OregonHB 26142025 Regular SessionHouse

Relating to the Oregon Public Defense Commission; and declaring an emergency.

Sponsored By: Sponsor information unavailable

Signed by Governor

Personalized for You

How does this bill affect your finances?

Personalize government policy and PRIA will tell you what this bill means for your household, plus every other piece of legislation we track. PRIA reads each provision against your financial profile to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.

Free to download

Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

8 provisions identified: 4 benefits, 2 costs, 2 mixed.

Pay protections for contract defense attorneys

Contract attorneys on Oregon’s public defense panel must receive at least the hourly rate set by the commission. Their pay must rise by the same percentage as positive cost-of-living increases for management-service employees in other executive agencies. Pay arrangements cannot create financial conflicts or incentives that weaken representation. The law gives no dollar rate or increase percentage.

Constitutional rules guide public defense standards

Oregon’s public defense policies must ensure that attorney pay, resources, and caseloads meet state and federal constitutional requirements. This replaces the prior standard based on national and regional best practices. The law does not set specific pay amounts or caseload limits here.

Defense commission membership rules broaden

Former judges recommended by the Chief Justice may serve as voting members without being retired, but cannot perform judicial work. Legislators in specified nonvoting seats are exempt from service bans covering prosecutors, judicial work, and law enforcement or Human Services employees. Beginning January 1, 2026, the Governor may remove members only for inefficiency, neglect of duty, or misconduct in office. Members serving that day may finish their terms and qualify for reappointment. The law advances the related governance changes and member-and-director transition date from July 1, 2027, to January 1, 2026.

Oregon creates two public defense teams

The commission must create a trial division staffed by its own attorneys to provide trial-level public defense. It must also create and oversee a panel of qualified contract attorneys assigned directly to cases. The commission must certify panel attorneys and periodically review their eligibility and cases. Panel attorneys remain contractors, not commission employees.

Defense commission loses legislative advocacy authority

The law removes the commission’s statutory authority to advocate before the Legislature for or against bills, policies, or budgets. Approval by a majority of voting members no longer provides that authority. This does not directly change household benefits or legal duties.

Defense providers lose one pay safeguard

The commission no longer must ensure that every public defense contract pays providers in line with the work performed. This removes one specific contract pay safeguard. It does not require a pay cut or set a replacement amount.

Governor gains public defense oversight

The Governor’s administrative oversight now covers the commission and its staff, except member appointments and removals remain under separate rules. The Governor appoints the director after consulting the commission, including its chair before recruitment; Senate confirmation is required. The director serves four years and can be removed only for just cause. All commission members must review and give input on the agency budget request. A majority of voting members must approve it before submission to the Department of Administrative Services.

More defense contractors, stricter contract rules

The commission may hire private law firms, nonprofits, and groups that subcontract public defense work. Contracts cannot pay appointed attorneys a flat fee per case. Beginning July 1, 2027, subcontracting groups must follow commission standards set through policies or Justice Department-approved contract language. Standards cover administration, membership, conflicts, ethics, reporting, oversight, and regular meetings. Groups with five or more attorney members need a board or steering committee overseeing policies, budgets, attorney performance, and disputes.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 213 • No: 2

House vote • 6/26/2025

Repassed.

Yes: 44 • No: 0

Senate vote • 6/26/2025

Senate adopted Conference Committee Report and repassed bill.

Yes: 29 • No: 0

House vote • 6/25/2025

HB 2614: Heard and Reported Out with Amendments

Yes: 6 • No: 0

House vote • 6/13/2025

House refused to concur in Senate amendments.

Yes: 39 • No: 1

Senate vote • 6/11/2025

Third reading. Carried by Prozanski. Passed.

Yes: 29 • No: 0

Senate vote • 5/19/2025

Judiciary: Heard and Reported Out with Amendments

Yes: 6 • No: 0

House vote • 4/22/2025

Third reading. Carried by Kropf. Passed.

Yes: 52 • No: 1

House vote • 4/9/2025