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OregonSB 15572026 Regular SessionSenate

Relating to courts; and prescribing an effective date.

Sponsored By: Sponsor information unavailable

Became Law

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

6 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 4 mixed.

Surrogacy parentage cases are confidential

Beginning September 29, 2025, court cases to decide parentage from a gestational surrogacy are confidential and not public. Only the parties, the child, their lawyers, and the court can see the records, unless a judge orders access for good cause. The court may charge for preparing copies. For older cases, a party can ask the court to make the file confidential.

Stronger rights and proof in contempt

Beginning January 1, 2027, punitive contempt must be proved beyond a reasonable doubt. People charged with punitive contempt get most criminal‑procedure protections and can have a court‑appointed lawyer if eligible, but there is no right to a jury trial. If you plan to argue you could not follow the order, you must file written notice at least five days before trial or the court can bar that evidence unless you show good cause. For remedial contempt, proof must be clear and convincing for non‑confinement sanctions, and beyond a reasonable doubt if confinement is sought. The court cannot impose remedial confinement unless you were told it was possible and you had the same right to appointed counsel as in a similar punitive case.

Warrants, bail, and custody in contempt

Beginning January 1, 2027, if you miss a required contempt appearance (in person or remote), the court may issue orders or a warrant to make you appear. Any contempt warrant must set a security amount. If arrested and you do not pay it, the sheriff keeps you in custody until the court releases you or the case ends. You can be released before the warrant’s return day by posting the security or signing a release agreement. If the court takes your deposit, it may give some or all of it to a party as remedial damages.

Fire Marshal can enforce subpoenas

Beginning January 1, 2027, the State Fire Marshal may ask a court to order a person to explain not obeying a subpoena in a fire‑cost investigation. The Marshal must serve the standard contempt papers. If the person shows no good cause, the court may use contempt to force compliance.

New process and fees in remedial contempt

Beginning January 1, 2027, only certain people can file a remedial contempt case, like a harmed party or a prosecutor. To start a case, the filer must submit a complaint, a sworn statement based on personal knowledge, and ask the court to order the defendant to appear. The court’s order must give a date, time, and say if the hearing is in person or remote. The order must be personally served; if the defendant has a lawyer, the lawyer must also be served, and substituted service is allowed when personal service is waived in certain family cases. The defendant may file a response within 21 days, and the court may give more time for good cause. The court can dismiss a weak case at any time if no basic case is shown. If the defendant does not appear, the plaintiff may seek a default order; the court may order relief or non‑jail sanctions, but not remedial confinement under that default rule. If contempt is found, the court may order the relief needed to cure it, require the defendant to pay the plaintiff’s attorney fees and costs, continue the case to allow a cure, or dismiss if cured. The court may award fees to the winning party under the usual fee rules. These cases follow rules adopted under ORS 33.145, not the general civil rules, except where the new law says they do.

Who prosecutes punitive contempt, who pays

Beginning January 1, 2027, city attorneys, district attorneys, or the Attorney General can start punitive contempt cases. If the regular prosecutor declines and the court finds remedial sanctions are not an effective alternative, the court may appoint a lawyer to prosecute. Pay for that lawyer depends on the court: the state’s administrative department pays for appointments by the Supreme Court, Court of Appeals, or Tax Court; cities pay for municipal court appointments; counties pay in other cases.

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: 93 • No: 0

House vote • 3/3/2026

Third reading. Carried by Mannix. Passed.

Yes: 51 • No: 0

House vote • 2/25/2026

Judiciary: Heard and Reported Out

Yes: 8 • No: 0

Senate vote • 2/19/2026

Third reading. Carried by Broadman. Passed.

Yes: 28 • No: 0

Senate vote • 2/9/2026

Judiciary: Heard and Reported Out with Amendments

Yes: 6 • No: 0

Actions Timeline

  1. Effective date, June 5, 2026.

    4/6/2026Senate

  2. Chapter 88, 2026 Laws.

    4/6/2026Senate

  3. Governor signed.

    3/31/2026Senate

  4. Speaker signed.

    3/5/2026House

  5. President signed.

    3/5/2026Senate

  6. Third reading. Carried by Mannix. Passed.

    3/3/2026House

  7. Rules suspended. Carried over to March 3, 2026 Calendar.

    3/2/2026House

  8. Second reading.

    2/27/2026House

  9. Recommendation: Do pass.

    2/26/2026House

  10. Work Session held.

    2/25/2026House

  11. Public Hearing held.

    2/23/2026House

  12. Referred to Judiciary.

    2/20/2026House

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

    2/19/2026House

  14. Third reading. Carried by Broadman. Passed.

    2/19/2026Senate

  15. Carried over to 02-19 by virtue of adjournment.

    2/18/2026Senate

  16. Carried over to 02-18 by unanimous consent.

    2/17/2026Senate

  17. Second reading.

    2/16/2026Senate

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

    2/13/2026Senate

  19. Work Session held.

    2/9/2026Senate

  20. Public Hearing held.

    2/4/2026Senate

  21. Informational Meeting scheduled.

    2/2/2026Senate

  22. Referred to Judiciary.

    2/2/2026Senate

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

    2/2/2026Senate

Bill Text

  • Enrolled

    3/3/2026

    PDF

  • A-Engrossed

    2/13/2026

    PDF

  • Senate Amendments to Introduced

    2/13/2026

    PDF

  • SJUD Amendment -7 (Adopted)

    2/9/2026

    PDF

  • SJUD Amendment -8 (Proposed)

    2/9/2026

    PDF

  • SJUD Amendment -2 (Proposed)

    2/4/2026

    PDF

  • SJUD Amendment -5 (Proposed)

    2/4/2026

    PDF

  • SJUD Amendment -8 (Proposed)

    2/4/2026

    PDF

  • Introduced

    1/28/2026

    PDF

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