OREGON - As Portland enters 2026, a wave of new state-level mandates is set to change the legal and financial landscape for residents. These laws, passed during the Oregon 2025 legislative session, target some of the most pressing issues in the city, from the housing crisis and medical debt to hidden online fees.
Here are three of the most significant changes arriving in the Rose City this New Year.
1. The "Fast-Track" Squatter Eviction Law (HB 3522)
In response to growing concerns over unauthorized occupants in vacant properties—an obvious issue in Portland's residential neighborhoods—Oregon is granting landlords a powerful new legal tool.
- The Change: Starting January 1st, property owners can use the Forcible Entry and Detainer (FED) process to evict squatters.
- Why it Matters: Previously, the FED process was primarily reserved for traditional tenants who had violated a lease. Removing squatters often required a much slower and more complex legal path.
- The Impact: This law allows owners to regain control of their properties more quickly through the court system, providing a streamlined "fast-track" for addressing unauthorized occupants who have no legal right to the premises.
2. The Medical Debt Credit Shield (SB 605)
Portland residents struggling with healthcare costs will receive a significant boost to their financial stability thanks to a new "shield" law that prevents medical bills from ruining credit scores.
- The Prohibition: Beginning January 1st, medical service providers (including hospitals and clinics) are strictly prohibited from reporting a patient's medical debt to consumer reporting agencies.
- Credit Report Clean-up: Furthermore, credit bureaus are now banned from including medical debt in any credit report.
- The Goal: This law ensures that a single health crisis doesn't prevent a resident from qualifying for a car loan, an apartment, or a mortgage. It treats medical debt as a unique financial burden that should not be used to judge a person's general creditworthiness.
3. The "Junk Fee" Ban for Online Sellers (SB 430)
Whether you are buying tickets to a show at the Moda Center or ordering local delivery, the price you see at the start of your transaction must now be the price you pay at the end.
- Pricing Transparency: This new law prohibits online sellers from advertising or displaying a price that excludes any mandatory fees or service charges.
- No More "Convenience" Surprises: Tacked-on "convenience charges" or "service fees" that only appear at checkout are now illegal. The only costs that can be listed separately are government-imposed taxes and actual shipping or handling costs.
- Consumer Protection: This is intended to eliminate "drip pricing," in which the cost of an item gradually increases as you navigate a website, ensuring Portlanders can compare the actual total cost upfront.
These changes represent a broader effort to increase consumer transparency and provide more robust protections for both property owners and tenants as the city navigates its ongoing recovery.
