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83rd OREGON LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY--2025 Regular Session
House Bill 3537
Sponsored by Representative EVANS
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 states that two-thirds of House and Senate districts are to have +/- 5% parity
in major party sign-ups for 2031 and later years, where sound. The Act is referred to voters to say
yes or no at the Nov. 2026 election. (Flesch Readability Score: 62.6).
Provides that, when reapportioning state House of Representatives and state Senate districts,
elector registration from one major party shall be within five percentage points of the elector reg-
istration from the other major party, when practicable, so as to achieve five percent parity in at
least 40 state House of Representatives districts and 20 state Senate districts. Provides that the
major party parity factor shall be given greater weight than other listed factors to the extent per-
mitted under the United States Constitution and federal law.
Refers the Act to voters for their approval or rejection at the next regular general election.
A BILL FOR AN ACT
Relating to redistricting; amending ORS 188.010; and providing that this Act shall be referred to the
people for their approval or rejection.
Be It Enacted by the People of the State of Oregon:
SECTION 1. ORS 188.010 is amended to read:
188.010. The Legislative Assembly or the Secretary of State, whichever is applicable, shall con-
sider the following criteria when apportioning the state into congressional and legislative districts:
(1) Each district, as nearly as practicable, shall:
(a) Be contiguous;
(b) Be of equal population;
(c) Utilize existing geographic or political boundaries;
(d) Not divide communities of common interest; and
(e) Be connected by transportation links.
(2) No district shall be drawn for the purpose of favoring any political party, incumbent legis-
lator or other person.
(3) No district shall be drawn for the purpose of diluting the voting strength of any language
or ethnic minority group.
(4) Two state House of Representatives districts shall be wholly included within a single state
senatorialdistrict.
(5) Each state House of Representatives district and each state Senate district shall, as
nearly as practicable, contain elector registration from one major party that is within five
percentage points of the elector registration from the other major party, so as to achieve
parity within five percentage points in at least 40 state House of Representatives districts
and 20 state Senate districts. To the extent permitted under the United States Constitution
and federal law, this subsection shall be given greater weight than the factors described in
subsection (1) of this section.
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 3791-1 HB3537
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SECTION 2. This 2025 Act shall be submitted to the people for their approval or rejection
at the next regular general election held throughout this state.
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