SB 1515
Modifies provisions relating to petitions for compensation for wrongful conviction.
Jurisdiction
Oregon
Session
2026 Regular Session
At the request of
(at the request of Senate Interim Committee on Judiciary)
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
83%
Oppose
17%
- Introduced
- Passed Senate
- Passed House
- To Governor
- Became Law
Bill overview
This bill changes Oregon law regarding how people who were wrongly convicted can seek compensation. It creates a new process for post-conviction relief petitions when a conviction relied on flawed scientific evidence, specifically discredited forensic science methods like hair microscopy, bite mark analysis, and bullet lead analysis. The new process has a sunset date of January 2, 2031, and the bill also includes provisions to clarify what constitutes sufficient evidence for relief and to limit challenges to convictions based on validated computational forensic methods.
Sponsors
Official sponsors from legislative records.
Primary sponsor
Senate Interim Committee on Judiciary
Arguments in favor
Reasons to support this legislation.
Supporters of Senate Bill 1515 emphasize the need for reforms in Oregon's criminal justice system, citing concerns about flawed forensics and wrongful convictions. They highlight the importance of improving exoneree compensation law, providing innocent individuals with an opportunity to challenge their wrongful convictions if discredited forensic disciplines are involved. The testimony also notes the benefits of addressing delays in the compensation process and ensuring that only reliable scientific methods are used in court cases. While some testifiers acknowledge potential fiscal implications, they generally support the legislation as a crucial step towards correcting wrongful convictions and supporting those who have been wrongfully imprisoned.
Source: Testimony Summaries
Arguments opposed
Reasons to oppose this legislation.
Opponents of SB 1515 express concerns that the proposed legislation falls short in providing adequate monetary compensation for wrongfully convicted individuals, with some testifiers arguing that the current provision is insufficient to provide meaningful comfort to those who have suffered imprisonment. Additionally, opponents argue that a court order requirement for victim testimony in petitions for compensation can be traumatic and re-victimize the individual, highlighting the need for a more nuanced approach that prioritizes the relevance and materiality of the victim's testimony. Furthermore, some the importance of ensuring that victims' rights are protected while also providing a fair and efficient process for compensation claims.
Read the latest version inline or switch to a previous version.