Oregon's House Bill 2676: Law Or Not?

In Oregon, a bill is an idea for a new law or an idea to change or get rid of an existing law. A member of the House of Representatives or the Senate can introduce a bill, and the member who introduces the bill is called the chief sponsor. Once introduced, a bill gets assigned a number, and then the bill is sent to a committee. The House of Representatives has 13 committees, and the Senate has 13 committees. The committee studies the bill to see if it would make a good law. One such bill is House Bill 2676, which was introduced by Oregon State Representative Rob Nosse. The bill prohibits the sale and distribution of new fur products throughout Oregon. If made into law, it would make Oregon the second state to ban the sale of fur products within its borders. Another example is House Bill 2005, which raises the minimum age to purchase semi-automatic firearms from 18 to 21 and now faces a Senate vote.

What does Oregon House Bill 2676 propose?

Oregon's House Bill 2676, first introduced in January 2021, proposes to prohibit the sale, offer for sale, display for sale, trade, or other distribution of fur products in the State of Oregon. This includes fur used in clothing and accessories.

The bill, if passed, would make it a misdemeanour to sell or distribute new fur products. However, it would exempt leather, cowhide, and shearling, as well as fur products used for religious purposes and used fur. The proposed legislation is endorsed by several animal-welfare groups, including Compassionate PDX, Humane Voters Oregon, Animal Defenders International, In Defense of Animals, and People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA).

Representative Rob Nosse (D-Portland), who introduced the bill, has stated that the fur industry exacerbates the spread of diseases like COVID-19, as seen in the case of mink farms in Denmark and Sweden. If House Bill 2676 becomes law, Oregon will become the second state, after California, to ban the sale of fur products.

What is the current status of the bill?

The current status of House Bill 2676 is unclear.

In Oregon, a bill is an idea for a new law or a proposal to change or get rid of an existing law. Anyone can propose a bill, and it is introduced by a member of the House of Representatives or the Senate, known as the chief sponsor. Once introduced, a bill is given a number and sent to a committee. There are 13 committees in each of the two legislative chambers.

In the case of House Bill 2676, it was first read and referred to the Speaker's desk on January 11, 2021, and then to Agriculture and Natural Resources on January 19, 2021. On June 26, 2021, it was in committee upon adjournment. The bill's first committee hearing was expected to occur in spring 2024.

If House Bill 2676 passes the committee stage, it will move back to the chamber where it was introduced (in this case, the House of Representatives) and will be read or printed in the calendar three times. It will then go through a similar process in the Senate. For a bill to become a law, it must be approved by both chambers of the legislature with the same wording.

However, it is worth noting that there is another House Bill 2676 mentioned in the Oregon Department of Justice's 2023 Legislative Package, announced on January 17, 2023, which focuses on Crime Victims Compensation. This bill aims to reduce barriers and increase compensation for victims and survivors under Oregon's Crime Victims' Compensation (CVC) Program. This bill is sponsored by Representative Kropf.

Therefore, it seems there may be some confusion or overlap in the bill numbers, and further clarification is needed to determine the exact current status of House Bill 2676 regarding the prohibition of fur sales.

What is the process for a bill to become a law in Oregon?

In the State of Oregon, laws are created by the Oregon State Legislature, which comprises two chambers: the House of Representatives and the Senate. The House has 60 members, and the Senate has 30. The number of days the Legislature meets varies depending on the year; 35 days in even years and 160 days in odd years.

A bill is an idea for a new law or a proposal to change or repeal an existing law. Anyone can propose a bill, including legislators, community members, organisations, and corporations. A member of the House of Representatives or the Senate introduces the bill, and that member is called the chief sponsor. Once introduced, the bill is assigned a number and sent to a committee. The House has 13 committees, and the Senate has the same number.

The committee then studies the bill to assess its potential as a law. Committees often hold hearings where people can testify in support of or against the bill. Committee members can suggest amendments, which are changes to the bill for the committee's consideration. After the hearings and proposed changes, the committee votes on the bill. If the committee supports the bill, it moves on to the next step. If the committee does not vote or the bill is defeated, it cannot proceed.

If a bill is approved by the committee, it returns to the chamber (House or Senate) where it was introduced and is read or printed in the calendar three times. During the first reading, the bill title is printed in the calendar (the daily agenda of business) or read by the chamber clerk. The bill may be amended and debated during the second reading. Members vote to pass or not pass the bill during the third reading. Bills that don't pass on the third reading do not proceed further.

If a bill passes in the House of Representatives, it undergoes a similar process in the Senate. Before a bill becomes law, it must be approved by both chambers of the legislature, with the same wording. If amendments are made in one chamber, the bill must return to the other chamber for approval with the amendments.

If the bill passes both chambers, it goes to the Governor for approval. The Governor has three options: signing the bill, vetoing it, or taking no action. If the Governor signs the bill, it becomes law. If vetoed, the House and Senate can override the veto with a two-thirds vote in each chamber. If the Governor takes no action and does not sign or veto the bill, it automatically becomes law.

Who introduced the bill?

House Bill 2676 was introduced by Oregon State Representative Rob Nosse (D-Portland). Rep Nosse is a Democrat representing Portland.

The bill was also filed by Rep Helm, although it is unclear from sources what their name is or what party they represent.

The bill was first read on the 11th of January 2021 and was referred to the Speaker's desk. It was then referred to Agriculture and Natural Resources on the 19th of January 2021. The bill was in committee upon adjournment on the 26th of June 2021.

The bill was introduced to prohibit the sale and distribution of new fur products in Oregon. This includes clothing and accessories. It would make the sale or distribution of new fur products a misdemeanour. The bill is endorsed by several animal-welfare groups, including Compassionate PDX, Humane Voters Oregon, Animal Defenders International, In Defense of Animals, and People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA).

If passed, the bill would make Oregon the second state, after California, to ban the sale of fur products within its borders.

What are the key provisions of the bill?

Oregon's House Bill 2676, also known as the Crime Victims Compensation Bill, aims to improve the state's Crime Victims' Compensation (CVC) Program by reducing barriers and increasing compensation available to victims of crime. Here are the key provisions outlined in the bill:

• Reducing Barriers: The bill aims to streamline the process for victims to receive compensation by reducing statutory impediments that have previously slowed down the payment of expenses to victims and survivors.
• Increasing Compensation: HB 2676 proposes to enhance the financial support provided to victims and survivors, ensuring they receive adequate assistance to cope with the expenses associated with the crime they have endured.
• Expanding Eligibility: While not explicit in the sources, by reducing barriers and increasing compensation, the bill effectively expands eligibility for victims and survivors to receive assistance under the CVC Program.
• Strengthening Enforcement: The bill emphasizes the need for stronger enforcement mechanisms to uphold the provisions of the law. This includes imposing financial penalties on hospitals that consistently violate the law, ensuring compliance, and providing recourse for victims when their rights are not upheld.
• Improving Response to Labour Trafficking: While not directly related to the CVC Program, the bill also addresses labour trafficking, a form of human trafficking that involves threats, coercion, and inhumane working conditions. The bill aims to improve Oregon's response to labour trafficking, enhance support for victims and survivors, and hold traffickers accountable for their crimes.

The Crime Victims Compensation Bill is sponsored by Representative Kropf and supported by Oregon Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum. It is part of a broader legislative package announced by the Attorney General for the 2023 legislative session, focusing on protecting the rights and safety of Oregonians.

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