From stronger consumer rights to harsher criminal penalties, these Oregon laws are now official

State Laws Aim to Protect Environment, Consumers as Trump Wages War on Climate

Even as President Donald Trump and his administration have been ripping up environmental and consumer protection regulations, a number of state laws are set to take effect next year that could at least mitigate some of the damage. A December 29 statement from Environment America and the Public Interest Network highlighted a number of new laws aimed at curbing corporate polluters and enhancing consumer welfare. First, the groups highlighted “Righ…

From stronger consumer rights to harsher criminal penalties, these Oregon laws are now official

Jan. 1, Thursday marked the first day of the 2026 new year, and with that, a new set of laws passed by the Oregon Legislature will take effect.

New laws take effect in Oregon

Last Thursday marked the first day of the 2026 new year, and with that, a new set of laws passed by the Oregon Legislature took effect. They span from stronger accountability provisions for utility companies to criminal penalties for spreading AI-generated revenge porn. Last year’s legislative session saw a historic number of bills — more than 3,400 — introduced in at least two decades. Far fewer...

New State Laws for 2026 Address Hidden Costs, Consumer Protections, Health Care Access, and Personal Safety

New state laws rolling out Jan. 1 safeguard Oregonians’ rights as consumers and tenants, improve access to health care, and protect personal safety. Oregon House and Senate Democrats made these issues priorities in 2025, defending workers and families here, while at the national level the Trump administration has shredded health care programs, rewarded huge corporations, and brought violence to innocent communities.