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83rd OREGON LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY--2025 Regular Session
House Bill 3687
Sponsored by Representatives CHOTZEN, PHAM H, EDWARDS; Representatives GAMBA, HUDSON
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 would make it so that elections that affect a county or city charter would have
to be by simple majority vote.(Flesch Readability Score: 62.1).
Prohibits a supermajority vote requirement for any question related to a county or city charter.
Takes effect on the 91st day following adjournment sine die.
A BILL FOR AN ACT
Relating to majority vote thresholds for local charters; amending ORS 203.720 and 221.210; and
prescribing an effective date.
Be It Enacted by the People of the State of Oregon:
SECTION 1. ORS 203.720 is amended to read:
203.720. (1) The electors of [any] the county, by majority vote of such electors voting [thereon]
on the question at any legally called election, may adopt, amend, revise or repeal a county charter.
(2) The charter, or legislation passed by the county pursuant [thereto] to the charter, shall
provide a method whereby the electors of the county, by majority vote of such electors voting
[thereon] on the question at any legally called election, may amend, revise or repeal the charter.
(3) The county charter and legislative provisions relating to the amendment, revision or repeal
of the charter are deemed to be matters of county concern and shall prevail over any conflicting
provisions of ORS 203.710 to 203.770 and other state statutes unless otherwise specifically provided
by conflicting state statutes first effective after January 1, 1961.
(4) Notwithstanding the charter of the county or any other provision of law, the adoption,
amendment, revision or repeal of a county charter shall be decided by simple majority vote.
SECTION 2. ORS 221.210 is amended to read:
221.210. (1) The city council may refer and the people may initiate municipal measures or
amendments to the charter of [a] the city as provided in ORS 250.265 to 250.346, unless ORS 250.255
makes ORS 250.265 to 250.346 inapplicable to the city.
(2) Notwithstanding the charter of the city or any other provision of law, the adoption,
amendment, revision, repeal or surrender of a city charter shall be decided by simple ma-
jorityvote.
SECTION 3.This 2025 Act takes effect on the 91st day after the date on which the 2025
regular session of the Eighty-third Legislative Assembly adjourns sine die.
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 4075