Oregon Governor Tina Kotek signed three bills to increase consumer protections, covering medical debt, online fees, and auto loan practices. Senate Bill 605 removes medical debt from consumer credit reports. State Senator Wlnsvey Campos said, "Penalizing someone’s credit score because they got sick or injured doesn’t help them pay off their bill— it only makes it harder to recover." The Oregon Health Equity Alliance also supported the change, according to the Office of the Governor.
Senate Bill 430, will require online retailers to include all mandatory fees in advertised prices. House Bill 3178 will require detailed disclosures in auto purchase agreements, aimed at improving clarity for Oregon’s multilingual community. Nansi Lopez, Policy Director for Centro Cultural’s Latino Policy Council, said, "This bill puts power back into the hands of consumers. Together, we are building a more equitable marketplace that works for all Oregonians," as reported by the Office of the Governor.
Starting in 2026, new consumer protection bills will take effect in Oregon. Chris Coughlin, Federal Policy Director for Oregon Consumer Justice, said, "The freedom to make informed financial decisions that are right for us and our families should be a given." Gov. Tina Kotek’s office stated the measures are designed to provide Oregonians with safeguards when facing major expenses or financial difficulties, as mentioned by the Office of the Governor.
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