PRIA Logo™
OregonHB 41322026 Regular SessionHouseWALLET

Relating to veterans; and prescribing an effective date.

Sponsored By: Ben Bowman (Democratic), Hai Pham (Democratic), James Manning Jr. (Democratic), Janeen Sollman (Democratic), Paul Evans (Democratic)

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

4 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.

Bigger education grants for Oregon veterans

Beginning July 1, 2026, Oregon raises the Veteran Educational Bridge Grant limit from $5,000 to $10,000 per veteran. Veterans must be enrolled in qualifying education, career school, registered apprenticeship, or public-employer job training and make satisfactory progress. They must face unavailable required courses or training hours, enrollment-blocking debt from overpayments or withdrawals, or hardship threatening continued enrollment. The law adds financial hardship as a qualifying reason without requiring eligibility for other aid or demonstrated student-aid need. Grants are available only when the program fund has enough money.

Veterans gain record access with privacy protections

Beginning July 1, 2026, Oregon adds power-of-attorney holders and personal representatives to those allowed to inspect county-recorded veteran discharge papers. Veterans, county veterans’ service officers, state veterans’ affairs representatives, and licensed funeral homes checking burial-benefit eligibility also have access. Written requests must include the requester’s name, address, and phone number. They must include the veteran’s name and either birth date or the last four Social Security number digits. Counties must keep requests for at least 10 years. Covered discharge papers and records exempt under ORS 192.355(37) stay protected from public inspection even after 25 years.

New suicide prevention and job help for veterans

Beginning July 1, 2026, Oregon creates grants for groups pairing veteran suicide prevention with job training and preparation. The state selects groups through competitive proposals, prioritizing those that help veterans take part in their local communities. Oregon’s veterans department must set participation criteria and a process for veterans to apply for help. The law adds $353,115 in lottery spending authority for 2025–27, funded through the Veterans’ Services Fund; donations are also allowed. The department must report on the program to legislative committees by January 2, 2029.

County veterans funding tied to spending

Beginning July 1, 2026, Oregon distributes county veterans’ service officer funding quarterly, in proportion to counties’ reported spending. Counties must submit yearly budgets and quarterly spending reports. Counties spending at least 90% of their veterans-service budget qualify for leftover funds, distributed within 90 days after year-end. State distributions may shrink if designated General Fund or lottery revenues decrease. The veterans department must report on the distribution process to legislative committees by January 2, 2030.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsors

  • Ben Bowman

    Democratic • House

  • Hai Pham

    Democratic • House

  • James Manning Jr.

    Democratic • Senate

  • Janeen Sollman

    Democratic • Senate

  • Paul Evans

    Democratic • House

Cosponsors

  • April Dobson

    Democratic • House

  • Bobby Levy

    Republican • House

  • Christine Drazan

    Republican • Senate

  • Cyrus Javadi

    Democratic • House

  • Dacia Grayber

    Democratic • House

  • Daniel Nguyen

    Democratic • House

  • David Brock Smith

    Republican • Senate

  • David Gomberg

    Democratic • House

  • Deb Patterson

    Democratic • Senate

  • Farrah Chaichi

    Democratic • House

  • Fred Girod

    Republican • Senate

  • Jason Kropf

    Democratic • House

  • Jules Walters

    Democratic • House

  • Lamar Wise

    Democratic • House

  • Lesly Muñoz

    Democratic • House

  • Lew Frederick

    Democratic • Senate

  • Mari Watanabe

    Democratic • House

  • Mark Gamba

    Democratic • House

  • Mark Meek

    Democratic • Senate

  • Mark Owens

    Republican • House

  • Matt Bunch

    Republican • House

  • Pam Marsh

    Democratic • House

  • Rick Lewis

    Republican • House

  • Ricki Ruiz

    Democratic • House

  • Sarah McDonald

    Democratic • House

  • Shannon Isadore

    Democratic • House

  • Sue Rieke Smith

    Democratic • House

  • Thuy Tran

    Democratic • House

  • Tom Andersen

    Democratic • House

  • Travis Nelson

    Democratic • House

  • Willy Chotzen

    Democratic • House

  • Zach Hudson

    Democratic • House

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 114 • No: 3

Senate vote • 3/6/2026

Third reading. Carried by Manning Jr. Passed.

Yes: 29 • No: 0

House vote • 3/3/2026

Third reading. Carried by Evans. Passed.

Yes: 55 • No: 2

legislature vote • 2/27/2026

Ways and Means: Heard and Reported Out with Amendments

Yes: 24 • No: 0

House vote • 2/12/2026

Emergency Management and Veterans: Heard and Reported Out with Amendments

Yes: 6 • No: 1

Actions Timeline

  1. Chapter 117, (2026 Laws): Effective date July 1, 2026.

    4/13/2026House

  2. Governor signed.

    4/7/2026House

  3. President signed.

    3/10/2026Senate

  4. Speaker signed.

    3/10/2026House

  5. Vote explanation(s) filed by Sollman.

    3/6/2026Senate

  6. Third reading. Carried by Manning Jr. Passed.

    3/6/2026Senate

  7. Second reading.

    3/5/2026Senate

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

    3/5/2026Senate

  9. Referred to Ways and Means.

    3/4/2026Senate

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

    3/4/2026Senate

  11. Third reading. Carried by Evans. Passed.

    3/3/2026House

  12. Second reading.

    3/2/2026House

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

    2/27/2026House

  14. Work Session held.

    2/27/2026House

  15. Returned to Full Committee.

    2/26/2026House

  16. Work Session held.

    2/26/2026House

  17. Assigned to Subcommittee On Transportation and Economic Development.

    2/23/2026House

  18. Referred to Ways and Means by prior reference.

    2/16/2026House

  19. Recommendation: Do pass with amendments, be printed A-Engrossed, and be referred to Ways and Means by prior reference.

    2/16/2026House

  20. Work Session held.

    2/12/2026House

  21. Public Hearing held.

    2/5/2026House

  22. Referred to Emergency Management and Veterans with subsequent referral to Ways and Means.

    2/2/2026House

  23. First reading. Referred to Speaker's desk.

    2/2/2026House

Bill Text

  • JWM Amendment -A5 (Adopted)

    2/27/2026

    PDF

  • JWMTR Amendment -A3 (Proposed)

    2/26/2026

    PDF

  • JWMTR Amendment -A4 (Proposed)

    2/26/2026

    PDF

  • HEMV Amendment -1 (Adopted)

    2/12/2026

    PDF

  • HEMV Amendment -1 (Proposed)

    2/5/2026

    PDF

  • A-Engrossed

    PDF

  • B-Engrossed

    PDF

  • Enrolled

    PDF

  • House Amendments to A-Engrossed

    PDF

  • House Amendments to Introduced

    PDF

  • Introduced

    PDF

Related Bills

Back to State Legislation