The House passed House Bill 30 26, a technical and corrective package for the Higher Education Coordinating Commission (HEC) that includes adjustments to transfer council procedures, the Oregon Teacher Scholars Program (OTSP) grant language and timelines for a forestry workforce study.

Sponsor Representative Fragula said the measure clarifies the administration of transfer‑council subcommittees, aligns grant duration language for OTSP to the equivalent of two full‑time academic years, and tasks the HEC with inventorying reporting requirements across institutions to reduce duplicative data reporting.

A portion of the floor debate focused on language in the OTSP that gives preference to teacher candidates who have “experience with diverse populations.” Opponents argued the change continued an approach they said risks imposing race‑ or ethnicity‑based preferences; proponents and the sponsor said the language seeks to target experience (a merit‑based measure) and that an LC opinion concluded the amended text would likely withstand an equal‑protection challenge under the current standard.

Representative Fragula said she requested an opinion from legislative counsel (LC) which concluded the amended ORS text would likely be upheld under rational‑basis review; she also said the HEC would stay within jurisprudence in subsequent rulemaking. Representative Deal, among others, urged the bill be returned to committee for substantive reworking to address concerns about perceived preferential treatment.

After extended debate and questions, the House declared the bill passed on final reading; members flagged ongoing concern about transparency and implementation at HEC but supported the broader housekeeping fixes.