Senate enacts clearer protections against predatory door‑to‑door sales

The Oregon Senate passed House Bill 36‑05 on third reading to strengthen protections for consumers who make purchases solicited in their homes. Sponsors said the bill codifies a long‑standing court ruling and makes it explicit that deceptive statements about cancellation rights under the Home Solicitation Sales Act are unlawful trade practices.

Senator Broadman, presenting the bill, said: "This bill, reinforces, and affirms a 50 year old court decision, which protects Oregonians from predatory unlawful business practices when it comes to door to door sales." He described the statute's three‑day cancellation right and said some sellers have unlawfully told buyers they had no right to cancel.

The bill records that the 1979 court decision holding that falsely informing a consumer of their rights under the Home Solicitation Sales Act was illegal should be reflected in statute and explicitly categorized as a violation of the Unlawful Trade Practices Act.

Opposition voiced a narrow technical objection to the bill's monetary threshold for the statute's application. Senator Thatcher said, "the monetary value we're talking about is $25. And I really think that...is a really low threshold, and I think that should be adjusted." Thatcher described the concern as a matter of aligning the statute's dollar threshold with the policy's intent.

Outcome: The Senate approved House Bill 36‑05 on a roll call (24 ayes recorded) and the bill was declared passed.

Authorities referenced during debate included the Home Solicitation Sales Act and the Unlawful Trade Practices Act and a 1979 court decision cited by the sponsor. The bill's supporters characterized it as a bipartisan, technical fix to ensure consumers can revoke purchases improperly induced by misstatements about cancellation rights.