Oregon legislation · 2026 Legislative Measures
Oregon SB1580: Relating to compensation for journalism.
Status: Failed, March 6, 2026
Digest: Requires a covered platform to have an agreement in order to access the online content of a news provider. Creates a group for civic information to give grants. (Flesch Readability Score: 62.7). Prohibits an online news aggregating platform from accessing for an Oregon audience the online content of a digital journalism provider without an agreement. Specifies requirements that an agreement must meet. Creates a private cause of action that a digital journalism provider may bring against a platform if the platform accesses for an Oregon audience the online content of the digital journalism provider without an agreement or fails to comply with an agreement. Allows for the recovery of the greater of statutory or actual damages, and for punitive damages. Bars a cause of action if the platform is participating in arbitration or in compliance with a final arbitration order, judgment or settlement agreement. Bars a cause of action for access that occurs between January 1, 2027, and December 31, 2028, if the platform elects to pay a certain sum amount. Allows a platform or group of digital journalism providers to initiate an arbitration process to determine a percentage of the platform's advertising revenue to be remitted to the digital journalism providers. Requires platforms to report annually certain information about compensation paid to digital journalism providers. Establishes the Oregon Civic Information Consortium. Directs the consortium to award grants for applicants that seek to improve civic information.
What the bill says
A bill FOR AN ACT Relating to compensation for journalism. Whereas a free and diverse fourth estate was critical in the founding of American democracy and continues to be the lifeblood of a functional democratic society, and communities without local news lose touch with government, business, education and neighbors…
From the introduced text, January 28, 2026:
A BILL FOR AN ACT Relating to compensation for journalism. Whereas a free and diverse fourth estate was critical in the founding of American democracy and continues to be the lifeblood of a functional democratic society, and communities without local news lose touch with government, business, education and neighbors; and Whereas everyday journalism plays an essential role in Oregon life, and supporting the ability of local news organizations to continue to provide the public with critical information about their communities and enabling publishers to receive fair market value for their content that is monetized by platforms will preserve and ensure the sustainability of local and diverse news outlets; and Whereas two major technology platform companies, Google and Meta, currently crawl Oregon publishers' news content and are being prosecuted by the federal government on allegations of operating as anticompetitive monopolies in violation of the federal Sherman Act, and Oregon has a compelling interest in protecting businesses that report and distribute news from unfair business practices; and Whereas in April 2025, U.S. District Judge Leonie M. Brinkema found that "Google has willfully engaged in a series of anticompetitive acts to acquire and maintain monopoly power" in digital advertising markets and "substantially harmed Google's publisher customers, the competitive process, and, ultimately, consumers of information on the open web" and, in August 2024, U.S. …
Sponsors
- Katherine Pham (D, 23) · primary sponsor
- David Gomberg (D, 10) · primary sponsor
- Sara Gelser Blouin (D, 8) · primary sponsor
- Lew Frederick (D, 22)
- Kayse Jama (D, 24)
- Courtney Neron Misslin (D, 13)
- Farrah Chaichi (D, 35)
- Willy Chotzen (D, 46)
- Mark Gamba (D, 41)
- Darin Harbick (R, 12)
- McDonald, Sarah (D, 16)
- Lesly Muñoz (D, 22)
Latest actions
- : In committee upon adjournment.
- : Public Hearing held.
- : Referred to Commerce and General Government.
- : Introduction and first reading. Referred to President's desk.
Common questions
- What is SB1580?
- SB1580 is a bill in the Oregon Legislature (2026 Legislative Measures): Relating to compensation for journalism.
- What does SB1580 do?
- In its own words: A bill FOR AN ACT Relating to compensation for journalism. Whereas a free and diverse fourth estate was critical in the founding of American democracy and continues to be the lifeblood of a functional democratic society, and communities without local news lose touch with government, business, education and neighbors…
- What is the status of SB1580?
- Failed as of March 6, 2026. Latest action: In committee upon adjournment. (March 6, 2026).
- Who sponsored SB1580?
- Katherine Pham (D, 23), with 11 co-sponsors.
- Where is the official record for SB1580?
- On the Oregon Legislature website: https://olis.oregonlegislature.gov/liz/2026R1/Measures/Overview/1580
Source: official Oregon record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.