l9n/ Oregon

2026 Regular Session

House Bill 4034

Revises the definition of "animal rescue entity."

Became law as Chapter 13, Oregon Laws 2026, signed March 5, 2026, 31 days after it was filed. In force from January 1, 2027.

What it does

The synopsis the Legislative Assembly published with the bill.

<b>Digest: The Act changes a definition for places that rescue animals. The Act changes the agency that oversees places that rescue animals. The Act changes the records that the places have to keep. The Act makes changes related to licensing the places. (Flesch Readability Score: 66.4).</b> [<i>Digest: The Act changes the agency that oversees places that rescue animals. The Act changes the records that the places have to keep. The Act makes changes related to licensing the places. (Flesch Readability Score: 70.8).</i>] <b>Revises the definition of "animal rescue entity."</b> Provides that veterinary facilities do not qualify as animal rescue entities for purposes of regulating animal rescue entities. Directs the State Department of Agriculture to enforce provisions related to regulating animal rescue entities. Makes changes related to recordkeeping and licensing requirements for animal rescue entities. Removes the impoundment of animals as a civil penalty for a violation of provisions related to animal rescue entities.

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

15 co-sponsors

Tom Andersen, Court Boice, Darcey Edwards, David Gomberg, Jeffrey Helfrich, Ken Helm, Rick Lewis, Virgle Osborne, Mark Owens, Anna Scharf, Alek Skarlatos, Dwayne Yunker, Susan McLain, Sarah McDonald, E. Werner Reschke

In the Senate

2 co-sponsors

Todd Nash, Janeen Sollman

Its course

February 2 to March 17, 2026, 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 action20 actions on 15 days

In the House of RepresentativesFeb 2 to Feb 108 days

Waiting for a committeeFeb 2 to Feb 20 days

Agriculture, Land Use, Natural Resources, and WaterFeb 2 to Feb 53 days

In the SenateFeb 10 to Feb 2515 days

Waiting for a committeeFeb 10 to Feb 111 day

Natural Resources and WildfireFeb 11 to Feb 2312 days

With the GovernorFeb 25 to Mar 58 days

Votes

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

  • House of Representatives, third reading58–0

    Passed · Feb 10 · 2 present

  • Senate, third reading29–0

    Passed · Feb 25 · 1 present

Amendments

Each amendment offered, and what became of it.

  • House of Representatives committee amendmentAdopted

    Adopted Feb 5

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 2 – Feb 10

  1. Feb 2Introduced
  2. Sent to Agriculture, Land Use, Natural Resources, and Water
  3. Heard in Agriculture, Land Use, Natural Resources, and Water
  4. Feb 4Heard in Agriculture, Land Use, Natural Resources, and Water
  5. Feb 5Agriculture, Land Use, Natural Resources, and Water recommended it as amended
  6. Feb 9Read a second time
  7. Feb 10Passed the House of Representatives, 58 to 0

In the Senate Feb 11 – Feb 25

  1. Feb 11Arrived in the Senate
  2. Sent to Natural Resources and Wildfire
  3. Feb 17Heard in Natural Resources and Wildfire
  4. Feb 19Heard in Natural Resources and Wildfire
  5. Feb 23Natural Resources and Wildfire recommended it
  6. Read a second time
  7. Feb 25Passed the Senate, 29 to 0

To the Governor Feb 26 – Mar 17

  1. Feb 26Signed in the House of Representatives
  2. Feb 27Signed in the Senate
  3. Mar 5Signed by the Governor
  4. Mar 17Became chapter 13 of Oregon Laws 2026, in force from January 1, 2027
All 20 actions, as published
  1. Feb 2First reading. Referred to Speaker's desk.House of Representatives
  2. Feb 2Referred to Agriculture, Land Use, Natural Resources, and Water with subsequent referral to Ways and Means.House of Representatives
  3. Feb 2Public Hearing held.House of Representatives
  4. Feb 4Work Session held.House of Representatives
  5. Feb 5Recommendation: Do pass with amendments, be printed A-Engrossed, and subsequent referral to Ways and Means be rescinded.House of Representatives
  6. Feb 5Subsequent referral to Ways and Means rescinded by order of the Speaker.House of Representatives
  7. Feb 9Second reading.House of Representatives
  8. Feb 10Third reading. Carried by Levy B. Passed.House of Representatives
  9. Feb 11First reading. Referred to President's desk.Senate
  10. Feb 11Referred to Natural Resources and Wildfire.Senate
  11. Feb 17Public Hearing held.Senate
  12. Feb 19Work Session held.Senate
  13. Feb 23Recommendation: Do pass the A-Eng. bill.Senate
  14. Feb 23Second reading.Senate
  15. Feb 24Carried over to 02-25 by unanimous consent.Senate
  16. Feb 25Third reading. Carried by Neron Misslin. Passed.Senate
  17. Feb 26Speaker signed.House of Representatives
  18. Feb 27President signed.Senate
  19. Mar 5Governor signed.House of Representatives
  20. Mar 17Chapter 13, (2026 Laws): Effective date January 1, 2027.House of Representatives