Oregon legislation · 2026 Legislative Measures
Oregon HB4132: Relating to veterans; and prescribing an effective date.
Status: Chaptered, April 13, 2026
Digest: Makes changes to veteran laws. (Flesch Readability Score: 66.4). [ Declares that it is the goal of the Legislative Assembly to fund the Department of Veterans' Affairs in an amount that is not less than $10,000,000, from the General Fund, in 2015 dollars, adjusted for inflation. ] [ Requires the Director of Veterans' Affairs to add additional full-time positions within the department. Creates in the department the position of Veterans Employment Coordinator. ] Requires the director to be a veteran who has received a discharge or release under other than dishonorable conditions. Allows the director to appoint a deputy director, subject to approval by the Governor. Directs the department to develop and implement a grant program for suicide prevention and workforce training and preparation. Allows moneys in the Veterans' Services Fund to be used for the grant program. Increases an expenditure limitation for the purpose of the grant program. Directs the director to distribute moneys appropriated for county veterans' service officer programs on a quarterly basis. Directs the department to provide a report on the quarterly distribution process. Changes who are allowed to request county veteran discharge records. Increases, from $5,000 to $10,000, the cap on the individual grant amount that is allowed under the Veteran Educational Bridge Grant Program. Directs the Judicial Department, in consultation with the Oregon Criminal Justice Commission, to study methods for providing access to veterans' treatment courts to residents of each county or judicial district. Takes effect on July 1, 2026.
What the bill says
From the enrolled text, March 6, 2026:
83rd OREGON LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY--2026 Regular Session House Bill 4132 Sponsored by Representatives EVANS, BOWMAN, PHAM H, Senators MANNING JR, SOLLMAN; Representatives ANDERSEN, BUNCH, CHAICHI, CHOTZEN, DOBSON, GAMBA, GOMBERG, GRAYBER, HUDSON, ISADORE, JAVADI, KROPF, LEVY B, LEWIS, MARSH, MCDONALD, MUNOZ, NELSON, NGUYEN D, OWENS, RIEKE SMITH, RUIZ, TRAN, WALTERS, WATANABE, WISE, Senators DRAZAN, FREDERICK, GIROD, MEEK, PATTERSON, SMITH DB (Presession filed.) CHAPTER ................................................. Relating to veterans; creating new provisions; amending ORS 192.390, 406.020, 406.462, 408.115 and 408.425; and prescribing an effective date. SECTION 1. This 2026 Act shall be known and may be cited as the 2026 Oregon Veterans' Services Supplemental Investments Initiative. DIRECTOR AND DEPUTY DIRECTOR SECTION 2. ORS 406.020 is amended to read: 406.020. The Department of Veterans' Affairs shall be under the supervision and control of the Director of Veterans' Affairs. The Governor shall appoint the director subject to confirmation by the Senate in the manner provided in ORS 171.562 and 171.565. The appointment may not be made without the written approval of the Advisory Committee provided for in ORS 406.210. The director shall be a veteran[,] who received a discharge or release under other than dishonorable conditions, chosen on the basis of executive and administrative ability. SECTION 3. The Director of Veterans' Affairs, subject to approval by the Governor, may appoint a deputy director. In appointing a …