The Oregon State Legislature convened on April 23, 2025, to discuss significant legislation aimed at addressing the pervasive issue of medical debt affecting nearly one in three Oregonians. The primary focus of the meeting was Senate Bill 605, which seeks to reform how medical debt is reported to credit agencies.

Senator Campos, the bill's sponsor, highlighted the detrimental impact of medical debt on individuals' credit scores, which can hinder their ability to secure mortgages, rent apartments, obtain jobs, or start small businesses. She emphasized that medical debt is often incurred due to unforeseen health crises and should not be used as a measure of a person's creditworthiness. The bill proposes to prohibit the reporting of medical debt to credit agencies and to remove existing medical debt from credit reports, allowing individuals to rebuild their financial lives without the burden of past medical expenses.

Support for the bill was echoed by several senators, including Senator Patterson, who noted that the legislation would improve access to affordable credit for those affected by medical debt. He pointed out that medical debt is not a reliable indicator of a person's future ability to repay debts and urged colleagues to support the bill to help Oregonians regain financial stability.

Senator Meek shared personal insights from his experience as a real estate broker, illustrating how medical debt can unfairly impact individuals seeking housing. He argued that credit scores should reflect a person's current financial situation rather than penalizing them for past medical expenses.

The discussion also touched on the broader implications of medical debt in the United States, with Senator Golden remarking on the alarming trend of increasing bankruptcies linked to medical costs. He called for a recommitment to addressing the systemic issues surrounding healthcare and financial stability.

After thorough discussion, Senate Bill 605 passed with a constitutional majority, marking a significant step toward alleviating the financial strain caused by medical debt for many Oregonians. The bill's passage is seen as a move towards economic justice and fairness in the credit system, providing families with a chance to recover from medical crises without the long-term repercussions of debt on their credit reports.