Committee hears proposal to codify McKinney‑Vento protections into Oregon law

The Senate Education Committee heard testimony on House Bill 4,149, which would codify the federal McKinney‑Vento protections for students experiencing homelessness into Oregon statute. Sponsors said the bill does not add requirements beyond McKinney‑Vento but puts those protections into state law so they do not depend on the future of federal policy.

Representative (sponsor) explained the bill’s scope: immediate enrollment without typical documents, the right to remain in the school of origin when in a child’s best interest, transportation to maintain school stability, and a designated district liaison and dispute resolution process. State Department of Education coordinator Lexi Morales (state coordinator for houseless and unaccompanied youth) stated ODE is not taking a position but that HB 4,149 aligns with current McKinney‑Vento practice in Oregon. Morales gave a data point: in 2024‑25 approximately 4 percent of Oregon students—about 21,122 students—were identified as eligible for McKinney‑Vento services.

Advocates including Nicole Ritterbush (Maslow Project), SchoolHouse Connection and Sarah Arbuckle described how the protections make immediate enrollment and supports possible for children in unstable housing, and presented a case story of a 7‑year‑old who would not have been able to enroll without McKinney‑Vento rights. Representative Pam Marcia emphasized statewide prevalence and the connection between educational stability and preventing future adult homelessness.

Supporters asked lawmakers to preserve these protections in state law to ensure consistency across districts if federal priorities change. The committee had no vote that day and accepted additional written testimony.