Oregon 2026 Regular Session Status: Enacted Bipartisan · 18 D · 5 R cosponsors

HB 4124 — Relating to the state post-secondary education system; and declaring an emergency.

Last action — Chapter 62, (2026 Laws): Effective date March 31, 2026.

  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. ✓
    In Committee
  3. ✓
    Passed House
  4. ✓
    Passed Senate
  5. ✓
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced February 02, 2026. Enacted.

Signed by Governor Tina Kotek (Democratic) on March 31, 2026.

Odds of enactment

High chance

Based on the sponsor, cosponsors, and committee posture, this bill has a high chance of becoming law.

Upgrade to see the exact probability and what's driving it.

A statistical estimate from our own model of past outcomes — an insight, not a guarantee. Policymaking is volatile.

Prognosis

Likely to advance 98% · high confidence

  • Enacted

    Current position in the legislative process.

  • 24 sponsors

    11 primary, 13 co-sponsors signed on.

  • Bipartisan support

    Sponsored across 2 parties (18 D · 5 R) — cross-party backing.

  • Cleared a recorded vote

    Passed 4 recorded votes so far.

Based on stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes, and cross-state momentum — a description of the observable signals, not a prediction.

Summary

</b> </i>] Directs the Higher Education Coordinating Commission to conduct a study of the condition of Oregon's post-secondary education system and to develop detailed recommendations for the design, implementation and operation of a viable and superior institutional framework. [<i>Directs the commission to submit a report to the interim committees of the Legislative Assembly related to higher education on or before December 1, 2026.</i>] <b>Directs the commission to submit a preliminary report by October 1, 2026, and a final report by April 1, 2027, to the interim or regular committees of the Legislative Assembly related to higher education.</b> Declares an emergency, effective on passage.

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

99 added · 98 removed

Plain-language change summary

The revised version of Bill HB 4124 adds new sponsors and clarifies the focus of the Higher Education Coordinating Commission (HECC) to study Oregon's post-secondary education system and create specific recommendations for improvements. It emphasizes the need for the system to evolve to better serve the diverse needs of students and the workforce. This change matters because it aims to enhance the effectiveness and accessibility of higher education in Oregon, ensuring it meets current and future demands.

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83rd OREGON LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY--2026 Regular Session A-Engrossed House Bill 4124 Ordered by the House February 12 Including House Amendments dated February 12 Sponsored by Representative MARSH, Senators WAGNER, PATTERSON, Representatives ANDERSEN, EVANS, FRAGALA, MCDONALD, RIEKE SMITH, Senators BROADMAN, GOLDEN;
83rd OREGON LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY--2026 Regular Session Enrolled House Bill 4124 Sponsored by Representative MARSH, Senators WAGNER, PATTERSON, Representatives ANDERSEN, EVANS, FRAGALA, MCDONALD, RIEKE SMITH, Senators BROADMAN, GOLDEN, SOLLMAN;
Representatives BOWMAN, HARBICK, LEVY B, NOSSE, OWENS, SOSA, WALLAN, WISE, Senators FREDERICK, MANNING JR, NASH, SOLLMAN, WEBER (Presession filed.) SUMMARY The following summary is not prepared by the sponsors of the measure and is not a part of the body thereof subject to consideration by the Legislative Assembly.
Representatives BOWMAN, HARBICK, LEVY B, NOSSE, SOSA, WALLAN, WALTERS, WATANABE, WISE, Senators FREDERICK, MANNING JR, NASH, WEBER (Presession filed.) CHAPTER .................................................
It is an editor’s brief statement of the essential features of the measure.
AN ACT Relating to the state post-secondary education system;
The statement includes a measure digest written in compliance with applicable readability standards.
Digest:
Tells the HECC to study the system of higher education in Oregon.
Tells the HECC to submit a report.
Declares an emergency and becomes law when the Governor signs it.
(Flesch Readability Score:
64.1).
Directs the Higher Education Coordinating Commission to conduct a study of the condition of Oregon’s post-secondary education system and to develop detailed recommendations for the design, implementation and operation of a viable and superior institutional framework.
Directs the commis- sion to submit a report to the interim committees of the Legislative Assembly related to higher ed- ucation on or before December 1, 2026.
Declares an emergency, effective on passage.
A BILL FOR AN ACT Relating to the state post-secondary education system;
and Whereas Oregon’s community colleges are locally governed with taxing authority and fiscal re- sponsibilities, so any statewide study, review, evaluation or recommendation regarding the structure, NOTE:
and Whereas Oregon’s community colleges are locally governed with taxing authority and fiscal re- sponsibilities, so any statewide study, review, evaluation or recommendation regarding the structure, coordination, funding or governance of post-secondary education institutions must recognize and account for the distinct governance structure of community colleges;
Matter in boldfaced type in an amended section is new;
matter [italic and bracketed] is existing law to be omitted.
New sections are in boldfaced type.
LC 174 A-Eng.
HB 4124 coordination, funding or governance of post-secondary education institutions must recognize and account for the distinct governance structure of community colleges;
(1) The Higher Education Coordinating Commission shall conduct a study of the condition of Oregon’s post-secondary education system and develop detailed recom- mendations for the design, implementation and operation of a viable and superior institu- tional framework that:
(1) The Higher Education Coordinating Commission shall conduct a study of the condition of Oregon’s post-secondary education system and develop detailed recom- Enrolled House Bill 4124 (HB 4124-B) Page 1 mendations for the design, implementation and operation of a viable and superior institu- tional framework that:
(5) The commission shall present the results of the study, along with any recommended legislative changes, in a report to the interim committees of the Legislative Assembly related to higher education in the manner provided under ORS 192.245 on or before December 1, 2026.
(5) The commission shall submit a preliminary and final report on the results of the study, in the manner provided under ORS 192.245, along with any recommended legislative changes, to the interim or regular committees of the Legislative Assembly related to higher education no later than:
(a) October 1, 2026, for the preliminary report.
(b) April 1, 2027, for the final report.
[2] A-Eng.
SECTION 2.
HB 4124 SECTION 2.
[3]
Enrolled House Bill 4124 (HB 4124-B) Page 2 Passed by House February 27, 2026 Received by Governor:
........................M.,........................................................., 2026 ..................................................................................
Timothy G.
Sekerak, Chief Clerk of House Approved:
........................M.,........................................................., 2026 ..................................................................................
Julie Fahey, Speaker of House ..................................................................................
Tina Kotek, Governor Passed by Senate March 4, 2026 Filed in Office of Secretary of State:
........................M.,........................................................., 2026 ..................................................................................
Rob Wagner, President of Senate ..................................................................................
Tobias Read, Secretary of State Enrolled House Bill 4124 (HB 4124-B) Page 3
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Amendments

2 amendments

Click Show changes on an amendment above to see how it modifies the bill.

Action History

  1. Chapter 62, (2026 Laws): Effective date March 31, 2026.

  2. Governor signed.

  3. President signed.

  4. Speaker signed.

  5. Third reading. Carried by Sollman. Passed.

  6. Second reading.

  7. Recommendation: Do pass the B-Eng. bill.

  8. Referred to Ways and Means.

  9. First reading. Referred to President's desk.

  10. Third reading. Carried by Marsh. Passed.

  11. Second reading.

  12. Recommendation: Do pass with amendments and be printed B-Engrossed.

  13. Work Session held.

  14. Work Session held.

  15. Returned to Full Committee.

  16. Assigned to Subcommittee On Education.

  17. Referred to Ways and Means by prior reference.

  18. Recommendation: Do pass with amendments, be printed A-Engrossed, and be referred to Ways and Means by prior reference.

  19. Work Session held.

  20. Public Hearing held.

  21. Referred to Education with subsequent referral to Ways and Means.

  22. First reading. Referred to Speaker's desk.

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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11 sponsors · 13 co-sponsors · 66 not signed on · 16 voted No

Sponsors (11)

Co-sponsors (13)

Not signed on (66)

66 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 66 →

"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

Whip count is in markup. Polling the chamber and every recorded vote this session. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Calling the roll · Tallying · Engrossing

Votes

Third reading. Carried by Sollman. Passed.

Passed 18 Yea · 12 Nay
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Democrat 17100
Republican 11100
Total 181200
% of votes cast 60%40%0%0%
How each member voted (30)
Member Party Vote
Anthony Broadman Democrat Yea
Chris Gorsek Democrat Nay
Courtney Neron Misslin Democrat Yea
Deb Patterson Democrat Yea
Floyd Prozanski Democrat Yea
James Manning Jr. Democrat Yea
Janeen Sollman Democrat Yea
Jeff Golden Democrat Yea
Kate Lieber Democrat Yea
Kathleen Taylor Democrat Yea
Kayse Jama Democrat Yea
Khanh Pham Democrat Yea
Lew Frederick Democrat Yea
Lisa Reynolds Democrat Yea
Mark Meek Democrat Yea
Rob Wagner Democrat Yea
Sara Gelser Blouin Democrat Yea
Wlnsvey Campos Democrat Yea
Bruce Starr Republican Nay
Cedric Hayden Republican Nay
Christine Drazan Republican Nay
David Brock Smith Republican Nay
Diane Linthicum Republican Nay
Dick Anderson Republican Nay
Fred Girod Republican Yea
Kim Thatcher Republican Nay
Mike McLane Republican Nay
Noah Robinson Republican Nay
Suzanne Weber Republican Nay
Todd Nash Republican Nay

Official roll call →

Third reading. Carried by Marsh. Passed.

Passed 36 Yea · 6 Nay · 18 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Democrat 30005
Republican 55013
Unaffiliated 1100
Total 366018
% of votes cast 60%10%0%30%
How each member voted (60)
Member Party Vote
Lamar Wise — Yea
Matt Bunch — Nay
Andrea Valderrama Democrat Not Voting
Annessa Hartman Democrat Not Voting
April Dobson Democrat Yea
Ben Bowman Democrat Yea
Dacia Grayber Democrat Yea
Daniel Nguyen Democrat Yea
David Gomberg Democrat Yea
Emerson Levy Democrat Yea
Farrah Chaichi Democrat Yea
Hai Pham Democrat Not Voting
Jason Kropf Democrat Yea
John Lively Democrat Yea
Jules Walters Democrat Yea
Julie Fahey Democrat Yea
Ken Helm Democrat Yea
Lesly Muñoz Democrat Yea
Lisa Fragala Democrat Yea
Mari Watanabe Democrat Yea
Mark Gamba Democrat Yea
Nancy Nathanson Democrat Yea
Nathan Sosa Democrat Yea
Pam Marsh Democrat Yea
Paul Evans Democrat Yea
Ricki Ruiz Democrat Yea
Rob Nosse Democrat Yea
Sarah McDonald Democrat Yea
Shannon Isadore Democrat Yea
Sue Rieke Smith Democrat Yea
Susan McLain Democrat Yea
Tawna Sanchez Democrat Yea
Thuy Tran Democrat Not Voting
Tom Andersen Democrat Yea
Travis Nelson Democrat Not Voting
Willy Chotzen Democrat Yea
Zach Hudson Democrat Yea
Alek Skarlatos Republican Not Voting
Anna Scharf Republican Nay
Bobby Levy Republican Nay
Boomer Wright Republican Not Voting
Court Boice Republican Nay
Cyrus Javadi Republican Not Voting
Darcey Edwards Republican Not Voting
Darin Harbick Republican Yea
Dwayne Yunker Republican Not Voting
E. Werner Reschke Republican Not Voting
Ed Diehl Republican Not Voting
Emily McIntire Republican Not Voting
Gregory Smith Republican Yea
Jami Cate Republican Nay
Jeffrey Helfrich Republican Not Voting
Kevin Mannix Republican Not Voting
Kim Wallan Republican Yea
Lucetta Elmer Republican Yea
Mark Owens Republican Nay
Rick Lewis Republican Not Voting
Shelly Boshart Davis Republican Not Voting
Vikki Breese-Iverson Republican Yea
Virgle Osborne Republican Not Voting

Official roll call →

Heard and Reported Out with Amendments

Passed 38 Yea · 4 Nay · 6 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Democrat 24002
Republican 12404
Unaffiliated 2000
Total 38406
% of votes cast 79%8%0%13%
How each member voted (48)
Member Party Vote
Courtney Neron — Yea
Courtney Neron — Yea
Andrea Valderrama Democrat Yea
Andrea Valderrama Democrat Yea
Ben Bowman Democrat Yea
Ben Bowman Democrat Yea
David Gomberg Democrat Yea
David Gomberg Democrat Yea
Emerson Levy Democrat Yea
Emerson Levy Democrat Yea
James Manning Jr. Democrat Yea
James Manning Jr. Democrat Yea
Janeen Sollman Democrat Yea
Janeen Sollman Democrat Yea
Kate Lieber Democrat Yea
Kate Lieber Democrat Yea
Lew Frederick Democrat Yea
Lew Frederick Democrat Yea
Paul Evans Democrat Yea
Paul Evans Democrat Yea
Ricki Ruiz Democrat Yea
Ricki Ruiz Democrat Yea
Rob Nosse Democrat Yea
Rob Nosse Democrat Yea
Tawna Sanchez Democrat Yea
Tawna Sanchez Democrat Yea
Wlnsvey Campos Democrat Not Voting
Wlnsvey Campos Democrat Not Voting
Bruce Starr Republican Not Voting
Bruce Starr Republican Not Voting
David Brock Smith Republican Not Voting
David Brock Smith Republican Not Voting
Dick Anderson Republican Yea
Dick Anderson Republican Yea
E. Werner Reschke Republican Nay
E. Werner Reschke Republican Nay
Fred Girod Republican Yea
Fred Girod Republican Yea
Gregory Smith Republican Yea
Gregory Smith Republican Yea
Lucetta Elmer Republican Yea
Lucetta Elmer Republican Yea
Mark Owens Republican Nay
Mark Owens Republican Nay
Mike McLane Republican Yea
Mike McLane Republican Yea
Vikki Breese-Iverson Republican Yea
Vikki Breese-Iverson Republican Yea

Official roll call →

Subjects

education
Cross-referencing the record. Reading this bill against every other bill in the corpus by meaning, not keywords. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Matching · Ranking · Engrossing

Frequently asked questions

What does HB 4124 do?
</b> </i>] Directs the Higher Education Coordinating Commission to conduct a study of the condition of Oregon's post-secondary education system and to develop detailed recommendations for the design, implementation and operation of a viable and superior institutional framework. [<i>Directs the commission to submit a report to the interim committees of the Legislative Assembly related to higher education on or before December 1, 2026.</i>] <b>Directs the commission to submit a preliminary report by October 1, 2026, and a final report by April 1, 2027, to the interim or regular committees of the Legislative Assembly related to higher education.</b> Declares an emergency, effective on passage.
Who sponsors HB 4124?
HB 4124 is sponsored by Mari Watanabe (Democrat), Jules Walters (Democrat), Rob Nosse (Democrat), Tom Andersen (Democrat), Nathan Sosa (Democrat), Suzanne Weber (Republican), Janeen Sollman (Democrat), Todd Nash (Republican), James Manning Jr. (Democrat), Lew Frederick (Democrat), Kim Wallan (Republican), Bobby Levy (Republican), Darin Harbick (Republican), Ben Bowman (Democrat), Jeff Golden (Democrat), Anthony Broadman (Democrat), Sarah McDonald (Democrat), Lisa Fragala (Democrat), Paul Evans (Democrat), Deb Patterson (Democrat), Rob Wagner (Democrat), Pam Marsh (Democrat), Sue Rieke Smith (Democrat), and Lamar Wise.
What is the current status of HB 4124?
This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced February 02, 2026. Enacted.
Where can I track HB 4124?
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