l9n/ Oregon

2026 Regular Session

House Bill 4059

Modifies the definition of "abuse" for purposes of determining whether a child has been abused.

Did not become law. It stopped in the House of Representatives's Rules Committee on March 6, 2026.

What it does

The synopsis the Legislative Assembly published with the bill.

<b>Digest: The Act changes what "abuse" means when talking about hurting a child. It says that DHS can only look into some reports of child abuse. It also makes a rule for how certain reports of child abuse are resolved. It is an emergency law and starts right away. (Flesch Readability Score: 76.5).</b> [<i>Digest: The Act changes what "threatened harm" means when talking about hurting a child. It says that DHS can only look into some reports of child abuse. It also makes a rule for how certain reports of child abuse are resolved. It is an emergency law and starts right away. (Flesch Readability Score: 78.7).</i>] Modifies the definition of [<i>"threatened harm"</i>]<b> "abuse"</b> for purposes of determining whether a child has been abused. Limits the investigative jurisdiction of the Department of Human Services to investigate certain reports of child abuse. <b>Prohibits making findings in abuse investigations where the alleged perpetrator was a minor at the time of the alleged abuse. Creates exceptions.</b> [<i>Creates a statutory substantiation standard for certain reports of alleged child abuse.</i>] <b>Increases the standard of proof necessary for reporting certain abuse investigation findings to the central state registry.</b> <b>Directs the department to monitor implementation of new child abuse investigation processes and report back to the interim committees of the Legislative Assembly relating to human services.</b> Declares an emergency, effective on passage.

Its course

February 2 to March 6, 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 action8 actions on 6 days

In the House of RepresentativesFeb 2 to Mar 6 · stopped32 days

Waiting for a committeeFeb 2 to Feb 20 days

Early Childhood and Human ServicesFeb 2 to Feb 1614 days

RulesFeb 16 to Mar 6 · stopped18 days

Amendments

Each amendment offered, and what became of it.

  • House of Representatives committee amendmentAdopted

    Adopted Feb 16

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 – Mar 6

  1. Feb 2Introduced
  2. Sent to Early Childhood and Human Services
  3. Feb 5Heard in Early Childhood and Human Services
  4. Feb 10Heard in Early Childhood and Human Services
  5. Feb 12Heard in Early Childhood and Human Services
  6. Feb 16Early Childhood and Human Services recommended it as amended, and that it go to Rules
  7. Sent to Rules
  8. Mar 6Died when the session ended
All 8 actions, as published
  1. Feb 2First reading. Referred to Speaker's desk.House of Representatives
  2. Feb 2Referred to Early Childhood and Human Services.House of Representatives
  3. Feb 5Public Hearing held.House of Representatives
  4. Feb 10Public Hearing held.House of Representatives
  5. Feb 12Work Session held.House of Representatives
  6. Feb 16Recommendation: Do pass with amendments, be printed A-Engrossed, and be referred to Rules.House of Representatives
  7. Feb 16Referred to Rules by order of Speaker.House of Representatives
  8. Mar 6In committee upon adjournment.House of Representatives