HB 3384
Permits local elections officials not to take certain actions on a petition or prospective petition for an initiative or referendum if the petition is filed between the 75th day prior to and the 35th day following an election in either May or November.
Jurisdiction
Oregon
Session
2025 Regular Session
At the request of
(at the request of Oregon Association of County Clerks)
Committee
Rules
Take action
Record your position on this measure.
Sign in to record your position, submit testimony, or contact your legislator.
Sign in to take actionPublic sentiment
Support
75%
Oppose
25%
- Introduced
- Passed House
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became Law
Bill overview
This bill changes how local elections officials handle petitions for initiatives and referendums. Specifically, it allows them to delay taking action on petitions filed between the 75th day before and the 35th day after an election in May or November. This change impacts the timeline for determining if a petition meets the requirements for circulation, and affects how quickly the county clerk and district attorney must respond to prospective petitions during those specific periods.
Key provisions
- Local elections officials can delay action on petitions filed between the 75th day before and the 35th day after an election in May or November.
- The county clerk must make a determination regarding an initiative measure’s compliance within 40 days of a prospective petition received during that timeframe.
- The city elections officer must make a similar determination within 40 days of a prospective petition received during that timeframe.
- The district attorney must send a copy of the prospective petition to the elections officer within specific deadlines, adjusted for petitions filed during the designated timeframe.
- The circuit court review of challenges to petition determinations must be expedited.
- The Secretary of State may designate a statistical sampling technique for verifying petition signatures if the petition exceeds 4,500 signatures.
- The elections officer must publish a notice of receipt of the ballot title, including a notice of the right to petition for review, in a newspaper and potentially on the county/city website.
Sponsors
Official sponsors from legislative records.
Primary sponsor
House Committee On Rules
Arguments in favor
Reasons to support this legislation.
The supporters of HB 3384 advocate for preserving the power of referendum petitions as a crucial component of the democratic process, ensuring that citizens have a meaningful voice in shaping legislation. They also emphasize the need for a 'blackout period' to alleviate the burden on county clerks during busy election seasons, allowing them to focus on critical duties and reduce errors. This proposed amendment would strike a balance between citizen participation and administrative efficiency, addressing concerns about understaffed and underfunded county offices that can lead to errors and inefficiencies in the electoral process. By implementing this 'blackout period', supporters believe that the integrity of elections can be maintained while still allowing citizens to exercise their right to referendums.
Source: Testimony Summaries
Arguments opposed
Reasons to oppose this legislation.
Opponents of the bill express concerns that it will create unnecessary barriers for citizens seeking to start petitions, potentially delaying their ability to do so. They argue that the increased complexity and time required for review will discourage individuals from initiating petitions, thereby limiting their ability to hold elected officials accountable and engage in democratic processes. This concern is rooted in the fact that many petitioners are ordinary citizens who lack access to resources and expertise, making it difficult for them to navigate the proposed process. By imposing additional hurdles, opponents fear that the bill will undermine the very principles of citizen participation and civic engagement that it purports to support.