's employment and has certain prior convictions for assault in the workplace.

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

2025-06-23 Senate
Chapter 327, 2025 Laws.
2025-06-23 Senate
Effective date, January 1, 2026.
2025-06-16 Senate
Governor signed.
2025-06-09 Senate
President signed.
2025-06-09 House
Speaker signed.
2025-06-04 House
Third reading. Carried by Kropf. Passed. Ayes, 48; Nays, 4--Chaichi, Chotzen, Isadore, Watanabe; Excused, 6--Andersen, Gamba, Levy B, Nguyen D, Nguyen H, Wallan; Excused for Business of the House, 1--Sanchez.
2025-06-04 House
Vote explanation(s) filed by Chaichi, Chotzen.
2025-06-03 House
Rules suspended. Carried over to June 4, 2025 Calendar.
2025-06-02 House
Rules suspended. Carried over to June 3, 2025 Calendar.
2025-05-29 House
Second reading.
2025-05-28 House
Recommendation: Do pass.
2025-05-22 House
Work Session held.
2025-05-20 House
Work Session held.
2025-04-23 House
Public Hearing held.
2025-03-14 House
Referred to Judiciary.
2025-03-13 Senate
Third reading. Carried by Prozanski. Passed. Ayes, 30.
2025-03-13 House
First reading. Referred to Speaker's desk.
2025-03-11 Senate
Second reading.
2025-03-10 Senate
Recommendation: Do pass with amendments. (Printed A-Eng.)
2025-03-04 Senate
Work Session held.
2025-02-25 Senate
Public Hearing held.
2025-01-17 Senate
Referred to Judiciary.
2025-01-13 Senate
Introduction and first reading. Referred to President's desk.

Official Summary Text

<b>Digest: The Act makes assault in the fourth degree more serious when the victim is at work and the assailant assaulted others at work. (Flesch Readability Score: 62.1).</b>
[<i>Digest: The Act directs the CJC to study assaults in the workplace. (Flesch Readability Score: 80.3).</i>]
[<i>Requires the Oregon Criminal Justice Commission to study workplace assault convictions and sentences. Directs the commission to submit findings to the interim committees of the Legislative Assembly related to the judiciary not later than September 15, 2026.</i>]
[<i>Sunsets on January 2, 2027.</i>]
<b>Increases the offense level of assault in the fourth degree when the defendant commits the assault against a victim performing official duties as part of the victim's employment and has certain prior convictions for assault in the workplace. Punishes by a maximum of five years' imprisonment, $125,000 fine, or both.</b>
Relating to: Relating to assaults in the workplace.
Current location: Chapter Number Assigned

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

83rd OREGON LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY--2025 Regular Session
Enrolled
Senate Bill 170
Printed pursuant to Senate Interim Rule 213.28 by order of the President of the Senate in conform-
ance with presession filing rules, indicating neither advocacy nor opposition on the part of the
President (at the request of Senate Interim Committee on Judiciary)
CHAPTER .................................................
AN ACT
Relating to assaults in the workplace; amending ORS 163.160.
Be It Enacted by the People of the State of Oregon:
SECTION 1.
ORS 163.160 is amended to read:
163.160. (1) A person commits the crime of assault in the fourth degree if the person:
(a) Intentionally, knowingly or recklessly causes physical injury to another;
(b) With criminal negligence causes physical injury to another by means of a deadly weapon;
or
(c) With criminal negligence causes serious physical injury to another who is a vulnerable user
of a public way, as defined in ORS 801.608, by means of a motor vehicle.
(2) Assault in the fourth degree is a Class A misdemeanor.
(3) Notwithstanding subsection (2) of this section, assault in the fourth degree under subsection
(1)(a) or (b) of this section is a Class C felony if the person commits the crime of assault in the
fourth degree and:
(a) The assault is committed in the immediate presence of, or is witnessed by, the person’s or
the victim’s minor child or stepchild or a minor child residing within the household of the person
or victim;
(b) The person has been previously convicted of violating this section or ORS 163.165, 163.175,
163.185, 163.187 or 163.190, or of committing an equivalent crime in another jurisdiction, and the
victim in the previous conviction is the same person who is the victim of the current crime;
(c) The person has at least three previous convictions for violating this section or ORS 163.165,
163.175, 163.185, 163.187 or 163.190 or for committing an equivalent crime in another jurisdiction, in
any combination; [ or]
(d) The person commits the assault knowing that the victim is pregnant[ .]; or
(e)(A) The assault is committed against a victim who is performing official duties as part
of the victim’s employment; and
(B) The person has two or more previous convictions for violating this section or ORS
163.165, 163.175 or 163.185, or for committing an equivalent crime in another jurisdiction, in
any combination, and at least two of the previous assaults were committed against a victim
who was performing official duties as part of the victim’s employment.
(4) If a person is convicted of misdemeanor assault in the fourth degree constituting domestic
violence as an element of the crime as described ORS 132.586, the court shall ensure that the
judgment document reflects that the conviction constitutes domestic violence.
Enrolled Senate Bill 170 (SB 170-A)Page 1
(5) For purposes of subsection (3) of this section, an assault is witnessed if the assault is seen
or directly perceived in any other manner by the child.
Passed by Senate March 13, 2025
..................................................................................
Obadiah Rutledge, Secretary of Senate
..................................................................................
Rob Wagner, President of Senate
Passed by House June 4, 2025
..................................................................................
Julie Fahey, Speaker of House
Received by Governor:
........................M.,........................................................., 2025
Approved:
........................M.,........................................................., 2025
..................................................................................
Tina Kotek, Governor
Filed in Office of Secretary of State:
........................M.,........................................................., 2025
..................................................................................
Tobias Read, Secretary of State
Enrolled Senate Bill 170 (SB 170-A) Page 2