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83rd OREGON LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY--2025 Regular Session
House Bill 3919
Sponsored by Representative CHAICHI, Senator MANNING JR
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: Adds current acts of genocide to standards for a class about genocide. (Flesch Read-
ability Score: 60.7).
Requires Holocaust and genocide studies instruction to include ongoing acts of genocide and
massviolence.
A BILL FOR AN ACT
Relating to academic content standards for social studies; amending ORS 329.494 and section 5,
chapter 202, Oregon Laws 2019, and section 5, chapter 253, Oregon Laws 2019.
Be It Enacted by the People of the State of Oregon:
SECTION 1. ORS 329.494, as amended by section 4, chapter 253, Oregon Laws 2019, is amended
toread:
329.494. (1) The State Board of Education, in consultation with a local organization that has the
primary purpose of providing education about the Holocaust, shall develop academic content stan-
dards for Holocaust and genocide studies that comply with the requirements of this section. School
districts must provide [instruction on the] Holocaust and genocide studies based on standards
adopted by the board under this section.
(2) Instruction required under this section must be designed to:
(a) Prepare students to confront the immorality of the Holocaust[,] and other historical and
ongoing acts of genocide and [other acts of] mass violence [and];
(b) Provide students the opportunity to reflect on the causes of [related historical events]
historical events related to the Holocaust and of historical and current events related to
other historical and ongoing acts of genocide and mass violence ;
[(b)] (c) Develop students’ respect for cultural diversity and help students gain insight into the
importance of the protection of international human rights for all people;
[(c)] (d) Promote students’ understanding of how the Holocaust contributed to the need for the
term “genocide” and led to international legislation that recognized genocide as a crime;
[(d)] (e) Stimulate students’ reflection on the roles and responsibilities of citizens in democratic
societies to combat misinformation, indifference and discrimination through tools of resistance such
as protest, reform and celebration;
[(e)] (f) Provide students with opportunities to contextualize and analyze patterns of human be-
havior by individuals and groups who belong in one or more categories, including perpetrator,
collaborator, bystander, victim and rescuer;
[(f)] (g) Enable students to understand the ramifications of prejudice, racism and stereotyping;
[(g)] (h) Preserve the memories of survivors of genocide and provide opportunities for students
to discuss and honor survivors’ cultural legacies;
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 4724 HB3919
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[(h)] (i) Provide students with a foundation for examining the history of discrimination in this
state;and
[(i)](j) Explore the various mechanisms of transitional and restorative justice that help human-
ity move forward in the aftermath of genocide and other acts of mass violence.
(3) The Department of Education shall provide technical assistance to school districts for the
purpose of providing instruction required by this section.
SECTION 2. Section 5, chapter 253, Oregon Laws 2019, as amended by section 1, chapter 588,
Oregon Laws 2023, is amended to read:
Sec. 5. (1) The amendments to ORS 329.494 by section 4, chapter 253, Oregon Laws 2019, and
section 1 of this 2025 Act become operative on September 30, 2026.
(2) The amendments to ORS 329.494 by section 4, chapter 253, Oregon Laws 2019, and section
1 of this 2025 Act first apply to the 2026-2027 school year.
(3)(a) A school district must first offer instruction that meets the academic content standards
of ORS 329.494 (1), as amended by section 4, chapter 253, Oregon Laws 2019,and section 1 of this
2025 Act, no later than the 2026-2027 school year.
(b) Nothing in paragraph (a) of this subsection prevents a school district from first offering in-
struction that meets the academic content standards of ORS 329.494 (1), as amended by section 4,
chapter 253, Oregon Laws 2019, and section 1 of this 2025 Act, at any time from the beginning of
the social sciences instructional materials cycle adopted by the State Board of Education until the
school year set forth in paragraph (a) of this subsection.
SECTION 3. Section 5, chapter 202, Oregon Laws 2019, as amended by section 3, chapter 588,
Oregon Laws 2023, is amended to read:
Sec. 5. (1) The Department of Education shall provide professional development to teachers and
administrators relating to:
(a) Academic content standards developed pursuant to ORS 329.494 (1), as amended by section
4, chapter 253, Oregon Laws 2019, and section 1 of this 2025 Act, to ensure that school districts
are able to offer instruction that meets the academic content standards of ORS 329.494 (1), as
amended by section 4, chapter 253, Oregon Laws 2019, and section 1 of this 2025 Act, no later than
the 2026-2027 school year.
(b) Academic content standards adopted pursuant to ORS 329.045 (1)(b)(B), as amended by sec-
tion 1, chapter 202, Oregon Laws 2019, and to the selection of textbooks under ORS 337.260, as
amended by section 3, chapter 202, Oregon Laws 2019, to ensure that school districts are able to
offer instruction that meets the academic content standards of ORS 329.045 (1)(b)(B), as amended by
section 1, chapter 202, Oregon Laws 2019, no later than the 2026-2027 school year.
(2) The department may contract for the provision of professional development required by this
section.
(3) The State Board of Education shall adopt rules that establish standards and any other cri-
teria for the professional development required under this section.
[2]