Bill would require schools and campuses to notify families when federal immigration authorities are verified on site

A bill requiring Oregon public school districts and public higher-education governing boards to adopt notification policies for verified federal immigration-enforcement presence on school property drew broad testimony in the House Committee on Education on Feb. 4.

Sponsor Rep. Sarah Finger McDonald said HB 4,079, with its dash-1 amendment, "requires Oregon's public schools, K–12 and higher ed, to notify students, families, and staff when it is verified that federal immigration authorities are on school grounds or on campus." She told the committee the measure focuses on verified presence and clear communication, not rumor or community policing.

Advocates argued the measure responds to growing fear that is keeping students from attending. "Students aren't learning when they're not in school and students aren't learning when they don't feel safe," said Rep. Willie Choatsen. Mercedes Sali Sali of Latino Network told lawmakers that written statewide communication protocols "provide transparency and nurture trust for families and students who are impacted," and that such protocols help curb rumors and unnecessary fear.

Child- and education-focused organizations supported the bill. David Whelan of Arch Children Oregon said the bill would replace a patchwork of local responses with a consistent set of expectations statewide and reduce trauma for students exposed to enforcement activity. Jasia Mosley of NextUp Action Fund said ICE presence has been reported near elementary and high schools in several communities and that clearer protocols are needed to protect students and staff.

Some witnesses urged technical clarifications and implementation accommodations. Adrienne Anderson of the Oregon School Boards Association recommended tightening the definition of school property so districts are not required to notify for activity on public roads or buses they do not own or control; she also asked for a requirement that notification follow verification to avoid spreading false reports. Morgan Allen of COSA asked the committee to require at least one designee for large districts, reconsider annual retraining requirements for unchanged designees, and extend the bill's July 1, 2026 effective date to allow time for policy adoption and model-policy development.

Not all lawmakers supported the bill. Rep. Emily McIntyre said she appreciated the intent but opposed the measure, arguing that schools already have procedures and are stretched thin; she said she would vote no. Other legislators and higher-education representatives, including Scott Vigno of Oregon State University and Victor Reyes of AAUP Oregon, urged protections for students and careful attention to verification to avoid panic and misinformation.

Chair Hudson closed the hearing due to time constraints and invited written testimony; committee staff said they expect to take up votes on HB 4,079 and the other bills at the next meeting.