What bills died in the Oregon Legislature? Police drones. Tax relief for the well-off. A transgender sports ban

No state lawmaker wants their work to be included on this list of rejected bills.

However, it is a fact of the work. Senators and representatives from Oregon worked for 158 days, from January to June, to try to pass a record 3,400+ pieces of legislation. Their attempts were only partially successful.

Democrats’ failure to pass any new funding methods to repair the state’s roads, bridges, and interstates before the session ended on Friday was one of their biggest and most glaring setbacks.

High-priority attempts to find solutions to cover the soaring expenses of battling increasingly dangerous wildfires also failed, yielding only a small portion of the funds requested.

Other major setbacks for those involved included bills that would have permitted police drones to respond to 911 calls and pursue suspects without a warrant; relief for wealthy Oregonians tired of paying all taxes and estate taxes when they pass away; and a permanent ban on chemicals in consumer goods like dental floss.

Additionally, legislation like a Republican attempt to ban transgender girls from participating in girls’ sports that would never have cleared the Democratic supermajority in the House and Senate inevitably failed.

Bills, rest in peace. Or not. Some lawmakers have promised to try again in the five-month 2027 session or in the brief 2026 session, which is anticipated to last little over a month.

Meanwhile, here is a list of a few of the 2025 measures that were dropped this year, arranged by topic:

Crime

Senate Bill 243, a gun control proposal that would outlaw accessories that turn ordinary firearms into machine guns, was approved by Democrats. However, the bill’s initial provisions—such as requiring gun buyers to wait 72 hours before picking up their purchases and raising the legal age of ownership for the majority of firearms to 21—were removed. House Bill 3076, which would have mandated that gun dealers register with the state, was defeated by Republicans in the meanwhile.

Police drones: The ACLU of Oregon was deeply troubled by measures that would have permitted police to utilize drones to hunt for criminals with eyes in the sky and respond to 911 calls for anything from car wrecks to burglaries. Senate Bill 238 and last-minute modifications to another bill were blocked by opponents.

This image shows a drone patrolling in New York State in 2025. Trimble, N. Scott | strimble@syracuse.comTrimble, N. Scott | strimble@syracuse.com

Money for unfair incarceration: The Justice for Exonerees Act of 2022 provided recompense to those who were wrongfully convicted for the years they were imprisoned. However, many of them claim that the state has made every effort to prevent them from winning.The Senate Bill 1007 would have eliminated obstacles. The bill never left committee, even though it had strong bipartisan support from Keizer Republican Sen. Kim Thatcher and Eugene Democrat Sen. Floyd Prozanski.

A law that would have made it illegal to threaten a public official was unanimously approved by the Senate but stalled in the House.In favor of Senate Bill 473, an Oregon Court of Appeals judge said that he was frightened by a dissatisfied man who had been in court before him. The guy then claimed to know the judge’s residence and provided the judge maps that showed the judge’s dog walking path. The judge indicated that stress caused him to lose thirty-five pounds.

Health

Forever chemicals in consumer goods: House Bill 3512, an ambitious bill, would have prohibited the sale of numerous items that contain PFAs, including as carpets, cleaning supplies, food storage containers, cosmetics, and dental floss. They are thought to be connected to cancer and are also referred to as everlasting chemicals. Another bill was signed into law that prohibits the use of PFAs in firefighting foam and equipment unless mandated by federal law.

Children vaping and flavored tobacco: Senate Bill 702 would have outlawed flavored tobacco, which health activists claim incites children to begin vaping as early as elementary school. Despite a massive advertising campaign, it was unable to pass committee.

A 15-year-old high school kid who wishes to remain anonymous vapes. (Photo by Steven Senne/AP file)AP

Vaping at school: Senate Bill 544, which was put forth by a high school student and would have mandated vapor detecting equipment in restrooms at high schools, was defeated in committee.

Education

Absenteeism among students: House Bill 3199 was significantly reduced. Instead of publishing the numbers and percentages of pupils who are chronically absent from school once a year after the school year finishes, an early version would have compelled the state to do so four times a year. The majority of the version that was approved by both chambers concentrates on analyzing the issue and offering solutions.

Money and taxes

inheritance taxes: Several initiatives that would exclude more heirs or more property from inheritance taxes sparked a wave of protests from Oregonians. According to one Republican lawmaker, some people think Oregon is the most terrifying place to die because of the tax that applies to estates worth $1 million or more. In some states, the threshold for estate taxes is significantly greater. When an estate reaches about $14 million, the federal government begins to step in.

Two more legislation, Senate Bill 485 and House Bill 3630, are awaiting Governor Tina Kotek’s approval, despite the failure of attempts to lower estate taxes for a large group of Oregonians. Owners of forest or natural resource lands would receive further exemptions from estate taxes.

Most states don’t have an estate tax, according to those opposed to Oregon’s.AP

Preschool for All: After the governor criticized the tax in early June, which starts at 1.5% for residents earning more than $125,000 annually, an eleventh-hour plan to repeal Multnomah County’s Preschool for All tax on upper income earners caused a stir. The bill dissipated after a day or two.

Animals

Prohibiting octopus farms: Fans of cephalopods who value their intellect were greatly moved by a bill that would have outlawed octopus farms in Oregon. However, House Bill 2557’s opponents pointed out that there aren’t any octopus farms that produce food in the world right now. Opponents also asked why it’s okay to raise pigs and other sentient creatures but not octopuses.

Researchers are working to determine how to breed the Octopus vulgaris, a common Atlantic octopus, for human consumption in captivity.NJ.com’s Lori M. Nichols | NJ Advance Media

Protecting Fluffy and Fido: A law known as the Protect Fully and Fido bill, which would forbid public funds from being used to support painful laboratory tests on dogs and cats for human benefit, passed the Senate 24-3 but failed in the House. Although Oregon Health & Science University is presently using private funds to experiment on dogs, supporters of Senate Bill 181 admitted that no such publicly financed research is being conducted in the state.

Monkey experimentation: Rep. David Gomberg, a Democrat from Otis, was a major supporter of the law that protected cats and dogs, but he said that a component of the bill survived because it was incorporated into another bill. According to Gomberg, the Oregon National Primate Research Center at OHSU is prohibited from receiving any state funding under the recently passed omnibus spending package. Additionally, a planto shutter for the facility must be developed.

Wildfires and the Environment

Funding to fight wildfires: Although politicians from both parties considered this a top priority, the Legislature failed to provide the necessary funds. It’s obvious how urgent it is. Last year, a record 2 million acres burnt, leaving a budget deficit of almost $200 million, which lawmakers hurried to close in a special session. House Bill 3940, a revenue stream that passed and is pending the governor’s approval, will raise a portion of the required funds through a tax on nicotine pouches.

In recent years, Oregon’s wildfire seasons have gotten harsher.Office of the Oregon Fire Marshal

Drinks containers are subject to a five-cent tax:Adding five cents to each bottle and can of soda, beer, and other beverages that Oregonians purchase was one bipartisan wildfire funding proposal that was scuppered.

House Bill 3477, which called for Oregon to contribute to a 1.5 degree Celsius reduction in global warming, was signed by nine Democrats. It mandated a 45% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 and a 95% reduction by 2050. Before it died in committee, it was given one public hearing.

Rural Oregon

Protecting farmland:Attempts to help farmers who say they re being priced out of their land by city slickers paying top dollar for rural acres to build multimillion-dollar mansions or $800-a-night B&Bsfailedto make it out of committee. Republicans opposed what they saw as an infringement on the rights of landowners to use their acreage however they wish. The Democratic chief backer ofSenate Bill 77andSenate Bill 78Sen. Jeff Goldenof Ashland said he ll reintroduce the bills in 2027.

Some Oregonians contend that stricter regulations are required to prevent upscale residences or establishments like upscale hotels from encroaching on farm-zoned holdings.Samantha Swindler/ The Oregonian

Democracy and Government

Avalanche of bills:A record number of bills filed this session meant some members of the public were given as little as90 seconds to testify. But what started as a bipartisan effort to address the problem ultimately died after running intostrident opposition from some Republicans.House Bill 2006would have limited individual lawmakers to 25 bills during legislative long sessions. Because Republicans are far outnumbered, they said the bill would give Democrats the upper hand.

Delaying campaign finance reforms:In 2024, lawmakers enacted strict limits on the dollar amounts of campaign donations in order to head off ballot measures that could have imposed even greater restrictions. Secretary of State Tobias Read, however, said he didn t think he could adequately implement the requirements of the 2024 legislation by its deadline in the next few years.House Bill 3392would have given him until 2031, but that bill failed to pass this session.

Trump s power over the National Guard:This bill would have drawn a line in the sand to try to prevent President Donald Trump or any of his successors from ordering the Oregon National Guard to act as law enforcement, like Democrats sayhe did in Los Angelesearlier in June. Democrats say allowing Trump to overpower Oregon s governor could inhibit her ability to deploy troops where they re needed most, like responding to wildfires, floods or earthquakes.

Journalism

Keeping journalism alive:Lawmakers didn t move forward with a bill that would have mandated that tech giants Google and Meta pay local journalism organizations for the stories they pluck from the newsrooms websites.

The Oregon Legislature is covered by Aimee Green. You can reach her on Bluesky, agreen@oregonian.com, or at 503-294-5119.

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