SB65 • 2025

Allows a person who has been deprived of rights, privileges or immunities secured by the Oregon Constitution or the laws of this state by a person acting under color of law to bring a civil action for economic and noneconomic damages and for injunctive or other equitable relief.

Passed Legislature

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

Sponsor: Senator Hayden, Senator Gelser Blouin,, Smith DB,, Thatcher,, Weber,
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.

Allows a person who has been deprived of rights, privileges or immunities secured by the Oregon Constitution or the laws of this state by a person acting under color of law to bring a civil action for economic and noneconomic damages and for injunctive or other equitable relief.

Digest: The Act lets a person whose civil rights have been violated by a person acting under the color of law sue for damages and other relief.

What This Bill Does

Digest: The Act lets a person whose civil rights have been violated by a person acting under the color of law sue for damages and other relief.
The Act lets a plaintiff who wins this type of suit recover attorney fees.
The Act lets a defendant who wins this type of suit recover attorney fees if the plaintiff's claim was frivolous.
(Flesch Readability Score 62.7).

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 Senate
In committee upon adjournment.
2025-04-07 Senate
Work Session held.
2025-03-25 Senate
Work Session held.
2025-02-10 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

Digest: The Act lets a person whose civil rights have been violated by a person acting under the color of law sue for damages and other relief. The Act lets a plaintiff who wins this type of suit recover attorney fees. The Act lets a defendant who wins this type of suit recover attorney fees if the plaintiff's claim was frivolous. (Flesch Readability Score 62.7).
Allows a person who has been deprived of rights, privileges or immunities secured by the Oregon Constitution or the laws of this state by a person acting under color of law to bring a civil action for economic and noneconomic damages and for injunctive or other equitable relief.
Provides for the award of attorney fees and costs to a prevailing plaintiff, or to a prevailing defendant if the court finds that a plaintiff's claim was frivolous, unreasonable or without foundation.
Relating to: Relating to civil rights.
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 65
Sponsored by Senator HAYDEN (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 lets a person whose civil rights have been violated by a person acting under
the color of law sue for damages and other relief. The Act lets a plaintiff who wins this type of suit
recover attorney fees. The Act lets a defendant who wins this type of suit recover attorney fees if
the plaintiff’s claim was frivolous. (Flesch Readability Score 62.7).
Allows a person who has been deprived of rights, privileges or immunities secured by the
Oregon Constitution or the laws of this state by a person acting under color of law to bring a civil
action for economic and noneconomic damages and for injunctive or other equitable relief.
Provides for the award of attorney fees and costs to a prevailing plaintiff, or to a prevailing
defendant if the court finds that a plaintiff’s claim was frivolous, unreasonable or without founda-
tion.
A BILL FOR AN ACT
Relating to civil rights.
Be It Enacted by the People of the State of Oregon:
SECTION 1.
(1) Any person who has been deprived of any rights, privileges or immunities
secured by the Oregon Constitution or laws of this state by a person acting under color of
law, statute, ordinance or rule of this state or of any local government, as defined in ORS
174.116, may bring a civil action for economic and noneconomic damages, as defined in ORS
31.705, and for injunctive or other equitable relief.
(2)(a) The court shall award reasonable attorney fees and costs to a prevailing plaintiff
in an action under this section.
(b) The court may award reasonable attorney fees and costs to a prevailing defendant in
an action under this section if the court determines that the plaintiff’s claim under this
section was frivolous, unreasonable or without foundation.
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 2681