Oregon Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum today issued the following statement at the conclusion of the 2017 Oregon Legislative session.
“Despite an uncertain budget environment, the Oregon Legislature passed a series of new laws that my office took the lead on and that will have positive effects on public safety, government transparency, consumer protection, and students’ and their families’ financial circumstances. I am pleased that we were able to work closely, and on a bipartisan basis, throughout the session with legislators, task force members, and many stakeholder and advocacy groups. I look forward to participating in implementing many of these new laws. I give my sincere thanks to all our legislators for their hard work and commitment to our state.”
Several of the Attorney General’s signature bills passed this year include:
Profiling (HB 2355): Implements 2015 law enforcement anti-profiling laws, and provides new levels of transparency in policing in Oregon by creating a system for gathering information about pedestrian and traffic stops, providing all police officers with the training necessary to prevent profiling behaviors, and the reduction of penalties for lower level drug offenders. The bill also reduces the maximum penalty for Class A misdemeanors by one day to avoid mandatory deportation for misdemeanants.
Public Records Reform (SB 481): For the first time in Oregon’s history, public bodies will now be required to acknowledge receipt of public record requests and provide them within certain time limits. The Attorney General’s Office will also create a user-friendly, publicly available catalogue of all of Oregon’s 500-plus public record exemptions.
Consumer Protection from Debt Buyers (HB 2356): Ensures that lawsuits filed by debt buyers against consumers are accurate and contain sufficient clarification regarding the debt owed. It also gives consumers the power to stop collection activities for 30 days until certain documents are produced. And, it requires debt buyers to obtain a license.
Student Debt Transparency (SB 235): Requires Oregon colleges and universities to send students annual easy-to-understand letters explaining the scope of their federal student loans incurred thus far and expected monthly payments at time of repayment.
Immigration (HB 3464): Provides our communities with the guidance they need to comply with complex and ever changing federal immigration laws while protecting the privacy of all Oregonians to the fullest extent allowed under the law.
Shell Corporations (HB 2191): Requires companies to reveal more information in their state filings, and gives the Attorney General, Oregon Secretary of State, and Department of Revenue more pathways for enforcement action against shell companies used for fraudulent purposes.
Privacy Policies (HB 2090): Requires businesses to follow the terms of their online privacy policies that consumers agree to before downloading an app or other online tool. The law updates Oregon’s Unlawful Trade Practices Act (UTPA) to cover online privacy policies so that business will be held accountable when they do not follow their own privacy rules.
Contact:
Kristina Edmunson, Department of Justice, Kristina.Edmunson@doj.state.or.us, 503-378-6002