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OregonSB 55252025 Regular SessionSenate

Relating to the financial administration of the Higher Education Coordinating Commission; and declaring an emergency.

Sponsored By: Sponsor information unavailable

Signed by Governor

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

13 provisions identified: 7 benefits, 2 costs, 4 mixed.

Oregon Funds Universities And Statewide Services

The law provides about $1.069 billion from the General Fund for public university operations and student support. It also provides about $61.48 million for public university statewide programs and $196.56 million for statewide public services. These amounts cover the two-year budget starting July 1, 2025. The funding does not set tuition prices or individual student awards.

Oregon Funds Health Sciences University Programs

The law provides about $146.48 million from the General Fund for Oregon Health & Science University education and other programs. The money covers the two-year budget starting July 1, 2025. This provision does not set student awards or direct household payments.

Oregon Pays Higher Education Debt

For the two-year budget starting July 1, 2025, the law funds existing higher education debt from the General Fund. General obligation bond payments receive about $311.92 million for public universities, $49.62 million for community colleges, and $23.57 million for Oregon Health & Science University. The financial aid information systems project's bond payments receive about $3.16 million. Public university energy loan repayments receive about $13.21 million. Bond-related costs receive about $1.41 million for public universities and $194,370 for community colleges.

Higher Education Agency Gets Budget Limits

The law provides about $96.61 million from the General Fund for Higher Education Coordinating Commission programs and operations. It caps program and grant spending from specified fees and other revenue at about $106.41 million. That ceiling excludes lottery funds, federal funds, and funds listed in sections 12–16. A separate federal-fund ceiling is about $145.80 million, excluding the federal funds listed in section 14. All amounts cover the two-year budget starting July 1, 2025; ceilings do not guarantee full spending.

Oregon Funds Community College Education

The law provides about $858.97 million from the General Fund to the Community College Support Fund. It distributes money to community colleges, community college service districts, and school districts. A separate $105,333 ceiling covers support from the Western and Eastern Oregon Timber Severance Tax Funds combined. These amounts apply to the two-year budget starting July 1, 2025, and do not set individual student awards.

Oregon Funds Student Grants With Limits

For the two-year budget starting July 1, 2025, the law provides about $231.67 million for Oregon Opportunity Grants. It also allows up to $94 million from the Education Stability Fund for those grants. General Fund support includes about $47.29 million for Oregon Promise and $26.03 million for Oregon Tribal Student Grants. These provisions fund student aid but cap the Education Stability Fund spending. They do not set individual awards or eligibility rules.

Five Universities Get Financial Stability Grants

The law adds about $11.09 million in General Fund support for five universities during the two-year budget starting July 1, 2025. Recipients are Portland State University, Oregon Institute of Technology, Southern Oregon University, Eastern Oregon University, and Western Oregon University. The grants support their long-term finances, and the Higher Education Coordinating Commission supports direct admissions work with them. This money supplements, rather than replaces, other appropriations.

Oregon Funds National Guard Tuition Help

The law provides about $5.52 million from the General Fund for Oregon National Guard tuition assistance. The money covers the two-year budget starting July 1, 2025. This funding supports eligible recipients but does not set individual awards or eligibility rules.

Some College Debt Payments Remain Uncapped

During the two-year budget starting July 1, 2025, certain college debt payments have no spending ceiling. This covers general obligation bond payments using resources received from public universities or Oregon Health & Science University. Build America Bond payments for public universities and community colleges are also uncapped. These authorities do not specify a total amount or create household payments.

Tuition Protection Spending Has No Cap

The commission's spending from the Tuition Protection Fund has no expenditure ceiling during the two-year budget starting July 1, 2025. This authority applies only to money from that fund. The provision does not set a total amount, individual eligibility rules, or a payment formula.

Oregon Caps Certain College Bond Payments

For the two-year budget starting July 1, 2025, the law caps specified college bond payments. Lottery money from the Administrative Services Economic Development Fund has separate debt-payment ceilings. These are about $35.48 million for public universities and $11.68 million for community colleges. A separate $3.80 million ceiling covers public university lottery and general obligation bond payments from specified commission revenue. That ceiling excludes lottery funds, federal funds, and the funds listed in sections 12–16 of the law.

Outdoor School And Sports Spending Capped

The law sets lottery spending limits for the two-year budget starting July 1, 2025. Payments to the Outdoor School Education Fund from the Administrative Services Economic Development Fund are capped at about $48.06 million. Commission spending from the Sports Lottery Account is capped at about $18.85 million. These are agency spending ceilings, not guaranteed household payments.

Workforce Funding Gets Limits And Flexibility

For the two-year budget starting July 1, 2025, the commission has two American Rescue Plan Act spending ceilings. They are $5.438 million for ORS 660.380 and 660.385, and $71.562 million for ORS 660.400 and 660.405. The federal recovery money must pass through Oregon's Department of Administrative Services to the commission. Separately, payments from federal National Emergency Grants funds are uncapped and can go to people, organizations, or government units. These provisions do not set individual eligibility or payment amounts.

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: 68 • No: 27

House vote • 6/23/2025

Third reading. Carried by Ruiz. Passed.

Yes: 32 • No: 12

Senate vote • 6/16/2025

Third reading. Carried by Frederick. Passed.

Yes: 21 • No: 7

legislature vote • 6/6/2025

Ways and Means: Heard and Reported Out with Amendments

Yes: 15 • No: 8

Actions Timeline

  1. Effective date, July 17, 2025.

    7/25/2025Senate

  2. Chapter 548, 2025 Laws.

    7/25/2025Senate

  3. Governor signed.

    7/17/2025Senate

  4. Speaker signed.

    6/26/2025House

  5. President signed.

    6/25/2025Senate

  6. Third reading. Carried by Ruiz. Passed.

    6/23/2025House

  7. Rules suspended. Carried over to June 23, 2025 Calendar.

    6/20/2025House

  8. Second reading.

    6/19/2025House

  9. Recommendation: Do pass.

    6/18/2025House

  10. Referred to Ways and Means.

    6/17/2025House

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

    6/17/2025House

  12. Third reading. Carried by Frederick. Passed.

    6/16/2025Senate

  13. Second reading.

    6/12/2025Senate

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

    6/11/2025Senate

  15. Work Session held.

    6/6/2025Senate

  16. Returned to Full Committee.

    6/2/2025Senate

  17. Work Session held.

    6/2/2025Senate

  18. Public Hearing held.

    5/6/2025Senate

  19. Informational Meeting held.

    5/1/2025Senate

  20. Public Hearing held.

    5/1/2025Senate

  21. Public Hearing held.

    4/30/2025Senate

  22. Informational Meeting held.

    4/29/2025Senate

  23. Public Hearing held.

    4/28/2025Senate

  24. Public Hearing held.

    4/24/2025Senate

  25. Public Hearing held.

    4/23/2025Senate

Bill Text

  • JWM Amendment -3 (Adopted)

    6/6/2025

    PDF

  • JWMED Amendment -3 (Proposed)

    6/2/2025

    PDF

  • A-Engrossed

    PDF

  • Enrolled

    PDF

  • Introduced

    PDF

  • Senate Amendments to Introduced

    PDF

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