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83rd OREGON LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY--2025 Regular Session
Senate Bill 575
Sponsored by Senator FREDERICK (Presession filed.)
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 replaces the phrase “men and women” in some statutes. The Act says that laws,
rules and orders should use “people” instead of “men and women.” (Flesch Readability Score: 86.5).
Replaces the phrase “men and women” with gender-neutral terms in certain statutes. Provides
that statutes, rules and orders should use “people” instead of “men and women” whenever possible.
A BILL FOR AN ACT
Relating to references to individuals; amending ORS 174.129, 329.492, 337.260, 350.001, 352.835,
646.740, 657.695, 661.010 and 661.030.
Be It Enacted by the People of the State of Oregon:
SECTION 1. ORS 329.492 is amended to read:
329.492. (1) The Department of Education shall develop academic content standards for Oregon
Studies and shall prepare materials to support teacher training and classroom instruction in Oregon
Studies.
(2) In the development of the academic content standards in Oregon Studies and in the prepa-
ration of materials to support teacher training and classroom instruction in Oregon Studies, the
department shall consult with:
(a) The Oregon Historical Society;
(b) The Commission on Black Affairs;
(c) The Commission on Hispanic Affairs;
(d) The Commission on Indian Services;
(e) The Commission on Asian and Pacific Islander Affairs; and
(f) Any other organization identified by the Superintendent of Public Instruction.
(3) The materials prepared as provided by subsection (2) of this section shall include a balanced
presentation of the relevant contributions to society by [men and women] people of African-
American, Hispanic, Native American, Asian-American and other racial groups in Oregon.
(4) The Oregon Historical Society or any commission identified in subsection (2) of this section
may use any public funds allocated to the society or commission for the purposes of this section. In
addition, the Oregon Historical Society or any commission identified in subsection (2) of this section
may raise additional funds from private sources for the purposes of this section.
SECTION 2. ORS 337.260, as amended by section 3, chapter 202, Oregon Laws 2019, and section
2, chapter 328, Oregon Laws 2023, is amended to read:
337.260. Every district school board, the State Board of Education and every committee or offi-
cer responsible for the adoption of textbooks and other instructional materials for use in the public
schools shall adopt textbooks and other instructional materials on American history and government
that adequately stress the services rendered by those who achieved our national independence, who
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.
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established our form of constitutional government and who preserved our federal union. Textbooks
and other instructional materials shall adequately address the roles in and contributions to the
economic, political and social development of Oregon and the United States by [men and women]
peoplewho:
(1) Are Native American;
(2) Are of European, African, Asian, Pacific Island, Chicano, Latino, Middle Eastern or Jewish
descent;
(3) Have disabilities;
(4) Are immigrants or refugees; or
(5) Are lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender.
SECTION 3. ORS 350.001 is amended to read:
350.001. The Legislative Assembly finds that:
(1) For its survival and political well-being, Oregon needs wise and effective leadership and an
informed citizenry.
(2) For its survival and economic well-being, Oregon needs able and imaginative [men and
women] people for the direction and operation of all its institutions, for the production of goods and
services and for the management of its fiscal affairs. Oregon also needs alert and informed con-
sumers.
(3) For its cultural advancement, Oregon needs creative talent as well as appreciative and dis-
criminating readers, viewers and listeners. Oregon also needs people who understand the diverse
patterns of behavior, communication and belief that make up the common cultures of the various
communities in which we all must function.
(4) For its survival, Oregon needs citizens who understand the interdependence of human beings
and our shared dependence on the resources provided by our natural environment.
(5) Oregon needs people who, in the roles of parents and teachers and in other capacities, are
able to transmit the state’s and the nation’s ideals and heritage to future generations.
(6) For their personal well-being, individual Oregonians need to cultivate an advanced literacy
essential to leading productive and rewarding lives. This includes the capacity to think logically and
critically; to internalize and exemplify humane values; to write, speak and figure clearly and accu-
rately; to understand, in some depth, a variety of psychological, historical, cultural, aesthetic and
scientific concepts and theories; and to master a range of occupational, professional, avocational,
social and personal skills.
SECTION 4. ORS 352.835 is amended to read:
352.835. (1) Oregon State University shall execute the trust created by the last will and
testament of John T. Apperson, deceased. The university shall administer the trust fund provided for
and designated in the will as the J. T. Apperson Agricultural College Educational Fund.
(2) Oregon State University may accept, receive, own, hold, sell and dispose of any and all real
and personal property given, devised or bequeathed to the State Land Board by John T. Apperson
in trust for the purpose of creating the J. T. Apperson Agricultural College Educational Fund. The
university shall manage and use it in accordance with the directions contained in the will of John
T. Apperson, deceased, for the purpose of defraying the expenses and assisting in the education at
Oregon State University of deserving young [men and women] people who are residents of Oregon
and are unable to bear the expense of a collegiate course at that institution.
(3) All necessary expenses incurred by Oregon State University in connection with the admin-
istration of the trust fund shall be payable out of the fund. Oregon State University may adopt any
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necessary standards for the transaction of business related to and the carrying out of this section
and ORS 352.842.
SECTION 5. ORS 646.740 is amended to read:
646.740. The provisions of ORS 136.617, 646.705 to 646.805 and 646.990 may not be construed to
make the following illegal:
(1) The activities of any labor organization or individual [working men and women] workers
permitted by ORS chapters 661 to 663.
(2) The right of producers, as defined in ORS 646.515, and commercial fishermen to join, belong
to and act through cooperative bargaining associations under ORS 646.515 to 646.545. For the
purpose of this subsection, activities of cooperative bargaining associations and their members that
are lawful under 15 U.S.C. 521 and 522 or 7 U.S.C. 291 and 292 are lawful under ORS 646.515 to
646.545.
(3) The activities of any person subject to regulation by the Public Utility Commission under
ORS chapters 756 to 759 to the extent that such activities are so regulated and are lawful there-
under or the activities of any person conducted or carried out in accordance with any agreement
or procedure approved as provided in 49 U.S.C. 5b or 5c.
(4) The activities of any person subject to regulation by the Director of the Department of
Consumer and Business Services under ORS chapters 731, 732, 733, 734, 735, 737, 742, 743, 743A,
743B, 744, 746, 748 and 750 to the extent that such activities are so regulated and are lawful
thereunder.
(5) The activities of any person subject to regulation by the Oregon Health Authority under ORS
chapter 741 to the extent that such activities are so regulated and are lawful thereunder.
(6) The activities of any state or national banking institution or savings and loan association,
and of any other lending institution, to the extent that such activities are regulated by the Director
of the Department of Consumer and Business Services under ORS chapters 706 to 725 and are lawful
thereunder.
(7) Any other activity specifically authorized under state law or local ordinance.
(8) The activities of any metropolitan service district formed under ORS chapter 268 and the
activities of any person subject to regulation by a metropolitan service district formed under ORS
chapter 268 to the extent that those activities are so regulated and are lawful thereunder.
(9) The activities of any person conducted or carried out in accordance with the terms and
conditions of a certificate issued pursuant to 15 U.S.C. 4001 to 4021.
(10) The activities of a health care provider authorized by and in accordance with ORS 442.700
to 442.760 to the extent the activities are regulated and lawful under ORS 442.700 to 442.760.
(11) The negotiating activities of a dealer in agricultural commodities that are carried out and
supervised under ORS 646.737 or 646.738.
(12) The negotiating activities of a dealer in Oregon seafood commodities that are carried out
and supervised under ORS 646.739.
SECTION 6. ORS 657.695 is amended to read:
657.695. (1) To assist the Director of the Employment Department in the effective development
of policies and programs with respect to unemployment insurance and employment service and in
securing to this state the benefits of the Wagner-Peyser Act, and particularly with respect to car-
rying out ORS 657.615, there hereby is created an advisory council within the Employment Depart-
ment to be known as the Employment Department Advisory Council.
(2) The members of the council shall be appointed by the Governor and shall be composed of
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[men and women representing] representatives of employers and employees in equal numbers, and
representatives of the public who shall elect their chairperson.The director shall serve as an ex
officio member of the council.
(3) The members of the council shall be appointed for a term of two years and are entitled to
compensation and expenses as provided in ORS 292.495. Members of the council or other committees
appointed pursuant to this section and ORS 657.700 shall be reimbursed from the Unemployment
Compensation Administration Fund.
SECTION 7. ORS 661.010 is amended to read:
661.010. [Working men and women] Workers may organize themselves into, or carry on labor
unions for the purpose of lessening the hours of labor, increasing the wages, bettering the conditions
of the members of such organizations or carrying out their legitimate purposes as freely as they
could do if acting singly.
SECTION 8. ORS 661.030 is amended to read:
661.030. No person shall be indicted, prosecuted or tried in any court of this state for entering
into or carrying on any arrangement, agreement or combination between themselves made with a
view of lessening the number of hours of labor or increasing wages, bettering the conditions of
[working men and women] workers or for any act done in pursuance thereof, unless such act is in
itself forbidden by law if done by a single individual.
SECTION 9. ORS 174.129 is amended to read:
174.129. (1) It shall be the policy of the State of Oregon that all statutes, rules and orders en-
acted, adopted or amended after October 3, 1979, be written in sex-neutral terms unless it is neces-
sary for the purpose of the statute, rule or order that it be expressed in terms of a particular gender.
(2) It shall be the policy of the State of Oregon that all statutes, rules and orders en-
acted, adopted or amended after the effective date ofthis2025Actshalluse the term
“people” instead of “men and women” whenever possible.
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