House approves package of bills on renters, child care, farmworker lactation rights and workplace statutes; omnibus budget bills pass

House of Representatives members approved a package of bills on April 3, 2025, passing measures on tenant lease terminations, agricultural worker lactation rights, child care licensing flexibility, school integrated pest management, a statewide homeownership goal, and changes to the state agency process for workplace civil actions. Lawmakers also approved two Senate budget-related bills and other measures on the third-reading calendar.

Why it matters: The bills address an array of policy areas that affect housing stability, workplace protections for agricultural employees, access to child care, school safety around pesticide use, and how workers pursue discrimination or harassment claims through the Bureau of Labor and Industries (BOLI). Several measures passed unanimously or with broad support; one bill altering the statute of limitations for civil actions after BOLI investigations drew extended floor debate and opposition.

Key outcomes and context

- House Bill 21 34 ("freedom to find a place"): Representative Sanchez presented the bill, which lets a tenant who is in good standing and who is given a 90-day landlord possession notice terminate a fixed-term lease with a regular 30-day notice if the tenant finds another place before the lease term ends. Sanchez said the change aims to avoid forcing renters to pay for two units while they stabilize housing. The House voted to pass the bill; the clerk declared it passed after receiving the constitutional majority.

- House Bill 22 69 (Oregon State Capitol Foundation): Representative Lewis explained statutory changes to the Oregon State Capitol Foundation (including clarifying appointment processes, adjusting audit frequency, and allowing the legislative administrator to solicit gifts). The bill passed on third reading and was declared passed.

- House Bill 24 21 (direct admissions to Oregon colleges): Representative Hudson said the bill allows private nonprofit colleges to help develop and opt into the direct admissions program the Higher Education Coordinating Commission is establishing under prior law. The measure passed and was declared passed.

- House Bill 25 41 (lactation protections for certain agricultural workers): Representative Muñoz said the bill closes a gap in ORS 653.077 by extending workplace milk-expression protections to hand-harvest and pruning laborers paid on piece rate, who commute from a permanent residence and have been employed under 13 weeks in the preceding period. Supporters said extending protections reduces health risks and supports breastfeeding. The bill passed and was declared passed.

- House Bill 26 84 (integrated pest management in schools): Representative Hudson described updates to school IPM plans, including a five-year review requirement, public posting of plans and low-impact pesticide lists, and inclusion of school gardens. The bill passed and was declared passed.

- House Bill 26 98 (state homeownership goal): Representative Ruiz said the bill directs the Housing and Community Services Department to track progress toward a statewide homeownership goal and recommended the bill as a tool to increase homeownership rates. The bill passed and was declared passed.

- House Bill 28 14 (child care licensing flexibility): Representative Walters said the bill aligns certified and registered family child care regulations to allow the Department of Early Learning and Care (DELC) to grant limited waivers for certain health and safety requirements in exceptional circumstances, and moves staff-to-child ratios for registered providers into rule. Supporters said the changes add flexibility for rural and underserved areas and continuity when individual providers depart. The bill passed and was declared passed.

- House Bill 29 57 (statute of limitations for claims over which BOLI has enforcement authority): Representative Nelson sponsored the measure, describing it as a fix to ensure workers do not lose civil statute-of-limitations time by pursuing a BOLI complaint first. Nelson said, "no one should be punished because they chose to go to a state agency for help." The bill drew a lengthy, divided floor debate: Representatives including Bossard Davis, Mannix, Scharf and others urged caution, arguing it could increase litigation risk for small businesses or remove incentives for early resolution through BOLI. Representative Bossard Davis said the measure could "destabilize Oregon small businesses." The House ultimately passed House Bill 29 57; the bill was declared passed after a recorded voice-vote sequence that included numerous 'no' votes noted on the floor record.

- Senate Bill 5550 and Senate Bill 10 (budget-related): Representatives described SB 5550 as the omnibus budget reconciliation bill with a net general fund increase reported on the floor and SB 10 as non-appropriation changes to support the adopted budget (including transfers and extensions for certain education and environmental accounts). Both senate bills were declared passed.

Votes at a glance (selected third-reading outcomes reported on April 3, 2025)

- HB 21 34 — Passed (declared passed after receiving constitutional majority). Sponsor: Representative Sanchez. - HB 22 69 — Passed. Sponsor: Representative Lewis. - HB 24 21 — Passed. Sponsor: Representative Hudson. - HB 25 41 — Passed. Sponsor: Representative Muñoz. - HB 26 84 — Passed. Sponsor: Representative Hudson. - HB 26 98 — Passed. Sponsor: Representative Ruiz. - HB 28 14 — Passed. Sponsor: Representative Walters. - HB 29 57 — Passed (controversial; notable opposition on floor). Sponsor: Representative Nelson. - SB 5550 — Passed (omnibus budget reconciliation; reported net general fund increase). Sponsor: Senate Ways & Means/Jt. Committee report referenced. - SB 10 — Passed (statutory clarifications supporting 2023-25 budget). Sponsor: Senate Ways & Means/Jt. Committee report referenced.

What legislators emphasized: Supporters framed bills as closing gaps (farmworker lactation, tenant stability), improving access (direct admissions, child care flexibility), and clarifying administration (Capitol foundation, IPM posting). Opponents on HB 29 57 cautioned that changing timing tied to BOLI investigations could encourage litigation and reduce certainty for employers. Representative Nelson urged colleagues to prevent discouraging workers from using BOLI, saying the change would ensure existing rights "work the way they're supposed to."

Process notes: Several bills were read on third reading and declared passed after roll-call or voice votes; the floor record often notes "having received the constitutional majority is declared passed." For HB 29 57 the floor included a series of named 'no' voice votes on the record. The House also used unanimous-consent suspensions earlier in the session to place concurrent resolutions on special orders.

Next steps: Passed bills will proceed per statutory timelines for enactment or go to the Senate/Governor as applicable. Several items reference agency rulemaking (DELC, Housing and Community Services Department) or administrative steps (transfer of funds, posting IPM plans) that will require agency implementation.

Ending: The House adjourned to 11:15 a.m. Thursday, April 3, 2025.