Conference committee adopts B‑17 amendment changing oversight and appointments at Oregon Public Defense Commission

A conference committee for the Oregon Legislature on May 28 adopted the B‑17 amendment to House Bill 2614B, removing a 2023 sunset on consortium contracting for public defense, adding a provider registration requirement, and changing how the Oregon Public Defense Commission’s executive director and commissioners are appointed and removed.

The amendment removes a 07/01/2023 sunset clause that would have eliminated the commission’s authority to contract with entities that subcontract with others for public-defense services, requires providers to register with the commission, directs that the governor appoint the executive director after consultation with the commission and subject to Senate confirmation, and changes removal standards beginning 01/01/2026: commissioners may be removed by the governor only for “inefficiency and neglect of duty or malfeasance in the office,” while the executive director may be removed for “just cause.”

Jillian, a committee staff member who summarized the amendment, told the committee: “There is a minimal fiscal and minimal revenue impact on this amendment Chair and it is ready to be adopted.” That fiscal finding was presented to the committee before the vote.

Committee members debated oversight of consortiums and the effects on hiring and retention of public defenders. Senator Brzezinski sought to place on the record that consortiums will be required to register with the commission, saying that registration “will in fact allow for, oversight by the commission on individual providers.” Chair Crabb responded by acknowledging “the heavy lifts in the work that our consortiums have done throughout this state,” and said the amendment “is appropriate action for them.” Representative Evans said she still had concerns about consortiums and said, “I still believe we need more trial division attorneys that have loyalty to the state.”

Senators and representatives voted to adopt the B‑17 amendment on the roll call; several members were recorded voting aye and the chair stated the motion passed. Later in the meeting, the committee voted that the House concur in the Senate amendments to House Bill 2614B dated 05/28/2025, that the bill be further amended by the B‑17 amendment, and that the bill be repassed; that motion also passed on a recorded roll call.

The committee indicated the bill will proceed toward the legislative floor after the conference action and repassage. The meeting concluded after members confirmed the motions and signatures needed to move the bill forward.