OregonHB 41492026 Regular SessionHouseWALLET

Relating to homeless students.

Sponsored By: Ben Bowman (Democratic), Courtney Neron Misslin (Democratic), Emerson Levy (Democratic), Hai Pham (Democratic), Pam Marsh (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: 4 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.

Homeless students can keep familiar schools

Homeless students can stay at their previous or last-enrolled school, including preschool, through the current and, where applicable, following school year. If housing becomes stable during a school year, students can stay at the school attended while homeless through that year. Districts must presume staying at the original school is best unless a parent, guardian, or unaccompanied youth requests another school. Another placement requires a best-interest review that considers achievement, health, and safety and gives priority to the requested school. Students placed at their original school count as residents of that school’s district.

Immediate school access for homeless students

Oregon protects students without a fixed, regular, adequate nighttime home, those abandoned in hospitals, and those covered by federal homelessness law. These protections include children eligible for preschool and homeless youth who are not in a parent’s or guardian’s custody. Districts must provide immediate enrollment, placement, and services despite missing records or deadlines. They must help obtain records, remove barriers to classes and activities, and provide services comparable to those for other students. Each district must name at least one liaison to help students access school and services, including through charter-school coordination. A state coordinator must monitor compliance, support preschool access, coordinate with housing agencies, and help prevent stigma and segregation.

School dispute protections for homeless students

Districts must quickly resolve disputes about homeless-student eligibility, school placement, or services. During eligibility or placement disputes, students must immediately attend the requested school and receive required transportation through final appeals. Families and unaccompanied youth can bring advocates and get free language or disability supports when needed. Informal resolution cannot remove formal appeal rights, and liaisons must help with appeals. Written decisions must explain reasons, evidence, appeal deadlines, and help contacts, including when districts reject the original or requested school. For unaccompanied youth, liaisons must ensure placement notices arrive and include their contact information and role.

Transportation help for homeless students

Districts must transport homeless students to and from their original school when a parent or guardian requests it. For unaccompanied youth, the local liaison makes the request. The original district provides transportation when students remain there; after a cross-district move, both districts share responsibility and costs. Districts split those costs equally if they cannot agree. Transportation to neighborhood or charter schools must match comparable students’ transportation or remove barriers to enrollment, attendance, or success. Transportation to extracurricular activities is required when needed to remove participation barriers.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Cosponsors

Dacia Grayber
Democratic • House
Deb Patterson
Democratic • Senate
Floyd Prozanski
Democratic • Senate
Janeen Sollman
Democratic • Senate
Jason Kropf
Democratic • House
Ken Helm
Democratic • House
Khanh Pham
Democratic • Senate
Lamar Wise
Democratic • House
Lew Frederick
Democratic • Senate
Lisa Fragala
Democratic • House
Lisa Reynolds
Democratic • Senate
Mark Gamba
Democratic • House
Nancy Nathanson
Democratic • House
Sara Gelser Blouin
Democratic • Senate
Shannon Isadore
Democratic • House
Sue Rieke Smith
Democratic • House
Susan McLain
Democratic • House
Willy Chotzen
Democratic • House
Wlnsvey Campos
Democratic • Senate
Zach Hudson
Democratic • House

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 77 • No: 6

Senate vote • 3/3/2026

Third reading. Carried by Neron Misslin. Passed.

Yes: 26 • No: 2

Senate vote • 2/26/2026

Education: Heard and Reported Out

Yes: 4 • No: 1

House vote • 2/20/2026

Third reading. Carried by Levy E. Passed.

Yes: 39 • No: 3

House vote • 2/16/2026

Education: Heard and Reported Out with Amendments

Yes: 8 • No: 0

Actions Timeline

Chapter 68, (2026 Laws): Effective date January 1, 2027.
4/6/2026House
Governor signed.
3/31/2026House
President signed.
3/5/2026Senate
Speaker signed.
3/4/2026House
Third reading. Carried by Neron Misslin. Passed.
3/3/2026Senate
Carried over to 03-03 by unanimous consent.
3/2/2026Senate
Second reading.
2/27/2026Senate
Recommendation: Do pass the A-Eng. bill.
2/27/2026Senate
Work Session held.
2/26/2026Senate
Public Hearing held.
2/24/2026Senate
Referred to Education.
2/20/2026Senate
First reading. Referred to President's desk.
2/20/2026Senate
Third reading. Carried by Levy E. Passed.
2/20/2026House
Rules suspended. Carried over to February 20, 2026 Calendar.
2/19/2026House
Second reading.
2/18/2026House
Recommendation: Do pass with amendments and be printed A-Engrossed.
2/17/2026House
Work Session held.
2/16/2026House
Public Hearing held.
2/9/2026House
Referred to Education.
2/2/2026House
First reading. Referred to Speaker's desk.
2/2/2026House

Bill Text

HED Amendment -3 (Adopted)
2/16/2026
PDF
HED Amendment -3 (Proposed)
2/11/2026
PDF
HED Amendment -1 (Proposed)
2/9/2026
PDF
HED Amendment -2 (Proposed)
2/9/2026
PDF
A-Engrossed
PDF
Enrolled
PDF
House Amendments to Introduced
PDF
Introduced
PDF

Related Bills

Back to State Legislation