All Roll Calls
Yes: 138 • No: 3
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)
Became Law
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
6 provisions identified: 5 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.
Bigger bridge grants for veterans' training
Beginning July 1, 2026, veterans can get a one-time bridge grant of up to $10,000. You must be enrolled in a program that allows VA education benefits, a licensed career school, a registered apprenticeship, or public-employer on-the-job training. You must be unable to finish on time because required courses or hours are unavailable, have school debt from an overpayment or prior withdrawal that blocks enrollment, or face financial hardship. You must be making satisfactory progress. Grants are paid only when the fund has enough money.
Grants for veteran suicide prevention and jobs
Beginning July 1, 2026, the state runs competitive grants that link veteran suicide prevention with job training. The Department of Veterans’ Affairs chooses grantees through requests for proposals, sets eligibility rules, and favors community-based services. The department may use the Veterans’ Services Fund to start and run the program and may accept public or private donations. For the budget ending June 30, 2027, the state raises the lottery spending limit by $353,115 to support this work. The department reports program status to lawmakers by January 2, 2029.
New rules for county veteran funds
Beginning July 1, 2026, the state sends veterans’ service money to counties each quarter based on reported spending by county veterans’ service officers. Counties must submit a veterans’ services budget and file quarterly spending reports; they may later add missing expenses for prior quarters. At year end, counties that spent at least 90% of their budgeted amount get remaining funds within 90 days. State money must add to, not replace, county funding. The Director may cut distributions if General Fund or Lottery revenues for this purpose drop. The Department of Veterans’ Affairs reports on the process by January 2, 2030.
Easier access to veteran and old records
Beginning July 1, 2026, authorized people can inspect a veteran’s recorded discharge papers by making a written request with required details. Authorized people include the veteran, a person with power of attorney or the personal representative, a county veterans’ service officer, a Department of Veterans’ Affairs representative, or a licensed funeral home. The county clerk must keep a copy of each request for 10 years and may adopt protective policies. Also starting July 1, 2026, public records older than 25 years are open for inspection unless a specific law exempts them.
Study to expand veterans’ treatment courts
Beginning July 1, 2026, the Judicial Department studies how to give every county access to veterans’ treatment courts. It works with the Oregon Criminal Justice Commission and follows the standards in state law. The report to legislative veterans committees is due November 1, 2026. This study section is repealed January 2, 2027.
Veteran leadership and deputy at state veterans agency
Beginning July 1, 2026, Oregon’s veterans’ agency must be led by a Director who is a veteran with a discharge other than dishonorable and chosen for executive and administrative ability. The Director may appoint a deputy with the Governor’s approval. If the appointee is a veteran, the Director must consider the experience a veteran brings. The deputy can act with full authority for the Director and serves at the Director’s pleasure.
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
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: 48 • No: 0
House vote • 2/12/2026
Emergency Management and Veterans: Heard and Reported Out with Amendments
Yes: 6 • No: 1
Actions Timeline
Chapter 117, (2026 Laws): Effective date July 1, 2026.
4/13/2026HouseGovernor signed.
4/7/2026HousePresident signed.
3/10/2026SenateSpeaker signed.
3/10/2026HouseVote explanation(s) filed by Sollman.
3/6/2026SenateThird reading. Carried by Manning Jr. Passed.
3/6/2026SenateSecond reading.
3/5/2026SenateRecommendation: Do pass the B-Eng. bill.
3/5/2026SenateReferred to Ways and Means.
3/4/2026SenateFirst reading. Referred to President's desk.
3/4/2026SenateThird reading. Carried by Evans. Passed.
3/3/2026HouseSecond reading.
3/2/2026HouseRecommendation: Do pass with amendments and be printed B-Engrossed.
2/27/2026HouseWork Session held.
2/27/2026HouseReturned to Full Committee.
2/26/2026HouseWork Session held.
2/26/2026HouseAssigned to Subcommittee On Transportation and Economic Development.
2/23/2026HouseReferred to Ways and Means by prior reference.
2/16/2026HouseRecommendation: Do pass with amendments, be printed A-Engrossed, and be referred to Ways and Means by prior reference.
2/16/2026HouseWork Session held.
2/12/2026HousePublic Hearing held.
2/5/2026HouseReferred to Emergency Management and Veterans with subsequent referral to Ways and Means.
2/2/2026HouseFirst reading. Referred to Speaker's desk.
2/2/2026House
Bill Text
Enrolled
3/6/2026
B-Engrossed
2/27/2026
House Amendments to A-Engrossed
2/27/2026
JWM Amendment -A5 (Adopted)
2/27/2026
JWMTR Amendment -A3 (Proposed)
2/26/2026
JWMTR Amendment -A4 (Proposed)
2/26/2026
A-Engrossed
2/16/2026
House Amendments to Introduced
2/16/2026
HEMV Amendment -1 (Adopted)
2/12/2026
HEMV Amendment -1 (Proposed)
2/5/2026
Introduced
1/28/2026
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