All Roll Calls
Yes: 192 • No: 163
OregonSB 9162025 Regular SessionSenateWALLET
Relating to unemployment insurance benefits for employees unemployed due to a labor dispute.
Sponsored By: Ben Bowman (Democratic), Dacia Grayber (Democratic), James Manning Jr. (Democratic), Kathleen Taylor (Democratic), Wlnsvey Campos (Democratic)
Signed by Governor
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
6 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 1 costs, 3 mixed.
Locked-out workers keep access to benefits
Workers retain access to unemployment benefits or waiting-week credit when the department finds an active lockout caused their unemployment. The lockout must be at the workplace where they last worked or claim employment rights. Availability, job-search, and suitable-work refusal rules do not block this protection. Workers must still meet the other unemployment benefit requirements.
Striking workers gain benefits after first week
Oregon denies unemployment benefits for the first week of unemployment the department finds is caused by an active workplace strike. After that, workers who otherwise qualify can get benefits or waiting-week credit for a limited time. The limit is 10 later weeks under unemployment trust fund ratings I–IV, or eight under ratings V–VIII. The rating in effect when the strike starts controls the limit.
Strike back pay can require benefit repayment
Employers can reduce strike-resolution back pay to account for unemployment benefits received during the strike. If the department finds that strike back pay made earlier benefits an overpayment, the worker owes that amount. Repayment goes to the unemployment trust fund, either directly or through deductions from future benefits. Collection generally has a five-year window after the overpayment decision becomes final. The department cannot waive recovery of these strike-back-pay overpayments.
School workers face later wage deductions
School employees can receive unemployment benefits during labor disputes, but benefits charged to their district count toward contract compensation. The school district or education service district must deduct those benefit amounts from the employee's future wages. The law does not set a deduction schedule.
Workers retain limited wage-dispute benefit protections
An employer's one-sided wage change that breaks an active collective bargaining agreement triggers limited unemployment benefit protections. Workers who stop work or refuse work retain protection from specified disqualifications for quitting or refusing work. That protection does not cover the separate labor-dispute disqualification rules.
Employment agency gains broader fund uses
Oregon's Employment Department can use its Special Fraud Control Fund to cover administrative costs for other benefit programs it runs. The spending must appear in the department's two-year budget and receive legislative approval. This expands agency spending authority, not direct household payments.
Sponsors & Cosponsors
Sponsors
Ben Bowman
Democratic • House
Dacia Grayber
Democratic • House
James Manning Jr.
Democratic • Senate
Kathleen Taylor
Democratic • Senate
Wlnsvey Campos
Democratic • Senate
Cosponsors
Chris Gorsek
Democratic • Senate
Deb Patterson
Democratic • Senate
Farrah Chaichi
Democratic • House
Hoa Nguyen
Affiliation unavailable
Kayse Jama
Democratic • Senate
Lesly Muñoz
Democratic • House
Lisa Fragala
Democratic • House
Mark Gamba
Democratic • House
Mark Meek
Democratic • Senate
Nathan Sosa
Democratic • House
Rob Nosse
Democratic • House
Travis Nelson
Democratic • House
Zach Hudson
Democratic • House
Roll Call Votes
House vote • 6/12/2025
House adopted Conference Committee Report.
Yes: 35 • No: 22
Senate vote • 6/12/2025
Senate adopted Conference Committee Report and repassed bill.
Yes: 16 • No: 12
House vote • 6/12/2025
Repassed.
Yes: 35 • No: 22
Senate vote • 6/11/2025
SB 916: Heard and Reported Out
Yes: 4 • No: 1
Senate vote • 6/10/2025
Senate refused to concur in House amendments.
Yes: 14 • No: 15
House vote • 6/4/2025
Third reading. Carried by Grayber. Passed.
Yes: 33 • No: 23
House vote • 6/4/2025
Motion to substitute Minority Report for Committee Report failed.
Yes: 22 • No: 33
House vote • 5/21/2025
Labor and Workplace Standards: Heard and Reported Out with Amendments
Yes: 4 • No: 3
Senate vote • 3/20/2025
Third reading. Carried by Taylor. Passed.
Yes: 16 • No: 12
Senate vote • 3/20/2025
Motion to substitute Minority Report for Committee Report failed.
Yes: 10 • No: 18
Senate vote • 3/6/2025
Labor and Business: Heard and Reported Out with Amendments
Yes: 3 • No: 2
Actions Timeline
Effective date, January 1, 2026.
7/2/2025SenateChapter 432, 2025 Laws.
7/2/2025SenateGovernor signed.
6/24/2025SenateSpeaker signed.
6/16/2025HousePresident signed.
6/16/2025SenateVote explanation(s) filed by Rieke Smith.
6/12/2025HouseRepassed.
6/12/2025HouseHouse adopted Conference Committee Report.
6/12/2025HouseVote explanation(s) filed by Golden.
6/12/2025SenateSenate adopted Conference Committee Report and repassed bill.
6/12/2025SenateConference Committee Report distributed in House.
6/11/2025HouseConference Committee Recommendation: The Senate concur in House amendments dated 05-29 and B-Engrossed bill be further amended and repassed.
6/11/2025SenateWork Session held.
6/11/2025SenateRepresentatives Elmer, Fragala, Grayber appointed House conferees.
6/10/2025HouseSenators Bonham, Patterson, Taylor appointed Senate conferees.
6/10/2025SenateVote explanation(s) filed by Sollman.
6/10/2025SenateSenate refused to concur in House amendments.
6/10/2025SenateVote explanation(s) filed by Grayber, Levy E, Munoz, Nelson.
6/4/2025HouseThird reading. Carried by Grayber. Passed.
6/4/2025HouseMotion to substitute Minority Report for Committee Report failed.
6/4/2025HouseSecond reading.
6/3/2025HouseRecommendation: Do pass with different amendments and be printed B-Engrossed.
5/29/2025HouseRecommendation: Do pass with amendments and be printed B-Engrossed.
5/29/2025HouseWork Session held.
5/21/2025HousePublic Hearing held.
4/30/2025House
Bill Text
SB916 Amendment -B29 (Proposed)
6/11/2025
SB916 Amendment -B30 (Proposed)
6/11/2025
SB916 Amendment -B31 (Proposed)
6/11/2025
SB916 Amendment -B32 (Proposed)
6/11/2025
SB916 Amendment -B33 (Proposed)
6/11/2025
SB916 Amendment -B34 (Adopted)
6/11/2025
SB916 Amendment -B29 (Proposed)
6/10/2025
HLWS Amendment -A15 (Proposed)
5/21/2025
HLWS Amendment -A23 (Combined)
5/21/2025
HLWS Amendment -A24 (Combined)
5/21/2025
HLWS Amendment -A26 (Adopted)
5/21/2025
HLWS Amendment -AMR27 (Proposed)
5/21/2025
HLWS Amendment -A15 (Proposed)
5/19/2025
HLWS Amendment -A23 (Proposed)
5/19/2025
SLB Amendment -1 (Proposed)
3/6/2025
SLB Amendment -2 (Proposed)
3/6/2025
SLB Amendment -3 (Proposed)
3/6/2025
SLB Amendment -4 (Adopted)
3/6/2025
SLB Amendment -5 (Proposed)
3/6/2025
SLB Amendment -6 (Proposed)
3/6/2025
SLB Amendment -7 (Proposed)
3/6/2025
SLB Amendment -M9 (Proposed)
3/6/2025
SLB Amendment -1 (Proposed)
3/4/2025
SLB Amendment -2 (Proposed)
3/4/2025
SLB Amendment -3 (Proposed)
3/4/2025
SLB Amendment -4 (Proposed)
3/4/2025
SLB Amendment -5 (Proposed)
3/4/2025
SLB Amendment -6 (Proposed)
3/4/2025
SLB Amendment -7 (Proposed)
3/4/2025
SLB Amendment -1 (Proposed)
2/27/2025
SLB Amendment -2 (Proposed)
2/27/2025
A-Engrossed
B-Engrossed
Conference Committee Amendments to B-Engrossed
Enrolled
House Amendments to A-Engrossed
House Minority Amendments to A-Engrossed
Introduced
Minority Report A-Engrossed
Minority Report to B-Engrossed
Senate Amendments to Introduced
Senate Minority Amendments to Introduced
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