Oregon legislation · 2025 Legislative Measures
Oregon HB2548: Relating to labor standards for agricultural workers; and declaring an emergency.
Status: Chaptered, August 13, 2025
Digest: The Act would tell PSU to conduct a study on farmworker labor standards. Tells HECC to submit reports on the findings. The Act would tell LPRO to conduct a study on labor standards in the agricultural industry. Tells LPRO to submit findings to the legislature by September 15, 2026. The Act takes effect when the Governor signs it. (Flesch Readability Score: 60.8). Directs the Higher Education Coordinating Commission to distribute moneys to the Center for Public Service at Portland State University to conduct, in consultation with Oregon State University, a study examining the labor standards and working experiences of farmworkers in this state. Requires the center to integrate the study findings with the study conducted by the Legislative Policy and Research Director. Directs the commission to submit reports on the findings of the study to the interim committees of the Legislative Assembly related to agriculture, business and labor and natural resources by certain dates. Directs the Legislative Policy and Research Director to conduct a study relating to the labor standards in the agricultural industry and the rights and protections afforded to farmworkers in this state. Requires the director to submit a report to the interim committees of the Legislative Assembly related to agriculture, business and labor and natural resources no later than September 15, 2026. Declares an emergency, effective on passage.
What the bill says
From the enrolled text, June 28, 2025:
83rd OREGON LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY--2025 Regular Session House Bill 2548 Sponsored by Representatives VALDERRAMA, MUNOZ, NELSON; Representatives ANDERSEN, CHOTZEN, FRAGALA, GAMBA, HUDSON, NOSSE, TRAN, WALTERS, Senators JAMA, PATTERSON, PHAM K, TAYLOR (Presession filed.) CHAPTER ................................................. Relating to labor standards for agricultural workers; and declaring an emergency. SECTION 1. (1) The Higher Education Coordinating Commission shall distribute the moneys appropriated to it under section 3 of this 2025 Act to the Center for Public Service at Portland State University to be used by the center to conduct, in consultation with Oregon State University, a study examining the labor standards and working experiences of farmworkers in this state and evaluating the adequacy and availability of existing workplace protections for farmworkers. (2) To the greatest extent practicable within the scope of allocated funding, the study must include, but need not be limited to, an analysis of the following: (a) Health and safety risks, including work-related injuries and fatalities, experienced by farmworkers. (b) Wages, including hourly and piece-rate compensation and work schedules. (c) Availability of, and access to, benefits such as health insurance, retirement benefits and paid leave. (d) Short-term and long-term financial security of farmworkers. (e) Opportunities for farmworkers to raise workplace concerns or complaints. (f) Harassment, discrimination or retaliation against farmworkers for asserting farmworkers' rights, and methods for preventing such actions. (g) Availability …