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OregonSB 15152026 Regular SessionSenate

Relating to wrongful convictions; and declaring an emergency.

Sponsored By: Sponsor information unavailable

Became Law

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

7 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 1 costs, 3 mixed.

Certificate of innocence and sealed records

When you win compensation, the judgment includes a certificate of innocence. The court must set aside and seal the arrest and conviction records tied to the case in state and federal systems. This applies even if you have other convictions or pending charges.

Money and help for the wrongfully convicted

If you prove a wrongful conviction, the court pays $65,000 for each year in prison and $25,000 for each extra year on parole, supervision, or sex‑offender registration. Time served at the same time for another crime does not count. Each July 1, these amounts are adjusted by the West‑region CPI, up to 3% a year. The court pays an initial amount up to the greater of $100,000 or 25% of the award, and the rest in yearly payments capped at $80,000; the court can order a lump sum if that is best for you. The award is not taxed by Oregon, and the court must pay your reasonable attorney fees and repay restitution, fines, and court costs from the old case. Courts may connect you to counseling, housing, medical help, job training, and other services, and the Department of Corrections may provide reentry help before and after judgment.

New relief for discredited forensic science

The law creates a special post‑conviction path if your case relied on hair microscopy, bite‑mark analysis or comparison, or comparative bullet‑lead analysis. The court must grant relief if you prove by a preponderance that the conviction was substantially based on those methods and, for trials, there is a reasonable probability the result would have been different without that evidence, or, for pleas, that the evidence was known and was a material factor in your decision to plead. You can file even if you did not object at trial, did not raise the issue on appeal, pleaded guilty, confessed, or finished your sentence; the failure‑to‑object exception does not apply to trials held on or after the law’s effective date. Courts use the standard post‑conviction procedures and remedies. The rules cover cases with direct appeals still open when the law took effect and also cover earlier cases if you file within two years after the law’s effective date. This remedy does not cover convictions based on objective, validated computational methods that replaced those techniques. These special provisions end on January 2, 2031, but timely filed cases still waiting for a final judgment continue under these rules.

How claims are handled and appealed

These cases are civil actions that follow Oregon civil and evidence rules. Courts may consider declarations, depositions, testimony, and transcripts, but your burden of proof stays the same. A victim cannot be forced to testify unless a court finds the testimony is relevant and allows a subpoena; a victim who asks for no personal contact may appear by video. After the state gets the case file and evidence, the Attorney General must issue a written decision within 180 days and may not oppose the case if the legal standard is met; this review applies to petitions filed on or after the law’s effective date. Either side may appeal to the Court of Appeals and must serve the Attorney General and the local district attorney. Petitions without a final judgment when the law took effect proceed under the amended rules, and the Attorney General must send a yearly report to the legislature. The Act takes effect on its passage.

Post-conviction filing deadline in 2031

Beginning January 2, 2031, most post‑conviction petitions must be filed within two years of set trigger dates, such as when judgment is entered with no appeal or when an appeal becomes final. Earlier law stays in place until that date.

Deadlines and notice to start a claim

You must file your compensation petition within two years after the later of dismissal, a not‑guilty verdict at retrial, or a pardon. You must also give notice within 180 days, with up to 90 days excluded if injury, minority, incompetency, or other incapacity kept you from giving notice. Formal notice must list the event date and your contact information and be sent to the Director of the Department of Administrative Services, but you can also satisfy notice by filing your petition in time, by filing a tort claim notice, or if the state has paid compensation. Courts can excuse late notice for good cause. You may file in Marion County or in the county of conviction, and you must serve the Attorney General and mail a copy to the local district attorney. When your conviction is reversed or vacated and charges are dismissed or you are acquitted on retrial, the court must tell you in person or in writing about the 180‑day notice right.

Who qualifies and how to prove innocence

You can seek compensation if you were convicted of a felony, imprisoned, and later had the case dismissed, were found not guilty at a retrial, or were pardoned. You must show you did not commit or help the crime and did not commit perjury or fabricate evidence; a later‑discredited confession or guilty plea alone is not perjury. If a court already found that no reasonable juror would convict you when all evidence is considered, that finding counts as proof of innocence. A reversal for a nonunanimous jury by itself is not enough to prove innocence. Some juvenile adjudications also qualify when they led to at least one year in custody with the Oregon Youth Authority or Department of Corrections.

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: 110 • No: 17

Senate vote • 3/6/2026

Senate concurred in House amendments and repassed bill.

Yes: 29 • No: 0

House vote • 3/5/2026

Third reading. Carried by Chotzen. Passed.

Yes: 40 • No: 16

House vote • 3/3/2026

Rules: Heard and Reported Out with Amendments

Yes: 7 • No: 0

Senate vote • 2/24/2026

Third reading. Carried by Thatcher, Prozanski. Passed.

Yes: 28 • No: 1

Senate vote • 2/16/2026

Judiciary: Heard and Reported Out with Amendments

Yes: 6 • No: 0

Actions Timeline

  1. Effective date, April 7, 2026.

    4/14/2026Senate

  2. Chapter 131, 2026 Laws.

    4/14/2026Senate

  3. Governor signed.

    4/7/2026Senate

  4. Speaker signed.

    3/10/2026House

  5. President signed.

    3/10/2026Senate

  6. Manning Jr, excused, granted unanimous consent to vote aye.

    3/6/2026Senate

  7. Senate concurred in House amendments and repassed bill.

    3/6/2026Senate

  8. Third reading. Carried by Chotzen. Passed.

    3/5/2026House

  9. Second reading.

    3/4/2026House

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

    3/3/2026House

  11. Work Session held.

    3/3/2026House

  12. Public Hearing held.

    3/2/2026House

  13. Referred to Rules.

    2/24/2026House

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

    2/24/2026House

  15. Third reading. Carried by Thatcher, Prozanski. Passed.

    2/24/2026Senate

  16. Carried over to 02-24 by unanimous consent.

    2/23/2026Senate

  17. Second reading.

    2/20/2026Senate

  18. Recommendation: Do pass with amendments. (Printed A-Eng.)

    2/19/2026Senate

  19. Work Session held.

    2/16/2026Senate

  20. Work Session held.

    2/11/2026Senate

  21. Public Hearing held.

    2/4/2026Senate

  22. Referred to Judiciary.

    2/2/2026Senate

  23. Introduction and first reading. Referred to President's desk.

    2/2/2026Senate

Bill Text

  • Enrolled

    3/6/2026

    PDF

  • B-Engrossed

    3/3/2026

    PDF

  • HRULES Amendment -A5 (Proposed)

    3/3/2026

    PDF

  • HRULES Amendment -A6 (Adopted)

    3/3/2026

    PDF

  • House Amendments to A-Engrossed

    3/3/2026

    PDF

  • HRULES Amendment -A5 (Proposed)

    3/2/2026

    PDF

  • A-Engrossed

    2/19/2026

    PDF

  • Senate Amendments to Introduced

    2/19/2026

    PDF

  • SJUD Amendment -3 (Proposed)

    2/16/2026

    PDF

  • SJUD Amendment -4 (Adopted)

    2/16/2026

    PDF

  • SJUD Amendment -3 (Proposed)

    2/11/2026

    PDF

  • SJUD Amendment -4 (Proposed)

    2/11/2026

    PDF

  • SJUD Amendment -1 (Proposed)

    2/4/2026

    PDF

  • Introduced

    1/28/2026

    PDF

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