l9n/ Oregon

2026 Regular Session

House Bill 4177

Restates the serial communications prohibitions for public meetings law purposes.

Vetoed on April 16, 2026.

What it does

The synopsis the Legislative Assembly published with the bill.

Digest: The Act changes how officials may talk outside of public meetings. The Act changes how OGEC oversees and trains on the public meetings law. The Act changes some duties from a governing body to the public body. The Act changes how governing bodies and public bodies may cure public meetings law violations. The Act takes effect 91 days after session ends. (Flesch Readability Score: 62.6). Restates the serial communications prohibitions for public meetings law purposes. Identifies the types of communications between governing body members that are excluded from public meetings requirements. Changes the obligation to provide notice for meetings from a governing body to the public body for each of its governing bodies. Changes the obligation to provide for the sound, video or digital recording or the taking of written minutes from a governing body to the public body for each of its governing bodies. Clarifies that public meetings may be held in person, through use of electronic means or in a hybrid format of in-person and electronic means. Requires public meetings law complainants to provide specified documentation to the Oregon Government Ethics Commission before complaints are considered filed. Requires complainants to proceed in court if the complaint alleges a public meetings law violation by one or more members of the commission. Modifies requirements concerning which public officials must attend public meetings law training and when those officials must attend the training. Allows the commission to proceed against a public body or a public official associated with a public body for violations of public meetings laws. Establishes methods by which governing bodies and public bodies may cure public meetings law violations under certain circumstances. Clarifies the imposition of penalties by the Oregon Government Ethics Commission against public bodies and public officials. Takes effect on the 91st day following adjournment sine die.

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

    1 co-sponsor

    HRULES

    Its course

    February 5 to April 16, 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 action21 actions on 13 days

    In the House of RepresentativesFeb 5 to Mar 427 days

    Waiting for a committeeFeb 5 to Feb 50 days

    RulesFeb 5 to Feb 2318 days

    Ways and MeansFeb 23 to Feb 25 · moved on2 days

    Capital ConstructionFeb 25 to Feb 27 · moved on2 days

    Ways and MeansFeb 27 to Mar 34 days

    In the SenateMar 4 to Mar 62 days

    Waiting for a committeeMar 4 to Mar 40 days

    Ways and MeansMar 4 to Mar 51 day

    With the GovernorMar 6 to Apr 1641 days

    After the vetoFrom Apr 16

    Votes

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

    • House of Representatives, third reading47–4

      Passed · Mar 4 · 9 present

    • Senate, third reading25–3

      Passed · Mar 6 · 2 present

    Amendments

    Each amendment offered, and what became of it.

    • House of Representatives committee amendmentAdopted

      Adopted Feb 23

    • House of Representatives committee amendmentAdopted

      Adopted Mar 3

    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 5 – Mar 4

    1. Feb 5Introduced
    2. Sent to Rules
    3. Feb 17Heard in Rules
    4. Feb 19Heard in Rules
    5. Feb 23Rules recommended it as amended, and that it go to Ways and Means
    6. Sent to Ways and Means
    7. Feb 25Sent to Capital Construction Subcommittee
    8. Feb 27Heard in Capital Construction Subcommittee
    9. Returned to Ways and Means
    10. Mar 2Heard in Ways and Means
    11. Mar 3Ways and Means recommended it as amended
    12. Read a second time
    13. Mar 4Passed the House of Representatives, 47 to 4

    In the Senate Mar 4 – Mar 6

    1. Mar 4Arrived in the Senate
    2. Sent to Ways and Means
    3. Mar 5Ways and Means recommended it
    4. Read a second time
    5. Mar 6Passed the Senate, 25 to 3

    To the Governor Mar 10 – Apr 16

    1. Mar 10Signed in the House of Representatives
    2. Signed in the Senate
    3. Apr 16Vetoed by the Governor
    All 21 actions, as published
    1. Feb 5First reading. Referred to Speaker's desk.House of Representatives
    2. Feb 5Referred to Rules.House of Representatives
    3. Feb 17Public Hearing held.House of Representatives
    4. Feb 19Work Session held.House of Representatives
    5. Feb 23Recommendation: Do pass with amendments, be printed A-Engrossed, and be referred to Ways and Means.House of Representatives
    6. Feb 23Referred to Ways and Means by order of Speaker.House of Representatives
    7. Feb 25Assigned to Subcommittee On Capital Construction.House of Representatives
    8. Feb 27Work Session held.House of Representatives
    9. Feb 27Returned to Full Committee.House of Representatives
    10. Mar 2Work Session held.House of Representatives
    11. Mar 3Recommendation: Do pass with amendments and be printed B-Engrossed.House of Representatives
    12. Mar 3Second reading.House of Representatives
    13. Mar 4Third reading. Carried by Sosa. Passed.House of Representatives
    14. Mar 4First reading. Referred to President's desk.Senate
    15. Mar 4Referred to Ways and Means.Senate
    16. Mar 5Recommendation: Do pass the B-Eng. bill.Senate
    17. Mar 5Second reading.Senate
    18. Mar 6Third reading. Carried by Lieber. Passed.Senate
    19. Mar 10Speaker signed.House of Representatives
    20. Mar 10President signed.Senate
    21. Apr 16Governor vetoed.House of Representatives