Things to know about Oregon’s short, long legislative sessions
What is the difference between a short and long legislative session in Oregon?
Oregon lawmakers have introduced several proposed laws, centered around artificial intelligence.
Three bills prohibit the creation of fake intimate images. Another bill would prohibit “nonhumans” from using nursing titles.
The Oregon Legislature passed Senate Bill 1571 in 2023, calling for a political campaign to disclose the use of AI in campaign materials.
Governor Tina Kotek also appointed AI Council in 2023. This last week, in line with Oregon’s policies and values, completed an “action plan” that “leads the use of AI in state governments” in a way that supports state workers who provide superior customer service to Oregonians.
“We cannot ignore the rapid growth of AI in our lives. It is mandatory for the government to ensure that new technologies are responsible, ethically and safely used,” Kotek said on February 12th.
In December, then Oregon Attorney General Ellen Rosenbloom issued formal guidance on the use of AI in companies in Oregon.
Federal law has stagnated with proposals that limit “deepfakes” generated by AI and punish “digital counterfeiting.”
3 Oregon’s proposal for fake explicit images
Senate Bill 626, sponsored by Senator R-The Dalles, amends existing crime laws to include digitally created images.
The crime of encouraging child sexual abuse is enlarged to include videos and photos that have been modified or created by artificial intelligence. If passed, the bill will come into effect immediately.
Sen. Aaron Woods of D-Wilsonville sponsors Senate Bill 414. This will amend Oregon’s “revenge porn” law to include sharing of “computer-generated, explicit portraits.”
The bill defines this as an image “created, manipulated or modified” by a computer software program, artificial intelligence, editing application or similar methods.
Currently, the illegal spread of intimate images is a Class A misdemeanor or Class C felony, if there is a previous conviction.
Rep. Virgil Osborne of R-Roseburg sponsors House Bill 2230. This creates a new Class C felony for the creation, possession, distribution or purchase of explicit “digital counterfeiting.”
Proposed Law They will punish someone for creating, owning, distributing, or purchasing “sexually digitally fake images” of minors. If the image is 18 years old or older, the crime is a misdemeanor of Class A.
The bill defines “digital forged images” as photographs, movies, videotapes, recordings, digital images, or other visual depictions that have been created, manipulated or modified using computer software programs, artificial intelligence, editing applications or similar means.
“The bill intends to make it against the law to bully minors with sexual content, and this is becoming a real issue with AI, especially,” Osborne said.
The Oregon Department of Justice has recently reported a significant increase in its “sexttorthor” reports at the forefront over the past four years. According to the Oregon Department of Justice, hints have increased 857% since 2000 from hints in 2020 to almost 2,000 in 2024.
“There is always concern about policy decisions where technology outweighs the role that policy decisions play,” said Austin Brown, Osborne’s legislative assistant who helped draft the bill.
No hearings were scheduled for the invoice as of February 20th.
Proposed Oregon law would prohibit “nonhumans” from using nursing titles
House Bill 2748 prohibits “nonhumans” from using several titles, including advanced practice registered nurses. Certified Registered Nurse Anesthesiologist; Clinical Nursing Specialist. Nurses; nurse practitioners; medication aides; certified drug aides; nursing aides; nursing assistants; or certified nursing assistants.
Rep. Travis Nelson of D-Portland said nurse D-Portland introduced the bill after discussions with the American Nurse Association.
“In Oregon, humans cannot use the title of nurses without going through education or boards and applying for a license,” Nelson said. “Why can AI use that title?”
At least one Thai company, Nvidia, has created a virtual AI nurse who says it is better than nurses, but Nelson said he hasn’t noticed that such a technology is widely used in Oregon.
He characterized the bill as “basic but essential.”
Nelson said the proposed law would not prohibit the use of AI technology in patient care, but would reveal that nurse titles are protected in Oregon.
The Oregon Hospital Association and the Oregon Nurses Association support the bill.
Nelson said he was originally considering amending the bill to require disclosure of AI use in patient care and include allowing patients to opt for that use.
“We could introduce this session,” he said, but it’s likely to be featured in the next long legislative session in 2026.
Dianne Lugo covers Oregon legislature and fairness issues. Contact her at dlugo@statesmanjournal.com or X @diannelugo.
