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OregonHB 40182026 Regular SessionHouseWALLET

Relating to elections; and declaring an emergency.

Sponsored By: Sponsor information unavailable

Became Law

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

21 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 4 costs, 15 mixed.

Bigger fines for illegal contributions

Starting January 1, 2027, failing to file or include required campaign info can be fined up to 10% of the amount at issue. Taking a contribution over the legal limit can be fined the excess plus 10%. You can cure by refunding the excess within 14 days of acceptance. From January 1, 2031, if you refund within 14 days of when you reasonably should have known of the violation, the penalty may be cut in half; otherwise at least the illegal amount applies.

Penalties for illegal campaign NDAs

From January 1, 2031, entering into banned nondisclosure agreements can be fined $1,000 plus any money converted to personal use, or twice any penalty written into the invalid agreement. All civil penalties collected go to the State Treasury and General Fund. If you are fined under this NDA rule, you must pay from your own personal funds. Campaign contributions cannot be used to pay these fines.

New caps on campaign donations

The law sets dollar limits on how much you can give to Oregon candidates and committees. Examples: For state Representative, Senator, circuit judges, and district attorneys, a person may give up to $3,300 per election. Party or caucus committees may give up to $15,000 per election in those races, and membership groups up to $13,200. For other state offices, party or caucus committees may give up to $30,000 per election, and membership groups up to $26,400. Multicandidate committees may accept up to $5,000 per year from each source, and party or caucus committees face yearly caps too (for example, $10,000 per person). Measure, recall, and independent‑expenditure‑only committees may receive unlimited donations. Related membership groups can be treated as one donor for limit counting. Membership organizations may accept unlimited money from people and other membership organizations but cannot take funds from many committee types. Dollar limits adjust for inflation every even‑numbered year starting in 2028.

Reveal original funders or face fines

If a covered person spends $50,000 or more on independent expenditures in an election cycle, they must file online and list donors who gave $5,000 or more. They must also disclose original sources equal to the amount they spent, with limited exemptions. Starting January 1, 2031, failing to report original sources can bring fines from 10% to 400% of the undisclosed amount. Also starting January 1, 2031, missing required disclosures on a candidate communication can cost 150% of what it cost to make or send that message.

Stronger ad disclosures and faster reporting

Ads that back or oppose a candidate costing $10,000 or more must name the payer and the four biggest donors of $10,000+. If a candidate puts in over $20,000 to their own ads, that must be stated. Anonymous gifts of $1,000 or more cannot fund these ads. Starting January 1, 2027, anyone who spends over $250 on independent expenditures must file electronically within seven days, then generally within 30 days, with seven‑day filings in the 42 days before primary and general elections. Itemize contributors and payees over $100 per year, and report in‑kind support as both a contribution and an expenditure. Any campaign message with synthetic media must say the image, audio, or video was manipulated. Anyone who solicits and receives contributions is a political committee and must register and report.

Workers protected from forced donations

No one may force an employee or contractor to give money or spend to back a candidate. No one may promise benefits or threaten harm based on that choice. This protects workers from political coercion at work.

State funds to run the new system

The state gives the Secretary of State extra money to implement this law: $710,874 for Administrative Services and $841,646 for Elections, both for 2025–27. This helps build and enforce the updated campaign finance system.

Limits on leftover campaign money

A candidate’s main campaign account may keep only a set amount after an election. The cap is $10,000 for state Representatives, circuit judges, district attorneys, and offices with 100,000 or fewer electors. It is $20,000 for state Senators and offices with 100,000–300,000 electors, and $40,000 for other statewide offices. Leftover funds may be used only for refunds, allowed transfers, deposits to the Campaign Finance Education Fund, or other authorized uses. If the committee is not used for two straight terms after the most recent term, it must dispose of the funds within 60 days after that second term ends.

Stricter campaign money limits and bans

The law tightens how money moves in campaigns. You cannot give more than the recipient can legally accept. It bans straw donations and reimbursements, foreign money, and gifts from clubs, associations, and anonymous LLCs (not including defined membership organizations). It treats related committees as one for limits and can combine related entities set up only to evade limits after a state investigation. A measure committee may not spend for or against candidates. Starting January 1, 2027, each candidate must have only one principal campaign committee, and one person cannot control more than one of each listed committee type.

Faster investigations and stricter penalty steps

For complaints about the Secretary of State or that race, the Attorney General must start within 30 days and issue findings within 60 days, starting January 1, 2027. Most election complaints must be filed within 90 days of the election or the violation, whichever is later. Filing officers must act within two years, or within five years if fraud or deceit hid the violation. Starting January 1, 2031, penalty notices to organizations must state that an Oregon‑licensed attorney is required, except a political committee may use an officer listed in its filing. Complainants in original‑source cases get outcome notices, and if potential penalties exceed $10,000, they may request a formal hearing.

Faster reviews, fairer complaints and cures

Starting January 1, 2027, filing officers must inspect campaign reports within 10 business days and tell filers quickly if something is missing. If you correct a filing, the officer has 30 days to confirm; if they do not, you are not fined under ORS 260.232 for that failure. Agencies must tell people named in a complaint within three business days of deciding to investigate, or within 10 business days when many are named at once. Anonymous complaints are not accepted. If you take a contribution over the limit, you can cure it by refunding the excess within 14 days. Unlawful contributions can bring penalties equal to the unlawful amount plus 10%, with higher penalties for knowing violations.

Law takes effect immediately

The Act declares an emergency and takes effect on passage. Its rules are now law.

Public campaign money dashboard and education

The Secretary of State must build a public dashboard with charts and numbers on campaign money and modernize filing software by January 1, 2032. For elections after that, the state must post the 100 largest contributors to candidates and the original sources for independent spending at least 10 days before each election. The law also creates a Campaign Finance Education Fund to support education and implementation.

Registered segregated funds for unions and firms

Corporations and 501(c)(5) labor groups can run separate political funds if they register them and file reports. Money must come only from individual employees, officers, shareholders, or members (or member dues), and each person’s giving must follow per‑person limits. Solicitations must say giving is voluntary, will not affect jobs, and will not be shared with managers.

Rules for AI-made political ads

Starting January 1, 2027, the state can go to court to stop violations of the synthetic media rule in political ads. Courts can act quickly and may fine up to $10,000 per violation. Winners may recover attorney fees. Some content is exempt, such as certain online services, bona fide news with authenticity notices, and satire.

Small-donor committees: $250 cap and reorg

An individual may give no more than $250 per year to a small‑donor committee. These committees cannot take money from most other committee types or membership organizations. A political committee may convert to a small‑donor committee by March 31, 2027, if at least 90% of its past 24 months of funds came from people who gave $250 or less per year. Its banked money carries over and is treated like other small‑donor funds.

Stronger committee filing and definitions

Political committees must file a detailed organization statement, including directors, treasurer, bank details, and committee type. Parties may have only one party multicandidate committee and one caucus committee per chamber; a membership group may have only one membership‑organization political committee. Changes must be filed within 10 days, and bank info is kept confidential except for enforcement. The law defines an election cycle as two years, defines who counts as a committee director, and expands what counts as a contribution, including in‑kind support and below‑market deals.

Temporary donor lists for election ads

Covered organizations that pass set spending thresholds for election ads must file a donor list within 7 days. The list must name donors who gave $10,000 or more in the cycle and be updated when amounts change. Some charity gifts and restricted grants may be excluded. While these rules apply, late initial lists can be fined the lesser of 10% per day of communication cost or 150% total; errors or late updates can cost up to 10% of the missing donations. These temporary rules end January 2, 2031.

Tight rules on in-kind campaign help

Membership groups may give staff time to campaigns, but hours are capped. The cap is 2,080 hours per year for legislative and most local races and 6,240 hours for statewide offices. Office space is capped at 2,500 square feet per year, and incidental costs are capped at $1,000 per year. Food and drink are capped at $2,500 per year for non‑state offices and $5,000 for state offices; transportation for state offices is capped at $5,000 per year. Groups that give in‑kind help must keep those staff separate from independent‑spending staff, bar sharing nonpublic strategy, and issue a written policy.

What counts as campaign spending and income

The law protects many nonpartisan activities from being treated as campaign contributions or spending. These include neutral voter registration and get‑out‑the‑vote work, some debates and voters’ guides, certain member communications, commercial messages that only show a candidate’s preexisting business role, and some official publications. It also defines “business income” for campaign rules to include sales, membership or union dues, and contributions or donations. Dues or donations over $5,000 from one person in a year are excluded from business income.

When these rules start and end

Key dates: ORS 260.034 starts January 1, 2026. Most contribution, designation, and definition changes start January 1, 2027. Some reporting and enforcement changes start January 1, 2031. Donor‑identification sections 23–25 end January 2, 2031, unless renewed. ORS 260.006 is repealed January 1, 2027.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsors

There is no primary sponsor on record.

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 106 • No: 43

House vote • 3/5/2026

Rules: Heard and Reported Out

Yes: 7 • No: 0

House vote • 3/5/2026

Third reading. Carried by Bowman, Elmer. Passed.

Yes: 39 • No: 19

Senate vote • 3/5/2026

Rules suspended. Third reading. Carried by Jama, Starr. Passed.

Yes: 20 • No: 9

legislature vote • 3/3/2026

Ways and Means: Heard and Reported Out with Amendments

Yes: 34 • No: 14

House vote • 2/17/2026

Rules: Heard and Reported Out with Amendments

Yes: 6 • No: 1

Actions Timeline

  1. Chapter 139, (2026 Laws): Effective date April 9, 2026.

    4/13/2026House

  2. Governor signed.

    4/9/2026House

  3. President signed.

    3/6/2026Senate

  4. Speaker signed.

    3/6/2026House

  5. Vote explanation(s) filed by Frederick.

    3/5/2026Senate

  6. Rules suspended. Third reading. Carried by Jama, Starr. Passed.

    3/5/2026Senate

  7. Rules suspended. Second reading.

    3/5/2026Senate

  8. Recommendation: Do pass the B-Eng. bill.

    3/5/2026Senate

  9. Referred to Ways and Means.

    3/5/2026Senate

  10. First reading. Referred to President's desk.

    3/5/2026Senate

  11. Vote explanation(s) filed by Nathanson.

    3/5/2026House

  12. Third reading. Carried by Bowman, Elmer. Passed.

    3/5/2026House

  13. Recommendation: Do pass.

    3/5/2026House

  14. Work Session held.

    3/5/2026House

  15. Work Session cancelled.

    3/4/2026House

  16. Rules suspended. Motion to re-refer to Rules carried. Re-referred.

    3/4/2026House

  17. Second reading.

    3/4/2026House

  18. Recommendation: Do pass with amendments and be printed B-Engrossed.

    3/4/2026House

  19. Returned to Full Committee.

    3/3/2026House

  20. Work Session held.

    3/3/2026House

  21. Work Session held.

    3/3/2026House

  22. Assigned to Subcommittee On Capital Construction.

    2/27/2026House

  23. Referred to Ways and Means by order of Speaker.

    2/18/2026House

  24. Recommendation: Do pass with amendments, be printed A-Engrossed, and be referred to Ways and Means.

    2/18/2026House

  25. Work Session held.

    2/17/2026House

Bill Text

  • Enrolled

    3/5/2026

    PDF

  • B-Engrossed

    3/4/2026

    PDF

  • House Amendments to A-Engrossed

    3/4/2026

    PDF

  • JWM Amendment -A12 (Adopted)

    3/3/2026

    PDF

  • JWMCC Amendment -A12 (Proposed)

    3/3/2026

    PDF

  • JWMCC Amendment -A14 (Proposed)

    3/3/2026

    PDF

  • JWMCC Amendment -A12 (Proposed)

    3/2/2026

    PDF

  • A-Engrossed

    2/18/2026

    PDF

  • House Amendments to Introduced

    2/18/2026

    PDF

  • HRULES Amendment -8 (Adopted)

    2/17/2026

    PDF

  • HRULES Amendment -6 (Proposed)

    2/12/2026

    PDF

  • HRULES Amendment -8 (Proposed)

    2/12/2026

    PDF

  • HRULES Amendment -6 (Proposed)

    2/10/2026

    PDF

  • Introduced

    1/28/2026

    PDF

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