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Panel reviews bill to add immigration status to school nondiscrimination law and to update model policies for ICE encounters
Summary
Senate Bill 15 38 would add citizenship or immigration status to protected classes in school anti-discrimination law and require the attorney general to update model policies for district staff; supporters said the bill protects immigrant students and staff, and the committee carried the item to Tuesday for amendment and further review.
The Senate Education Committee reviewed Senate Bill 15 38 on Feb. 4, a bill that would add citizenship and immigration status to educational anti-discrimination law, guarantee admission to instructional programs for immigrant and migrant students and require the Oregon Department of Justice to modify and distribute model policies for school districts.
LPRO summarized the bill and its dash-5 amendment, noting an effective date of July 1, 2026, and changes that narrow some admission requirements and remove certain training mandates. Morgan Allen (COSA) told the committee COSA supports codifying the right of immigrant and migrant students to attend public programs and urged a small wording change in dash-5 to avoid language that could seem top-down when model policies are shared with employees.
School employee groups raised operational concerns. Willis Holman of the Oregon School Employees Association said staff are worried about how to respond if federal immigration enforcement appears on campus or at bus stops. “What should a school bus driver do if they are driving their kids on the road and they get stopped?” he asked, urging clear, implementable model policies and communication with staff.
The dash-5 amendment removes a training mandate that supporters said could create a fiscal impact; proponents said the remaining requirements—convening stakeholders and distributing updated model policies—should be minimal in cost. The committee did not vote on the bill and carried SB 15 38 and its amendments to the next committee meeting Tuesday to allow sponsors time to incorporate a suggested wording change.
What’s next: Sponsors and staff will consider the recommended drafting change and post updated amendment language for the committee’s next meeting; no final action was taken on Feb. 4.
