Oregon is kicking off 2025 with new laws to stop drug use on public transportation, reduce the cost of prescription drugs and rein in the price of electronic device repairs.
On. Jan. 1, dozens of laws went into effect for Oregonians, affecting health care, consumer rights and public safety. Last year’s legislative session focused in part on House Bill 4002 , which allows counties to start new programs to steer drug users towards recovery programs instead of jail. Those programs and a new misdemeanor penalty for low-level drug possession started in September.
But other laws started this month that aim to address the drug addiction crisis and other issues. Here’s a look at the most significant changes:
Illicit drug use on public transit: Senate Bill 1553 takes aim at public drug use on transit systems. It expands the crime of interfering with public transportation to include drug use on public transit. That makes it a drug-designated Class A misdemeanor, which allows people convicted of the offense access to state-funded treatment.