Military Civil Rights Act (SB 1057)

After being submitted by then-Representative James Hieb 🐘, LC 2560 (the Military Civil Rights Act) fell into limbo when he was not re-elected to the Oregon Legislative Assembly. On February 13, 2025, Senator Kim Thatcher 🐘 submitted a new Legislative Concept (LC) and today

LC 4669 has become Oregon Senate Bill (SB) 1057!

The Oregon Military Civil Rights Act is now looking for Legislative sponsors; click HERE if you live in Oregon to find your legislator and ask them to support our nation’s first Military Civil Rights Act. I am proud to say that Albany and Corvallis Senator Sara Gelser Blouin 🫏 and Echo, OR, Representative Bobby Levy 🐘 have signed on as Chief Co-Sponsors.

Here is the link to follow SB 1057 as it progresses through Oregon’s legislative process; https://olis.oregonlegislature.gov/liz/2025R1/Measures/Overview/sb1057

Scroll down for the text of SB 1057.

Senate Bill 1057

83rd OREGON LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY--2025 Regular Session

Senate Bill 1057

Sponsored  by  Senator  THATCHER;  Senator GELSER BLOUIN, Representative LEVY B (at the request of Logan Isaac)

SUMMARY

The  following  summary is not prepared by the sponsors of the measure and is not a part of the body thereof subject to  consideration  by  the  Legislative  Assembly.  It  is  an  editor’s  brief  statement  of  the  essential  features  of  the measure as introduced. The statement includes a measure digest written in compliance with applicable readability standards.

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 re- search, 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.