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83rd OREGON LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY--2025 Regular Session
House Bill 3511
Sponsored by Representative PHAM H; Representative JAVADI
SUMMARY
The following summary is not prepared by the sponsors of the measure and is not a part of the body thereof subject
to consideration by the Legislative Assembly. It is an editor’s brief statement of the essential features of the
measure as introduced.The statement includes a measure digest written in compliance with applicable readability
standards.
Digest: The Act tells some state agencies to take steps to raise awareness of the negative health
effects of using betel nuts. (Flesch Readability Score: 60.6).
Directs the Oregon Health Authority to develop and implement a program to award grants to
community-based organizations to conduct a public health campaign on the negative health effects
of using betel nuts.
Requires the Oregon Medical Board and the Oregon State Board of Nursing to ensure that
health care providers are trained on the negative health effects of using betel nuts.
Directs the Department of Education and the Higher Education Coordinating Commission to
ensure information on the negative health effects of using betel nuts is incorporated into curricula.
Requires the authority to submit a report to the interim committees of the Legislative Assembly
related to public health no later than December 15, 2026.
Declares an emergency, effective on passage.
A BILL FOR AN ACT
Relating to betel nuts; and declaring an emergency.
Whereas the use of betel nuts has led to a global rise in youth fatalities from oral cancer; and
Whereas unregulated access to betel nuts contributes to widespread use and associated health
risks;and
Whereas Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander (NHPI) communities disproportionately use betel
nuts; and
Whereas there is a need to address health disparities within these communities arising from the
use of betel nuts; and
Whereas there exists a significant lack of awareness and resources provided by Oregon health
care entities, the Oregon Health Authority, educational institutions and others about the negative
health effects of using betel nuts; and
Whereas a statewide public health campaign on the negative health risks of using betel nuts is
essential to reducing health disparities and addressing institutional neglect; and
Whereas providing information on the negative health risks of using betel nuts in Oregon’s
health care and educational systems is vital to removing systemic and institutional barriers; now,
therefore,
Be It Enacted by the People of the State of Oregon:
SECTION 1. (1) As used in this section, “betel nut” means the seed of the areca palm
(Areca catechu), commonly consumed as a stimulant.
(2) The Oregon Health Authority shall develop and implement a program to award grants
to community-based organizations for the purpose of carrying out a public health campaign
to educate the residents of this state on the negative health effects of using betel nuts.
(3)(a) The authority shall prescribe the form and process by which a community-based
organization may apply for and be awarded grants under the program.
NOTE:Matter in boldfaced type in an amended section is new; matter [italic and bracketed] is existing law to be omitted.
New sections are in boldfaced type.
LC 1300 HB3511
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(b) To be eligible to receive a grant, a community-based organizations must submit an
application to the authority that demonstrates:
(A) Knowledge of the negative health effects of using betel nuts; and
(B) Extensive relationships to communities in Oregon with disproportionately high rates
of using betel nuts.
(4) A community-based organization that receives a grant must conduct a public health
campaign to:
(a) Provide informational, prevention and cessation resources to the public;
(b) Establish and maintain a publicly accessible and user-friendly website;
(c) Employ culturally competent practices, including the use of languages other than
English, to ensure that resources reach all communities in Oregon;
(d) Prioritize preparation and distribution of resources to communities in Oregon with
disproportionately high rates of using betel nuts; and
(e) Provide resources and training materials to health care providers.
(5) The authority may adopt rules necessary to carry out this section.
SECTION 2. (1) The Oregon Medical Board and the Oregon State Board of Nursing shall
ensure that all licensees, as defined in ORS 58.376, are trained and competent in:
(a) Understanding the negative health effects of using betel nuts.
(b) Recognizing the signs that a patient is using betel nuts.
(c) Providing culturally competent resources to diverse patients on the negative health
effects of using betel nuts.
(2) The Department of Education shall require the public schools, as defined in ORS
336.790, in this state to incorporate information on the negative health effects of using betel
nuts into relevant curricula.
(3) The Higher Education Coordinating Commission shall require institutions of higher
education, as defined in ORS 350.259, to incorporate information on the negative health ef-
fects of using betel nuts into relevant curricula of courses and programs.
(4) In carrying out the requirements of this section, the Oregon Medical Board, the
Oregon State Board of Nursing, the Department of Education and the Higher Education Co-
ordinating Commission shall exercise reasonable efforts to collaborate with and learn from
the expertise and insights of the community-based organizations that receive a grant under
section 1 of this 2025 Act.
SECTION 3. (1) The Oregon Health Authority shall submit a report in the manner pro-
vided by ORS 192.245, and may include recommendations for legislation, to the interim com-
mittees of the Legislative Assembly related to public health no later than December 15, 2026.
The report must address:
(a) The implementation progress of the public health campaigns conducted by
community-based organizations under section 1 of this 2025 Act.
(b) The effectiveness of the public health campaigns conducted by community-based or-
ganizations under section 1 of this 2025 Act to provide culturally competent resources to
communities with disproportionately high rates of using betel nuts.
(c) Recommendations for further action to reduce the use of betel nuts and the associ-
ated negative health effects.
(2) No later than September 30, 2026, community-based organizations that receive a grant
under section 1 of this 2025 Act shall provide to the authority information requested by the
[2] HB3511
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authority for the purpose of preparing the report required under this section.
SECTION 4. In addition to and not in lieu of any other appropriation, there is appropri-
ated to the Oregon Health Authority, for the biennium beginning July 1, 2025, out of the
General Fund, the amount of $1,500,000, for the purpose of carrying out sections 1 and 3 of
this 2025 Act.
SECTION 5. In addition to and not in lieu of any other appropriation, there is appropri-
ated to the Oregon Health Authority, for the biennium beginning July 1, 2025, out of the
General Fund, the amount of $1,500,000, to be distributed among the Oregon Medical Board,
Oregon State Board of Nursing, Department of Education and Higher Education Coordinating
Commission, for the purpose of each entity carrying out its respective responsibilities under
section 2 of this 2025 Act.
SECTION 6. This 2025 Act being necessary for the immediate preservation of the public
peace, health and safety, an emergency is declared to exist, and this 2025 Act takes effect
on its passage.
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