HB 4159 — Relating to the Oregon Government Ethics Commission.

83rd OREGON LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY--2026 Regular Session A-EngrossedEnrolled House Bill 4159 Ordered by the Senate March 2 Including Senate Amendments dated March 2 Sponsored by COMMITTEE ON RULES (at the request of Oregon Government and Ethics CommissionCommis- sion Workgroup) SUMMARYCHAPTER 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.

ItAN isACT anRelating editor’sto brief statement of the essentialOregon featuresGovernment ofEthics theCommission; measure.

The statement includes a measure digest written in compliance with applicable readability standards.

Digest:

The Act says that one person put on the OGEC must have a certain background.

The Act protects certain protected words during investigations by the OGEC.

(Flesch Read- ability Score:

63.4).

[Digest:

The Act says that the Governor has to put a person with a certain background on the OGEC.

The Act protects certain protected words during investigations by the OGEC.

(Flesch Read- ability Score:

60.8).] [Provides that the Governor shall appoint one member of the Oregon Government Ethics Commis- sion who has local government experience.] Provides that at least one member who is appointed to the Oregon Government Ethics Commission must have local government experience.

Provides that attorney-client privilege is not waived when a communication is made to the commission for purposes of providing information regarding a complaint alleging a violation of gov- ernment ethics laws or public meetings laws.

A BILL FOR AN ACT Relating to the Oregon Government Ethics Commission;

NOTE:(5) A quorum consists of five members but a final decision may not be made without an affir- mative vote of a majority of the members appointed to the commission.

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 119 A-Eng.

HB 4159 (5) A quorum consists of five members but a final decision may not be made without an affir- mative vote of a majority of the members appointed to the commission.

Enrolled House Bill 4159 (HB 4159-A) Page 1 SECTION 2.

[2](c) A-Eng.By the client or the client’s law practitioner to a law practitioner representing another in a matter of common interest;

HB 4159 (c) By the client or the client’s law practitioner to a law practitioner representing another in a matter of common interest;

Enrolled House Bill 4159 (HB 4159-A) Page 2 (c) As to a communication relevant to an issue of breach of duty by the law practitioner or legal referral service to the client or by the client to the law practitioner or legal referral service;

[3]Passed by House February 24, 2026 Received by Governor:

Repassed by House March 6, 2026 ........................M.,........................................................., 2026 Approved:

..................................................................................

........................M.,........................................................., 2026 Timothy G.

Sekerak, Chief Clerk of House ..................................................................................

..............................................................................Tina Kotek, Governor Julie Fahey, Speaker of House Filed in Office of Secretary of State:

Passed by Senate March 5, 2026 ........................M.,........................................................., 2026 ..................................................................................

Rob Wagner, President of Senate ..................................................................................

Tobias Read, Secretary of State Enrolled House Bill 4159 (HB 4159-A) Page 3