l9n/ Oregon

2025 Regular Session

House Bill 3521

Requires residential landlords to pay a minimum amount of damages for breaching an agreement to later execute a rental agreement of a habitable dwelling unit in exchange for holding a deposit, unless the deposit is returned within five business days or repayment is excused based on an act of God.

Became law as Chapter 392, Oregon Laws 2025, signed June 24, 2025, 133 days after it was filed. In force from January 1, 2026.

What it does

The synopsis the Legislative Assembly published with the bill.

<b>Digest: This Act awards an applicant money from a landlord who breaks a promise to rent a home and does not return the deposit soon after. (Flesch Readability Score: 63.0).</b> [<i>Digest: This Act awards damages if a landlord revokes an offer of housing. (Flesch Readability Score: 60.7).</i>] Requires residential landlords to pay a minimum amount of damages for breaching an agreement to later execute a rental agreement <b>of a habitable dwelling unit</b> in exchange for holding a deposit<b>, unless the deposit is returned within five business days or repayment is excused based on an act of God</b>.

Sponsors

Who carried the bill in each chamber, and who signed on. Each name leads to the member's page.

In the House of Representatives

5 co-sponsors

Mark Gamba, Nancy Nathanson, Hoa Nguyen, Tom Andersen, Willy Chotzen

In the Senate

    2 co-sponsors

    Kayse Jama, Deb Patterson

    Its course

    February 11 to July 25, 2025, on one scale. In the top row each mark is a day something happened; taller marks are busier days.

    Each committee stop sits inside its chamber.

    Every action34 actions on 31 days

    In the House of RepresentativesFeb 11 to Apr 1765 days

    Waiting for a committeeFeb 11 to Feb 121 day

    Housing and HomelessnessFeb 12 to Apr 1158 days

    In the SenateApr 17 to Jun 1256 days

    Waiting for a committeeApr 17 to Apr 214 days

    EducationApr 21 to May 110 days

    Housing and DevelopmentMay 1 to May 2221 days

    With the GovernorJun 12 to Jun 2412 days

    Votes

    Yeas to nays, as the Legislative Assembly recorded them. Committee votes are set in.

    • House of Representatives, third reading33–18

      Passed · Apr 17 · 9 present

    • Senate, third reading20–8

      Passed · Jun 12 · 2 present

    Amendments

    Each amendment offered, and what became of it.

    • House of Representatives committee amendmentAdopted

      Adopted Apr 11

    Text

    Each version as the Legislative Assembly printed it.

    l9n doesn't hold this bill's text yet.

    What happened

    In l9n's words, one line for each step. Every action as the Legislative Assembly published it is below.

    In the House of Representatives Feb 11 – Apr 17

    1. Feb 11Introduced
    2. Feb 12Sent to Housing and Homelessness
    3. Feb 17Heard in Housing and Homelessness
    4. Apr 7Heard in Housing and Homelessness
    5. Apr 11Housing and Homelessness recommended it as amended
    6. Apr 14Read a second time
    7. Apr 17Passed the House of Representatives, 33 to 18

    In the Senate Apr 21 – Jun 12

    1. Apr 21Arrived in the Senate
    2. Sent to Education
    3. Apr 28Heard in Education
    4. May 1Education reported it without a recommendation, and that it go to Housing and Development
    5. Sent to Housing and Development
    6. May 12Heard in Housing and Development
    7. May 19Heard in Housing and Development
    8. May 22Housing and Development recommended it
    9. Read a second time
    10. Jun 12Passed the Senate, 20 to 8

    To the Governor Jun 13 – Jul 25

    1. Jun 13Signed in the House of Representatives
    2. Jun 16Signed in the Senate
    3. Jun 24Signed by the Governor
    4. Jul 25Became chapter 392 of Oregon Laws 2025, in force from January 1, 2026
    All 34 actions, as published
    1. Feb 11First reading. Referred to Speaker's desk.House of Representatives
    2. Feb 12Referred to Housing and Homelessness.House of Representatives
    3. Feb 17Public Hearing held.House of Representatives
    4. Apr 7Work Session held.House of Representatives
    5. Apr 11Recommendation: Do pass with amendments and be printed A-Engrossed.House of Representatives
    6. Apr 14Second reading.House of Representatives
    7. Apr 15Rules suspended. Carried over to April 16, 2025 Calendar.House of Representatives
    8. Apr 16Rules suspended. Carried over to April 17, 2025 Calendar.House of Representatives
    9. Apr 17Third reading. Carried by Hartman. Passed.House of Representatives
    10. Apr 21First reading. Referred to President's desk.Senate
    11. Apr 21Referred to Education.Senate
    12. Apr 28Work Session held.Senate
    13. May 1Recommendation: Without recommendation as to passage and be referred to Housing and Development.Senate
    14. May 1Referred to Housing and Development by order of the President.Senate
    15. May 12Public Hearing held.Senate
    16. May 19Work Session held.Senate
    17. May 22Recommendation: Do pass the A-Eng. bill.Senate
    18. May 22Second reading.Senate
    19. May 23Carried over to 05-27 by unanimous consent.Senate
    20. May 27Carried over to 05-28 by unanimous consent.Senate
    21. May 28Carried over to 05-29 by unanimous consent.Senate
    22. May 29Carried over to 06-02 by unanimous consent.Senate
    23. Jun 2Carried over to 06-03 by unanimous consent.Senate
    24. Jun 3Carried over to 06-04 by unanimous consent.Senate
    25. Jun 4Carried over to 06-05 by unanimous consent.Senate
    26. Jun 5Carried over to 06-09 by unanimous consent.Senate
    27. Jun 9Carried over to 06-10 by unanimous consent.Senate
    28. Jun 10Carried over to 06-11 by unanimous consent.Senate
    29. Jun 11Carried over to 06-12 by unanimous consent.Senate
    30. Jun 12Third reading. Carried by Patterson. Passed.Senate
    31. Jun 13Speaker signed.House of Representatives
    32. Jun 16President signed.Senate
    33. Jun 24Governor signed.House of Representatives
    34. Jul 25Chapter 392, (2025 Laws): Effective date January 1, 2026.House of Representatives