Bend, OR – The Oregon Senate voted Monday to approve Senate Bill 599, a landmark piece of legislation aimed at prohibiting landlords from inquiring about or disclosing tenants’ immigration status. The bill, which has been described as a “moral imperative,” is a top priority for the state’s 18-member BIPOC caucus and now heads to the Oregon House for consideration.
The bill seeks to close a gap in Oregon’s housing discrimination laws by expanding protections to include immigration status. Under current state law, housing discrimination based on national origin or race is already prohibited, but there was no explicit protection against discrimination based on immigration status. Senate Bill 599 addresses this issue, ensuring that tenants cannot be discriminated against for their immigration status when seeking housing.
Senator Wlnsvey Campos, a Democrat from Aloha and the chief sponsor of the bill, framed it as a step toward creating a more inclusive and just Oregon. “Hardworking individuals in our communities who contribute immensely to Oregon’s economy have too often faced the sting of discrimination and exclusion,” Campos said during the Senate floor debate. “They are our neighbors, our coworkers, our friends. There are people who deserve the security and safety that a home represents.”
The bill passed with bipartisan support, receiving votes from 17 Democrats and four Republicans, including Senators Dick Anderson, Mike McLane, Todd Nash, and Suzanne Weber. The vote was notably free of debate, signaling widespread agreement on the importance of the bill. It is expected to pass in the Oregon House as well, where it has garnered additional support.
State Representative Ricki Ruiz, a Democrat from Gresham and co-chair of the BIPOC caucus, shared a personal connection to the issue during a recent Senate Judiciary Committee hearing. Ruiz’s parents, both Mexican immigrants, spent decades as farmworkers in Oregon. Reflecting on his own experiences, Ruiz spoke of the challenges his family faced in securing housing. “That constant fear follows families like mine, not just for weeks or months, but for years, shaping the way we move through the world,” Ruiz said. “No child should have to carry that weight.”
The bill would allow tenants to provide alternative forms of identification, such as a driver’s license or an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN), instead of a Social Security number or birth certificate. However, landlords would still be permitted to ask about immigration status if required by a federal affordable housing program.
Portland enacted a similar ordinance in 2019, and other states, including Washington, California, Illinois, and New York, have passed similar laws. The bill’s supporters highlight the real-world impact of such discrimination, with some tenants expressing fear of contacting their landlords for basic repairs due to concerns about immigration enforcement.
Cameron Herrington, representing the Oregon Housing Alliance, shared anecdotes of tenants who had been threatened with immigration enforcement after asking for repairs or accommodations. Sybill Hebb, director of legislative advocacy for the Oregon Law Center, also cited similar cases where tenants feared making basic requests due to the potential for retaliation.
Opponents of the bill, including Clackamas County Republican John Masterman, argue that landlords need to ensure tenants follow the rules and that immigration status is a valid concern. “Someone in Oregon that has not entered the country in the proper, legal way, has already broken the law once,” Masterman wrote in written testimony. “Respect for the rules has already been compromised.”
Oregon has long been at the forefront of immigrant rights, with the state passing the nation’s first sanctuary law nearly four decades ago. The law prohibits state and local law enforcement from assisting federal officials with immigration enforcement, and the state’s agencies are not permitted to collect or share information about residents’ immigration status unless required by a court order.
With Senate Bill 599, Oregon continues its commitment to protecting vulnerable communities, ensuring that all residents—regardless of immigration status—can access safe and secure housing without the fear of discrimination or retaliation.
