Tina Kotek

Kotek created the Rebuilding Our Transportation Vision Workgroup in response to Oregon voters' rejection of Measure 120, a gas tax referendum, to develop transportation funding solutions for the 2027 legislative session. The workgroup, composed of members across the political spectrum, held its first meeting on May 1, 2026, with Kotek in attendance to emphasize the need for shared priorities and practical payment mechanisms for transportation infrastructure. The workgroup was tasked with identifying a comprehensive funding proposal before the next legislative session, as current fuel tax revenues are insufficient to meet long-term transportation needs as vehicle efficiency improves and electric vehicle adoption increases.

Kotek proposed Measure 120, a transportation tax package that would have temporarily increased Oregon's gas tax by 6 cents per gallon and doubled the state's payroll tax dedicated to public transit, along with increases to car registration and title fees. The measure was approved by Oregon lawmakers during a special legislative session in fall 2024 as a temporary funding solution after the legislature failed to pass a transportation budget in 2025. Oregon voters rejected Measure 120 in May 2026 by a margin exceeding 5-to-1, with over 83% voting against the measure.

Kotek announced the launch of the Global Trade Desk, a new state resource housed within Business Oregon designed to assist companies in navigating international trade and investment opportunities. The desk provides personalized guidance and specialized support to businesses at any stage of exporting or pursuing international investment, with particular focus on smaller companies lacking dedicated international market staff. Businesses can access the Global Trade Desk through email at globaltradedesk@biz.oregon.gov or by phone at 503-229-5009.

The Oregon Department of Transportation paused issuing undercover license plates to federal agencies on April 15, 2026, to review whether the program complies with state law, which authorizes plates for law enforcement conducting criminal investigations but does not explicitly address immigration enforcement. The pause prompted a letter from U.S. Assistant Attorney General Brett Shumate to Governor Kotek warning that withholding the plates violated federal law and giving the state until Friday to provide written assurances that plate issuance would resume. Kotek's office confirmed receipt of the letter and stated it was assessing the matter before the Friday deadline.

Oregon's overdose deaths declined to 1,100 in 2025, down from more than 1,500 in 2024 and 1,800 in 2023, marking the first year-over-year decline since 2016. Kotek attributed the decline to partnerships between state agencies, behavioral health providers, local officials and law enforcement, and noted that the state's investments in prevention, treatment and harm reduction programs contributed to the results. The state's efforts included the Save Lives Oregon Harm Reduction Clearinghouse, which distributed naloxone and other supplies, grants to behavioral health providers, expanded opioid treatment programs, and more than $90 million in settlement funds distributed to substance use and recovery groups over two years.

Kotek signed House Bill 4127 in March 2026, which allocates state dollars to backfill Medicaid funding that Planned Parenthood clinics in Oregon lost after President Trump signed a law blocking the healthcare provider from receiving Medicaid or Medicare reimbursements starting in July 2025. The legislation also establishes a contingency plan to maintain funding for Planned Parenthood services should the organization permanently lose access to Medicaid funds. Oregon lawmakers secured $7.5 million in state funding for the state's Planned Parenthood clinics through this legislation, supplementing the $17 million in Medicaid reimbursements those clinics had received in 2024.

Kotek announced the creation of an economic prosperity council in December with the stated goal of bringing together industry leaders to issue recommendations on policy issues including permitting reform, global trade, and corporate tax incentives. One of the council's top advisers suggested during a May 2026 speech that the council could recommend reducing Oregon's corporate activity tax, which is levied on businesses with more than $1 million in commercial activity in the state. Kotek indicated she would evaluate the council's recommendations and determine which potential legislative proposals to advance during the 2027 legislative session based on political feasibility.

The Oregon Legislature and Governor Kotek signed legislation in fall 2025 that raised the state gas tax from 40 cents to 46 cents per gallon, along with increases to payroll taxes for transit projects and vehicle registration and title fees, to fund road improvements and address the state's transportation budget shortfall. Republicans collected 250,000 voter signatures to place a referendum repealing these tax and fee increases on the May 19, 2026 primary ballot. The referendum will proceed to voters amid elevated national gas prices resulting from geopolitical disruptions to oil supplies.

Kotek signed Senate Bill 1546, legislation that establishes safeguards for artificial intelligence chatbot companies operating in Oregon by requiring detection systems for signs of self-harm in users and prohibiting chatbots from encouraging or supporting self-harm thoughts. The bill was designed to protect young people and adults in mental health crisis who interact with AI chatbots during vulnerable moments. Kotek also signed additional behavioral health bills Thursday addressing workforce shortages and safety concerns in the behavioral health field.

Oregon Gov. Kotek sent a letter to federal officials in May 2025 objecting to a federal proposal to transport more than 30 million gallons of liquid radioactive waste from the Hanford Site in Washington through Northeastern Oregon by truck or train, characterizing the consideration of such shipments without adequate notice and risk assessment as unacceptable. The Oregon Energy Facility Siting Council will consider fee increases for radioactive material transportation during its May 15, 2026 meeting, with the Oregon Department of Energy recommending raising fees for truck shipments from $70 to $125 per load and establishing a new $1,250 per load fee for high-level radioactive materials such as spent nuclear fuel. The proposed fee changes represent the first increase to radioactive material transportation fees since 1983 and would also establish fees for rail shipments, which previously were not regulated under state law.

Kotek attended a May 5, 2026 briefing on Oregon's wildfire season at the Office of the State Fire Marshal in Salem, where state fire experts presented forecasts of an extended fire season lasting into October due to historic heat, drought, and potential early El Niño patterns. The briefing included discussion of the early start to the 2026 fire season, with the first Level 3 evacuation fire occurring in La Pine in March, and recommendations for public preparedness regarding campfires and debris burning. State officials announced the availability of a new Before You Burn app designed to provide Oregonians with information about local burn regulations, safety measures, and fire weather alerts.

Governor Kotek and Attorney General Dan Rayfield announced openness to updating Oregon's sanctuary laws following an immigration agent's arrest of a man inside a Marion County courthouse without a judicial warrant. The Oregon Department of Justice initiated an inquiry into the incident to determine whether legal action was warranted, as the arrest potentially violated Oregon's sanctuary law prohibiting such arrests in courthouses. Kotek and Rayfield indicated they may seek additional enforcement tools, noting that current law allows only individual citizens to sue law enforcement agencies for sanctuary law violations rather than empowering the state attorney general to pursue such lawsuits directly.

After a Marion County courthouse arrest of a man by immigration agents occurred without a judicial warrant, Oregon Gov. Kotek and Attorney General Dan Rayfield announced that the Oregon Department of Justice would conduct an inquiry into whether the incident violated Oregon's sanctuary law, which prohibits such arrests in courthouses and bars state law enforcement from assisting federal immigration enforcement relying on administrative warrants. Kotek stated she expected Rayfield to follow up on the incident and emphasized that sanctuary protections "have been on the books for decades." Both officials indicated openness to updating the state's sanctuary law enforcement mechanisms, noting that the state currently lacks authority to file lawsuits or discipline officers for violations and that individual Oregonians must bring such suits themselves.

Governor Kotek vetoed House Bill 4177, legislation that would have allowed government bodies such as city councils and school boards to conduct private meetings for gathering information. The League of Oregon Cities had supported the bill and expressed disappointment with the veto. Kotek cited concerns that the measure could undermine government transparency and public access to information used in governmental deliberations and decisions.

Oregon Governor Kotek issued an executive order aimed at preserving and restoring student instructional time in the state's public schools. According to state education advocates, the order represents an initial step toward addressing disparities in classroom time across districts, though critics stated it does not increase instructional hours to the national average. The Oregon Department of Education announced plans to track instructional time data to measure the order's effectiveness.

Kotek signed six housing bills into law at a ceremony in Woodburn on April 22, 2026, including House Bill 4035 and House Bill 4082, which modify urban growth boundary rules to allow eligible cities to expand development areas for housing. Senate Bill 1567 authorizes a $20 million loan fund for developers building income-restricted housing units, while House Bill 4036 establishes the Housing Opportunity, Longevity and Durability Fund to preserve existing affordable housing at risk of loss. Kotek stated the measures aim to address Oregon's housing shortage and meet her administration's goal of producing 36,000 new housing units annually.

Kotek issued an executive order prohibiting schools from cutting instructional time to balance their budgets. The order followed a study by ECOnorthwest that found Oregon students experience vastly different school year lengths due to state law mandating only minimum instructional hours rather than a minimum number of school days. School board members and education advocates cited Kotek's executive order at a news conference while calling on the state Legislature to mandate a 180-day school year statewide with increased funding.

Kotek signed a package of housing legislation in Woodburn designed to increase housing supply and reduce development barriers across Oregon. The bills streamline regulations to speed up housing construction, expand municipal authority over urban growth boundaries, increase access to state funding for mixed-income housing development, and restrict private equity firms from purchasing single-family homes during their first 90 days on the market. The legislation also includes provisions to facilitate housing construction for residents age 55 and older and individuals on fixed incomes.

Kotek issued an executive order prohibiting schools from cutting instructional time to balance their budgets. The order followed a study by ECOnorthwest commissioned by Stand for Children that found Oregon students experience vastly different school year lengths across districts, with some students receiving up to three additional years of schooling by graduation compared to peers in other districts. School board members and education advocates called on the state Legislature to mandate a 180-day school year statewide, citing the executive order as an important step in protecting instructional time.

Governor Kotek vetoed House Bill 4177, which would have created an exception to Oregon's public meetings law allowing public bodies to meet in closed session to gather information related to decisions they may deliberate on or make. Kotek stated in her veto message that while she understood the bill's intent to improve clarity in public meetings statutes, she had concerns that the new language could be used to circumvent transparency requirements. The bill had passed the Oregon Legislature with support from Bend's three legislators and the city's mayor, though it faced opposition from journalists and the Oregon Government Ethics Commission prior to passage.

Kotek vetoed House Bill 4177, which proposed modifications to Oregon's public meetings law to allow certain local government leaders to meet privately in limited situations to gather information before public decision-making. Kotek stated in her veto letter that the bill's language could create confusion, introduce ambiguity, and potentially open pathways to loopholes that would undermine public trust in government proceedings. Kotek called for lawmakers, her office, and stakeholders including media representatives to collaborate on clearer solutions ahead of the next legislative session.

Governor Kotek issued an executive order prohibiting Oregon school districts from reducing instructional days to address budget shortfalls, requiring districts that cut school days during the 2025-26 school year to restore them by the 2027-28 school year. The order also directed the State Board of Education to adopt temporary rules eliminating the state education department's use of instructional time waivers that allowed districts to fall below mandated minimum instructional hours, unless a declared emergency existed. Kotek suggested in accompanying materials that she would consider tapping the Education Stability Fund to assist districts with one-time budget issues in complying with the directive.

On April 16, 2026, Governor Kotek issued Executive Order 26-06 to preserve and restore student instructional time across Oregon schools in response to districts implementing classroom hour reductions due to budget constraints. The executive order directs the Oregon Department of Education to work with the State Board of Education to prevent further reductions to instructional time, prohibits the department from granting waivers for reduced instructional time except during emergencies, and requires districts that reduced instructional hours in 2025-26 or 2026-27 to submit plans to restore those hours to 2024-25 levels by the 2027-28 school year. The order addresses data showing Oregon students receive fewer instructional hours than students in nearly every other state, with Oregon ranking 47th nationally in time spent in school.

A federal judge in Oregon ruled that the state could not require Oregon Right to Life, a Keizer-based anti-abortion advocacy organization, to provide abortion insurance coverage for its employees under a 2017 Oregon law mandating such coverage in health benefit plans. U.S. District Judge Mustafa T. Kasubhai issued the bench ruling on Tuesday after Oregon Right to Life challenged the law's requirement, arguing the organization qualified as a religious employer exempt from the coverage mandate. The decision was characterized as an "as-applied" ruling specific to Oregon Right to Life rather than a broader constitutional challenge to the entire statute, with the judge indicating a written opinion would follow in subsequent weeks.

Kotek signed a 2025 transportation funding law that increased the gas tax from 40 cents to 46 cents per gallon, raised vehicle registration and title fees, and doubled the payroll tax for public transit from 0.1% to 0.2% of paychecks. The law was placed on the ballot as Measure 120 following a Republican-led petition, allowing Oregon voters to approve or reject the legislation in May 2026. The measure sought to address funding shortfalls in the State Highway Fund used for road maintenance and operations as electric vehicle adoption reduced gas tax revenue.

Governor Kotek responded to a federal court ruling that limited the application of Oregon's Reproductive Health Equity Act to the anti-abortion group Oregon Right to Life, stating that the law remains central to the state's health care access commitments. Kotek announced that her administration is reviewing the ruling's implications and will work with the Oregon Department of Justice to evaluate legal options as the case proceeds. The governor indicated the state will pursue available remedies, including appeals, while emphasizing that current health coverage under the law remains unchanged pending further court proceedings.

Gov. Kotek signaled her intention to veto House Bill 4177, which would exempt certain serial communications from Oregon's public meetings law if made for the purpose of gathering information relating to a governing body decision. Kotek stated in a Friday news release that she was considering the veto due to concerns that parts of the bill may undermine transparency in the conducting of public business. The bill, passed by the state Legislature in March 2026, had been backed by city and county governments and school boards seeking to clarify a 2023 law prohibiting public officials from deliberating via text and phone calls.

Governor Kotek commissioned the Higher Education Coordinating Commission to conduct a comprehensive behavioral health talent assessment and established the Behavioral Health Talent Council, chaired by First Lady Aimee Kotek Wilson, to address Oregon's behavioral health workforce shortage. The council, comprising 22 members including direct service providers, healthcare administrators, educators, and individuals with lived experience, conducted site visits and roundtables across the state to inform its work. The council released a final report in spring 2026 containing 17 action plans with 74 strategies addressing recruitment and retention, licensing and credentialing, and education and training in the behavioral health field.

Governor Kotek announced on Friday, April 11, 2026, that she was considering vetoing House Bill 4177, legislation passed by the Oregon Legislature that modifies the state's public meetings law by exempting certain "serial communications" from meeting requirements when made to gather information related to future governing body decisions. Kotek stated in a spokesperson's statement that while she understood the bill's intent to provide clarity for public officials, she had concerns that parts of the legislation may undermine transparency in conducting public business. The bill had been backed by city and county governments and school boards seeking to clarify a 2023 law restricting deliberation via text and phone calls, but faced opposition from journalist organizations and news publishers who warned it would allow officials to conduct important work privately.

Oregon Governor Tina Kotek requested a federal disaster declaration in February following severe winter storms that caused over $15 million in losses and damage across nine counties. President Donald Trump approved the disaster declaration on Saturday, allowing individuals, nonprofits, and state, tribal, and local governments in Clackamas, Hood River, Lane, Lincoln, Linn, Polk, Tillamook, Union, and Yamhill counties to access federal financial assistance including low-cost loans and grants for temporary housing and building repairs. The storms brought record rainfall and resulted in flooding, landslides, mudslides, over 300,000 power outages, and one fatality in Yamhill County.

On March 26, Kotek declared a drought emergency in Deschutes, Umatilla, and Baker counties following requests from county governments. The declaration marked the initial response to anticipated drought conditions affecting eastern Oregon. The action authorized emergency measures related to water management and drought response in the three affected counties.

On March 26, Kotek issued an executive order declaring a drought emergency in Deschutes, Umatilla, and Baker counties at the request of county governments. The order cited forecasts indicating below-normal precipitation and streamflow conditions likely to continue through summer, following an extended period of below-normal snowpack. The declaration represented the first of potentially multiple drought-related actions expected throughout the state during what forecasts indicated could be Oregon's most challenging large-scale drought year in decades.

On April 9, 2026, Governor Kotek signed eight bills into law addressing interactions between state and local institutions and federal immigration enforcement. The signed measures include the Healthcare Without Fear Act (Senate Bill 1570), which requires hospitals to establish policies for law enforcement arrivals; House Bill 4138, which requires law enforcement officers to identify themselves and limits mask use; House Bill 4079, which directs school districts and higher education institutions to adopt policies for federal immigration authority entries; House Bill 4111, which bars immigration status as evidence in civil cases and expands anti-profiling protections; and House Bill 4114, which creates civil liability for unauthorized property entry. Kotek stated that agencies failing to comply with the new laws would face consequences and emphasized the measures' goal of enabling residents to report crimes and seek help regardless of immigration status.

Kotek signed eight bills into law on April 9, 2026, collectively known as the immigrant justice package, in response to federal immigration enforcement actions in Oregon. The legislation included Senate Bill 1594, which directs the Office of Immigrant and Refugee Advancement to create statewide model policies for responding to federal immigration actions, along with House Bill 4079 requiring school districts to develop alert systems for federal agent presence on school property, Senate Bill 1538 adding immigration status as a protected class under K-12 anti-discrimination laws, and Senate Bill 1570 requiring hospitals to establish guidelines for staff procedures when federal immigration agents appear on hospital grounds. The bills reinforced protections for immigrants in schools, hospitals, and other spaces following the Trump administration's rescission of Obama and Biden-era protections against federal immigration enforcement in these locations.

Kotek was anticipated to sign House Bill 4177, legislation that would modify Oregon's public meetings laws by addressing certain existing problems while creating what the editorial board characterized as new opportunities for public bodies to conduct meetings outside public view. The bill represented a shift in the state's approach to transparency requirements governing governmental deliberations and decisions. The editorial expressed concern that the legislation would move Oregon in a problematic direction regarding public access to official proceedings.

On March 31, 2026, Governor Kotek signed an executive order declaring drought emergencies in three eastern Oregon counties following recommendations from the state's Drought Readiness Council and Water Supply Availability Committee. The declaration was issued in response to Oregon's record-low snowpack and mild winter, which created concerns about water availability and increased wildfire risk for the summer. The emergency order cleared the way for additional state funding and support to the affected counties.

The Grant County Court unanimously adopted Resolution 26-10 on April 1, 2026, declaring a drought emergency for the county due to severe economic damage to agricultural and livestock industries caused by low rainfall and extreme weather conditions. The resolution requested that Governor Kotek declare a drought emergency in Grant County and seek a drought declaration from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. County Judge Jim Hamsher stated he expected Kotek to issue the drought emergency declaration, which would provide the county access to state assistance, emergency tools and resources, and expedited processes for managing reduced water supplies.

Oregon joined 23 other states in filing a lawsuit on Friday seeking to block President Trump's executive order directing federal agencies to compile a centralized list of eligible voters and requiring the U.S. Postal Service to regulate mail-in voting in accordance with that list. Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield announced the multi-state complaint, which argues that Trump's order violates the constitutional separation of powers and would require state and county election officials to alter their procedures shortly before the May primary election. The lawsuit challenged the executive order on constitutional grounds, citing states' historical authority to regulate their own elections independent of federal intervention.

Kotek formed the Governor's Prosperity Council in January 2026 to advise her on strategies to achieve the goals outlined in her Oregon Prosperity Roadmap. The council conducted statewide engagement through listening sessions and surveys, and scheduled a meeting in Pendleton on April 15, 2026, to tour Hill Meat Co. and discuss business and economic growth in Oregon. The council was directed to deliver recommendations to the governor by the end of June 2026.

Governor Kotek had not yet signed Senate Bill 1517 as of the article's publication date in April 2026. The legislation would permit recreation businesses to require liability waivers that release them from ordinary negligence claims, following a bipartisan compromise in the Oregon Legislature. The bill establishes exceptions preventing businesses from requiring waivers for claims related to negligent safety training by employees or agents.

Governor Kotek issued a statement criticizing President Trump's executive order directing the Department of Homeland Security to create a national voter eligibility list and prohibiting the U.S. Postal Service from mailing ballots to individuals not on state-approved voter rolls. Kotek characterized the order as unconstitutional and stated that Oregon would use all available legal tools to challenge it in court. Kotek noted that Oregon has operated an exclusively vote-by-mail system for statewide elections since the late 1990s and pledged to protect what she described as the state's well-tested electoral process.

In response to a Department of Homeland Security request for information seeking to lease office space for Immigration and Customs Enforcement employees in Portland and Roseburg, Kotek stated that there was no new or compelling public safety need requiring additional ICE agents in Oregon. Kotek's administration indicated it would monitor federal actions closely and work to ensure all Oregonians felt safe and supported regardless of immigration status. The DHS request for information, posted on March 20, sought flexible workspace for ICE employees across dozens of U.S. cities as part of a workforce expansion.

Kotek announced the creation of an economic prosperity council in December with the goal of bringing together industry leaders to issue recommendations on policy issues such as permitting reform, global trade, and corporate tax incentives. The governor appointed former Senate Minority Leader Tim Knopp to lead the council, which held regular meetings with plans to issue formal recommendations in summer. The Oregon Business Council subsequently sent a letter to the council urging a more ambitious approach to economic policy in response to the state's economic and demographic challenges.

House Bill 4037, legislation that modifies Oregon's state rules for new development, limits notification requirements for some housing developments to only property owners within 100 feet rather than the broader 250-foot radius the City of Bend had been using. The bill also restricts appeal rights for land use decisions made under objective standards to only the development applicant, whereas previously anyone who participated in the decision could appeal. As of the article's publication date, Governor Kotek had not yet signed or vetoed House Bill 4037, which she must do in full rather than through line-item veto since it does not contain budget-related or emergency provisions.

Governor Kotek created the Child Care Infrastructure Fund in 2024, a grant program funded by lottery-backed bonds approved by the state Legislature to help child care providers pay for construction, renovation, and maintenance costs. Since fall 2024, the fund distributed $50 million across more than 180 child care facility projects in every Oregon county and eight federally recognized tribal nations, with the final round of awards in March 2026 going to 60 providers selected from over 500 applications requesting more than $255 million. Kotek stated that the program aimed to expand affordable child care access to support working families and Oregon's economy.

Kotek has not yet signed a state budget bill that includes $1.8 million in funding for two years of Japanese beetle eradication efforts by the Oregon Department of Agriculture. The program had lapsed due to lack of funding in the previous year, prompting farm and nursery groups to warn of potential losses to specialty crops, grass seed, and nursery operations. The renewed investment would help Oregon growers restore their "Japanese beetle-free" agricultural certification status.

Governor Kotek signed Senate Bill 1599 into law on March 2, 2026, moving the date of an Oregon gas tax referendum vote from November to May. The accelerated timeline created a March 12 deadline for submission of arguments to the voters' pamphlet, requiring either 500 valid signatures or a $1,200 fee. A federal judge subsequently denied an emergency motion filed by referendum supporters challenging the fee requirement, determining that the Secretary of State had no statutory authority to waive submission requirements.

Kotek signed Senate Bill 1599A into law on March 2, 2025, which rescheduled the referendum date for a 2025 transportation law containing a six-cent gas tax increase from November to May. The law passed with support from most Democratic legislators and no Republican support. Opponents of the gas tax subsequently filed a federal lawsuit alleging that the compressed timeline for collecting signatures to include arguments in the voter pamphlet violated constitutional rights and the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Kotek received House Bill 4177, legislation that exempts certain serial communications between public officials from Oregon's public meetings law when those communications are made to gather information relating to a decision. Journalists, news publishers, and the Oregon Government Ethics Commission requested that Kotek veto the bill, arguing it would allow important governmental deliberations to occur outside public view and reduce transparency and accountability. Kotek had until April 9, 2026 to sign, veto, or allow the bill to take effect by default.

Kotek signed Senate Bill 1599A into law on March 2, 2025, which rescheduled a referendum on a 2025 transportation law from November to May. The law increased the gas tax by six cents, doubled the payroll tax for public transit, and increased title and registration fees. Opponents of the gas tax filed a federal lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of the rescheduled referendum date, alleging insufficient time was provided for citizens to collect signatures for the voters' pamphlet.

Governor Kotek received House Bill 4127, legislation passed by the Oregon Legislature that created a mechanism for state funding to replace federal Medicaid money that became unavailable to Planned Parenthood of the Columbia Willamette and Planned Parenthood of Southern Oregon following President Trump's signing of the One Big Beautiful Bill in July 2025. The bill established a state payment system for healthcare entities prohibited from receiving federal funds due to federal government actions. Kotek had until April 17, 2026, to act on the legislation.

Journalists, news publishers, and government ethics watchdogs called on Gov. Kotek to veto House Bill 4177, which was passed by the Oregon Legislature in March 2026 and exempts certain serial communications between public officials from state public meetings law. The bill allows public officials to exchange information via text, phone calls, and other chain communications if done for the purpose of gathering information relating to decisions, which critics argued would permit important deliberations to occur privately rather than in public sessions. Kotek had until April 9, 2026 to sign, veto, or allow the bill to take effect by default, and her office stated she was reviewing the legislation.

Kotek issued an executive order last year implementing a statewide cell phone ban in Oregon schools, which all school districts have now adopted. Kotek visited Estacada High School on March 18, 2026, to gather feedback from students and staff regarding the ban's implementation and effects. Students, teachers, and administrators reported that the policy has improved classroom focus, student interactions, and relationships between teachers and students since its implementation.

Kotek issued an executive order requiring union labor on many state construction projects. A Marion County judge ruled the order unconstitutional on March 13, 2026. The decision invalidated the requirement that state-funded construction work be performed by union workers.

House Bill 4138 cleared the Oregon Legislature and was sent to Governor Kotek's desk for signature, requiring law enforcement agencies operating in Oregon to display unique identifying numbers or last names, badges, and agency type while prohibiting the use of facial coverings during operations. The legislation grants law enforcement agencies 180 days after the bill is signed to adopt public policies on facial coverings that comply with the identification provisions. Kotek indicated to reporters that she intended to sign the bill, which represents Oregon's approach to regulating federal agent conduct during immigration enforcement operations.

The Oregon Legislature approved House Bill 4134 on March 4, 2026, which increases the statewide transient lodging tax from 1.5% to 2.75% to fund wildlife management programs including compensation for livestock owners whose animals are killed by wolves. Sen. Todd Nash, R-Enterprise, served as one of the chief sponsors of the bill in the Senate, alongside House sponsors Reps. Ken Helm, D-Beaverton, and Mark Owens, R-Crane. The bill awaits the signature or veto of Governor Tina Kotek.

Kotek issued a statement on February 26 supporting U.S. District Judge Michael Simon's court order requiring increased water spill over eight Columbia Basin dams to protect endangered salmon and steelhead populations. Kotek stated the order would have a "modest impact on power generation, ability to meet peak demand, and our region's ability to maintain a reliable, affordable power system." Consumer-owned utilities subsequently criticized Kotek's position in a March 9 letter, asserting the order creates reliability risks and rate consequences for Oregon residents.

Governor Kotek signed Senate Bill 1599 during the 2026 Oregon legislative short session, which moved a referendum on tax and fee increases from the November general election to the May primary election. The bill was challenged by Republican lawmakers who filed a lawsuit seeking to block the referendum's inclusion in the May primary, arguing the election date change violated the Oregon Constitution. Marion County Circuit Court Senior Judge David Leith denied the emergency motion, finding no constitutional violation and determining the plaintiffs were unlikely to succeed on the legal merits of their case.

Governor Kotek announced staffing changes to her office on March 11, 2026, with three senior staffers departing their positions. Taylor Smiley Wolfe, deputy chief of staff for initiatives, left to become a policy director at the Ford Family Foundation, while legislative director Bob Livingston retired and communications director Elisabeth Shepard departed to work for U.S. Representative Janelle Bynum in Washington, D.C. Kotek appointed replacements to fill these positions, including Emerald Bogue as special advisor overseeing office coordination and legislative affairs, and Amelia Porterfield to oversee policy efforts related to homelessness, housing, mental health, addiction, and education.

The Oregon Legislature passed House Bill 4148, which redistributes local lodging tax revenue from a 70-30 split favoring tourism promotion to an equal 50-50 allocation between tourism and local government services. The bill, which heads to Governor Kotek's desk, allows local governments to direct a larger share of lodging tax revenue toward roads, emergency services, and other critical infrastructure. The legislation also includes a transparency requirement for how the funds are spent.

The Oregon Legislature approved House Bill 4134, which increases the state's transient lodging tax from 1.5 percent to 2.75 percent to generate approximately $38.7 million annually for wildlife conservation and related purposes. The bill allocates $1.5 million per year to compensate ranchers for livestock losses to wolves, along with funding for anti-poaching enforcement and invasive species control. The measure passed the House 36-22 and the Senate 20-9 and awaits Kotek's signature by April 17, 2026.

House Bill 4178, which passed the Oregon Legislature, awaits Kotek's signature and would allow businesses to round cash purchases to the nearest five cents. The bill responds to the federal government's November decision to cease penny minting and provides guidance for Oregon retailers facing penny supply shortages from banks. Under an emergency declaration, vendors would be permitted to implement immediate rounding for cash transactions, provided they apply the policy consistently and post notice in their storefronts.

The Oregon Legislature passed House Bill 4178, which allows businesses to round cash purchases to the nearest five cents, with the bill awaiting Gov. Kotek's signature. The legislation was requested by the Northwest Grocery Retail Association in response to the federal government's November decision to stop minting pennies, creating supply shortages for retailers. The bill requires stores adopting the rounding policy to apply it consistently and post notice to customers, and it necessitated amendments to existing Oregon consumer and discrimination laws.

Oregon's legislature passed a tenant confidentiality bill that would impose financial penalties on landlords who disclose tenant information without written consent, with fines equal to twice the tenant's monthly rent paid to the affected tenant. The legislation includes exceptions for situations involving legal or administrative proceedings, court orders, background checks, insurance claims, and maintenance services. The bill was sent to Governor Kotek for signature.

The Oregon Senate unanimously passed House Bill 4145 on March 6, 2026, which modifies the implementation timeline for Measure 114, the gun control law approved by voters in 2022 but blocked in court. The bill's final version, adopted through a gut-and-stuff amendment in the Senate Rules Committee, removes previous provisions including permit fee increases and data system requirements, instead delaying the effective date of Measure 114's restrictions to January 1, 2028. The measure passed the Senate 30-0 after the House had passed an earlier version 33-19 with greater regulatory scope.

House Bill 4134 passed the Oregon Legislature on March 4, 2026, with the Oregon Senate approving it 20-9 and the House having previously passed it 36-22 on February 24. The bill increases the state lodging tax from 1.5% to 2.75%, expected to raise approximately $37 million annually, with revenue allocated to compensate livestock owners for animals killed or injured by wolves, fund the Oregon State Police and Department of Justice for poaching enforcement, and support the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife for wildlife connectivity and stewardship. Kotek received the bill for action following legislative passage.

House Bill 4177 was approved by the Oregon Legislature and presented to Governor Kotek for consideration. The bill would modify Oregon's Public Meetings Law by expanding permissions for serial communications among governing body members and allowing full-quorum gatherings without meeting notice, minutes, recordings, or media observers. The Oregon Government Ethics Commission warned that the measure would allow private information gathering and decision-making that currently occurs in public meetings to take place outside public view, creating ambiguity in enforcement of the Public Meetings Law.

The Oregon Legislature passed SB 1570, the Healthcare Without Fear Act, during its 2026 short session, which was sent to Governor Kotek for consideration. The bill requires hospitals and federally qualified health centers to treat immigration-related information in a specified manner. The legislation was among several bills addressing issues including immigration protections, public transportation funding, healthcare, and taxes that were forwarded to Kotek's office following the legislature's adjournment on March 7, 2026.

Oregon House Bill 4134, which increases the state's transient lodging tax from 1.5% to 2.75% to fund wildlife conservation, was approved by the Oregon Senate with bipartisan support and forwarded to Governor Kotek's desk for signature. The bill directs the additional 1.25% tax revenue to Oregon's Wildlife Fund for habitat restoration, poaching prevention, invasive species control, and livestock compensation programs related to wolf predation. Kotek has not yet signed or taken action on the legislation.

Governor Tina Kotek announced the creation of a Data Center Advisory Committee in January and appointed seven members to the committee to develop policy recommendations regarding data center regulation in Oregon. The committee is tasked with providing recommendations to Kotek and the state legislature by October 2026 on matters including data center location, energy infrastructure protection, and water supply management. The recommendations will inform the development of state regulations governing where data centers can be built and how they operate within Oregon communities.

The Oregon Legislature passed House Bill 4148, which Kotek received for consideration, reducing the mandatory share of transient lodging tax revenue that cities and counties must dedicate to tourism promotion from 70% to 50%. The bill allows municipalities to allocate the remaining portion of lodging tax proceeds toward local services such as infrastructure, public safety, and emergency response. The Senate approved the measure 23-6 and the House approved it 40-12, with the changes set to take effect in January.

Senate Bill 1570, known as the Healthcare Without Fear Act, passed the Oregon House in March 2026 and awaited the governor's signature. The bill requires hospitals and federally qualified health centers to treat immigration-related information as protected health information and establishes written policies governing law enforcement interactions at healthcare facilities. The legislation also provides protections for healthcare workers against retaliation for sharing immigration rights information with patients or for protecting patients during law enforcement encounters.

The Oregon legislature unanimously passed a bill in February 2026 requiring insurance companies to cover diagnostic testing costs for patients with potential cervical cancer, with testing expenses ranging from $200 to $1,200 previously borne by patients out of pocket. The bill awaited Governor Kotek's signature or veto and was set to become law by early March 2026 regardless of her action, with the requirement taking effect on January 1, 2027. Oregon would become the first state to implement such a requirement, and the policy could potentially expand nationally if a proposed federal regulation takes effect the following year.

Governor Kotek convened the Data Center Advisory Committee to develop policy recommendations addressing the rapid growth of data centers in Oregon. Oregon lawmakers advanced an economic incentives bill amended to include a one-year moratorium on tax breaks for new data centers that would qualify for property tax exemptions through the state's enterprise zone program. Kotek's office stated that the moratorium would allow the advisory committee time to develop recommendations while addressing concerns about utility costs, infrastructure investments, and environmental impacts.

The Oregon House of Representatives passed Senate Bill 1599 in a 31-20 vote, which would move the date of a voter referendum on a 2025 transportation law from the November general election to the May primary election. The transportation law, passed by Democrats in 2025, included a 6-cent gas tax increase, vehicle registration and title fee increases, and doubled payroll taxes for public transit, generating an estimated $4.3 billion over ten years. The bill heads to Governor Kotek's desk following its House passage.

The Oregon Senate passed House Bill 4123 on Monday by a 24-3 vote, which would establish monetary penalties for landlords who knowingly disclose tenants' confidential information including immigration status, Social Security numbers, and medical records. Under the bill, tenants whose information is disclosed could recover compensation equal to twice their monthly rent. The legislation now proceeds to Governor Kotek's desk for final consideration.

Gov. Kotek introduced House Bill 4084, an economic stimulus bill that would extend property tax exemptions in enterprise zones from five years to ten years for businesses investing in Oregon infrastructure. An amendment proposed by Rep. Nancy Nathanson and adopted by the Joint Subcommittee on Capital Construction would temporarily bar newly built data centers from qualifying for these expanded exemptions for at least one year, pending recommendations from Kotek's Data Center Advisory Committee. The bill subsequently passed the Joint Ways and Means Committee and advanced to the full House.

The Oregon Legislature passed Senate Bill 1599, which moves the vote on an anti-tax referendum from the November general election to the May primary election. The bill passed the state Senate prior to the House, which voted 31-20 to approve it on March 2, 2026. The legislation now awaits action by Governor Kotek.

Senate Bill 1504 passed the Oregon Legislature with bipartisan support and awaits Governor Kotek's signature. The bill would expand treatment options for allergic reactions in schools by allowing any form of premeasured epinephrine, including nasal spray alternatives to traditional needle-based EpiPens, to be administered by school staff. The legislation also requires additional education and training for educators in epinephrine administration and reinforces legal protections for individuals administering the medication in good faith.

Senate Bill 1538 passed both chambers of the Oregon Legislature and was sent to Governor Kotek for consideration in February 2026. The legislation adds immigration and citizenship status to Oregon's existing school nondiscrimination statutes, explicitly prohibiting public schools from discriminating against students based on these characteristics. The bill also directs the state attorney general to develop updated model policies for schools to follow if immigration enforcement activity occurs on or near campus, developed in consultation with the Office of Immigrant and Refugee Advancement and school leaders.

The Oregon Legislature passed Senate Bill 1507, which partially unhooks Oregon's tax code from the federal tax code by removing certain Trump-era tax credits while creating or extending others to close a $311 million state budget shortfall. The bill was sent to Governor Kotek for her signature following passage in both chambers of the legislature. Republican lawmakers indicated they would pursue a ballot referendum to allow voters to reverse the bill's provisions.

Senate Bill 1530 passed the Oregon Senate 18-11 on February 25, 2026, establishing threats against public officials as a Class C felony punishable by up to five years in prison, a $125,000 fine, or both. The bill, sponsored by Sen. James Manning Jr., expands the crime of aggravated harassment to include threats directed at lawmakers, school board members, city councilors, and county commissioners. The legislation now proceeds to the House before reaching Gov. Kotek's desk for consideration.

Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek announced the formation of the Early Childhood Care and Learning System Roundtable, a group of state and national early learning experts tasked with developing a plan to provide affordable, universal preschool access for 3- and 4-year-olds in every Oregon county. The roundtable will be chaired by Kali Thorne Ladd, CEO of the Portland-based Children's Institute, and Sara Mickelson, a former leader of New Mexico's early childhood programs who recently helped manage that state's expansion of its Pre-K program. Kotek cited data showing that Oregon parents forgo approximately $3 billion in wages over the next decade due to lack of affordable child care options and noted that six Oregon counties currently have no publicly-funded child care options.

The Oregon Senate passed Senate Bill 1599 on a 17-13 vote largely along party lines, which reschedules a referendum on a 2025 transportation law from the November general election to the May 19 primary election. Democratic senators supporting the bill stated that moving the referendum date would expedite public direction on transportation infrastructure funding needs, citing deferred maintenance and rising construction costs affecting the Oregon Department of Transportation's road repair capacity. Republican senators criticized the bill for disregarding approximately 250,000 Oregonians who signed a petition requesting a November vote and announced plans to pursue legal action if the legislation is signed into law.

The Oregon Senate passed Senate Bill 1599 on a 17-13 vote, rescheduling a referendum on Oregon's 2025 transportation law from the November general election to the May 19 primary election. The bill was supported by Democratic senators who cited the need to address deferred maintenance and rising construction costs affecting the Oregon Department of Transportation's ability to repair state roads. Republican senators opposed the measure, citing concerns about primary election turnout and the 250,000 signatures on the No Tax Oregon petition requesting a November vote date.

Governor Kotek issued a proclamation in September 2025 directing five state agencies to establish standing orders for COVID-19 vaccination, create liability protections for healthcare providers administering the vaccine, and mandate insurance coverage for the shots. The action was taken after the Oregon Health Authority determined it lacked existing statutory authority to issue such orders independently, following similar action taken by Washington state. Subsequently, Oregon Democrats introduced Senate Bill 1598 to permanently grant the state's public health officer authority to issue standing orders for vaccines aligned with evidence-based guidance and professional medical organization recommendations, with required insurance coverage.

Kotek confirmed that remaining Oregon National Guard troops were formally ordered to return home after being demobilized at Fort Bliss, Texas, following the Trump administration's attempt to deploy them to Portland under federal command. The deployment had been blocked by U.S. District Court Judge Karin Immergut, who found no credible evidence that protests in Portland met the legal conditions for presidential federalization of state National Guard forces. Kotek stated that reason and the rule of law had prevailed and that Oregon did not require military intervention.

Governor Kotek announced the appointment of Sarah K. Dougherty to the Klamath County Circuit Court in February 2026. The appointment filled a vacancy created by the resignation of Judge Alycia Edgeworth Kersey in late 2025. Dougherty's appointment to the circuit court bench was made by the governor's office.

House Bill 4088 would prohibit Governor Kotek from granting another state's extradition request for healthcare providers engaged in reproductive or gender-affirming care in Oregon that is consistent with state law, with exceptions for fugitives facing charges such as treason or felony crimes. The legislation also creates new privacy protections and prevents state licensing authorities from revoking a midwife's license based on criminal convictions or discipline in other states for healthcare services that are legal in Oregon but prohibited elsewhere. Kotek's office stated that she has not received any extradition requests related to reproductive health or gender-affirming care and indicated the governor would use all available tools to uphold protections for care that is legal in Oregon.

Governor Kotek convened the first meeting of the Prosperity Council on January 22, 2026, a 16-member panel tasked with addressing Oregon's economic performance. Kotek stated the council's objectives as growing the state's gross domestic product, creating new jobs, and supporting the workforce needed for future economic development. The council, led by Ampere Computing founder Renée James and Port of Portland executive director Curtis Robinhold, was charged with developing recommendations to improve Oregon's productivity and investment metrics.

Oregon lawmakers held a public hearing on an amendment to House Bill 4018 that would delay implementation of portions of a 2024 campaign finance law designed to limit contributions and increase donor transparency. The amendment would maintain a 2027 effective date for contribution limits but would delay until 2031 the requirement to disclose original sources of campaign funds, and would also effectively increase contribution limits by applying them to calendar years rather than two-year election cycles. State election officials had warned that the 2024 law either needed to be substantially reduced or lawmakers needed to allow more time and funding for full implementation.

Kotek initiated the Oregon Prosperity Roadmap and appointed the Oregon Prosperity Council to address the state's economic challenges, which included a loss of 3,600 jobs statewide in the past 12 months and productivity lagging the national average by 10 percent. Kotek appointed former Senate Republican Leader Tim Knopp as chief prosperity officer to lead this economic initiative. The Oregon Prosperity Roadmap and Council focus on three primary areas identified as central to state economic performance: economy, infrastructure, and workforce.

Kotek initiated the Oregon Prosperity Roadmap and appointed the Oregon Prosperity Council to address the state's economic challenges, including job losses and lagging productivity. Kotek appointed former Senate Republican Leader Tim Knopp as chief prosperity officer, combining leadership roles across party lines. The initiative aims to improve Oregon's performance in economy, infrastructure, and workforce development while supporting education and family services.

In July 2025, Kotek issued an executive order requiring all Oregon school districts to adopt policies banning cellphone use during the school day. The order established a January 1, 2026 deadline for implementation. As of February 2026, 99 percent of Oregon school districts had implemented cellphone ban policies in response to the directive.

Kotek joined 31 city mayors in sending a letter to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the White House border office on February 6, 2026, requesting a pause on immigration enforcement in Oregon pending investigation of recent incidents involving federal officers. The letter stated that federal enforcement actions were creating fear in communities and damaging local economies, and reaffirmed Oregon's sanctuary law prohibiting local resources from being used for federal immigration enforcement. The signatories included mayors from across Oregon's regions, from Portland to the Rogue Valley, representing both liberal and Republican-leaning communities.

Oregon lawmakers introduced Senate Bill 1515, sponsored by the Senate Judiciary Committee, to strengthen a 2022 law allowing wrongfully convicted individuals to receive $65,000 per year of imprisonment and $25,000 per year of post-release supervision. The bill would restrict proof of innocence to certificates of innocence and placement on nationally recognized exoneree registries, removing gubernatorial pardons as sufficient evidence in an effort to address fiscal concerns that caused similar legislation to stall in 2025. The legislation specifically targets cases involving discredited forensic techniques such as microscopic hair comparison, bite mark analysis, and comparative bullet lead analysis, which account for approximately 40 percent of Oregon's exoneration cases.

Kotek opted out of Oregon's participation in the Working Families Tax Credit Act, a federal program established under President Trump that would have allowed Oregon residents to reduce their tax burden by contributing to approved Scholarship Granting Organizations beginning January 1, 2027. The program would have provided financial assistance to families selecting private, charter, or public schools. Oregon's non-participation means state residents cannot access the tax credit through this mechanism.

In fall 2025, Kotek directed all state agencies to develop proposed budget cuts of 2.5% and 5% in response to a federal tax law signed by President Donald Trump in July that created a significant gap in Oregon's 2025-27 budget. The budget shortfall, initially estimated at $900 million, was later revised to approximately $650 million according to an updated state revenue forecast. Democratic lawmakers subsequently began considering a partial disconnection from the federal tax code as a means to address the budgetary deficit while preserving state funding for public services.

Oregon lawmakers introduced House Bill 4091, legislation that would restrict deployment of the Oregon National Guard for immigration enforcement and prevent other states' guards from performing military duties in Oregon. The bill would grant Oregon's adjutant general and Governor Kotek authority to control use of the state's National Guard while preserving existing presidential authority under the Insurrection Act. The measure included an emergency clause for immediate effect upon passage and signature, and was reintroduced following a prior legislative session attempt that passed the House but died in the Senate.

Kotek appointed former Republican state Senator Tim Knopp of Bend as her chief prosperity officer and established a prosperity council tasked with gathering feedback from stakeholders and examining incentives, obstacles, and opportunities for job creation across Oregon. The council was designated as an advisory body to the governor not subject to public meeting requirements, though the governor's office indicated press would be invited to select meetings. The council's stated charge was to help build economic growth and create an economy that works for everyone through actionable steps and a shared vision.

Kotek signed a $4.3 billion transportation funding bill into law on November 7, 2025, following a special legislative session that ended with passage by a single vote after months of failed negotiations over the state's transportation financing needs. The bill, which had been reduced from initial Democratic proposals of $14.6 billion and $11.7 billion over ten years, became subject to a referendum petition that gathered approximately 250,000 signatures by year's end. Kotek timed the signing to minimize the period available for opponents to collect petition signatures for the voter referendum scheduled for the following year.

Kotek signed an executive order on January 30, 2026, establishing the Interagency Council for Immigrant and Refugee Coordination to coordinate state agency responses to federal immigration enforcement activities. The council was directed to oversee key state agencies including education, housing, health, and transportation, and to review agency protocols regarding immigration enforcement. Kotek set deadlines for the council to develop a proposed scope of work by March 31, 2026, and to implement a work plan by May 30, 2026.

Governor Kotek stated that Oregon would limit the sharing of Medicaid data with federal immigration enforcement to only what is legally required, following a federal court ruling that permitted Immigration and Customs Enforcement to access Medicaid records including addresses and immigration status. Enrollment in Oregon's Healthier Oregon program, which provides health care coverage to income-eligible adults regardless of immigration status, declined from 107,000 people in June to 97,000 in January, with state health officials attributing the decrease to concerns about data privacy and increased immigration enforcement under the Trump administration. The data sharing arrangement resulted from federal health officials' June directive requiring states to share Medicaid information with ICE in cases where emergency services trigger federal funding, prompting Oregon and 21 other states to file a lawsuit challenging the policy.

Governor Kotek appointed Ken Sanchagrin as permanent executive director of the Oregon Public Defense Commission, following his interim appointment to the position in April 2024. Sanchagrin was tasked with addressing a crisis in which thousands of indigent criminal defendants lacked assigned public defenders, and under his direction the number of unrepresented cases decreased from 3,778 in December 2024 to 2,559 by December 2025, a reduction of 32 percent. The appointment requires Senate confirmation.

Oregon Gov. Kotek established the "Prosperity Council," a 16-member group representing different state regions and business sectors, to develop administrative or legislative policy recommendations by June 30, 2026. Kotek appointed Tim Knopp, a former Republican state senator, as Chief Prosperity Officer to lead the initiative aimed at addressing Oregon's economic growth lagging behind the national average. The governor announced plans to seek $40 million in one-time legislative funding for industrial land development and introduce legislation to expedite the permitting process for projects in targeted economic sectors including metals, machinery, forestry, and bioscience.

Kotek appointed Nevada's state forester to lead the Oregon Department of Forestry following a year-long search. The appointee became the first woman to hold the position of director of the Oregon Department of Forestry. The selection concluded Kotek's recruitment process for the agency leadership role.

Governor Kotek acknowledged that legislative legal analysts concluded a repeal of the transportation funding bill would be unconstitutional since the referendum matter had already been referred to the ballot. Kotek stated that earlier legal analysis had suggested repeal could still be possible, but her responsibility remained to keep roads safe and work toward a bipartisan long-term transportation solution. House Speaker Julie Fahey and Senate President Rob Wagner announced legislation to move the referendum vote from November to the May 19 primary election to resolve the $242 million ODOT budget shortfall more quickly.

Governor Kotek issued two executive orders designed to streamline the siting and permitting processes for clean energy projects in Oregon. The orders were announced in the context of labor unions launching the Climate Jobs Oregon coalition to address workforce needs for meeting the state's clean energy targets, including achieving 100% clean electricity by 2040. The executive actions aimed to accelerate Oregon's transition away from fossil fuels by reducing regulatory barriers to clean energy project development.

Kotek convened the Data Center Advisory Committee to develop policy recommendations addressing the rapid growth of data centers in Oregon, which have created concerns about utility rates, power grid strain, and water resource consumption. The committee, co-chaired by Margaret Hoffman of the Northwest Power and Conservation Council and energy policy expert Michael Jung, was tasked with balancing economic development opportunities against impacts on affordable power, infrastructure, and environmental sustainability. Kotek stated the committee would evaluate effects on jobs, economic development, clean energy goals, utility rates, and water resources to ensure data center growth remained sustainable for Oregon residents.

Kotek created a new advisory committee to address issues arising from rapid data center growth in Oregon. The committee was tasked with establishing rules and regulations to protect energy access and affordability as well as water supplies from being overburdened by expanding data center operations. The action responded to concerns about resource strain from the state's growing data center sector.

Oregon Gov. Kotek created the Data Center Advisory Committee in January 2026, appointing seven members including co-chairs Margaret Hoffmann and Michael Jung to provide policy recommendations by October 2026. The committee was established to advise the governor and Legislature on regulations intended to address rapid data center growth in the state, with a focus on protecting energy infrastructure and water supplies from strain caused by the facilities' substantial power and cooling requirements. The advisory committee represents the state's first major policy initiative specifically targeting data centers, following 2025 legislation aimed at addressing electricity rate increases driven by data center expansion.

Oregon Gov. Kotek created the Data Center Advisory Committee on Tuesday, appointing seven members including co-chairs Margaret Hoffmann and Michael Jung to provide policy recommendations by October 2026. The committee will advise Kotek and the Oregon Legislature on establishing regulations for data centers, with a focus on protecting energy infrastructure and water supplies from being overburdened by the rapidly growing facilities. The regulations are expected to address where data centers can be built in response to concerns about rising utility bills and strain on the state's critical resources.

Governor Kotek appointed Tim Knopp, a former Republican Oregon Senate leader, to serve as chief prosperity officer and head of the newly created Prosperity Council in January 2026. The council was established to increase business activity in Oregon, spur job creation, and grow the state's gross domestic product, with Knopp working alongside 16 other council members to advance goals outlined in Kotek's Prosperity Roadmap. Knopp left his positions as executive vice president of the Central Oregon Builders Association and executive director of Building Partnerships for Affordable Housing to assume the state-level role.

On January 13, 2026, Governor Kotek and the Oregon Department of Human Services proposed state funding for upgrading Electronic Benefit Transfer cards to include smart chip technology, a security feature currently absent from the magnetic strip cards used in Oregon's SNAP and TEFAP programs. The upgrade is estimated to cost $12 million, with funding to be shared between federal and state sources, and would require approximately two years to implement. The proposal responded to an increase in skimming fraud targeting EBT cards, with state data showing 440 thefts totaling over $91,000 in November 2025 alone.

Kotek supported the Oregon Department of Human Services' request for $114.6 million in state general fund appropriations to address budget gaps created by federal changes to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program following Trump's tax and spending law signed in July 2025. During a government shutdown, Kotek had directed $5 million to Oregon's statewide food bank network and $1 million to the nine federally recognized tribes in Oregon to provide emergency food assistance after thousands of Oregonians lost access to SNAP benefits. The federal law implemented new work requirements, eligibility restrictions for noncitizens, and increased administrative compliance demands that expanded from six counties to all 36 counties statewide.

Gov. Kotek extended the state of emergency on unsheltered homelessness for a third year, with a renewed focus on mental health and addiction. The executive order directs state agencies to rehouse 1,400 additional people, prevent homelessness for more than 8,000 households, invest $20 million in permanent supportive housing and behavioral health capacity, and allocate $19 million to support people experiencing homelessness in legal proceedings. The extension remains in effect until January 10, 2027, and applies to regions including the Portland area, central Oregon, and eight counties that experienced increases in homelessness of 50 percent or more between 2017 and 2022.

Kotek extended the state of emergency on unsheltered homelessness for a third year, which she had first declared on her initial day in office. The extended emergency order refocused state efforts on mental health and addiction issues among the unsheltered population. The extension was announced by her office on January 10, 2026.

Governor Kotek appointed 16 members to the Prosperity Council in January 2026 to implement her Prosperity Roadmap initiative announced in December 2025. The council, co-chaired by Renée James of Ampere Computing and Curtis Robinhold of the Port of Portland, includes representatives from various regions, industry sectors, and labor organizations tasked with delivering recommendations by June 30, 2026. Kotek stated the council will advance the roadmap's three goals through legislation during the 2026 short session: growing Oregon's economy and GDP above the national average, creating living-wage jobs, and making the state more attractive to businesses by reducing regulatory barriers.

Oregon Governor Tina Kotek issued a statement at a Thursday evening news conference following a shooting incident in East Portland involving U.S. Border Patrol agents who fired on two individuals affiliated with the gang Tren de Aragua. Kotek called for transparency and accountability from federal agents, stating that their actions were undermining community safety and trust in law enforcement, and aligned herself with Portland's mayor in prioritizing a full investigation by local authorities rather than additional federal detentions. Kotek characterized the incident as part of broader Trump administration immigration enforcement policies and called on the federal government to cooperate with Portland police and the Multnomah County District Attorney's office in investigating the shooting.

Governor Kotek released a statement on social media responding to a fatal shooting in Minneapolis in which an ICE officer shot and killed 37-year-old Renee Good during an enforcement action. Kotek called for a full investigation of the incident, stating that Americans deserve accountability and that no one is above the law. The statement indicated Oregon's solidarity with Minnesota following the shooting death.

Gov. Kotek announced on January 6, 2026, that the final 100 Oregon National Guard members mobilized by President Trump in September and stationed at Camp Rilea in Warrenton would be demobilized and sent home after more than three months without deployment. The demobilization order came from U.S. Northern Command on January 5, 2026, following a federal court ruling in November that found the original deployment unlawful. The troops will first undergo demobilization activities at Fort Bliss, Texas, including out-processing and medical and administrative screenings, before returning to Oregon.

Kotek led legislation in the previous year to establish new accountability measures for Oregon's K-12 school districts. The Oregon Department of Education will monitor district progress toward state-determined goals beginning in the 2026-2027 school year, with escalating state intervention if districts fail to meet targets after two or four years. The accountability framework bases goals on metrics including attendance, graduation rates, and proficiency testing in English language arts and mathematics, with districts grouped into clusters according to student population, poverty levels, and other demographic factors.

Multnomah County announced the appointment of Danisa McLean as director of its Preschool for All program on January 6, 2026, effective January 26, 2026. McLean, who previously served as interim executive director of Early Learning & Engagement at Mt. Hood Community College, replaces Leslee Barnes, who resigned in August 2025 following controversy over spending practices. The appointment follows a year of scrutiny including a state audit questioning the program's spending efficiency and comments from Governor Kotek characterizing the program's funding mechanism as unsustainable.

Kotek announced on January 6, 2026, that Oregon National Guard troops federalized by President Trump in September 2025 have been formally ordered by U.S. Northern Command to demobilize and return home. The 200 Oregon troops, stationed in Portland since late September in response to protests at an ICE facility, will travel to Fort Bliss, Texas to complete demobilization activities before returning to Oregon. Kotek's statement came one week after Trump announced he would abandon the deployment to Portland, Chicago, and Los Angeles.

Kotek signed House Bill 3789 into law in June, legislation that prohibits individuals from impersonating union representatives and allows unions to sue for damages of $6,250 if impersonation can be proven. The law passed along party lines in both legislative chambers and was supported by several public sector unions who stated that third parties had been sending misleading information to union members. The Freedom Foundation, a conservative think tank, filed a federal lawsuit on December 31 challenging the law as a violation of the First Amendment, alleging it discriminates based on content and viewpoint and targets political speech.

Governor Kotek stated on January 1, 2026, that she had not received official notification from the Trump administration that federalized Oregon National Guard troops could return home, despite President Trump's announcement on New Year's Eve that he would abandon deployment attempts to resistant cities. Kotek noted that 100 soldiers remained mobilized under federal control and emphasized that the troops were never lawfully deployed to Portland streets due to court orders blocking the federalization effort. The governor indicated that formal demobilization orders would be necessary to confirm the troops' return to their home units and communities.

Governor Kotek directed all state agencies to identify potential budget cuts in response to concerns about overall state revenue. The Oregon Department of Transportation subsequently submitted a list of possible reductions to legislators in October, which included holding vacant positions open and reducing related paving and bridge repair work. ODOT faced a $242 million funding gap following a Republican-led ballot measure that halted funding mechanisms from House Bill 3991, potentially requiring deeper cuts including layoffs if the Legislature did not provide solutions.

Oregon Governor Kotek responded to the Supreme Court's denial of the Trump administration's request to federalize the National Guard in Chicago by calling for the return of 100 Oregon National Guard service members who remain federalized under U.S. Northern Command at Camps Rilea and Withycombe. Kotek stated that the Court's ruling demonstrated that the President cannot deploy troops into American cities without legal authority and without state consent. Kotek noted that since September she has advocated for the service members' return to their families and communities, including through a December 18 letter to the Secretary of War.

The Oregon Health Authority announced on December 16, 2025, that Oregon Health Plan members can obtain over-the-counter birth control pills and emergency contraceptives at pharmacies without a prescription and at no cost, with pharmacies billing the state directly through a standing order. Governor Kotek issued a statement supporting the change, which was developed in coordination with the Oregon Board of Pharmacy to address a gap between Medicaid coverage rules and private insurance requirements. The policy eliminates a federal Medicaid requirement that medications be prescribed by a licensed practitioner enrolled in the state's Medicaid program.

Kotek's administration through the Oregon Health Authority issued a statement rejecting a recommendation from the CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices to limit hepatitis B vaccination at birth to only newborns whose mothers tested positive for the virus or had unclear infection status. The Oregon Health Authority stated that the new guidance lacked credible evidence and that delaying the birth dose would leave infants vulnerable to undiagnosed maternal infections and increase preventable liver disease and cancer. Oregon joined Hawaii, Washington, and California in opposing the federal panel's recommendation, with these states having formed the West Coast Health Alliance in September 2025 citing concerns about the CDC's scientific independence.

Oregon's Health Authority issued a statement rejecting a December 2024 recommendation from the CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices to limit hepatitis B vaccination at birth to only newborns whose mothers tested positive for hepatitis B or had unclear infection status. The Health Authority stated that the CDC panel presented no credible evidence to support delaying the birth dose or using blood tests to guide vaccination decisions, noting that such delays would leave infants vulnerable to undiagnosed maternal infections. Oregon joined California, Washington, and Hawaii in maintaining the existing policy of universal hepatitis B vaccination at birth, citing the 99% reduction in hepatitis B infections in children since the 1991 policy was implemented.

Oregon Gov. Kotek called upon the state's business community to support her "prosperity roadmap" plan at the annual Oregon Leadership Summit in December 2025, which includes streamlining the permitting process and providing corporate tax incentives. Kotek announced plans to introduce legislation in the 2026 session creating a fast-tracked permit program for large projects and to seek one-time funding from the legislature for industrial development land. She also set an end-of-year deadline to appoint a chief prosperity officer and council of leaders to make policy recommendations related to the roadmap.

Kotek signed House Bill 3991, a transportation bill passed by the Oregon Legislature in early November, which increased the gas tax by 6 cents per gallon, raised vehicle registration fees by $42 every two years, and doubled a 0.1% payroll tax to support public transportation for two years. The No Tax Oregon campaign subsequently began collecting signatures to place a referendum on the ballot that would allow voters to decide on the transportation bill's provisions. The bill's tax and fee increases were estimated to affect individual taxpayers' monthly expenditures by varying amounts depending on their fuel consumption and use of public transportation.

Governor Kotek announced in December 2025 that Oregon has financed or constructed just under 14,000 new housing units and unlocked 40,000 additional homes through state incentives since taking office in January 2023. The state secured $1.5 billion for affordable rental and homeownership projects and passed legislation creating new housing production tools and streamlining multi-family housing development. According to the governor's office, approved housing production plans have the potential to add an expected 205,000 units over the next two decades.

Governor Kotek's office announced an intergovernmental agreement between the state of Oregon and Wasco County on December 5, 2025, to complete debris removal and recovery efforts following the Rowena Fire, which destroyed dozens of homes near The Dalles in June 2025. The agreement authorized the Oregon Department of Emergency Management to issue a $3.5 million grant toward debris removal, with the state funding empowering the county to hire contractors to clear debris from affected properties. The funding came after the Rowena Fire did not meet federal thresholds for a presidential major disaster declaration, making it ineligible for FEMA assistance, and followed months of delay in beginning the second phase of cleanup operations.

Kotek announced "Oregon's Prosperity Roadmap," an economic development strategy designed to retain and grow Oregon businesses, spur job creation, and accelerate economic growth through administrative actions and legislation during the 2026 short session. The roadmap was unveiled at a press conference held at Lam Research in Tualatin and reflects input from hundreds of businesses, organizations, and labor and community stakeholders. Kotek also created a new senior position, Chief Prosperity Officer, to lead implementation of the initiative, which projects expanding Oregon's GDP by 2.2 percent and increasing the General Fund by 1.2 billion dollars over baseline projections for 2027-29.

Oregon Gov. Kotek announced a "prosperity roadmap" on December 2, 2025, at Lam Research in Tualatin, designed to improve the state's business climate through permitting reform, global trade initiatives, and corporate tax incentives. The roadmap aims to move Oregon into the top 10 in CNBC's "Best States for Businesses" and "Top States for Business Workforce" rankings, where the state had declined to 39th place as of July 2025. Kotek assembled business leaders from companies including Lam Research, Columbia Sportswear, and the Port of Portland to develop the initiative in response to what she described as federal headwinds from tariffs and regulatory uncertainty.

Kotek signed a transportation funding law that raises $4.3 billion over the next decade through increases to the state gas tax, vehicle registration and title fees, and a transit payroll tax to address a $350 million deficit at the Oregon Department of Transportation. Petitioners gathered over 150,000 signatures to refer the law to the ballot, exceeding the 78,116 signatures needed, which if certified would suspend the tax and fee increases until voters decide the measure in November 2026. Kotek stated that if the referendum succeeds and the law is paused, ODOT would face significant funding gaps that could result in cuts to road maintenance, bridge operations, and transit services.

Governor Kotek issued an executive order on homelessness that established targets for Central Oregon to add 111 emergency shelter beds and rehouse 160 households. Central Oregon exceeded both targets, adding 186 shelter beds and rehousing 336 households, while housing options nearly doubled from 561 units in 2022 to 1,081 units in 2024. The region's efforts assisted more than 5,000 individuals in 2024 with housing stability and transitions to permanent housing.

Governor Kotek declared a state of emergency on November 25, 2025, in response to a BP pipeline leak that shut down the Olympic Pipeline carrying 90 percent of Oregon's transportation fuel beginning November 17. The emergency declaration, effective through December 24, 2025, authorizes fuel suppliers and state agencies to transport fuel into Oregon via truck and train while temporarily waiving certain reporting and fee-based regulations. Kotek stated the state was not experiencing supply constraints and worked with the Port of Portland to ensure fuel supplies reached Portland International Airport during the busy holiday travel season.

Kotek declared a state of emergency on Monday to ensure adequate fuel supply to Oregon while the Olympic Pipeline, which provides over 90 percent of the state's fuel, remained shut down following a leak. The emergency declaration waived certain regulations on commercial driver operating hours to facilitate fuel delivery by ships and trucks as an alternative to pipeline transport. The pipeline, which runs from Washington into Oregon, had been offline for a week following reports of a leak near Everett, Washington, with BP conducting excavation work to locate the source.

Kotek declared a state of emergency on November 24, 2025, in response to potential disruptions in fuel delivery caused by the shutdown of the Olympic Pipeline in Washington for repairs. The declaration waives certain fuel delivery requirements and allows the Oregon Department of Transportation to authorize alternative delivery methods such as trucks and barges to maintain fuel supply to the state. The emergency order coordinates response efforts between state agencies including the Oregon Department of Emergency Management and the Oregon Department of Energy, and is set to expire on December 24, 2025, unless lifted earlier.

Kotek signed a $4.3 billion transportation bill on November 10, 2025, that increased the state gas tax by 6 cents per gallon, doubled the statewide payroll tax from 0.1% to 0.2%, and doubled vehicle registration and renewal fees. Petition organizers subsequently began gathering signatures in multiple Oregon counties to place a referendum on the November 2026 ballot that would overturn these tax and fee increases if approved. The referendum effort required at least 78,116 valid signatures to qualify for the ballot.

Kotek issued an executive order to accelerate Oregon's clean energy transition and expedite the development of renewable power and transmission infrastructure. The order includes a goal to deploy 8,000 megawatts of energy storage by 2045 to enhance the state's power grid resilience. The action was taken in response to projections indicating a potential power supply gap of more than 1,300 megawatts in the Pacific Northwest region for 2026.

Kotek signed a transportation funding measure during a special legislative session after the Oregon Legislature failed to pass a transportation funding bill in regular session. The bill provided revenue to the Oregon Department of Transportation and county and city transportation departments, though legislators determined it did not provide long-term funding solutions. TriMet subsequently announced layoffs of 26 employees and elimination of 68 positions due to a $300 million budget shortfall between projected revenues and expenditures over several years.

Kotek issued an order directing state agencies to accelerate their work on clean energy projects and electrification initiatives. The directive aims to expand long-term renewable energy capacity while reducing reliance on fossil fuels and addressing gaps in federal clean energy investment. The order addresses climate change mitigation through expedited implementation of state-level energy policies.

Kotek announced on November 19, 2025, that all 200 Oregon National Guard members deployed to Portland would be demobilized, citing a federal court order blocking their deployment to the city. However, the U.S. Northern Command confirmed that 100 troops remained federalized in Portland following the announcement, with their demobilization status unclear. The National Guard members had been federally mobilized by President Trump on September 28 to protect an ICE facility after Kotek declined his request to voluntarily activate the state guard.

On November 19, 2025, Governor Kotek issued an executive order directing state agencies to identify and remove barriers to clean energy projects and electrical grid transmission, with collaborative strategy proposals due by September 2026 and policy recommendations for the Legislature to consider in 2027. The order tasked more than a dozen state land and natural resource agencies with accelerating permitting and siting processes for renewable energy projects including solar, wind, geothermal, and wave energy, as well as energy storage and efficiency initiatives. The directive aligned with Oregon's established greenhouse gas reduction targets of 50 percent by 2035 and 90 percent by 2050, and included provisions for quarterly progress updates from agencies.

Kotek announced Wednesday that all Oregon National Guard members will return home following the Trump administration's deployment of the troops to Portland under federal orders. The announcement concluded the federal government's attempt to station Oregon National Guard units in the state capital. Kotek's statement marked the end of the National Guard deployment that had been ordered by the Trump administration.

Kotek announced on Wednesday that she had received verbal confirmation from U.S. Northern Command that all 200 federalized Oregon National Guard troops would be demobilized and returned to state control, but subsequently stated that conflicting information suggested the demobilization timeline remained uncertain. The troops had been federalized on September 27 and stationed at a coastal training camp pending resolution of legal challenges to their potential deployment to Portland's Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility. Kotek stated her intention to continue pressing for the troops' return home in accordance with court orders, citing the approaching holiday season and the estimated $16 million cost of the deployment to state taxpayers.

Governor Kotek announced on November 19, 2025, that all 200 Oregon National Guard troops under federal control would be demobilized by Friday following a verbal demobilization order from U.S. Northern Command. The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals issued an order the same day that paused the demobilization, allowing President Trump to retain control of some troops while preventing their deployment, contradicting Kotek's announcement. The 200 Oregon National Guard members had been federalized by President Trump on September 28, 2025, in response to protests outside an Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility in Portland, a decision Kotek had objected to at the time.

The Justice Department filed an emergency motion with the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals seeking to overturn U.S. District Judge Karin Immergut's November 7 ruling that found President Trump exceeded his constitutional authority when he federalized Oregon National Guard members and deployed them to an Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility in Portland in September 2025. Federal attorneys argued that Trump possessed authority under federal law to deploy the National Guard because regular forces could not adequately protect ICE personnel and property from ongoing threats including blocked driveways, rock-throwing, and verbal threats against agents. Judge Immergut had ruled that while violent protests occurred in mid-June, they had substantially diminished by September, with crowd sizes averaging 15-30 people through July and August and as few as 8-15 people on the day before the deployment order, contradicting the federal government's assertion of an overwhelming security threat.

Kotek issued a statement regarding the funding status of Oregon's Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program following a federal court order that required the Trump administration to release SNAP funding on November 7. Kotek expressed gratitude to the federal courts for upholding the law and to state teams who processed the funding to ensure Oregon families could purchase groceries. The statement indicated that individuals approved for SNAP after November 7 would have their cards funded on November 14, with December benefits to follow on the regular schedule.

On Friday, Kotek signed a transportation funding bill passed by Democrats in the Oregon Legislature during a special session in late September. The bill raises $4.3 billion over the next decade through a six-cent increase in the gas tax and increases to other fees and taxes. The funding allowed the Oregon Department of Transportation to cancel approximately 500 planned layoffs across the state, including 21 positions in Deschutes County, and maintain winter highway maintenance operations.

Kotek rejected a Trump administration demand to reverse Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits that Oregon distributed to approximately 750,000 residents following a federal court order requiring full November payments. Kotek stated that the USDA's directive to reverse the benefits was unlawful and characterized the demand as immoral, while affirming that Oregon had acted lawfully in response to the federal court's ruling. Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield, joined by other state officials, filed a motion for a temporary restraining order, and a district court subsequently blocked the Trump administration's efforts to undo the distributed benefits.

Governor Kotek announced on Friday that 750,000 Oregonians would receive their full November SNAP benefits during a federal government shutdown in its sixth week. Kotek allocated $5 million to the state's food bank network and declared a food security emergency on the preceding Thursday in response to delayed federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program payments. The allocation addressed immediate food insecurity resulting from the disruption to the federal benefit distribution system, which marked the first month in the program's over 50-year history that benefits were not distributed at the start of the month.

Kotek announced on Friday that Oregon would distribute full November Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits to approximately 750,000 Oregonians following a federal judge's order requiring the Trump administration to fully fund the program despite an ongoing federal government shutdown. The Oregon Department of Human Services, under Kotek's administration, worked to implement the court order by coordinating with its electronic benefits transfer vendor to make funds available. Kotek stated that Oregon was among the first states to process the restored benefits after the judicial ruling was issued.

On October 29, 2025, Kotek declared a statewide food security emergency in Oregon in response to a federal government shutdown that paused Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits for more than 750,000 enrolled Oregonians. The declaration was issued as the state estimated that more than half of those at risk of losing benefits were children, seniors, or people with disabilities. The emergency declaration facilitated coordinated food assistance efforts among nonprofits and private organizations throughout Oregon.

Kotek declared a 60-day food emergency and directed $5 million in emergency funding to support food banks in response to uncertainty surrounding federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program funding. The declaration came as the Trump administration indicated it would release only partial SNAP funds for November, with those funds not yet distributed to states according to the Oregon Department of Human Services. SNAP serves over one in six people in Oregon.

Kotek's Department of Early Learning and Care negotiated a 60-day agreement to redirect funding from the Oregon Prenatal to Kindergarten program to Oregon Head Start programs during the federal government shutdown that began October 1, 2025, allowing nearly 12,000 children to continue receiving services. The arrangement enabled four Oregon Head Start locations that had missed federal funds to remain operational, preventing closures that occurred in other states during the shutdown. Program leaders were scheduled to meet with the agency's Early Learning Programs Director Dorothy Spence to establish concrete guidelines for the temporary funding arrangement.

Governor Kotek argued earlier in 2025 that Multnomah County's Preschool for All program is pushing taxpayers out of the county and is unsustainable. The program, funded by a tax on high-income couples and approved by county voters five years prior, expanded to add more than 240 tuition-free preschool spots for children ages 3 and 4 beginning in January 2026. Kotek's statement represented a public criticism of the county-level initiative despite its continued expansion.

Kotek declared a 60-day food security emergency on October 29, 2025, in response to the federal government shutdown and resulting delays in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits. The declaration directed $5 million in unspent federal funds to Oregon's food bank network to address increased demand at food pantries across the Portland metro area. The action was taken as food banks reported serving double their typical number of visitors due to the loss of federal nutrition benefits affecting 757,000 Oregon residents.

Kotek declared a state of emergency over hunger and directed $5 million in state funds to food banks across Oregon in October 2025. The allocation was made in response to an impending federal cut to Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits scheduled for November 2025, which would have affected hundreds of thousands of low-income Oregonians. The funding was intended to help food banks meet increased demand as residents lost access to federal food assistance during the ongoing federal government shutdown.

Kotek declared a food security emergency and directed $5 million in state funding to food banks as federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits expired. The allocation was designed to address increased demand at food assistance organizations during the transition period following the end of enhanced SNAP benefits. The emergency declaration enabled expedited distribution of the emergency funds to food banks across the state.

On October 29, 2025, Governor Kotek declared a 60-day food security emergency in Oregon in response to a scheduled federal food assistance cutoff set for November 1. Kotek directed the Oregon Department of Human Services to allocate $5 million in emergency funding to food banks across the state. The emergency declaration came two days before the expiration of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits that were being received by approximately 636,000 Oregonians.

Kotek declared a food security emergency on October 29, 2025, in response to a federal government shutdown threatening to halt Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits. The declaration directed $5 million from Oregon's Temporary Assistance for Needy Families carryover funds to the state's food bank network and activated state agencies to address food access for approximately 757,000 Oregonians. Kotek also urged the U.S. Department of Agriculture to release emergency contingency funds authorized under federal law to sustain SNAP benefits nationwide.

Governor Kotek filed a lawsuit challenging President Trump's federalization and deployment of 200 Oregon National Guard troops to Portland in response to protests outside an ICE building, arguing the president was mischaracterizing the situation on the ground. The trial began in October 2025 to assess the merits of Oregon's challenge, with prior proceedings having focused on temporary restraining orders issued by U.S. District Court Judge Karin Immergut to halt the deployment. The central legal dispute concerns the interpretation of U.S. Code Title 10, which allows the president to place state National Guard troops under federal command in cases of invasion, rebellion, or when the president is unable to execute the laws of the United States with regular forces.

Kotek joined nine other Oregon elected officials in sending a letter to U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke L. Rollins on October 27, 2025, requesting that the USDA use emergency contingency and reserve funds to ensure November SNAP benefits are distributed on time and in full during the federal government shutdown. The letter noted that more than 757,000 Oregonians, including 210,000 children and 130,000 older adults, depend on SNAP for nutrition and highlighted that SNAP benefits generate approximately $1.6 billion annually in Oregon's economy. Kotek sent the letter while traveling in Seoul, South Korea on a trade and tourism mission.

Kotek requested that U.S. District Judge Karin Immergut maintain a temporary restraining order blocking the deployment of the National Guard in Portland while an appeals court considered whether to rehear the case. The state's legal action followed a Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals ruling on Monday that overturned one of Immergut's earlier orders temporarily blocking the deployment of Oregon National Guard troops. Kotek stated that approximately 200 Oregon National Guard members remained at Camp Rilea without clarity on their mission or timeline from the Trump administration.

Kotek visited Bend on October 20, 2025, to promote her housing agenda at the Parkside Place development, a 350-home community where approximately 40 percent of units are restricted to households earning 80 percent of area median income or below. Kotek highlighted housing production bills she signed into law in 2025, which established new loan programs and expanded state authority to streamline local permitting processes. Since taking office in 2023, Kotek set a statewide goal of producing 36,000 homes annually, citing housing scarcity as the state's largest economic challenge.

Following a 9th Circuit Court of Appeals ruling that allowed the Trump administration to deploy National Guard troops to Portland, Governor Kotek issued a statement indicating Oregon would continue legal challenges to the deployment. Kotek stated she supported Attorney General Dan Rayfield's efforts to contest the ruling in court and said she would work to defend Oregon residents. Kotek characterized the deployment as unwanted military intervention and called on the Trump administration to clarify the mission for National Guard members stationed in the state.

In 2023, Kotek overhauled Oregon's literacy instruction statewide through an executive action that required all schools to teach phonics-based reading methods. Previously, school districts across Oregon had been permitted to select their own approaches to reading instruction, resulting in varied curricula within and between districts. Kotek's action standardized phonics instruction while allowing districts to retain discretion in other areas of education policy.

Governor Tina Kotek ordered Oregon school districts to implement a bell-to-bell cell phone ban by January and instructed districts to finalize their policies by October 31. Multiple Central Oregon school districts, including Redmond, Sisters, and Jefferson County, began implementing the ban in September ahead of the statewide deadline. Teachers in affected schools reported increased student-to-student conversation and improved classroom focus since the policy took effect.

Kotek signed an executive order on Monday aimed at accelerating Oregon's permitting process for renewable energy projects. The action was taken to enable the state to fast-track solar and wind permits and take advantage of federal tax credits under the Inflation Reduction Act before they expire in 2026. The executive order represents an effort to complete renewable energy siting ahead of the federal incentive deadline.

Kotek requested that U.S. Northern Command send home approximately 200 Oregon National Guard troops that had been federalized under President Trump's orders following a federal appeals court ruling that allowed the troops to remain under federal control but prevented their deployment to Portland. The ruling came in response to litigation filed by the state of Oregon and the city of Portland challenging the Trump administration's authority to deploy the Guard members. Kotek stated she would continue to oppose what she characterized as an abuse of federal power regarding the National Guard deployment.

The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals heard oral arguments on whether to uphold a temporary restraining order blocking President Donald Trump from deploying Oregon National Guard troops to Portland to guard federal buildings, including an Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility. U.S. District Court Judge Karin Immergut had issued the initial temporary restraining order on grounds that the Trump administration failed to demonstrate that a "rebellion" was occurring at the protests outside the ICE building. The three-judge appeals panel indicated it would issue a decision "as quickly as possible" on the legality of the Guard deployment.

Governor Tina Kotek's administration announced on October 2, 2025, that Pendleton, Umatilla, and Hermiston would receive shares of over $7 million in state housing grants distributed by the Oregon Department of Land Conservation and Development to 82 Oregon cities and four federally recognized tribes. Pendleton received funding for its Housing Strategy Report, Hermiston for updating housing-related city codes, and Umatilla for updating its development code to align with housing priorities. The grants, authorized by Senate Bill 1537, Senate Bill 5528, and House Bill 2138 from the 2024 Oregon Legislature, support local efforts to plan for housing development, reduce regulatory barriers, and comply with state housing laws.

On Tuesday, Governor Kotek sent a letter to the head of U.S. Northern Command requesting the immediate removal of 200 Oregon National Guard troops stationed at Camp Rilea in Warrenton and 200 California National Guard troops at Camp Withycombe in Happy Valley. Kotek stated in the letter that the troops had been mobilized for what she characterized as an illegal mission that positioned soldiers in opposition to the First, Fourth, and Tenth Amendments of the U.S. Constitution. The letter was sent as oral arguments were scheduled before the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals regarding the Trump administration's request to overturn a federal judge's block on the National Guard deployment to Portland.

Oregon Governor Tina Kotek stated that there is no need for military intervention in Oregon and no insurrection in Portland in response to the Trump administration's deployment of National Guard troops to the state over her objections. Federal District Judge Karin Immergut issued an order barring the Trump administration from deploying National Guard troops to Portland after the administration defied an earlier temporary restraining order. Kotek's statement challenged the White House characterization of conditions at an Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility in Portland as being "under siege" by protesters.

Kotek sent a letter to General Gregory Guillot, commander of U.S. Northern Command, requesting the immediate demobilization of approximately 200 federalized Oregon National Guard troops and 200 California National Guard troops currently stationed at Camp Rilea in Warrenton and Camp Withycombe in Happy Valley, respectively. The troops had been federalized under Title 10 since late September for the Oregon contingent and since June for the California contingent, but were blocked from deployment by U.S. District Court Judge Karin Immergut's temporary restraining order. Kotek stated in the letter that the troops should be returned to their families and careers, noting the disruption to their required trainings and existing deployment schedules.

Kotek's administration responded to the Trump administration's efforts to deploy National Guard troops to Portland by joining a legal challenge that resulted in a federal judge issuing a temporary restraining order blocking the deployment on October 6, 2025. The restraining order, issued by Federal Circuit Court Judge Karin Immergut, prevented the federalization and deployment of National Guard troops from any state and Washington D.C. to Portland for two weeks while the lawsuit proceeded. Kotek's office reported being in a "wait mode" as federal courts determined the legality of the Trump administration's unprecedented efforts to federalize Guard troops for deployment to U.S. cities.

Oregon Governor Tina Kotek joined California and the city of Portland in filing a lawsuit to block the Trump administration's deployment of federal troops to Portland, following the arrival of more than 100 California National Guard members ordered by President Donald Trump without the knowledge or consent of state leaders. Kotek stated that she and Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker received no explanation from the federal government regarding a Defense Secretary order to mobilize 400 Texas National Guard troops to Oregon, Illinois, and other locations. The lawsuit followed a federal judge's decision granting a temporary restraining order against an initial attempt to deploy 200 Oregon Guard members to the city.

Following a federal court order blocking the mobilization of 200 Oregon National Guard troops in Portland, the Trump administration deployed approximately 101 California National Guard soldiers to Oregon overnight without prior notice to Governor Kotek. Kotek stated that up to 300 California soldiers were being sent to Oregon on Trump's orders, characterizing the action as circumventing the federal judge's temporary restraining order issued on October 4. Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield indicated the state would pursue additional legal action to prevent the deployment of troops from California or elsewhere.

Multnomah County District Attorney Nathan Vasquez filed a declaration in support of Oregon's lawsuit challenging President Donald Trump's National Guard deployment to Portland, which was initiated by Attorney General Dan Rayfield and the city of Portland in U.S. District Court. In his declaration, Vasquez stated that he had not observed activity at the S. Macadam ICE facility that exceeded the capabilities of the Portland Police Bureau to manage. Vasquez argued that deploying federal personnel untrained in local policing to Portland streets risked exacerbating rather than resolving the conditions the deployment was intended to address.

Oregon began implementing new federal SNAP work requirements on October 1, 2025, in six counties following legislation signed by President Trump in July that restructured the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. Under the changes, able-bodied adults without dependents in Multnomah, Washington, Clackamas, Yamhill, Benton, and Hood River counties must work or volunteer at least 80 hours monthly to maintain eligibility beyond three months of benefits in a three-year period. Governor Kotek stated her administration was mobilizing to inform affected Oregonians about the changes and direct them toward available assistance resources.

The Trump administration's U.S. Department of Energy terminated 321 federal grants totaling nearly $8 billion across multiple states, with Oregon losing approximately $405 million in awards for climate action and renewable energy projects. Oregon Governor Kotek issued a statement characterizing the action as a "betrayal of clean energy investments" and describing it as part of a pattern of abandoning commitments to clean energy and American workers dependent on the promised projects. The terminated grants would have supported 19 individual awards to 13 entities in Oregon, including recipients such as Warm Springs Power Enterprises, Portland General Electric, and Daimler Truck North America.

Kotek signed an executive order during the summer of 2025 instituting a statewide ban on student cell phone use during the school day. According to state lawmakers at a recent roundtable discussion, schools have reported increased student interaction, reduced disciplinary incidents, and improved attendance rates following implementation of the policy. The North Clackamas School District, which had adopted a similar phone ban prior to Kotek's executive order, documented a six percent improvement in attendance along with decreases in harassment, fighting, and harmful speech.

Governor Kotek and five state agencies under her purview announced rules two weeks after the West Coast Health Alliance's September 17 recommendation to ensure that any Oregonian wanting the COVID-19 vaccine could access it, with coverage through insurance. The announcement came approximately two weeks after Washington state issued a standing order on September 4 protecting COVID vaccine access for individuals ages 6 months or older. State Senator Lisa Reynolds and other lawmakers subsequently signaled willingness to pursue legislative action in 2026 or 2027 to establish additional tools for faster vaccine response in future situations.

Governor Tina Kotek, along with Attorney General Dan Rayfield and Portland Mayor Keith Wilson, filed a lawsuit and sought a restraining order to block President Donald Trump's deployment of 200 Oregon National Guard members to Portland. Kotek and the other officials argued that the president exceeded his legal authority and that no public safety threat in Oregon warranted a militarized response. U.S. District Court Judge Michael Simon scheduled oral arguments on the case for Friday to consider the challenge to the deployment order.

Kotek received notification from Trump administration staff on September 27, 2025, regarding reported attacks on an Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility in Portland and a directive to mobilize the Oregon National Guard. On September 28, Kotek sent a message to Trump stating she believed the mobilization order was unlawful and unwarranted, and that Trump had broken a promise to speak with her before taking action. The text exchanges show Kotek's staff attempted to arrange conversations with Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth regarding the deployment decision.

Oregon Governor Tina Kotek joined Attorney General Dan Rayfield in filing a federal lawsuit in U.S. District Court challenging the Trump administration's deployment of 200 Oregon National Guard members to perform federal law enforcement duties in the state. The lawsuit, filed jointly by the State of Oregon and the City of Portland, names President Trump, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem, and their respective departments as defendants, arguing the deployment violates the Posse Comitatus Act and the Tenth Amendment. Kotek stated the deployment was unlawful and unnecessary, asserting that Oregon communities are stable and local officials have capacity to manage public safety without federal military intervention.

President Donald Trump ordered the federalization of 200 Oregon National Guard troops for a 60-day deployment to Portland under Title 10 of the U.S. Code, with a directive to protect federal facilities and support law enforcement. Governor Kotek, as commander-in-chief of the Oregon National Guard, retained titular authority over the troops but lacked operational control due to the federal assumption of command authority. The deployment marked the first activation of Oregon National Guard troops in Portland since 2020 and represented the majority of the approximately 300 soldiers trained in civil disobedience operations within the state guard.

Governor Kotek led a march through downtown Portland on September 28, 2025, as part of a public gathering to address the Trump administration's federalization of 200 Oregon National Guard members for law enforcement duties. The march occurred simultaneously with Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield's announcement of a federal lawsuit filed jointly by the State of Oregon and the City of Portland challenging the legal basis of the federal order. Kotek spoke to the assembled crowd, stating "this is what Oregon looks like" in reference to the state's response to the deployment decision.

Governor Kotek received notification from Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth on Sunday, September 28, 2025, that 200 Oregon National Guard members would be mobilized for 60 days under federal command to protect federal property in Portland. Kotek had spoken with President Trump the previous day to convey that no insurrection or public safety threat existed in Oregon, and subsequently exchanged texts with Trump expressing disagreement after receiving Hegseth's deployment memo. The State of Oregon and the City of Portland filed a lawsuit in U.S. District Court seeking a temporary restraining order to block the deployment within 24 hours.

Kotek joined Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield and Portland Mayor Keith Wilson in contesting the federal government's federalization of 200 Oregon National Guard members under a Pentagon directive signed by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. Rayfield filed an emergency motion on Monday seeking to keep the troops under state command while a broader lawsuit challenging the federalization proceeds. The state's legal filings argued that the circumstances required for federalization under the Constitution—invasion, rebellion, or the inability of federal law enforcement to function—do not exist in Portland, where recent demonstrations have been characterized as small and largely peaceful.

Oregon Governor Tina Kotek called President Donald Trump and Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem after Trump announced via social media that he would send federal troops to Portland to protect ICE facilities, stating that the state did not need or request such deployment. During her conversation with Trump, Kotek communicated that current conditions in Portland differed from the 2020 unrest and that the city's protests remained peaceful, characterizing Trump's information about the city as inaccurate. As of the time of her statement, no federal troops had arrived in Portland, and Kotek stated she was coordinating with Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield regarding potential responses to federal authorization requests.

Oregon Governor Kotek spoke directly with President Trump on Saturday to push back against his directive to deploy federal troops to Portland, stating that the city does not face an insurrection, threat to national security, or need for military intervention. Kotek told reporters that Oregon can manage its own public safety needs and that military service members should be dedicated to real emergencies, emphasizing that the Oregon National Guard's mission is to protect Oregonians but they are not needed in the city. Kotek said Trump does not have the authority to deploy federal troops on state soil and stated she is working with Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield on a possible legal response.

Oregon received $28.5 million in federal grants from the U.S. Forest Service's Community Wildfire Defense Grant Program to fund six wildfire mitigation projects across the state. The funding supports fuels reduction, defensible space work, and community resilience initiatives, with the largest single award of $8.7 million going to the Sweet Home Fire and Ambulance District's Wildfire Ready Linn County project. Governor Kotek commented that the federal resources are critical for protecting Oregonians and natural resources during increasingly severe wildfire seasons.

President Donald Trump announced he would deploy troops to Portland, Oregon, citing the need to protect U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement facilities from what he characterized as attacks by Antifa and other groups. Governor Kotek held a news conference stating she had directly informed Trump and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem that troops were not needed, that local public safety needs could be managed by the state, and that she questioned whether the president had the authority to deploy military forces to the city. Kotek stated there was no insurrection or national security threat and urged the public to remain calm.

Governor Kotek halted the rule-making process for farmstand land use regulations that had been developed by the Department of Land Conservation and Development after public controversy emerged on social media. Kotek directed the DLCD to suspend and reset the rule-making process with assistance from the Department of Agriculture to reframe the discussion around farmstand regulations. Kotek stated the goal was to clarify how the regulations could allow farmers to diversify income through agritourism while remaining compliant with land use laws that ensure farming activities remain primary in agricultural zones.

Kotek signed into law Senate Bill 163, which grants children conceived from donor sperm, eggs, or embryos access to identifying information about their donors. The law requires fertility clinics to collect and maintain donor names, addresses, birth dates, and contact information in a state registry, with records preserved even if clinics close. The bill passed the Senate 21-8 and the House 41-9, and takes effect September 26, 2025, though donor-conceived individuals cannot access the registry until age 18.

Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek and five state agencies issued guidance on Wednesday ensuring that all Oregonians seeking the COVID-19 vaccine could receive it without cost barriers or liability concerns for healthcare providers administering the vaccine. The announcement followed the formation of the West Coast Health Alliance in early September, which included the governors of California, Washington, and Hawaii and recommended COVID-19, flu, and respiratory syncytial virus vaccines for all adults and children. State agencies licensing pharmacists, nurses, and doctors pledged to ensure insurance coverage and access to the vaccine, with the Oregon Board of Pharmacy subsequently approving a carveout allowing patients aged 7 or older to receive the COVID vaccine at pharmacies.

Kotek's office coordinated directives from multiple Oregon state agencies to expand COVID-19 vaccine access following new guidance issued by the West Coast Health Alliance in September 2025. The Oregon Board of Pharmacy adopted guidelines allowing pharmacists to administer COVID vaccines without a doctor's prescription, while the Oregon Medical Board and State Board of Nursing issued guidance protecting physicians and nurses from disciplinary action for providing vaccines. The Oregon Health Authority issued new Medicaid coverage requirements for COVID vaccines, and the Public Employees Benefit Board adopted the West Coast Health Alliance recommendations.

Kotek issued a directive to all state agency directors on September 16, 2025, ordering an immediate halt to non-essential out-of-state travel for state employees and directing agencies to implement cost-saving measures in response to Oregon's budget shortfall. The action followed a shift from a projected $472.8 million surplus in the budget passed by lawmakers in June to a $373 million deficit by late August, driven largely by changes to federal tax policy and expected losses in federal program funding. Kotek's letter instructed agencies to slow spending through measures including holding positions vacant longer, reducing supply and service expenditures, and delaying implementation of new or expanding programs, with the state's chief financial officer to determine specific reduction targets for each agency.

The U.S. Department of Justice filed a lawsuit against the state of Oregon and Secretary of State Tobias Read, alleging they violated the National Voter Registration Act, the Help America Vote Act, and the Civil Rights Act of 1960 by refusing to provide voter registration lists and information about voter list maintenance procedures. The Trump administration had requested sensitive information including voter registration data, election official names, and records of ineligible voters, which Read declined to provide beyond what state law required. The lawsuit represents part of the administration's broader effort to obtain voter data from states as part of what it characterizes as an effort to identify suspected voter fraud.

Kotek signed Senate Bill 430, Senate Bill 605, and House Bill 3178 into law earlier in 2025, with all three measures taking effect in 2026. Senate Bill 605 prohibits unpaid medical bills from being reported to credit agencies, Senate Bill 430 restricts car dealers from changing loan terms after purchase, and House Bill 3178 requires online sellers to disclose fees before checkout. Kotek stated that these state-level protections became necessary following changes to the federal Consumer Financial Protection Bureau under the Trump administration.

Kotek signed Senate Bill 605, which prohibits medical debt from being reported to credit bureaus and limits interest charges on such debt, effective January 1, 2026. Kotek also signed Senate Bill 430, requiring that all mandatory fees be included in advertised online prices for goods and services sold to Oregon residents, with exceptions for government taxes and variable shipping costs. Additionally, Kotek signed House Bill 3178, which establishes requirements that sellers make good faith efforts to honor financed or leased vehicle agreements negotiated with buyers and prohibits early payoff of trade-in vehicle loans before lender approval.

Kotek signed an executive order directing state agencies to continue Oregon's commitments under the Resilient Columbia Basin Agreement after the Trump administration withdrew from the accord in June 2025. The agreement, originally negotiated under the Biden administration, committed the federal government to spend over one billion dollars over a decade on salmon restoration and clean energy development in the Pacific Northwest. Kotek stated that renewed litigation is necessary to protect natural resources, preserve fish runs, and ensure the federal government meets its responsibilities under the agreement.

On September 11, 2025, Oregon Governor Tina Kotek issued an executive order directing that flags at all public buildings in the state be flown at half-staff following the fatal shooting of conservative activist Charlie Kirk at a college event in Utah the previous day. The order was issued hours after Kirk's death was reported. The flags were to remain at half-staff for the subsequent days as specified in Kotek's directive.

Kotek recommended $20 million in state funding to the Oregon legislature in June for improvements to Terminal 6, Oregon's only active international container terminal. The Port of Portland announced approval of an agreement on September 10, 2025, transferring long-term operations of the terminal to Harbor Industrial, which was expected to assume control by December 31, 2025. The terminal supports approximately 400 direct jobs and over 1,500 total jobs across Oregon.

Oregon lawmakers faced a decision on whether to decouple the state's tax code from federal tax cuts enacted in July 2025, which would automatically reduce Oregon state revenue by approximately $400 million in the next fiscal year and $888 million over two years if no action was taken. State Sen. Mark Meek, D-Gladstone, indicated that lawmakers would discuss their options during Legislative Days in late September, including calling a special legislative session before year's end or waiting until the February 2026 legislative session. The primary source of revenue loss would stem from new federal provisions eliminating income taxes on overtime pay and tips and allowing immediate full deductions for depreciating assets such as real estate and equipment.

Kotek coordinated with Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield to prepare legal action in response to President Trump's statements indicating a potential deployment of the National Guard to Portland. Rayfield stated he was working with Kotek and other state attorneys general to challenge any federal overreach in deploying National Guard troops, citing a recent federal court ruling that blocked similar deployments in California. The preparations followed Trump's public remarks about sending National Guard troops to Portland to address protests and other activities in the city.

Kotek and the Oregon Health Authority explored the issuance of a standing order similar to one implemented in Washington to maintain COVID-19 vaccine access through pharmacies. The measure was being considered in response to federal guidelines that had restricted access to COVID-19 vaccination and created confusion among Oregon patients. The standing order would authorize pharmacists to administer COVID-19 vaccines without individual prescriptions from healthcare providers.

Kotek and the Oregon Health Authority announced they were exploring a standing order similar to one issued in Washington to ensure continued access to COVID-19 vaccines following federal restrictions implemented by the Food and Drug Administration in late August that limited booster shot eligibility. The review was undertaken as part of a West Coast Health Alliance announced by the democratic governors of Washington, California, and Oregon to safeguard vaccine access in response to changes at federal health agencies. Kotek's office stated it was reviewing existing statutes and rules to determine what steps would be needed to support vaccine access throughout Oregon, including at pharmacies.

Kotek requested that President Trump reconsider his decision to deny individual financial assistance to households in Coos, Curry, Douglas, and Josephine counties following spring flooding in 2025. The governor appealed for additional federal emergency assistance for Oregon residents who experienced major losses from the natural disaster. Kotek's request sought to reverse the federal determination that would have withheld household-level financial aid from the affected counties.

Kotek requested that President Trump reconsider his decision to deny individual financial assistance to households in Coos, Curry, Douglas and Josephine counties following March 2025 spring flooding that damaged 529 homes across southwest Oregon. The Trump administration and FEMA had approved cost-sharing federal assistance for emergency work and facility repairs but excluded funding for individual families or hazard mitigation programs. Kotek stated that federal support through individual assistance and hazard mitigation funding was necessary to restore safe housing, protect public health, and build long-term resilience in the affected communities.

Kotek submitted an appeal through the Oregon Department of Emergency Management on Thursday requesting that President Trump reconsider his partial denial of federal disaster aid following severe flooding and landslides that struck Oregon counties in March 2025. Trump's Major Disaster Declaration had approved public assistance funding for Coos, Curry, and Douglas counties but denied individual assistance and hazard mitigation funding. Kotek's appeal seeks approval of Individual Assistance and Hazard Mitigation Grant Program funding to support home buyouts, elevation of repeatedly flooded homes, streambank restoration, and assistance for displaced elderly, low-income, and disabled residents.

Kotek joined California Governor Gavin Newsom and Washington Governor Bob Ferguson in forming the West Coast Health Alliance to coordinate vaccine recommendations and immunization guidelines across the three states based on evidence from leading medical organizations. The alliance was announced in response to what the governors characterized as federal abandonment of evidence-based public health recommendations. Kotek and her counterparts stated the alliance would provide vaccine education and coordinate immunization guidelines aligned with leading medical organizations in the coming weeks.

Kotek called a special legislative session to address a $300 million transportation budget shortfall and proposed a road usage charge program for electric vehicle owners as part of a broader funding package. The proposal would require EV drivers to pay approximately 2.3 cents per mile or an annual flat fee of $340, with the program phasing in starting in 2027 for certain electric vehicles and expanding to include hybrids in 2028. Kotek's package also included a 6-cent increase to the state's gas tax and other fee increases to fund transportation services including road maintenance and snowplowing.

Kotek's Office released an analysis projecting that Oregon will face a $373 million budget deficit in the next two-year budget cycle, down from a projected $472 million surplus, due to federal tax and spending policy changes and tariffs implemented by the Trump administration. State economists estimated Oregon would lose $888 million in revenue over two years from these federal policies, with additional long-term losses of $15 billion in federal funding affecting health insurance, food assistance, education, and other services. Kotek stated that the economic challenges facing Oregon families resulted from federal policy decisions rather than state-level factors.

Kotek ordered flags at all Oregon state facilities to be lowered to half-staff until sunset on August 31, 2025, following a shooting at Annunciation Catholic School in Minneapolis that killed two children and wounded seventeen others. The directive followed proclamations issued by President Donald Trump for federal buildings and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz for state facilities. Kotek stated in a prepared comment that "children and educators deserve to be safe in their schools" and offered condolences to affected students and families.

On Friday, Oregon Governor Tina Kotek invoked the Conflagration Act in response to the Flat Fire, which had burned approximately 22,000 acres near Sisters and threatened communities and thousands of homes. The invocation of the Conflagration Act granted expanded authority to manage the wildfire emergency and coordinate resources across state agencies. As of Tuesday, August 26, 2025, the fire remained at 21,971 acres with 7 percent containment, four homes destroyed, and over 2,500 homes threatened.

Kotek signed House Bill 3546, which directs the Oregon Public Utility Commission to create a separate service classification for large energy use facilities such as data centers consuming 20 megawatts or more of electricity, designed to prevent these high-demand users from shifting costs to other consumers. Kotek signed House Bill 3179, the Fairness and Affordability in Residential Energy Act, which prohibits residential rate increases between November 1 and March 31, limits rate increases to once every 18 months until January 2027, and requires utilities to provide clearer breakdowns of electric bills. Kotek signed House Bill 3792, which expands financial assistance for low-income customers facing high electric bills by increasing annual state funding for utility bill assistance programs.

Governor Kotek stated that new Oregon Administrative Rules Chapter 660, Division 33, Section 44, which increases the acreage threshold for solar farm siting from 320 acres to 1,920 acres, balances renewable energy development with public input processes. The rule, effective January 2026, gives counties greater authority to approve or deny solar projects under the larger threshold while projects exceeding 1,920 acres remain under state jurisdiction through the Oregon Energy Facility Siting Council. Kotek characterized the change as supporting both climate action and protection of agricultural lands and natural resources.

Governor Kotek issued an executive order on July 2 requiring school districts to implement a bell-to-bell cell phone ban during K-12 instructional time, with policies to be in place by January. The Redmond School District board unanimously adopted an updated cell phone policy on Wednesday that prohibits personal electronic devices including phones, earbuds, and smart watches during the school day, with a tiered consequence system involving storage at the front office and parental involvement. The policy allows exceptions for medical reasons, written exemptions, and special education plans, and the board will revisit the policy after six months.

Kotek sent a letter to U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi rejecting claims that Oregon's sanctuary laws obstruct federal immigration enforcement. Kotek defended Oregon's long-standing sanctuary policies, adopted in 1987, which prohibit state and local police from using resources or personnel to enforce federal immigration laws, stating that the state does not take on the expense or burden of performing federal immigration enforcement. Kotek stated that Oregon will not rescind its sanctuary laws and remains in compliance with federal law.

Kotek responded in writing to U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi's ultimatum regarding Oregon's sanctuary laws, rejecting Bondi's characterization that the state obstructs federal immigration enforcement. Kotek stated that Oregon complies with federal law and cited the state's nearly 40-year-old sanctuary statute, which prohibits state and local resources from being used to detect and apprehend individuals whose only violation is immigration status, along with 2021 legislative amendments that explicitly prohibited law enforcement from assisting federal immigration authorities. Kotek concluded in her letter that no changes to state law were necessary, as the state does not assume the cost or burden of performing federal immigration enforcement.

In August 2025, Kotek announced she would not veto a $45 million appropriation to Willamette Falls Trust for land acquisition at Willamette Falls in West Linn. Following this decision, six of Oregon's nine federally recognized tribes collectively expressed dissatisfaction with Kotek's office regarding its handling of tribal relations and the involvement of out-of-state tribes in the matter. The tribes cited concerns about communication and transparency in the state's relationships with Oregon's sovereign tribes.

Governor Kotek signed SB83, which repealed Oregon's statewide wildfire hazard map that had assigned hazard levels to properties and tied them to defensible space and home hardening requirements. The legislation transferred wildfire code implementation authority to local jurisdictions, leaving individual counties to determine how and where to apply wildfire protections. Following the repeal, Deschutes County commissioners directed county planners to draft wildfire amendments to local code that could establish new construction requirements for structures throughout the county.

A federal appeals court ruled in August 2025 that an existing settlement between foster youth advocates and the state must expand to include approximately 600 to 700 children in trial placements with biological parents or awaiting alternative placements, reversing a prior district court decision that had limited coverage to children in direct state custody. The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals unanimously determined that children placed with biological parents while remaining legal wards of the state are entitled to the same due process protections outlined in the May 2024 settlement addressing abuse in Oregon's foster care system. The Oregon Department of Human Services acknowledged the court decision and stated it would work with plaintiffs and a court-appointed neutral to implement the expanded settlement terms.

Kotek directed Oregon's Department of Human Services to establish an executive-level oversight team to reduce the state's Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program administrative error rate in response to new federal cost-sharing requirements under the GOP megalaw. Oregon's current SNAP administrative error rate of 14.06% must be reduced below 6% to avoid increased federal costs, with the state facing potential liability of $500 million every two years if the threshold is not met. The analysis accompanying Kotek's directive indicated that without legislative action during the 2026 session, program reductions affecting over 740,000 Oregon SNAP recipients could result.

Governor Kotek directed Oregon's Chief Financial Officer to analyze the impact of the "Big Beautiful Bill," a federal budget reconciliation measure passed by Congress in early July 2025, which resulted in a preliminary finding of approximately $15 billion in cuts to Oregon's federal funding over several years. The largest reductions identified were to Medicaid, with cuts of roughly $490 million during the 2025-27 biennium escalating to $6.85 billion by 2029-31, alongside cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and elimination of funding for the I-5 Rose Quarter Improvement Project. Kotek announced plans to convene state lawmakers and community stakeholders to develop strategies to mitigate the effects of these federal funding reductions on Oregon residents and services.

Kotek approved state funding to help restore public access to Willamette Falls. She also allowed physical therapists in Oregon to begin offering dry needling, a procedure similar to acupuncture. These decisions represented changes from earlier positions Kotek had indicated she might take on these matters.

Kotek signed House Bill 2024, which allocates $6 million for scholarships, tuition assistance, loan repayments, and stipends to encourage Oregonians to pursue careers in behavioral health care. She also signed House Bill 2059, investing $65 million to increase residential treatment capacity by 200 beds over two years in addition to the state's existing goal of adding 465 treatment beds by the end of 2026. Additionally, Kotek signed House Bill 2005, which broadens the circumstances under which individuals with mental illness can be detained and committed to the Oregon Health Authority for treatment, and House Bill 3321, allocating $1 million to the Alcohol and Drug Policy Commission to develop and implement a substance abuse prevention plan for Oregon youth.

Kotek signed five bills addressing Oregon's behavioral health crisis on August 6, 2025. The legislation included House Bill 2059, which established the Residential Behavioral Health Capacity Program with $65.7 million in funding to expand adult behavioral health facilities; House Bill 2024, which created a statewide grant program to support workforce recruitment and retention in the behavioral health sector; and House Bill 2005, which modified the state civil commitment law to facilitate mandatory treatment for individuals with severe mental illness. The bills collectively aimed to expand treatment capacity, strengthen the behavioral health workforce, and support prevention of youth substance use across Oregon.

Governor Kotek approved a 14.8% budget increase for the Oregon Public Defense Commission and agreed to work with the agency and Legislature to expand the state's trial division team of specialized criminal defense attorneys. Kotek stated in her July 24 signing letter that she would pursue a "more moderate expansion" of the trial division than the 40 additional state lawyers and support staff she had initially proposed during the budget session. The expansion aligns with Senate Bill 337, a 2023 law mandating that at least 20% of Oregon's public defenders be state employees by 2031 and at least 30% by 2035.

Kotek signed an executive order implementing a "bell to bell" ban on student cell phone use during the school day, delegating implementation details to individual school districts. The Tigard-Tualatin School District developed a policy requiring students to keep phones inaccessible throughout the school day, with the most significant change affecting high school students who previously could access phones during passing periods and lunch. The executive order specified that phone policy violations cannot result in discipline involving loss of instruction time, requiring enforcement to focus on phone confiscation and check-in procedures rather than traditional disciplinary measures.

On July 31, 2025, Kotek signed Senate Bill 141, House Bill 2140, and House Bill 3037, three education bills designed to support public school districts and improve student academic outcomes. Senate Bill 141 streamlines the state's education accountability system by creating a framework for school districts to measure and improve student outcomes, particularly in math and language arts, with the Oregon Department of Education providing coaching and support to districts that fail to meet growth targets. House Bill 2140, paired with an $11.36 billion appropriation for the State School Fund in 2025-2027, codifies how the fund is calculated to provide more predictable K-12 education funding, while House Bill 3037 reduces administrative requirements for small and rural school districts by allowing the State Board of Education to establish minimum grant amounts.

Governor Kotek appointed Michael Tessean as director of the Oregon Youth Authority, effective August 18, 2025, pending Senate confirmation. Tessean's appointment follows the retirement of Interim Director Jana McLellan and the administrative leave of former director Joseph O'Leary. Tessean brings more than two decades of experience in juvenile justice and behavioral health, including previous roles as director of the Colorado State Board of Parole and in senior leadership positions at the Colorado Department of Human Services.

Kotek stated that Oregon will continue its efforts to reduce carbon emissions following the Trump administration's announcement to roll back environmental regulation of the fossil fuel industry. The governor's statement came in response to federal actions to rescind Environmental Protection Agency rules related to greenhouse gas emissions. Kotek indicated that Oregon would maintain its climate change mitigation policies independent of changes to federal environmental regulations.

Gov. Kotek fired Joe O'Leary, the longtime director of the Oregon Youth Authority, following revelations that the agency had failed to investigate thousands of abuse complaints from formerly incarcerated individuals. Kotek nominated Michael Tessean, most recently director of the Colorado State Board of Parole, to serve as the new director of the Oregon Youth Authority, pending Senate confirmation, with a start date of August 18, 2025. Tessean will oversee more than 970 employees and manage a two-year budget of $551 million for the agency, which operates nine locked facilities serving approximately 900 individuals between 12 and 24 years old.

Kotek fired the director of Oregon's juvenile justice system following a backlog of investigations into sexual abuse allegations at state youth correctional facilities. Michael Tessean was appointed as the new leader of the state's juvenile justice system. The leadership change occurred in July 2025 in response to the accumulation of unresolved abuse investigations within the agency.

Kotek signed five new laws on July 28, 2025, designed to increase housing production in Oregon through the construction of middle housing such as duplexes, triplexes, townhomes, and modular homes, as well as to streamline the development approval process. Among the signed legislation was House Bill 2138, which prevents local governments from prohibiting the construction of duplexes in residential neighborhoods. Kotek stated that while the laws represent progress, additional efforts are necessary to address Oregon's housing shortage, which requires approximately 30,000 additional homes annually to meet demand.

Kotek signed five housing bills designed to address Oregon's housing affordability crisis and homelessness. House Bill 2138 legalizes middle housing types such as duplexes and triplexes, expands zoning to allow these structures in more areas, and streamlines permitting processes, with implementation timelines extending to 2028. House Bill 3031 establishes the Housing Infrastructure Project Fund to provide financial assistance for housing development infrastructure serving households with very low, low, and moderate incomes.

Oregon Gov. Kotek halted the rule-making process for proposed changes to farm stand regulations that had been referred to the Department of Land Conservation and Development earlier in 2025. Kotek stated the suspension was made in response to concerns from growers regarding potential impacts to their farm stand operations. The proposed regulations, which stemmed from House Bill 3133, would have established requirements for fee-based events, cooked foods, and permissible items sold at farm stands.

Kotek announced a pause on proposed farm stand regulations that had been developed by the Oregon Department of Land Conservation and Development. The draft rules would have required non-farm products sold at farm stands to be directly related to items grown on the farm and would have mandated special permits and neighbor impact reviews for events such as weddings or concerts. Kotek stated in a response that Oregon could support local farm businesses while preserving the state's land use system, acknowledging that small and midsize farms need different business models to remain financially sustainable.

Oregon halted a Medicaid expansion program designed to provide health services to individuals transitioning from incarceration, which had been in development for over two years. The program was intended to offer drug prescriptions, behavioral health services, addiction counseling, and doctor visits for three months before release. The delay occurred in summer 2025 as state officials reassessed the project plan and timeline in response to changes in federal Medicaid funding under the Trump administration's tax and spending measures.

Governor Kotek directed the Department of Land Conservation and Development to halt proposed rulemaking concerning Oregon farm stand operations following public backlash from family farms including Topaz Farm and Wooden Shoe Tulip Farm. The proposed rules would have clarified permit requirements for farm stand activities, limiting non-farm product sales to items related to farm products and requiring permits for certain events such as weddings and concerts with specified thresholds. Kotek stated in a statement that she was "paying attention" to farmer concerns and instructed state officials to "reassess next steps" regarding the farm stand regulations.

Governor Kotek announced Thursday that she would appoint Deputy Director Liesl Wendt to succeed Fariborz Pakseresht as director of the Oregon Department of Human Services when Pakseresht retires October 1, 2025. Wendt, who has served as deputy director since 2018 and previously directed Multnomah County Human Services, requires confirmation by the Oregon Senate in September. Pakseresht departs after eight years leading the department, which employs approximately 10,000 people and serves about 1.5 million Oregonians.

Kotek proposed a transportation funding package including a 6-cent increase in the state gas tax, a $42 increase in vehicle registration fees, a $139 increase in title fees, and a $30 electric vehicle surcharge to address budget shortfalls at the Oregon Department of Transportation. The proposal was unveiled as part of a special legislative session scheduled to begin August 29, 2025, following the failure of a $12 billion transportation package earlier in the year. Kotek stated the additional revenue would prevent layoffs of ODOT workers and restore suspended transportation services across the state.

Kotek requested Federal Emergency Management Agency disaster recovery funds in May following severe flooding, landslides, and mudslides that occurred in March 2025 in Coos, Curry, and Douglas counties in southwest Oregon. President Donald Trump approved a Major Disaster Declaration for Oregon, releasing federal funds to the state, tribal governments, eligible local governments, and nonprofits for recovery efforts in the three affected counties. The declaration made federal resources available to support communities still unable to return to their homes, though FEMA funding requested for Harney County was not granted.

Governor Kotek announced a transportation funding proposal for an August special legislative session that included a six-cent increase in Oregon's gas tax, higher vehicle registration fees, an additional fee for electric vehicle owners enrolled in the OReGo mileage-based program, and a doubling of the 0.1% payroll tax supporting public transit. The proposal was designed to address a $350 million shortfall at the Oregon Department of Transportation and prevent approximately 1,000 layoffs while restoring road maintenance and transit services. Kotek additionally requested that the Legislature increase audits at ODOT, grant the governor authority to hire and fire the department's director, and repeal a 2017 mandate for highway tolling.

Oregon lawmakers passed a pair of bills designed to establish a regulatory framework for "microgrids," local energy systems that can operate independently from the main power grid while remaining connected to utility infrastructure. One bill directs the Oregon Public Utility Commission to create rules for private and community-owned microgrids and allows local governments to establish microgrid zones with tailored land-use regulations, while the second bill permits public utilities or third-party consultants to evaluate requests for microgrids to connect to the power grid. The legislation is awaiting the signature of Governor Kotek.

Governor Kotek issued an executive order on July 16, 2025, declaring a statewide emergency across Oregon in response to escalating wildfire threats driven by extreme high temperatures forecasted to persist through the summer. The declaration directs state agencies and the National Guard to collaborate on wildfire prevention and response by sharing personnel, equipment, and resources, and requires them to meet requests from the Oregon Department of Forestry, State Fire Marshal, and local and tribal governments. The emergency remains in effect until the governor determines the threat has significantly receded, the fire season officially ends, or December 31, 2025, whichever occurs first.

Kotek declared a state of emergency across Oregon in July 2025 in response to escalating wildfire threats driven by extreme high temperatures forecasted throughout the summer. The declaration was intended to mobilize state and federal agencies and resources for wildfire prevention and response efforts. The action came as multiple fires, including the Cram Fire and Rowena Fire, were actively burning in Oregon counties.

Governor Kotek signed a conflagration act on Monday for the Cram Fire burning in Wasco County, authorizing the Oregon State Fire Marshal to deploy additional resources to combat the wildfire. The fire had burned through 28,635 acres with zero percent containment as of Tuesday morning and prompted Level-3 evacuation orders affecting 107 residences across Jefferson and Wasco counties. The conflagration declaration enabled coordinated response efforts involving approximately 230 personnel from multiple agencies including the Prineville Interagency Hotshots, the BLM, and the Oregon Department of Forestry.

Kotek joined a coalition of 20 states in filing a lawsuit against the Trump administration challenging its termination of the Federal Emergency Management Agency's Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) program and withholding of associated disaster mitigation funding. The lawsuit contends that the administration lacked legal authority to unilaterally cancel a program that Congress specifically appropriated funds to support and asserts that the program termination was unlawful because the acting FEMA director who ordered it was never formally appointed or confirmed by the Senate. The plaintiffs seek preliminary and permanent injunctions to block the administration from redirecting BRIC funds and to restore the program's funding, which had distributed approximately $4.5 billion to nearly 2,000 projects nationwide over four years, including multiple infrastructure projects in Oregon.

Kotek declared a state of emergency on July 16, 2025, due to imminent wildfire threat across Oregon amid warm and dry conditions. The declaration directed state agencies and first responders to deploy all necessary and appropriate equipment to combat wildfires, with the state's largest fire, the Cram Fire northeast of Madras, having grown to over 64,000 acres. The emergency declaration, effective through the end of the calendar year, enables communities to access state resources and authorizes emergency officials to issue evacuation orders and instructions.

Kotek invoked the Emergency Conflagration Act for the Highland Fire on Saturday as the 719-acre wildfire burned southeast of Prineville in Crook County. The declaration enabled emergency response coordination as the fire prompted Level-3 evacuation orders for approximately 1,500 residents and achieved 5% containment as of Monday morning. The action authorized emergency protocols to assist firefighting efforts amid multiple large wildfires burning across Central Oregon during high temperature and windy conditions.

Senate Bill 1137, which requires health insurance companies to cover breast reconstruction procedures with conditions no less favorable than implants, was approved by the Oregon Legislature and placed on Governor Kotek's desk in 2025. The bill was developed with input from Bend resident Gail Menasco, who faced obstacles accessing her preferred reconstruction method through her insurance coverage. Kotek has not yet signed or vetoed the legislation as of the article's publication date.

Kotek launched the Housing Accountability and Production Office on July 1 following authorization in 2024 legislation. The office was established to address Oregon's housing crisis and housing affordability issues. The action represents implementation of previously enacted statutory authority rather than new legislative or executive initiative.

Oregon Governor Kotek invoked the Emergency Conflagration Act on Wednesday afternoon for the Elk Fire, a fast-growing wildfire on Bly Mountain in Klamath County. The invocation of the Emergency Conflagration Act enabled expedited response procedures for the fire, which damaged a fiber optic line providing communications to Lake County. The action authorized enhanced coordination and resource deployment for wildfire suppression efforts in the region.

The Oregon Legislature passed Senate Bill 1051 during the recent legislative session, which would grant Governor Kotek the power to select the leader of the Oregon Department of Forestry, a position previously chosen by a seven-member governor-appointed board, subject to Oregon Senate approval. The governor also received authority through separate legislation to select the leader of the Oregon Public Defense Commission, and lawmakers passed a bill granting the governor power to appoint someone to fill a vacant U.S. Senate seat. These changes follow Kotek's removal of multiple agency leaders during her first years in office, including the former State Forester, citing accountability and transparency concerns.

On July 2, Kotek issued an executive order requiring Oregon K-12 public school districts to adopt policies prohibiting student cell phone use from "bell to bell," spanning from the start of the school day through the end of instructional time. School districts must adopt policies by October 31 and implement them by January, with required provisions for storing phones, exceptions for medical needs and special education plans, and consequences that exclude suspension or expulsion. The Oregon Department of Education will monitor districts for compliance, and policies must allow exemptions through a procedure established by school officials.

Kotek issued a statement characterizing the Oregon Department of Transportation layoffs of nearly 500 workers as a crisis and an emergency in the state's transportation system resulting from the legislature's failure to pass a funding package during the 2025 session. Kotek stated that consequences to essential transportation services would be imminent across the state and that the layoffs would harm every part of Oregon. Kotek indicated that a special legislative session remained a possibility to address the funding shortfall, stating the emergency was preventable and intervention was still possible.

Governor Kotek issued an executive order banning smartphones from K-12 classrooms in Oregon. The order directs school districts to implement compliant policies before the fall semester begins. Some mid-Willamette Valley schools had already established phone restrictions prior to the executive order's issuance.

Governor Kotek signed House Bill 3054 into law, which caps annual rent increases at 6% for residents of manufactured home parks and floating home marinas with more than 30 spaces, effective September 1. The bill applies to approximately 140,000 manufactured housing units in Oregon, where roughly two out of five manufactured homeowners pay rent for the land beneath their homes. Kotek also signed House Bill 3521 into law in June, which allows Oregon renters who have not yet signed a lease to recover their deposits if the prospective home contains mold, unsafe electrical wiring, or other defects, effective January 1.

On July 2, 2025, Kotek issued an executive order requiring Oregon's 197 school districts to adopt policies banning student cellphone use during the school day by October 31, 2025, with full implementation required by January 1, 2026. The order defines prohibited devices as portable, electrically powered personal electronic devices capable of making and receiving calls and text messages and accessing the internet independently, excluding laptops and devices supporting classroom activities. Kotek's action followed the Legislature's failure to pass House Bill 2251, a bipartisan cellphone restriction bill that did not advance through a Senate committee during the recent legislative session.

Kotek's administration developed a state hazard map in response to Oregon's 2020 wildfire season that assigned risk levels to every property tax lot in the state. As state legislation to implement defensible space codes based on this map stalled, the city of Sisters enacted its own development code requiring vegetation-free zones around homes and specific fire hydrant and road placement for new construction. Sisters became one of Oregon's first cities to mandate wildfire buffers in its development code, independent of the state effort.

Kotek issued a statement following passage of a Republican tax and spending bill that included significant cuts to Medicaid and health care programs. Kotek characterized the bill as harmful to rural Oregonians and directed state agencies to immediately evaluate its impacts on Oregon. Kotek stated that the legislation redirected federal tax dollars from vital services including health care and food assistance toward tax breaks for high earners.

Oregon Gov. Kotek spoke directly with Rep. Cliff Bentz on Tuesday to urge him to vote against President Trump's proposed federal spending bill, commonly referred to as the "Big Beautiful Bill." Kotek told reporters that she emphasized to Bentz the bill would have serious impacts on his rural district and stated that Oregon Democrats would support him if he voted no. The bill had narrowly passed the Senate and was moving to the House for a vote, with Democrats seeking Republican support to block or delay its passage.

Governor Kotek personally called U.S. Representative Cliff Bentz to urge him to vote against H.R. 1, the "One Big Beautiful Bill," citing potential harm to hospitals and families in his rural district. Kotek stated she urged Bentz "on behalf of his state" to oppose the measure prior to its passage in the House on a 218-214 vote. The bill, which passed without support from any House Democrats, contained provisions that would reduce Oregon's Medicaid program coverage.

Kotek announced the official launch of the Housing Accountability and Production Office (HAPO) on Tuesday, a state agency established through Senate Bill 1537 passed by lawmakers in 2024. The office will serve as a liaison between developers, local governments, and state agencies to streamline funding, enforce building codes, investigate noncompliance, and provide the Legislature with research and policy recommendations by September 2026 to increase housing production and affordability statewide. The agency, jointly operated by the Department of Land Conservation and Development and the Building Codes Division, will be led by Joel Madsen and Tony Rocco and is intended to support Kotek's goal of facilitating construction of 36,000 new homes annually in Oregon.

Oregon Governor Kotek signed an executive order on July 2, 2025, requiring all school districts in the state to implement policies banning student cell phone use during school hours by January 1, 2026. Districts must adopt their specific policies by October 31, 2025, with guidelines that include phone storage methods, exemptions for medical reasons and individualized education programs, and allowances for designated times when students may access phones outside of direct supervision. The order was issued after a similar legislative bill failed in the Oregon Legislature in May 2025.

Governor Kotek fired and replaced the head of the Oregon Public Defense Commission in April 2025, citing it as "unacceptable" for thousands of Oregonians to proceed through the justice system without legal representation. Under House Bill 2614, Kotek was granted authority to dismiss the commission's executive director for "just cause." In June, Kotek requested additional funding to support hiring more trial attorneys statewide, though the legislature's House Bill 5031 allocated a nearly 15% increase to the commission's budget without the targeted expansion for attorney hiring that she had sought.

Kotek issued a 2023 executive order on homelessness that directed funding to Oregon municipalities for homeless services. The city of Bend received $567,000 from allocations made through Kotek's executive order, which represented a portion of the city's homeless services funding. These state-directed funds contributed to the expansion of safe parking shelter sites in Bend, which provide small individual shelter units in designated parking lots for unhoused individuals.

In April, Kotek replaced the Oregon Public Defense Commission director and tasked the new director, Ken Sanchagrin, with delivering a plan to address Oregon's crisis of unrepresented criminal defendants by June 1. Sanchagrin submitted a 12-month plan in early June that outlined steps including the establishment of additional special resolution dockets where public defenders, prosecutors, and judges collaborate to resolve cases. The plan identified that the unrepresented defendant crisis is concentrated in Multnomah and Washington counties, where the number of unrepresented defendants released from custody has continued to rise.

Senate Bill 1098 passed the Oregon House of Representatives on June 10, 2025, by a vote of 34-21 and proceeded to Governor Kotek's desk for signature. The bill prohibits school and public libraries from removing books based on the protected status of authors or characters, including race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, marital status, age, and disability. The legislation allows parents, guardians, and school staff to continue filing complaints about library materials but restricts removal on the basis of protected class identity alone.

Governor Kotek championed Senate Bill 1154, proposed legislation that would update Oregon's Groundwater Quality Protection Act to grant state agencies expanded authority to coordinate and intervene in contaminated groundwater areas. A 39-page amendment to the bill, posted in advance of a Senate Committee vote in June 2025, removed provisions requiring regular agency reporting and eliminated requirements for coordinated action between the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality and the Oregon Water Resources Department. Following the amendment, several environmental and social justice groups withdrew their support for the legislation, though Kotek stated at a news conference that she supported the bill in its amended form.

Kotek joined 21 other Democratic governors in releasing a joint statement through the Democratic Governors Association on June 8, 2025, condemning President Trump's deployment of 2,000 California National Guard troops to Los Angeles without the consent of California Governor Gavin Newsom. The governors stated in the statement that the federal activation of state National Guard units within state borders without gubernatorial consultation constituted an abuse of executive power and characterized the move as ineffective and dangerous. Kotek and the other governors indicated their support for Newsom's authority as commander in chief of California's National Guard and called for respect of governors' executive authority over their states' military resources.

Senate Bill 548 passed the Oregon Legislature requiring enhanced methane monitoring and mapping at Coffin Butte Landfill in Benton County. The bill passed the Oregon Senate on April 10 by a 16-10 vote and the Oregon House on June 4 by a 31-26 vote before proceeding to Governor Kotek for her signature. The legislation originally applied to all municipal landfills in Oregon but was amended in February to apply only to Coffin Butte Landfill, with an effective date extended to January 1, 2027.

Kotek endorsed State Senator Jeff Golden's proposal to withhold $1 billion from Oregon's expected $1.64 billion kicker tax rebate for the following year to support firefighting efforts. The $1 billion withholding would come from the portion of the kicker designated for high income earners and would be deposited into an interest-bearing fund to sustain wildfire suppression costs over multiple years. The proposal required legislative approval to redirect the tax rebate funds from taxpayers to the state's wildfire response program.

House Bill 3546, known as the POWER Act, passed the Oregon Senate on a party-line vote and the House with bipartisan support, with Governor Kotek expected to sign the legislation. The bill creates a separate rate class for data centers and Bitcoin mining facilities, requiring their grid expansion and infrastructure costs to be paid by the companies that own them rather than residential and commercial customers. The measure applies only to new contracts and newly constructed facilities or existing ones requiring additional energy and infrastructure expansion.

Governor Kotek signed Senate Bill 992 into law earlier in the week, which enacted changes to Oregon's Bottle Bill deposit and redemption system. The Oregon Liquor and Cannabis Commission ratified these changes on Friday, June 6, modifying the state's container return requirements. The legislation establishes new statewide rules including limiting retailer return hours to between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. and extending deposit and redemption requirements to wine, cider, sake, and mead containers as of July 1.

Kotek signed 23 bills into law during the week of June 5, 2025, including legislation that made procedural updates to the Interstate 5 bridge replacement project and implemented new restrictions on corporate use of personal data. The bills also expanded foster care payments, broadened health insurance coverage for prosthetic and orthotic devices, and permitted preschools to operate on church property. Additional legislation addressed justice court appeals, defamation claims related to sexual assault, domestic violence definitions, veterans' benefits verification, public employer compliance with labor relations requirements, and naturopathic medicine licensing standards.

Oregon legislation allowing the state's governor to appoint a U.S. senator in the event of an unexpected vacancy advanced to Kotek's desk for signature. The bill would align Oregon with the majority of states that grant governors the power to fill Senate vacancies through appointment rather than special election. Upon Kotek's signature, the measure would become law.

Kotek announced her intention to sign Senate Bill 916B, legislation passed by the Oregon House that would allow striking workers to access unemployment insurance benefits after two weeks on the picket line. The bill, which cleared the House on Wednesday, extends unemployment insurance eligibility to workers engaged in labor disputes and now returns to the Senate for final approval of amendments. Kotek's office stated that she believes the measure will enable Oregon workers to pursue fair contracts without jeopardizing their basic needs.

The Oregon House of Representatives passed Senate Bill 916 on June 5, 2025, in a 33-23 vote, which would extend unemployment benefits to striking workers in both public and private sectors. Under the bill, striking workers could claim unemployment benefits after the first two weeks of a strike through the eighth week, with potential extension to 26 weeks if funding is available, with weekly payments ranging from $196 to $836. The legislation must return to the Oregon Senate for a re-vote before the end of the month to address amendments made by the House.

In April 2025, Kotek fired the head of the Oregon Public Defense Commission and directed its new leadership to develop a strategy to address the state's public defender shortage by June 1. On June 2, Interim Executive Director Ken Sanchagrin announced a 12-month plan consisting of seven points designed to expand attorney contracts, increase caseloads for available attorneys, and onboard supervised law students to provide defense for accused individuals. The initiative represents the commission's first comprehensive response to the shortage since Kotek's leadership overhaul and estimates that counties most severely affected could see relief by mid-fall.

Governor Kotek advanced two bills during the 2025 legislative session that would modernize Oregon's water management systems. Senate Bill 427, sponsored at the governor's request, would require environmental reviews before water rights are transferred for new uses, addressing what supporters characterize as a current regulatory gap in considering impacts to stream flows and water quality. The second Kotek-backed bill would improve the state's capacity to respond to groundwater contamination.

Kotek's Early Literacy Success Initiative, funded through House Bill 3040 with an additional $100 million through 2027, became the subject of advocacy group requests for targeted allocation of resources. The Oregon ACLU, Decoding Dyslexia, and other organizations called on legislators in the Joint Committee on Ways and Means to designate at least $17 million toward 42 chronically struggling schools, with $4 million allocated for teacher training in reading science and $13 million for student tutoring. The groups identified the 42 schools as having the highest percentages of third through fifth graders reading below grade level since 2018, many serving higher proportions of students from underrepresented racial and ethnic groups, rural areas, and economically disadvantaged backgrounds.

Governor Kotek announced directives to the Building Codes Division of the Oregon Department of Consumer and Business Services to support Portland's permitting processes through a process improvement study and a voluntary mutual aid agreement for sharing plan review and inspection resources. Kotek directed Business Oregon to designate office-to-housing conversion projects in Portland as essential to the state's economic well-being, enabling the codes division to establish a rapid approval assessment team for such projects. These actions were announced following recommendations from a workgroup convened by Kotek and Portland Mayor Keith Wilson that included city and state officials and local developers.

Governor Kotek announced the establishment of the Oregon Environmental Restoration Council and named its chairs to oversee investment and distribution of $698 million in settlement funds received from Monsanto over alleged pollution of Oregon waters with polychlorinated biphenyls. The council will work with the State Treasury to invest the settlement money and distribute interest income biennially over 50 years, with half allocated to state agencies for environmental restoration, one quarter to federally recognized Oregon tribes, and one quarter to local communities and community-based organizations. The settlement, finalized in December 2022 under former Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum, represents the largest environmental damages settlement in Oregon state history.

Governor Kotek requested sustained legislative funding for wildfire mitigation efforts in Oregon over the course of more than a year. The Oregon House Democrats delayed a vote on Senate Bill 83, which would repeal the state's Wildfire Hazard Map, by routing it to the Rules Committee rather than directly to the House floor for a final vote in May 2025. Republicans alleged the delay was connected to negotiations over a separate proposal to redirect one billion dollars from the state's kicker tax return toward wildfire mitigation work.

Governor Kotek declared a homelessness emergency on her first full day in office and has consistently prioritized addressing the housing crisis. In her December budget proposal, Kotek recommended that the state allocate $173.2 million to maintain eviction prevention services designed to keep Oregonians housed. This funding recommendation was made in response to Oregon recording nearly 27,300 eviction filings in 2024, with housing advocates testifying before the House Committee on Housing and Homelessness that such prevention programs are more cost-effective than re-housing efforts.

In November, the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture sent Oregon Governor Kotek a letter encouraging the state to transition SNAP benefits from magnetic stripe cards to chip cards to prevent fraud. The letter noted that the federal government would reimburse states for 50 percent of the administrative costs associated with implementing chip card technology. Oregon currently uses Oregon Trail Cards without chips for SNAP benefits, which are vulnerable to skimming devices that allow criminals to duplicate cards and steal benefits.

Governor Kotek's proposed budget included funding for one additional recovery high school rather than the three schools that advocates expected based on a bill passed two years prior. Recovery high schools provide education for students in recovery from substance use disorder, with support services integrated throughout the curriculum. The reduction in planned funding affected multiple communities, including Lane County, that had already submitted applications to establish recovery schools in their areas.

Kotek enacted a cap and trade policy via executive order after legislators failed to pass the measure in previous sessions, with the policy designed to reduce carbon emissions through financial penalties or incentives on businesses. The cap and trade approach had previously sparked significant opposition from Republican lawmakers who walked out of the Capitol in 2019 and 2020 to prevent votes on similar legislation. Democratic legislators subsequently introduced a new version of the policy in 2025, with state senators and representatives developing a framework to potentially replace the existing Climate Protection Program.

Kotek issued an order directing all flags at public institutions across Oregon to be flown at half-staff from sunrise until noon on Memorial Day in recognition of U.S. military personnel who died in service. The governor released a statement noting that she and the First Lady honored the fallen service members and their families. Kotek had previously issued a similar half-staff flag order on May 15 to mark Peace Officers Memorial Day.

Kotek signed 53 bills into law during the week of May 20-23, 2025, including 36 bills on Thursday and 17 bills on Monday. The legislation addressed consumer protections including requirements for cash payment acceptance and restrictions on signal jammers, tenant rights including early lease termination and keyless entry alternatives, non-consensual intimate image protections including AI-generated deepfakes, and modifications to jury service procedures and Native American tribal jurisdiction processes. The bills also made adjustments to state program administration including life insurance eligibility for National Guard members and appointment procedures within the Adjutant General's office.

The Oregon House Committee on Climate, Energy and Environment blocked Senate Bill 83, which would repeal the state's controversial wildfire risk assessment map, from proceeding to a floor vote on May 22, 2025, instead referring it to the House Rules Committee. The wildfire map, created by the Oregon Department of Forestry in 2022 to inform residents about vulnerability to wildfires, had prompted insurance companies to raise rates or drop coverage in high-risk areas, leading to bipartisan calls for its repeal. The Democratic committee majority's decision to delay the bill's floor consideration came as lawmakers negotiated funding mechanisms for future wildfire response costs, including potential use of the state's kicker rebate.

Kotek announced she was actively exploring executive action to ban student cellphone use in Oregon schools after House Bill 2251 died in the legislature on May 22, 2025. The bill would have required students to keep phones off and away during the entire school day, but lawmakers expressed concerns about enforcement, exemptions, and statewide flexibility. If enacted through executive order, Oregon would become the 22nd state to implement a statewide cellphone ban in schools.

Governor Kotek publicly endorsed diverting a portion of Oregon's anticipated $1.64 billion tax kicker to fund wildfire suppression and prevention efforts. Kotek stated that lawmakers should use part of the kicker on a one-time basis to support wildfire mitigation, framing it as necessary to protect communities. The proposal, embodied in Senate Bill 1177 introduced by State Senator Jeff Golden, would redirect income tax kicker funds into a permanent wildfire trust fund, though passage would require a two-thirds legislative majority that currently does not exist without Republican support.

Governor Kotek stated her support for House Bill 3835, a bipartisan measure that would allow Oregon to resume sending foster youth out of state for residential treatment and behavioral healthcare services, a practice the state discontinued in 2019 following reports of abuse. The bill would also narrow the definitions of wrongful restraint and seclusion of children in medical settings and modify reporting requirements for such incidents. Kotek testified in a public hearing that the current foster care system is failing children with acute behavioral health needs and that providers require clearer guidelines and protections regarding crisis intervention practices.

On May 6, Kotek signed House Bill 3020, which prohibits any person from wagering on the outcome of a greyhound or other dog race, or accepting or facilitating such wagering, regardless of location. The bill effectively ends Oregon's role in dog-racing wagering through the state's online gambling platforms. Greyhound racing has not occurred in Oregon for more than two decades, though the state's advanced deposit wagering companies had continued accepting bets on races held in other states.

Kotek issued a proclamation ordering flags at public institutions across Oregon to be flown at half-staff on Thursday in observance of Peace Officers Memorial Day. The flags were required to remain lowered until sunset as part of the statewide recognition. The proclamation honored law enforcement officers who have died in service to the state and acknowledged surviving family members and current officers.

The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality announced on May 15, 2025, that it would pause enforcement of the Advanced Clean Trucks rule, which became effective January 1, 2025. DEQ Director Leah Feldon stated in a memo that the agency would refrain from pursuing enforcement actions or assessing civil penalties against manufacturers of medium- and heavy-duty vehicles that do not meet the specified zero-emission vehicle sales percentages for 2024 and 2025. The pause was implemented after trucking companies reported that electric truck costs and limited range made the Advanced Clean Trucks requirements difficult to meet.

Governor Kotek appointed Craig Prins as director of the Oregon Liquor and Cannabis Commission in 2023 following a state ethics investigation that revealed top managers had diverted rare bourbon bottles for personal use. Prins announced in May 2025 that he would depart the position by July 1 after overseeing modernization efforts including a new licensing system, computer program upgrades, and groundbreaking for an $87.6 million warehouse in Clackamas County. Deputy Director Tara Wasiak will serve as interim director following Prins's departure.

Kotek signed HB 2935, which directs the Oregon Criminal Justice Commission to conduct a study on pre-trial release and submit findings to the legislature by May 1, 2027. Kotek also signed HB 2804, which eliminates the Psychiatric Security Review Board's juvenile panel and restructures the board to comprise five members with specified professional backgrounds in psychiatry, criminal justice, law, and community experience, with a potential sixth alternate member. Additionally, Kotek signed HB 2812, which exempts individually identifiable health information held by the Psychiatric Security Review Board from public disclosure while permitting release in specified circumstances such as judicial, law enforcement, and emergency situations.

Kotek joined a press call with Oregon's two U.S. senators and other Democratic lawmakers to discuss a congressional Republican proposal to cut federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program spending by at least $230 billion, primarily by shifting costs to states. Kotek stated that Oregon lacks sufficient funds to maintain SNAP at current levels if the cuts proceed and warned that the reductions would result in food insecurity for Oregon residents. She noted that Oregon stands to lose approximately $400 million under the proposal and emphasized that SNAP cuts reduce direct assistance to vulnerable populations rather than bureaucratic spending.

Kotek signed 33 bills into law during a legislative week in May 2025, including measures addressing wildlife protection, state contracting procedures, timeshare licensing, and boat inspections for invasive species. The bills also modified public employee retirement system provisions, unemployment and paid leave programs, emergency housing funding, and established privacy protections for certain state employees and lottery winners. Additional legislation designated October 12 as Oregon Farmer and Rancher Day and made technical amendments to state tax statutes and other agency procedures.

Oregon Governor Kotek declared that fire season had arrived and urged residents to prepare for an intense 2025 wildfire season during a May 7, 2025 address at the Oregon Department of Forestry's fire cache in Salem. Kotek warned that the state faced conditions expected to be hotter and drier than normal, with peak fire danger anticipated in September and October, and encouraged Oregonians to take protective measures including pruning trees, removing debris within 100 feet of structures, and cleaning roofs and gutters. State emergency officials emphasized the need for early coordination across all government levels and community preparedness to manage the anticipated fires.

Kotek declared that fire season had begun in Oregon and warned that the state faced a likely intense and prolonged wildfire season in 2025, speaking at the Oregon Department of Forestry's fire cache in Salem on May 7, 2025. Kotek urged Oregon homeowners and property owners to prepare for the upcoming season by pruning trees, removing pine needles and leaves within 100 feet of structures, and cleaning roofs and gutters, while also calling on all Oregonians to know local fire danger levels and follow fire notices. Kotek emphasized that with forecasters anticipating hotter and drier-than-normal conditions from July through October, the state expected the fire season to be more aggressive than previous years, with peak fire danger expected in September and October.

State Fire Marshal Mariana Ruiz-Temple signed a memorandum of agreement with the Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety to implement the Wildfire Prepared certification program in Oregon, which allows homeowners to obtain certificates for completing wildfire prevention work around their properties. Under the program, insurers may incorporate certification status into their rate and premium calculations, potentially helping to address rising property insurance costs in the state. Governor Kotek stated that the partnership aims to maintain insurance availability for Oregon homeowners while potentially reducing premium increases, and noted that the state does not currently need to implement mandatory insurer discount requirements like California has enacted.

The Oregon Legislature passed House Bill 2978, which facilitates coordination between state agencies to increase wildlife crossings at key highway locations throughout Oregon. The bill creates an advisory group including local government representatives and environmental professionals to conduct outreach on crossing projects and directs the Oregon Department of Transportation and Department of Fish and Wildlife to jointly identify priority areas for wildlife safe passages. The legislation now awaits Governor Kotek's signature.

Oregon Governor Kotek and Portland Mayor Keith Wilson announced a proposal to temporarily waive System Development Charges (SDCs) on new housing construction in Portland to increase housing production. The SDC moratorium would last for three years or until 5,000 housing units are built, whichever occurs first, and requires approval from the Portland city council. Kotek stated the measure was necessary to accelerate housing development, noting that while progress was occurring in the city, faster action was needed.

The Metro Council voted unanimously to allocate $15 million in Supportive Housing Services tax reserves to Multnomah County for transfer to Portland in support of Mayor Wilson's homeless shelter expansion plan. Wilson's initiative aims to add 1,500 overnight shelter beds by December 1 at an estimated total cost of $28 million, with the Metro funding providing approximately half of the required resources. The allocation followed prior coordination between Metro and county officials and represents a one-time investment from administrative reserves.

Kotek signed House Bill 5047 and House Bill 2007 into law on April 30, 2025, establishing funding and requirements for Oregon's Summer Learning Grant program. HB 5047 appropriates $35 million from the general fund for summer 2025, with $47 million appropriated for 2026 and 2027, subject to specified expenditure limits. HB 2007 modifies grant requirements to prioritize programs serving students reading below grade level and establishes criteria for eligible programs based on evidence-based instruction in literacy, math, science, or language arts, as well as credit recovery and enrichment activities.

Kotek's administration engaged with Senate Bill 1098, which would prohibit schools and library districts from removing books containing stories about religion, disability, LGBTQ+ issues, or other characteristics protected under Oregon's anti-discrimination law in public education. The House Education Committee heard public comments on the bill on Wednesday afternoon, with testimony from parents, authors, and advocacy groups including the ACLU of Oregon and the Oregon Library Association. The bill had previously passed the Oregon Senate on a party-line 18-10 vote and awaited action in the House.

The Oregon Senate passed Senate Bill 88 to repeal the state wildfire hazard map that was introduced in 2021, sending the legislation to the House for consideration before it would reach Governor Kotek's desk. The map had designated homes at varying levels of wildfire risk and subjected property owners to regulations regarding defensible space and building codes. In advance of the Senate vote, Kotek directed the Oregon Department of Forestry to pause processing property owner appeals of their wildfire risk designations until after the legislative session concluded.

Kotek led a lawsuit filed in the Court of International Trade in New York on behalf of Oregon and 11 other states challenging four executive orders issued by President Trump that imposed tariffs of 145 percent on imports from China, 25 percent on imports from Canada and Mexico, and 10 percent on most other imported goods, with the suit also preemptively challenging planned tariff increases on imports from more than 40 additional countries scheduled for July 9. The attorneys general argued that Trump unlawfully used the International Emergency Economic Powers Act to impose the tariffs, contending that tariff-setting authority is granted solely to Congress under Article I of the U.S. Constitution and that no president before Trump has imposed tariffs based on the Emergency Economic Powers Act. Kotek stated at a news conference that the tariffs would cost jobs, increase prices for consumers, and harm the economy, with economic estimates suggesting the tariffs could raise the cost of living for the average family nationwide by more than $3,800 annually.

Kotek announced her intention to vote in favor of a temporary property tax levy in Salem that would charge property owners 98 cents per $1,000 of assessed property value to fund the city's library, parks, and senior center amid a $14 million budget gap. Kotek stated publicly that the state government should help Salem financially, noting that approximately 8 percent of the city's property is state-owned and therefore exempt from local property taxes while still receiving city services. Kotek indicated she had not yet reviewed House Bill 2531, a bipartisan proposal introduced by legislators to provide $7 million annually to Salem for emergency response services.

Oregon Gov. Kotek called on the state's new public defense chief to develop a plan and timeline to address the state's public defender crisis, in which nearly 4,000 Oregonians were waiting for court-appointed attorneys. A coalition of Public Defenders of Oregon released a report in March recommending legislative reforms including increased funding for nonprofit public defense providers, a $19 million investment to raise nonprofit public defender salaries to match prosecutors' compensation, and procedural changes to expedite case processing. The recommendations addressed systemic issues including rising caseloads, chronic understaffing, and inadequate funding that the coalition identified as primary contributors to the crisis.

Governor Kotek replaced Jessica Kampfe as executive director of the Oregon Public Defense Commission on April 17, 2025, citing the state's ongoing crisis of unrepresented criminal defendants. Kampfe had led the agency since 2022 through a restructuring mandated by Senate Bill 337 in 2023, which moved the commission from the judicial branch to the executive branch and expanded it to include state-employed public defenders alongside its traditional contractor-based system. Kotek appointed Ken Sanchagrin, former director of the Oregon Criminal Justice Commission, to lead the OPDC and tasked him with delivering a clear timeline to resolve the crisis by June 1 and developing a plan to address shortages in six designated crisis counties.

Governor Kotek attended a roundtable discussion at Chemeketa Community College in Salem on April 16, 2025, where business leaders from Oregon's clothing, fishing, food manufacturing, wine, and beverage distribution sectors described financial impacts from Trump administration tariffs implemented on April 9, 2025, and subsequent retaliatory tariffs from the European Union. The businesses reported millions of dollars in increased import costs, with some facing potential closure, while State Treasurer Elizabeth Steiner cited federal economist estimates that the tariffs would cost the average U.S. household $3,800 annually. Kotek stated the state was willing to work with businesses to develop response plans and indicated the full economic impact would not be measurable until mid-summer 2025.

Governor Kotek fired Jessica Kampfe, director of Oregon's Public Defense Commission, on Thursday, April 17, 2025, citing the failure to address a statewide shortage of public defense attorneys that left more than 4,000 defendants without legal representation. Kotek appointed Ken Sanchagrin, executive director of the Oregon Criminal Justice Commission, as interim director and instructed him to address the attorney shortage, increase financial transparency, and establish a timeline for resolving the crisis. The public defender shortage has created significant delays in criminal proceedings across Oregon, with Washington and Multnomah counties accounting for approximately 45 percent of unrepresented defendants statewide.

The Oregon House passed House Bill 2299 with a unanimous 56-0 vote on April 15, 2025, to add digitally created or altered sexually explicit images to the state's existing "revenge porn" law. The bill would make it a crime to disseminate AI-generated or manipulated nude images of a person without consent, with a first offense classified as a Class A misdemeanor punishable by up to 364 days in jail and a fine up to $6,250, and subsequent offenses as a Class C felony with a maximum 5-year prison sentence. The legislation now proceeds to the state Senate and would require Governor Kotek's signature to become law.

Oregon Gov. Kotek directed the Oregon Health Authority to appoint a new superintendent at the Oregon State Hospital in Salem following the resignation of interim superintendent Sara Walker on April 11, 2025. The leadership change occurred after a patient death on March 19 at the facility and subsequent findings by the Joint Commission that hospital staff failed to provide timely care to the deceased patient. Dave Baden, deputy director of policy and programs at the Oregon Health Authority, was named as Walker's replacement to lead the 700-bed psychiatric facility.

Oregon Governor Tina Kotek and Bureau of Labor and Industries Commissioner Christina Stephenson announced a joint initiative on April 14, 2025, to protect students from bullying, discrimination, and harassment based on race, national origin, and immigration status in Oregon schools. The Oregon Department of Education issued guidance ensuring that school bullying policies include specific provisions addressing immigration status, aligning with Oregon's nondiscrimination laws including ORS 659.850. The Bureau of Labor and Industries will enforce Oregon's public accommodations laws, including ORS 659A.403, to protect students from discriminatory acts based on immigration status.

Governor Kotek directed the Oregon Health Authority's Acting Director to appoint Dave Baden, the current Deputy Director of Policy and Programs at OHA, as acting superintendent of Oregon State Hospital, effective immediately. The appointment followed an unexpected patient death at the facility on March 18, 2025, and the resignation of interim superintendent Dr. Sara Walker. Kotek also directed the agency to develop a 30-day plan to address issues related to patient care and safety at the hospital.

Kotek ordered a pause on automatic voter registrations in Oregon's Motor Voter program following the discovery of errors in which noncitizens were registered to vote. The pause remained in effect while the state reviewed voter registration records and implemented new controls to prevent similar errors. Kotek's pause order was lifted in February 2025 after the Oregon Department of Motor Vehicles and Secretary of State's office completed their initial review and system improvements.

In late March 2025, Oregon Governor Tina Kotek released a statement urging Oregon Health & Science University to close its primate research center in Hillsboro after completing current research obligations in a humane manner. OHSU leadership responded by meeting with the governor's office to discuss the facility, which employs 561 people and conducts research on vaccines for influenza and tuberculosis, as well as work in reproductive biology and mental health. The governor's directive emerged amid a public campaign by the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine calling for the center's closure in connection with OHSU's proposed merger with Legacy Health.

Governor Kotek and Oregon Department of Education Director Charlene Williams announced that the state would not comply with the Trump administration's April 3 ultimatum to end diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives or face loss of federal Title I funding. Williams sent a letter to federal officials on Thursday stating that Oregon would not sign the confirmation letter required by the U.S. Department of Education and would not require schools to eliminate programs aimed at bolstering diversity, equity and inclusion. Kotek stated that she would not back down from protecting Oregon values and that ensuring every child has the opportunity for a strong public education is a fundamental responsibility of government.

The Oregon Senate committee unanimously approved Senate Bill 83, legislation that would repeal the state's wildfire hazard map that was implemented in 2021 following the 2020 Labor Day wildfires. Lawmakers from both parties supported the repeal, citing concerns that the map failed to accurately assess wildfire risk at the individual property level and imposed restrictions on homeowners in the wildland-urban interface. The bill is expected to advance through the Senate and House before reaching Governor Kotek's desk for signature.

Gov. Kotek proposed Senate Bill 1154 to update Oregon's Groundwater Quality Protection Act, which would grant state agencies greater authority to intervene earlier in contaminated groundwater areas through expanded testing, monitoring, and remediation powers. The proposal received its first public hearing before the Senate Natural Resources and Wildfire Committee on April 8, 2025, where more than 560 people and groups submitted testimony in opposition, with concerns centered on expanded state authority to access private property without landowner consent. The bill was sent to the Senate Rules Committee without recommendation for further consideration.

A Marion County judge issued an order blocking implementation of an executive directive by Governor Kotek requiring the use of union labor on many state construction projects. The directive, formally known as a Project Labor Agreement requirement, had been characterized as controversial prior to the judicial action. The judge's order halted the requirement from taking effect on the state projects affected by the governor's order.

Rayfield joined a 23-state coalition demanding the Trump administration release frozen federal disaster funds after a federal judge issued a preliminary injunction blocking the freeze. Oregon was unable to access $129.4 million in FEMA funds despite the court order, with the state waiting more than 30 days for reimbursement related to flooding and landslides in southern Oregon counties. Rayfield's office filed a second motion for enforcement after the Trump administration failed to comply with the initial restraining order issued in January.

Governor Kotek expressed criticism of proposed federal Medicaid cuts during an interview on KGW's "Straight Talk," warning that reductions to the program would significantly impact Oregon, where approximately one-third of residents rely on the Oregon Health Plan. Kotek stated that the Trump administration's approach to federal governance has created uncertainty for state operations, characterizing the implementation of policies as erratic and lacking consistency. The governor also criticized workforce reductions across federal agencies, including the Department of Education, which she described as scattershot and lacking thoughtfulness in execution.

The Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians secured the repeal of a 1980 agreement that had restricted the tribe's hunting, fishing, and gathering rights for over four decades. The agreement, signed when the tribe's reservation was restored, had limited tribal members to specific fishing locations and a small number of hunting tags distributed by lottery among approximately 6,000 tribal members. With the repeal, the tribe regains full access to traditional hunting and fishing practices on their reservation in western Oregon.

Governor Kotek announced on March 14, 2025, that Oregon's K-12 public schools would receive a record $76.8 million from the Common School Fund, with more than $2.9 million distributed to school districts in Baker, Grant, Morrow, Union, Umatilla, and Wallowa counties. The Common School Fund, which has supported Oregon schools since statehood, distributes 3.5% of its portfolio value annually, with the 2025 allocation representing a $2.4 million increase from 2024. School districts may use the funding for instruction, infrastructure, and other educational purposes, separate from the public education budget set by the Oregon Legislature.

Governor Kotek introduced House Bill 2009 and Senate Bill 141, which would require school districts to meet specified metrics aligned with state benchmarks and allow the state to take control of up to 25 percent of funding for districts that fail to meet state goals over multiple years. Portland Public Schools raised concerns that the accountability measures lack sufficient funding to support implementation, noting the district faces a $40 million budget shortfall that could reach $60 million without additional investment from the governor's 2025-2027 budget proposal. PPS officials stated that while the governor's proposed budget increases overall school funding, none of the additional money is specifically designated to help districts meet the new requirements outlined in the bills.

Governor Kotek praised the pace at which Central City Concern developed the 16 x Burnside Recovery Center, a 74-bed residential treatment facility housed in a converted hotel on Portland's Central Eastside. The center, which required $2.5 million from Central City Concern plus funding from the city of Portland, Multnomah County, and the state of Oregon, is designed to serve individuals transitioning between addiction treatment and stable housing. The facility opened with 24/7 medical staff to provide residential treatment as an intermediate step for people in recovery from addiction.

Governor Kotek introduced House Bill 2009 alongside legislative leaders to establish expanded oversight and accountability measures for Oregon school districts. The bill would add two new Student Success Metrics to the five existing ones established in 2019, standardize interim assessments for measuring student performance, require the Oregon Department of Education to set targets for districts, and impose escalating consequences for districts that fail to meet targets over consecutive years, including mandatory coaching after two years and potential state control of up to 25 percent of certain state education funding after four years. The legislation also directs the Department of Education to streamline reporting requirements and reduce bureaucratic burdens on school districts.

Governor Kotek and Portland Mayor Keith Wilson convened the Multifamily Housing Development Workgroup for its first meeting on Thursday, assembling over 20 members including city council representatives, state housing officials, and development firm representatives to identify barriers to multifamily housing construction in Portland. The workgroup's stated objective is to reduce bureaucratic delays, increase housing construction, and lower housing costs as part of Kotek's broader legislative push for housing development. Kotek has been advancing legislation designed to cut regulations and expand multifamily housing production in response to rising housing costs across Oregon.

Oregon Gov. Kotek advanced House Bill 2138, a housing reform bill designed to address the state's housing crisis by legalizing middle housing types including duplexes, triplexes, quadplexes, and cottage clusters while streamlining permitting processes. The legislation expands zoning rules to allow middle housing in additional areas, including urban unincorporated lands, and prevents local governments from reducing housing density within urban growth boundaries. Kotek characterized the bill as building on existing policies to reduce construction costs and accelerate the approval process for building permits and land divisions.

Governor Kotek's temporary authority to designate farmland for semiconductor industry use expired in 2024 without being utilized by any chipmaker seeking to build in Oregon. The authority had been granted by the state legislature as part of a broader package of over $500 million in semiconductor industry incentives approved in 2023, including tax breaks and workforce training funding. The expiration of this designation authority occurred amid broader challenges facing Oregon's semiconductor sector, including job losses at major manufacturers and reduced federal support for the industry under the Trump administration.

Kotek attended the groundbreaking ceremony for a mass timber manufacturing facility in Millersburg north of Albany, described as one of the largest of its kind in the United States. The 190,000-square-foot facility is a joint venture between Portland-based Timberlab and California-based Swinerton and is expected to create 100 jobs when fully operational in fall 2026, with commercial production beginning by year's end. Kotek stated the facility represents an important step in maintaining Oregon's position in the mass timber industry, citing the state's existing manufacturing capabilities and flagship projects such as the remodeled main terminal at Portland International Airport.

Kotek issued an executive order in 2024 requiring union labor in many state construction projects through project labor agreements. Construction contractors filed a lawsuit challenging the executive order, arguing it constituted an illegal exercise of executive power. The case seeks judicial review of the order's validity.

Kotek testified before Oregon lawmakers in support of House Bill 3644, which would allocate $218 million to establish a statewide homeless shelter system and sustain approximately 4,800 existing shelter beds currently supported by temporary pandemic funding. The bill proposes organizing shelters through regional coordinators who would submit plans and assessments to the state, creating consistency across the system while allowing communities to determine locally appropriate approaches. Kotek stated this legislation represents part of the homelessness emergency order she signed upon taking office and is necessary to maintain existing services rather than expand them into the next budget biennium.

Kotek resumed the Oregon Motor Voter program on February 26, 2025, after pausing it in October 2024 following the discovery that approximately 1,600 noncitizens had been mistakenly registered to vote through the automatic registration system over three years. The pause allowed the Oregon Department of Motor Vehicles to implement corrective measures, including hiring a voter registration integrity analyst, adding additional daily file reviews by managers, and redesigning the user interface to reduce documentation errors. The Motor Voter Act automatically registers Oregon residents applying for or renewing driver's licenses, permits, or identification cards by transmitting their information to the Secretary of State's office.

Governor Tina Kotek placed Oregon Youth Authority Director Joe O'Leary on paid administrative leave on February 14, 2025, pending the completion of an investigation into the agency's backlog of abuse complaints. The Professional Standards Office is investigating issues within the Oregon Youth Authority related to conditions at correctional facilities in Albany and Woodburn. Kotek stated in a press release that complaints must be addressed expeditiously and that Oregon youth in the state's care rely on the agency to keep them safe.

Governor Kotek introduced legislation to change the selection process for the state forester position, allowing the governor and state Senate to appoint the agency leader rather than having the governor-appointed state Board of Forestry make the selection. The bill followed leadership instability at the Oregon Department of Forestry, including the abrupt resignation of its director. The proposed change would grant the governor direct appointment authority over the agency's top position in future administrations.

Governor Kotek directed the Oregon Department of Forestry to pause processing appeals of wildfire risk designations submitted by property owners to the Office of Administrative Hearings until after the current legislative session concludes on or before June 29. The pause was implemented as Oregon lawmakers considered potential modifications to the statewide wildfire risk assessment map. Property owners retained the ability to submit new appeals contesting their hazard designations through the March 10 deadline.

Oregon Department of Corrections Director Mike Reese fired Chief Medical Officer Dr. Warren Roberts and his supervisor Joe Bugher following a comprehensive investigation by attorney Jill Goldsmith that documented inadequate patient care, treatment delays, and retaliation against doctors who raised safety concerns at state prisons. The investigation also found that Roberts and Bugher were evasive or not credible during questioning and that doctors who complained about patient care faced retaliation under their leadership. Reese hired a consultant to conduct a broader review of the state's prison health system following the terminations.

Governor Kotek placed Joseph O'Leary, director of the Oregon Youth Authority, on administrative leave effective immediately on February 14, 2025. Jana McLellan, the interim deputy director, was named to replace O'Leary in the position overseeing the state's juvenile justice agency. Kotek's office announced that an investigation is pending regarding issues in the Oregon Youth Authority's Professional Standards Office, though specific details were not provided.

Multnomah County District Attorney Nathan Vasquez characterized the shortage of public defenders available to represent defendants as a "work stoppage" rather than a systemic crisis, stating in a February 2025 interview that nonprofit public defense firms were refusing to take cases despite judicial authority to assign them. Vasquez claimed that nonprofit firms in Multnomah County were operating at 70-80% of Oregon's prescribed case limits and called for greater transparency and accountability regarding case assignments among public defense attorneys. Public defense advocates, including Carl Macpherson of Metropolitan Public Defender, disputed Vasquez's characterization, stating that public defenders work under genuine resource constraints with high caseloads and insufficient compensation.

Kotek initiated mediation between the Oregon Nurses Association and Providence Oregon following a 26-day strike by nurses at eight hospital facilities across the state. After seven days of intensive mediation led by Kotek, the parties reached tentative agreements that included step increases for employees, across-the-board pay increases, penalty pay for missed breaks, and establishment of a workgroup to evaluate employee health benefits. Union members were scheduled to vote on ratification of the tentative agreements, with nurses remaining on strike during the voting period.

Kotek allocated $19 million in funding to the Oregon Department of Transportation to support winter road maintenance during the 2024-2025 season. The allocation addressed a projected $354 million budget shortfall that threatened to reduce maintenance capabilities. According to ODOT officials, the funding enabled the department to maintain road maintenance levels consistent with previous years.

Kotek announced that Oregon joined a multi-state lawsuit filed in federal district court challenging the Trump administration's freeze on federal funding, which prevented the state from accessing reimbursement for services including Medicaid and Head Start. Kotek stated during a press briefing that the funding freeze had created "chaos and uncertainty" and indicated Oregon would continue providing coverage while awaiting clarification on federal fund status. Attorney General Dan Rayfield, alongside Kotek, argued that the administration's withholding of congressionally approved funds violated the Constitution's spending clause.

Governor Kotek issued an order on January 20, 2025, directing flags at Oregon public institutions to be flown at full-staff for the remainder of Inauguration Day following President Donald Trump's proclamation that flags be raised to full-staff on inauguration days. Oregon had previously maintained flags at half-staff in accordance with President Joe Biden's December 29 proclamation establishing a 30-day mourning period for former President Jimmy Carter, which was set to continue through January 28, 2025. Beginning January 21, Kotek's order specified that flags would be lowered to half-staff again to resume the designated mourning period for Carter.

Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek announced housing and homelessness as a primary legislative priority ahead of the 2025 legislative session, stating she would focus on bills supporting the construction of middle housing options and creating pathways to homeownership. Kotek also identified funding for transportation and education, along with mental health and addiction treatment services, as key goals for the upcoming 160-day session. The governor emphasized her intention to keep the legislature focused on addressing homelessness, housing affordability, and educational improvement throughout the legislative term.

Kotek signed legislation providing approximately $218 million in funding for the Oregon Department of Forestry and the Oregon State Fire Marshal following a budget shortfall related to the state's 2024 wildfire season, in which 1.9 million acres burned. The funding was approved through a special legislative session after the agencies faced insufficient resources to pay wildland firefighters. Kotek stated that her staff would work with the Board of Forestry to identify a replacement for departing State Forester Cal Mukumoto.

Governor Kotek administered the oath of office to Dr. Elizabeth Steiner as Oregon state treasurer on January 6, 2025, making Steiner the first woman to hold the position. Steiner announced her leadership team consisting of George Naughton as deputy treasurer, Barry Ford as chief program officer, and Sybil Ackerman-Munson as chief of staff. Steiner outlined policy objectives including doubling the percentage of children with college savings plans, expanding retirement savings programs, and managing state investments while reducing the pension fund's carbon footprint.