SB952 • 2025

Requires the Governor to appoint a United States Senator when a vacancy in the office occurs.

Elections

Enacted

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

Sponsor: Senator Gelser Blouin,, Golden,, Jama,, Manning Jr, Representative Gamba,, Marsh,, Tran
Last action: 2025-06-20
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.

Requires the Governor to appoint a United States Senator when a vacancy in the office occurs.

Digest: The Act requires the Governor to appoint a U.S.

What This Bill Does

Digest: The Act requires the Governor to appoint a U.S.
Senator when a vacancy happens in the office.
The Act states when the appointment ends and when a special election must occur.
(Flesch Readability Score: 62.8).

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

2025-06-20 Senate
Chapter 318, 2025 Laws.
2025-06-20 Senate
Effective date, January 1, 2026.
2025-06-11 Senate
Governor signed.
2025-06-04 Senate
President signed.
2025-06-04 House
Speaker signed.
2025-06-03 House
Third reading. Carried by Pham H. Passed. Ayes, 31; Nays, 24--Boice, Boshart Davis, Cate, Diehl, Dobson, Drazan, Edwards, Elmer, Evans, Harbick, Helfrich, Javadi, Levy B, Lewis, Mannix, McIntire, Osborne, Owens, Reschke, Scharf, Skarlatos, Smith G, Wright, Yunker; Excused, 4--Breese-Iverson, Hartman, Nguyen H, Wallan.
2025-06-02 House
Rules suspended. Carried over to June 3, 2025 Calendar.
2025-05-29 House
Rules suspended. Carried over to June 2, 2025 Calendar.
2025-05-28 House
Rules suspended. Carried over to May 29, 2025 Calendar.
2025-05-27 House
Recommendation: Do pass.
2025-05-27 House
Second reading.
2025-05-21 House
Work Session held.
2025-05-19 House
Public Hearing held.
2025-04-29 House
First reading. Referred to Speaker's desk.
2025-04-29 House
Referred to Rules.
2025-04-28 Senate
Third reading. Carried by Gelser Blouin. Passed. Ayes, 16; Nays, 13--Anderson, Bonham, Girod, Hayden, Linthicum, McLane, Meek, Nash, Robinson, Smith DB, Starr, Thatcher, Weber.
2025-04-24 Senate
Carried over to 04-28 by unanimous consent.
2025-04-23 Senate
Carried over to 04-24 by unanimous consent.
2025-04-22 Senate
Carried over to 04-23 by unanimous consent.
2025-04-21 Senate
Second reading.
2025-04-18 Senate
Recommendation: Do pass with amendments. (Printed A-Eng.)
2025-04-14 Senate
Work Session held.
2025-04-02 Senate
Public Hearing held.
2025-01-28 Senate
Introduction and first reading. Referred to President's desk.
2025-01-28 Senate
Referred to Rules.

Official Summary Text

Digest: The Act requires the Governor to appoint a U.S. Senator when a vacancy happens in the office. The Act states when the appointment ends and when a special election must occur. (Flesch Readability Score: 62.8).
Requires the Governor to appoint a United States Senator when a vacancy in the office occurs. Requires that the appointed Senator be of the same political party as the elected Senator who vacated the office.<b> Prohibits the Governor from appointing the Governor to fill the vacancy.</b>
Requires the Governor to call a special election within a specified period after the vacancy occurs. Requires the appointment to end when a replacement is elected.
Relating to: Relating to vacancies in the United States Senate.
Current location: Chapter Number Assigned

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

83rd OREGON LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY--2025 Regular Session
Enrolled
Senate Bill 952
Sponsored by Senators GELSER BLOUIN, GOLDEN, JAMA, MANNING JR; Representatives
GAMBA, MARSH, TRAN
CHAPTER .................................................
AN ACT
Relating to vacancies in the United States Senate; amending ORS 188.120.
Be It Enacted by the People of the State of Oregon:
SECTION 1.
ORS 188.120 is amended to read:
188.120. (1) If a vacancy in election or office of Representative in Congress or United States
Senator occurs before the 61st day before the general election, the Governor shall call a special
election to fill that vacancy.
(2) If a vacancy in election or office of United States Senator occurs after the 62nd day before
the general election but on or before the general election, and if the term of that office is not reg-
ularly filled at that election, the Governor shall call a special election to fill the vacancy [ as soon
as practicable after the general election ].
(3) For any special election called by the Governor under subsection (1) or (2) of this
section to fill a vacancy in election or office of United States Senator, the special election
must occur not less than 80 days and not more than 150 days after the vacancy occurred.
[(2)] (4) If a special election to fill the vacancy in election or office of Representative in Con-
gress [ or United States Senator ] is called before the 80th day after the vacancy occurs, each major
political party shall select its nominee for the office and certify the name of the nominee to the
Secretary of State. The Secretary of State shall place the name of the nominee on the ballot.
[(3)] (5) If a special election to fill the vacancy in election or office of Representative in Con-
gress or United States Senator is called after the 79th day after the vacancy occurs, a special pri-
mary election shall be conducted by the Secretary of State for the purpose of nominating a
candidate of each major political party. A declaration of candidacy or nominating petition may be
filed not later than the 10th day following the issuance of the writ of election.
(6)(a) For a vacancy in election or office of United States Senator, the Governor shall fill
the vacancy by appointment. The Governor shall make the appointment required under this
subsection no later than 30 days after the vacancy occurs.
(b) A person appointed under this subsection must:
(A) Be a citizen qualified to hold the office; and
(B) For at least 180 days before the date on which the vacancy occurred, be affiliated
with the same political party as the person who vacated the office of United States Senator.
(c) The political affiliation of a person appointed under this subsection shall be deter-
mined in accordance with ORS 236.100.
(d) An appointment made under this subsection shall expire when the term of office ends
or a successor to the office is elected and qualified under this section, whichever occurs first.
Enrolled Senate Bill 952 (SB 952-A)Page 1
(e) The Governor may not appoint the Governor to fill a vacancy in the office of United
States Senator.
Passed by Senate April 28, 2025
..................................................................................
Obadiah Rutledge, Secretary of Senate
..................................................................................
Rob Wagner, President of Senate
Passed by House June 3, 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 952 (SB 952-A) Page 2