Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Senate committee considers amendment to let Oregonians sue for Article I constitutional violations by government actors
Summary
Senate Bill 65 drew extended committee discussion March 25 after an amendment (dash 4) narrowed the bill to Article I (the Oregon Bill of Rights) and preserved employer liability under the Oregon Tort Claims Act while allowing attorney fees for prevailing plaintiffs and limited fee awards to defendants for frivolous suits.
The Senate Judiciary Committee on March 25 held a work session on Senate Bill 65 and a proposed dash‑4 amendment that would create a state statutory cause of action for violations of the Oregon Constitution’s Article I (the Bill of Rights).
Senator Thatcher expressed concern about potential new exposure for law enforcement and local government, noting pushback from some county and police officials. "I wouldn't mind getting some things out there," she said, adding concerns that the measure could open law enforcement to further litigation.
The chair and staff described the…
Already have an account? Log in
Subscribe to keep reading
Unlock the rest of this article — and every article on Citizen Portal.
- Unlimited articles
- AI-powered breakdowns of topics, speakers, decisions, and budgets
- Instant alerts when your location has a new meeting
- Follow topics and more locations
- 1,000 AI Insights / month, plus AI Chat
