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

SB686 • 2025

Prohibits a covered platform from accessing for an Oregon audience the online content of a digital journalism provider without an agreement.

Prohibits a covered platform from accessing for an Oregon audience the online content of a digital journalism provider without an agreement.

Passed Legislature

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

Sponsor
Senator Pham,, Representative Walters,, Senator Gelser Blouin,, Frederick,, Golden,, Gorsek,, Manning Jr,, Reynolds, Senator Campos,, Jama,, Neron Misslin,, Patterson,, Representative Bowman,, Chaichi,, Gamba,
Last action
2025-06-27
Official status
In Senate 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 Senate

    In committee upon adjournment.

  2. 2025-06-24 Senate

    Third reading. Carried by Pham. Bill failed. Ayes, 14; Nays, 15--Anderson, Bonham, Girod, Hayden, Jama, Linthicum, McLane, Meek, Nash, Prozanski, Robinson, Smith DB, Sollman, Starr, Weber; Excused, 1--Thatcher.

  3. 2025-06-24 Senate

    Robinson declared potential conflict of interest.

  4. 2025-06-24 Senate

    Vote explanation(s) filed by Sollman.

  5. 2025-06-24 Senate

    Jama, changed from aye to nay and served notice of possible reconsideration.

  6. 2025-06-24 Senate

    Jama moved for immediate reconsideration. Motion to reconsider carried. Ayes, 18; Nays, 11--Anderson, Bonham, Girod, Hayden, Linthicum, McLane, Nash, Robinson, Smith DB, Starr, Weber; Excused, 1--Thatcher.

  7. 2025-06-24 Senate

    Motion to rerefer to Committee on Rules carried. Ayes, 19; Nays, 10--Anderson, Bonham, Girod, Hayden, Linthicum, Nash, Robinson, Smith DB, Starr, Weber; Excused, 1--Thatcher.

  8. 2025-06-23 Senate

    Second reading.

  9. 2025-06-20 Senate

    Recommendation: Do pass with amendments to the A-Eng. bill. (Printed B-Eng.)

  10. 2025-06-11 Senate

    Work Session held.

  11. 2025-06-10 Senate

    Motion to rerefer to Committee on Rules carried by voice vote.

  12. 2025-06-09 Senate

    Second reading.

  13. 2025-06-06 Senate

    Recommendation: Do pass with amendments. (Printed A-Eng).

  14. 2025-06-06 Senate

    Minority Recommendation: Do pass with different amendments. (Printed A-Eng. Minority)

  15. 2025-05-05 Senate

    Work Session held.

  16. 2025-04-23 Senate

    Public Hearing held.

  17. 2025-04-09 Senate

    Public Hearing held.

  18. 2025-01-17 Senate

    Referred to Rules.

  19. 2025-01-13 Senate

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

Official Summary Text

<b>Digest: Requires a covered platform to have an agreement in order to access the online content of a news provider. Creates a group for civic information to give grants. (Flesch Readability Score: 62.7).</b>
[<i>Digest: Makes online platforms pay online news providers and a group for civic information. Creates a group for civic information to give grants. (Flesch Readability Score: 61.0).</i>]
[<i>Requires online platforms to pay moneys to digital journalism providers and the Oregon Civic Information Consortium. Allows an online platform to use an arbitration process to determine the percentage of an online platform's advertising revenue to be remitted to digital journalism providers.</i>]
<b>Prohibits a covered platform from accessing for an Oregon audience the online content of a digital journalism provider without an agreement. Specifies requirements that an agreement must meet.
<b>Creates a private cause of action that a digital journalism provider may bring against a covered platform if the covered platform accesses for an Oregon audience the online content of the digital journalism provider without an agreement or fails to comply with an agreement. Allows for the recovery of the greater of statutory or actual damages, and for punitive damages.
<b>Bars a cause of action if the covered platform is participating in arbitration or in compliance with a final arbitration order, judgment or settlement agreement. Bars a cause of action for access that occurs between January 1, 2026, and December 31, 2027, if the covered platform elects to pay a certain sum amount.
<b>Allows a covered platform or group of digital journalism providers to initiate an arbitration process to determine a percentage of the covered platform's advertising revenue to be remitted to the digital journalism providers.</b>
Requires online platforms to report annually certain information about compensation paid to digital journalism providers.
Establishes the Oregon Civic Information Consortium. Directs the consortium to award grants for applicants that seek to improve civic information.
Relating to: Relating to civic information.
Current location: In Senate Committee