The Oregon Senate passed Senate Bill 97, a judiciary-sponsored measure aimed at expanding access to family law mediation for parents in child custody, parenting time and visitation disputes.

Senator James Ivory Manning Jr., presenting the bill, said SB 97 ‘‘is about helping children and family’’ by improving mediation access. The bill would require counties and courts to report mediation account balances and spending to create statewide visibility on funding gaps and give counties the option to raise the optional fee currently charged on marriage licenses and domestic partnership registrations. The optional fee, first enacted in 1977 at up to $10, would be raised to a maximum of $35 under the bill, providing localities a tool to fund mediation services.

Manning argued mediation reduces time families spend in court, lowers litigation costs and reduces children’s exposure to co-parenting disputes. ‘‘The goal of SB 97 is to ensure that every parent in Oregon can access mediated services no matter where they live,’’ he said.

After presentation there was no floor debate recorded in the excerpt. A roll call established the bill had the votes necessary for final passage; the clerk declared SB 97 A passed after the roll call. The transcript records 19 senators voting to pass the bill and 11 voting no on final passage.

SB 97 creates a financial reporting process to identify mediation funding gaps, allows counties a local revenue option tied to marriage/domestic partnership filings, and includes an emergency clause for immediate effect if it also passes the House.

The transcript does not record additional amendments or implementation details beyond reporting, the fee increase from $10 to $35, and the intent to allow counties a local revenue mechanism.