Military Civil Rights Act draft (LC 4669)

On February 13, 2025, Senator Kim Thatcher submitted a new Legislative Concept (LC) after Hieb’s LC 2560 died in limbo.

*UPDATE: LC 4669 has been introduced to the Legislative Assembly, becoming Senate Bill (SB) 1057!

Scroll down for the text of LC 4669.

Legislative Concept 4699

Draft

SUMMARY

Digest: Finds and declares that members of the military and their family have military civil rights. Tells the AG to make guidelines on the rights. (Flesch Readability Score: 64.2).

Finds and declares that current and former members of the military and their family members possess certain essential military civil rights. Directs the Attorney General to develop guidelines consistent with the described military civil rights to guide public bodies.

A BILL FOR AN ACT

Relating to military civil rights.

Be It Enacted by the People of the State of Oregon:

SECTION 1. (1) The Legislative Assembly finds and declares that current and former members of the military, regardless of branch, rank or specialty, and their family members possess certain essential military civil rights, including the rights:

(a) To receive the full benefits of citizenship enjoyed by all Americans, all advantages granted by their state of residence and equal protection under local, state and federal law afforded to other protected classes;

(b) To live free from bias, harassment and discrimination in public accommodations, business transactions, health care, employment and housing;

(c) To have meaningful regulatory and investigative standards for military civil rights that are enforced by judicial review and local, state and federal prosecutorial discretion;

(d) To have a public body, as defined in ORS 174.109, reasonably and equally apply research, education and advocacy resources to military civil rights;

(e) To be included in diversity and equity measures taken by local and state governments and at places of employment;

(f) To have their personal privacy respected in regard to their military records and for all medals, awards and badges be worn or displayed only by verifiable service members;

(g) To not be judged, labeled or blamed for decisions made by a current or former Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces of the United States or elected or appointed government official;

(h) To be represented with dignity in art, music and other media to avoid harmful stereotypes and inaccurate caricatures that may arise from civilian bias;

(i) To obtain remedy and relief from individuals who or entities that profit from an individual’s military experience or  from  military  culture or history without first employing a qualified advisor who represents the military; and

(j) To have their documented military experience, training and qualifications be reasonably and accurately considered in the decision-making processes of landlords, employers, service providers and college admissions personnel.

(2) The Attorney General shall develop:

(a) Guidelines consistent with the military civil rights described in subsection (1) of this section to guide public bodies, as defined in ORS 174.109, in implementing policies and procedures that have an impact on current and former members of the military and their family members; and

(b) Policies and funding recommendations consistent with the military civil rights described in subsection (1) of this section.