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House committee hears amendment to clarify enforcement of Oregon nurse staffing law
Summary
A House Rules public hearing on June 12 examined House Bill 3294 (dash-3), which would clarify how the Oregon Health Authority enforces the 2023 hospital nurse staffing law, consolidate duplicate complaints and set penalty rules, including retroactive application to complaints filed on or after June 1, 2025.
SALEM — The House Committee on Rules opened a public hearing June 12 on House Bill 3294, a dash-3 amendment intended to clarify enforcement of the 2023 hospital nurse staffing law and to streamline how the Oregon Health Authority handles complaints and penalties.
The amendment, sponsored in committee by Representative Rob Noss, would require hospitals to follow the nurse-to-patient staffing ratios set out in an adopted hospital staffing plan and, if no plan has been adopted, to comply with the direct-care registered nurse-to-patient ratios applicable to the unit. It would also direct the Oregon Health Authority (OHA) to consolidate complaints that contain the same allegations or arise from the same set of facts and prioritize investigations of complaints alleging events occurring on or after June 1, 2025.
"Basically ... those complaints can be consolidated and be treated as one complaint as opposed to two separate complaints," Representative Rob Noss said, describing the amendment’s intent to reduce duplicative investigations.
The amendment also clarifies how civil penalties are assessed when a hospital has not approved a hospital-wide nurse staffing plan. "Hospital wide, is not by unit, so one civil penalty per day per hospital for lack of an approved hospital wide nurse staffing plan," said Sean Colmore, representing the Hospital Association, summarizing a penalty provision in the dash-3 amendment.
Andre Gusa, administrator for the Center for Health Protection at the Oregon Health Authority, told the committee OHA has worked with sponsors on the changes and confirmed the agency can implement the amendment’s requirements. "The bill in, section 5 is retroactive to June 1," Gusa said when asked whether the amendment would apply to complaints filed since that date.
Witnesses told the committee the dash-3 amendment is largely technical and intended to address implementation challenges that surfaced after the 2023 law, House Bill 2697, took effect. Paige Spence, appearing virtually, said stakeholders remain committed to making the law work and described the past period as a "trial period" in which OHA investigated complaints while rulemaking and enforcement practices were finalized.
Lawmakers on the committee asked for clarity about implementation. Representative Elmer said he had heard frustration from nurses about unintended consequences from the 2023 law and expressed appreciation that sponsors returned with fixes. Vice Chair Pham asked whether the bill would be retroactive; Gusa answered that section 5 would apply to complaints submitted on or after June 1, 2025.
No vote or committee action was taken at the hearing. Committee members closed the public hearing and adjourned the morning session; the committee planned to reconvene the afternoon of June 12.
Background: The 2023 hospital nurse staffing statute, House Bill 2697, established minimum nurse-to-patient ratios, hospital staffing committees and an OHA enforcement role. Sponsors described HB 3294 as a narrow, technical package that preserves the 2023 law’s core components while clarifying enforcement mechanics and the scope of penalties.
