Bend, OR – In a significant move aimed at supporting immigrant communities, the Oregon Senate passed Senate Bill 599 on Monday, a measure designed to protect immigrant tenants from housing discrimination based on their immigration status. The bill, which passed with bipartisan support, prohibits landlords from asking about or disclosing tenants’ immigration status, marking it as a step forward in the state’s ongoing efforts to safeguard immigrant rights amidst a housing crisis.
Senate Bill 599 was introduced by Senator Wlnsvey Campos, a Democrat from Aloha, and is a top priority for the state’s 18-member BIPOC caucus. The bill now heads to the Oregon House for approval, where it is expected to pass. Its supporters describe the legislation as a moral imperative to protect vulnerable residents who are often unfairly targeted due to their immigration status.
Campos, speaking on the Senate floor, called the bill a necessary measure to create 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,” she said. “They are our neighbors, our coworkers, our friends. There are people who deserve the security and safety that a home represents.”
While Oregon state law already prohibits housing discrimination based on national origin or race, supporters of the bill argue that it addresses a gap by explicitly protecting individuals from discrimination based on their immigration status. The bill allows tenants to provide alternative forms of identification, such as a driver’s license or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number, rather than a Social Security number or birth certificate. However, landlords may still inquire about immigration status if required by federal housing programs.
The bill is part of a broader push in Oregon to strengthen protections for immigrants. The state has long been a leader in immigrant rights, with its sanctuary laws prohibiting state and local authorities from assisting federal immigration enforcement. Oregon was the first state in the nation to enact such a law nearly four decades ago, and it has since reinforced these protections.
Senator Campos emphasized that the bill is about more than just legal protections; it is about ensuring that all Oregonians, regardless of their immigration status, have the opportunity to live in a safe and stable home. Her sentiments were echoed by State Representative Ricki Ruiz, a Democrat from Gresham, who shared his personal connection to the issue. Ruiz’s parents immigrated to the United States from Mexico in the 1980s and spent years as farmworkers in Oregon. “Growing up, I saw firsthand the barriers that stood in their way,” Ruiz said. “The fear of not having a safe place to call home, the anxiety of not knowing if someone would turn us away because of where we came from or the language we spoke…that constant fear follows families like mine, not just for weeks or months, but for years.”
The bill passed with no debate on the Senate floor, with 17 Democrats and four Republicans voting in favor. Republican Senators Dick Anderson, Mike McLane, Todd Nash, and Suzanne Weber joined their Democratic counterparts in supporting the measure. However, the bill has faced some opposition. Critics, including Republican activist John Masterman, argue that landlords should be able to consider immigration status as a factor in deciding whether to rent to a tenant. Masterman argued that individuals who have entered the country illegally may not have respect for the rules and might pose future problems for landlords.
Despite these concerns, advocates for the bill argue that immigrant tenants already face significant barriers, including fear of deportation and retaliation for requesting basic tenant rights, such as repairs or accommodations. Cameron Herrington, a representative from the Oregon Housing Alliance, testified that during the development of Portland’s similar ordinance in 2019, he collected accounts from tenants who feared that landlords would report them to immigration enforcement if they requested repairs or accommodations.
The passage of Senate Bill 599 is a part of Oregon’s ongoing effort to address both its housing crisis and the need for stronger protections for its immigrant population. With nearly 23,000 homeless Oregonians and many more struggling to afford rent, the state is taking significant steps to ensure that all residents, regardless of immigration status, are treated fairly in the housing market.
If the bill passes the Oregon House, it will add to the growing list of states—such as Washington, California, Illinois, and New York—that have implemented similar laws protecting immigrant tenants from discrimination.
