Legislative Briefs
Organ donation
What it does: Current health content standards do not cover the issue of organ and tissue donation. HB 3234A would require the State Board of Education to adopt content standards related to organ and tissue donation and for school districts to provide instruction in the 2025-26 school year.
What’s next: The Senate Education Committee has scheduled a work session Wednesday, May 26.
Equity advisory committees
What it does: Some districts in Oregon have voluntarily created equity advisory committees to advise district leaders on issues for underrepresented students. SB 732A would require every school district to establish a committee that would advise the school district board and the superintendent about the educational equity impacts of policy decisions and about situations within the district that negatively impact underrepresented students. Each educational equity advisory committee would be selected by the superintendent and be composed of parents, employees, students and community members. OSBA supported this bill.
What’s next: The House Education Committee has scheduled a public hearing Tuesday, May 25, and possible work session Thursday, May 27.
Social studies standards
What it does: Oregon's content standards for K-12 schools are reviewed on a rotating basis by the State Board of Education. The Oregon Social Sciences Academic Content Standards — which set education standards in civics, economics, financial literacy, geography and history — were last adopted by the Oregon State Board of Education in August 2011 (ORS 329.045). SB 702B would require the State Board of Education to review social studies standards by Dec. 31, 2025.
What’s next: The House Education Committee has scheduled a possible work session Tuesday, May 25.
Legislative notes:
Senate Bill 667A (May 10 Legislative Briefs) would require school districts and community colleges to implement a policy that provides ownership rights to intellectual property and prohibits districts from requiring teachers and faculty members to release ownership rights as an employment condition. The House Education Committee has scheduled a public hearing Tuesday, May 25, and possible work session Thursday, May 27.
House Bill 2001 (February 16 Legislative Briefs) would change the way that school districts are required to handle reductions in educator staff positions by prioritizing retention of diverse teachers. The House Rules Committee approved it Friday, May 21, with amendments.
Senate Bill 744A (May 10 Legislative Briefs) would require the Oregon Department of Education to review all high school graduation requirements and suspend essential learning skills requirements for two school years. The measure would also permanently restrict the State Board of Education from requiring students who have completed their required coursework to demonstrate proficiency in any other skill or academic content area beginning with the 2023-24 school year. The House Education Committee has scheduled a public hearing Tuesday, May 25, and possible work session Thursday, May 27.