Oregon committee advances bill directing renaming of offensive geographic names

The Senate Committee on Veterans, Emergency Management, Federal and World Affairs voted May 13, 2025, to recommend that House Bill 3532b be sent to the floor. The bill directs the Oregon Geographic Names Board executive secretary to compile a list of offensive geographic names in Oregon and submit proposals to the U.S. Board on Geographic Names to rename them, and committee staff said the measure carries minimal fiscal impact and no revenue impact.

Representative Tana Sanchez, sponsor of the bill and the state representative for House District 43, said the legislation continues an earlier 2001 effort to remove offensive names, including the slur commonly called the "s‑word," from rivers, mountains, gullies and other natural features that remain on maps. "This bill simply follows up with the Oregon Geographic Names Board to actually move forward with some of these changes that are necessary for the state of Oregon," Sanchez said.

Representative Hai Pham, state representative for House District 36, told the committee the names listed by the Oregon Geographic Names Board include "Oriental Creek, China Man Hat, [****] Rock, Little Cracker Creek, and 107 other offensive names" and said removing those names is part of honoring the voices and histories of Oregon's tribal nations. "Continuing to use place names that offend and marginalize entire communities is not only hurtful, it's contrary to the inclusive values we strive to uphold as a state," Pham said.

Denise Harvey, a tribal elder and council member for the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde, testified during public comment that the continued use of the slur in place names is "a painful reminder of violence and disrespect" and said removing the term from public places is "about restoring dignity and promoting healing." Martha Klein Isenson, a staff attorney with the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservations (CTUIR), also testified in support and said the proposal is a logical next step following prior renaming efforts.

Vice Chair Thatcher raised concerns about the scope of the bill and whether the legislature would receive subsequent reports showing specific changes. Sanchez and committee staff said the bill intentionally directs local communities, tribes and the Oregon Historical Society (which houses the Oregon Geographic Names Board) to take a leading role in proposing names and local engagement, rather than having the legislature decide each renaming. Committee staff also noted that highway names were not included in the bill because naming of federal or certain highway features is processed by the U.S. Board on Geographic Names, although the Oregon board can recommend changes at the federal level.

After discussion, Vice Chair Thatcher moved that HB 3532b be reported to the floor with a due‑pass recommendation. The transcript records roll‑call confirmations of "aye" votes from Senator Peters, Senator Roberts and Chair Manning; the committee then closed the work session. The motion was advanced from the committee to the floor with a due‑pass recommendation.

Discussion versus decision: the committee's vote was a formal committee action to advance the bill with a recommendation; separate renaming decisions will be proposed by the Oregon Geographic Names Board, which the bill instructs to compile and forward proposals to the U.S. Board on Geographic Names. Committee members and tribal witnesses emphasized that local communities and the state’s nine federally recognized tribes should be consulted on proposed new names.

What the bill does not yet do: the committee record and witnesses do not show that specific new names were adopted at this meeting, nor do they show a completed statewide list; the bill directs the executive secretary to compile and submit proposals. Fiscal impact was described as "minimal" and without revenue effect; no specific dollar figures were provided in committee testimony.

Next steps: with the committee's due‑pass recommendation, HB 3532b moves to the legislative floor for further consideration and any subsequent votes or amendments. The renaming process described in testimony will continue through the Oregon Geographic Names Board and, for federal features or highways, through the U.S. Board on Geographic Names.