The Oregon House of Representatives passed a series of bills March 11 addressing insurance insolvency coverage, criminal-law definitions, energy incentives and tenant access rules, among other measures.

Lead sponsors and committee chairs described the package as a mix of technical updates and targeted policy changes intended to address emerging risks and practical problems faced by Oregonians.

House bill 2130 updates the Oregon Insurance Guarantee Association framework created in 1971. Representative E. Warner Reschke told colleagues the bill clarifies how the guarantee applies to modern insurance products, notably standalone cybersecurity policies and cyber endorsements, and raises the cap for covered claims from $300,000 to $600,000 to reflect higher limits and repair costs.

The chamber also approved House Bill 2465, which expands the statutory definition of "peace officer" to include parole and probation officers for purposes of the state escape or unlawful departure offense. Representative David Anderson, who presented the bill from the Judiciary Committee, said it closes a gap that previously left parole and probation officers unable to charge unlawful departure in field encounters where deputies or troopers could.

On energy and housing-related measures, the House passed House Bill 2567 A, a heat-pump program bill described by Representative Emerson Levy as intended to expand incentives, lengthen rebate windows and give the Oregon Department of Energy more flexibility to support installation in underserved and rural areas.

Lawmakers also passed House Bill 2802 A, which clarifies when insurers must honor a worker's request to convert a permanent partial disability (PPD) award to a lump sum. Representative Daniel Munoz said the bill requires lump-sum payment where the award is $6,000 or less, and otherwise when the award has become final by operation of law, subject to enumerated exceptions such as an active vocational training enrollment or a pending reconsideration proceeding under O.R.S. 656.23.

House Bill 2922 A extends an existing address-confidentiality option to State Parks employees, allowing them to use their agency address instead of a home address in certain official records. Representative Hai Pham said the change responds to incidents in which park rangers' home addresses appeared in court or law-enforcement paperwork after enforcement encounters, creating safety risks for staff and families.

The chamber also adopted House Bill 3141 A, designating the third Tuesday in March as Oregon Farmer and Rancher Day, and passed HB 3378, which requires landlords who use smartphone-based entry systems to provide an alternative access method such as a physical key, fob or keypad. Representative Ken Gomberg told colleagues the tenant-access bill is not a prohibition on app-based locks but ensures tenants or guests can regain entry if a phone is lost, stolen or battery-dead.

Separately, House Bill 3447 (relating to nitrous oxide) was approved; Representative McIntyre said it requires vendors of nitrous-oxide canisters to card purchasers to verify they are at least 18 years old in order to reduce youth access.

Votes at a glance

- HB 2130 — Oregon Insurance Guarantee Association updates: clarified coverage for cybersecurity products; raised statutory cap for covered claims from $300,000 to $600,000. Outcome: passed (received constitutional majority; roll-call tally not specified in transcript).

- HB 2465 A — Authority of supervising officers: expands "peace officer" to include parole and probation officers for unlawful-departure/escape offenses. Outcome: passed (received constitutional majority; tally not specified).

- HB 2567 A — Heat pump programs: incentives for contractors, longer rebate period, increased Department of Energy flexibility; targeted at rural and underserved communities. Outcome: passed (received constitutional majority; tally not specified).

- HB 2802 A — Workers'compensation lump-sum PPD awards: requires lump-sum payment when PPD award is $6,000 or less; clarifies exceptions and when insurers must honor requests. Outcome: passed (received constitutional majority; tally not specified).

- HB 2922 A — Address confidentiality for State Parks employees: allows substitution of agency address in certain official records (extension of existing "work-in-lieu" protections). Outcome: passed (received constitutional majority; tally not specified).

- HB 3141 A — Oregon Farmer and Rancher Day: designates the third Tuesday in March as a day of recognition. Outcome: passed (received constitutional majority; tally not specified).

- HB 3378 — Tenant dwelling access: requires landlords using smartphone entry systems to provide an alternative access method (key, fob, keypad). Outcome: passed (received constitutional majority; tally not specified).

- HB 3447 — Nitrous oxide sales: requires vendors to card purchasers of nitrous-oxide canisters to verify age 18+. Outcome: passed (received constitutional majority; tally not specified).

What lawmakers said and next steps

Presenters emphasized that several bills were technical or housekeeping updates to address gaps exposed by new technologies or practices (cybersecurity insurance, smartphone apartment-entry systems, online sale and delivery of nitrous oxide). Representative Reschke described HB 2130 as modernizing a 1971 law so policyholders are protected if insurers fail; Representative Emerson Levy said HB 2567 expands tools to lower household energy costs through heat-pump adoption. Representative Munoz noted HB 2802 had unanimous committee support and said the bill 's fiscal impact is minimal.

Several presenters framed their bills as layered responses rather than sweeping policy shifts: HB 3378 preserves landlords' ability to use app-based systems while ensuring tenants retain an alternative means of entry; HB 2922 extends an existing confidentiality option used by law-enforcement and corrections staff to parks employees.

The bills that passed will go to the governor or to the next procedural step as required by law; the transcript records that some measures were declared passed after the clerk confirmed they had received the constitutional majority. The transcript did not include final roll-call tallies for most measures.

Meeting context

Floor remarks came from bill sponsors and a handful of other members offering brief endorsements; several bills were described as unanimous in committee. The House recessed at adjournment and scheduled its next session for 11 a.m. Thursday, March 13, 2025.

Ending

The session concluded after final readings and a series of brief floor statements praising nominees, athletic achievements and public-service recognitions. The House adjourned until its scheduled date in March.