SJR16 • 2025

Proposes an amendment to the Oregon Constitution prohibiting the death penalty. Refers the proposed amendment to the people for their approval or rejection at the next regular general election.

Elections

Passed Legislature

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

Sponsor: Senator Frederick
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.

Proposes an amendment to the Oregon Constitution prohibiting the death penalty. Refers the proposed amendment to the people for their approval or rejection at the next regular general election.

Digest: Suggests a change to the Oregon Constitution that would get rid of the death penalty.

What This Bill Does

Digest: Suggests a change to the Oregon Constitution that would get rid of the death penalty.
(Flesch Readability Score: 61.8).
Proposes an amendment to the Oregon Constitution prohibiting the death penalty.
Refers the proposed amendment to the people for their approval or rejection at the next regular general election.

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.
2025-01-17 Senate
Referred to Rules.
2025-01-13 Senate
Introduction and first reading. Referred to President's desk.

Official Summary Text

Digest: Suggests a change to the Oregon Constitution that would get rid of the death penalty. (Flesch Readability Score: 61.8).
Proposes an amendment to the Oregon Constitution prohibiting the death penalty.
Refers the proposed amendment to the people for their approval or rejection at the next regular general election.
Relating to: Proposing an amendment to the Oregon Constitution relating to the death penalty.
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 Joint Resolution 16
Sponsored by Senator FREDERICK (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: Suggests a change to the Oregon Constitution that would get rid of the death penalty.
(Flesch Readability Score: 61.8).
Proposes an amendment to the Oregon Constitution prohibiting the death penalty.
Refers the proposed amendment to the people for their approval or rejection at the next regular
general election.
JOINT RESOLUTION
Be It Resolved by the Legislative Assembly of the State of Oregon:
PARAGRAPH 1.
Section 40, Article I of the Constitution of the State of Oregon, is amended
to read:
Sec. 40. A sentence of death may not be imposed or executed. [Notwithstanding sections
15 and 16 of this Article, the penalty for aggravated murder as defined by law shall be death upon
unanimous affirmative jury findings as provided by law and otherwise shall be life imprisonment with
minimum sentence as provided by law. ]
PARAGRAPH 2. The amendment proposed by this resolution shall be submitted to the
people for their approval or rejection at the next regular general election held throughout
this state.
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 1533