The Senate Committee on Judiciary used its May 5 work sessions to advance several bills to the Senate floor with due pass recommendations and to reschedule two others.

House Bill 2299A: Committee counsel Jules summarized the measure, which would add "digitally created, manipulated, or altered depictions that are reasonably realistic" to the statutory definition of "image" in the crime of unlawful dissemination of an intimate image, a Class A misdemeanor. Senator Thatcher moved HB 2299A to the floor with a due-pass recommendation and the motion carried.

House Bill 2471A: The committee considered amendments to the "guilty except for insanity" standard. Jules described the amended test as requiring a lack of substantial capacity either to appreciate criminality or to conform conduct to law, and adding clarifications about qualifying mental disorders and voluntary intoxication. Senator Thatcher moved HB 2471A to the floor with a due-pass recommendation. A number of senators recorded "aye" votes in the hearing and the motion carried. Senator Gilson Brown noted concerns about opposition letters in the record from defense and civil-liberties groups; committee counsel said at least one letter in the record appeared directed at the introduced version, not the amended draft.

House Bill 2632A: The committee moved HB 2632A to the floor with a due-pass recommendation. Counsel said the bill would establish a statewide advisory committee on treatment courts appointed by the Chief Justice of the Oregon Supreme Court, rename "specialty" or "drug" courts to "treatment courts" in statute, and require use of a case-management system designated by the Chief Justice. The motion to move the bill carried.

House Bill 3604A: Counsel summarized HB 3604A, which establishes a defense to theft and civil-liability immunity for an animal-holding agency that takes possession of a cat under specified holding periods and care requirements. The measure aligns cat procedures with existing dog statutes (three- and five-day holding rules) and permits routine shelter actions including transfer, adoption and euthanasia consistent with local ordinances. Senator Thatcher moved HB 3604A to the floor with a due-pass recommendation and the motion carried.

Reschedules and logistics: The chair announced two bills that were not ready for work session and would be rescheduled: House Bill 2460A was set for Thursday, May 8; House Bill 3174 would be reposted prior to the posting deadline.

Ending: Each work-session motion carried and the bills were placed on their way to the Senate floor with due-pass recommendations. Several senators asked staff to confirm whether opposition letters addressed amended text or earlier drafts, and counsel noted differences between the introduced and amended language in at least one case.