Oregon House passes bill to prohibit housing discrimination based on immigration status

Published 6:41 am Tuesday, May 20, 2025

In a 36-15 vote, the Oregon House on Monday passed a bill to prohibit landlords from asking tenants about their immigration status.

Senate Bill 599 — similar to laws in Washington, California and New York — would prevent landlords from discriminating against an individual based on the type of identification documents provided to them. It also prevents landlords from disclosing or threatening to disclose an applicant’s or tenant’s immigration status.

The bill already passed the Senate in a 21-8 vote. It is now headed to the governor’s desk, where Gov. Tina Kotek can sign it into law, veto it or allow it to become law without her signature. It would take effect 30 days once put into law.

Oregon in 1987 was the first state in the U.S. to pass a sanctuary law prohibiting state and local law enforcement from helping federal officials to enforce immigration law. As the Trump administration has heightened its immigration enforcement, Kotek has repeatedly said she supports Oregon’s immigrant community and will uphold Oregon’s sanctuary law.

“This bill is about more than documents — it’s about dignity,” chief bill sponsor Rep. Ricki Ruiz, D-Gresham, said in a press release. “No Oregonian should have to live in fear that where they were born could cost them their home. This bill makes it clear: housing is a human right, and discrimination has no place in Oregon.”

 

About Mia Maldonado, Oregon Capital Chronicle

This article was originally published by Oregon Capital Chronicle and used with permission. Oregon Capital Chronicle is part of States Newsroom and can be reached at info@oregoncapitalchronicle.com

email author More by Mia