The 2025 Oregon Legislative session concluded with two wins and three losses for arts advocates. Two bills sponsored by the Arts & Culture Caucus were enacted into law. House Bill 3167, effective Jan. 1, targets ticket scalping through software prohibition and establishes anti-scam regulations. House Bill 3190 offers tax breaks for historic building owners with maintenance requirements. However, House Bill 3048, which intended to merge the Oregon Arts Commission and the Oregon Cultural Trust for streamlined direction, did not proceed out of committee. Collaboration continues to address future steps.
House Bill 3167, aimed at curbing ticket scalpers, passed both the House and the Senate and was signed by the governor on June 24. The law, which takes effect Jan. 1, prohibits the use of software to mass-purchase tickets. It also establishes rules against ticket scamming, making it illegal to operate websites that look similar to official ticket-selling or venue websites with the intent to scam consumers.
HB 3190 passed both chambers, receiving the governor's signature on May 28. It gives tax breaks to the owners of historic buildings while requiring regular progress reports to a state historic preservation officer. It also requires regular maintenance of the buildings.
Among the failed bills was HB 3048, which was stuck in the joint Ways and Means Committee when the session ended. The bill would have merged the Oregon Arts Commission and the Oregon Cultural Trust, providing a streamlined, focused direction with one strategic plan.
Subashini Ganesan-Forbes, chair of the Oregon Arts Commission board, stated, 'It is early days, as [the] session has just ended,' regarding the measure's failure. She noted the commission and trust's collaboration with Business Oregon to build next steps.
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