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Bruce Starr — Republican State Senator for Oregon District 12 (official headshot)

Bruce Starr Voting Record & Scorecard | Christian Employers Alliance

OR Senator

District: 12 • Republican

2025 Alignment:

80.37%

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Lifetime Ratings by Policy Category

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Sen. Bruce Starr (R-OR-12) earned a 80% Christian Employers Alliance score for 2025, showing strong alignment with biblical business policy positions. Bruce Starr voted on 53 of the 69 substantive bills scored by CEA in 2025. Highest category scores: Workforce Freedom (100%), First Freedom (100%), and Operational Freedom (88%). Bruce Starr represents the 12th District in the Oregon State Senate.

Title

Lawmaker Position

SB 10Senate 20252x

Strengthening Fiscal Oversight and Accountability by Directing a State Financial Administration Study

With CEA
This bill makes several adjustments to Oregon's state financial management, including transferring funds between education-related accounts, retaining interest earnings in the Environmental Restoration Fund, approving expenditures for state parks, extending the sunset of a wildfire-related school stabilization fund, and shifting housing development financing program administration. It also directs the Department of Administrative Services to conduct a study on state financial administration and report findings to legislative committees by September 2026. The bipartisan support in both chambers reflects broad legislative consensus on improving fiscal oversight and resource allocation.
SUPPORT is the CEA Position, based on:
From a faith-based perspective, responsible stewardship of public resources is a biblical imperative. This bill promotes accountability, transparency, and prudent management of taxpayer funds, ensuring government acts justly and wisely in administering finances for the common good and protecting vulnerable communities impacted by disasters and environmental concerns.
Luke 16:10-11 – "Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much. So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches?"
Leadership Insight
Jesus connects economic stewardship to spiritual trustworthiness. Economic freedom is built on this principle: individuals who manage small resources faithfully should be trusted with more - not have government confiscate their increase through taxation or redistribute their success. When government punishes productive stewardship through progressive taxation, it contradicts Christ's teaching that faithful management of "very little" qualifies you for "much." Economic freedom rewards faithful stewardship.
SB 1032Senate 20252x

Protecting Youth by Restricting Sale of Aerosol Dusters Containing 1,1-Difluoroethane to Minors

Against CEA
This bill prohibits the retail sale of aerosol dusters containing 1,1-Difluoroethane (DFE) to individuals under 18 years of age. It requires sellers to verify age with valid identification, limits sales to three units per transaction, mandates warning labels about the dangers of inhaling the product, and restricts public access to inventory. Violations are punishable by fines and/or imprisonment. While aimed at protecting youth from substance abuse, the bill expands regulatory requirements on retailers and increases government enforcement scope.
OPPOSE is the CEA Position, based on:
From a faith-based perspective, protecting the vulnerable, especially youth, from harmful behaviors aligns with biblical principles of stewardship and care for others. Safeguarding young people’s health and well-being supports their dignity and the responsibility of society to nurture and protect God’s creation. However, government intervention should be balanced to avoid overregulation that burdens honest businesses and individual responsibility.
Isaiah 10:1-2 – "Woe to those who make unjust laws, to those who issue oppressive decrees, to deprive the poor of their rights and withhold justice from the oppressed of my people, making widows their prey and robbing the fatherless."
Leadership Insight
God pronounces woe on those who issue oppressive decrees - regulations, mandates, and compliance requirements that crush businesses and deprive workers of opportunity. Operational freedom fights the bureaucratic oppression that kills small businesses, prevents entrepreneurship, and protects established interests at the expense of new entrants. When licensing laws, zoning restrictions, and regulatory burdens make it impossible for the poor to start businesses, government becomes the oppressor Isaiah condemns.
SB 1036Senate 20252x

Limiting Towing Authority to Protect Property Rights and Prevent Abuses

With CEA
This bill limits the authority of towing companies to independently tow motor vehicles from parking facilities without explicit authorization from the property owner or their agent. It requires clear signage prohibiting unauthorized parking, mandates photographic documentation prior to towing, and restricts towing companies from soliciting business near accident sites or parking within close proximity to monitor for towing opportunities. The bill also caps fees and prohibits coercive practices such as requiring vehicle owners to waive dispute rights as a condition of release. These measures reduce government overreach and protect property owners and vehicle operators from predatory towing practices.
SUPPORT is the CEA Position, based on:
From a faith-based perspective, protecting private property rights and ensuring just treatment of individuals aligns with biblical principles of justice and stewardship. Limiting opportunistic and coercive towing practices upholds the dignity of work and property, promotes fairness, and restrains government and private sector abuses, fostering accountability and respect within the community.
Isaiah 10:1-2 – "Woe to those who make unjust laws, to those who issue oppressive decrees, to deprive the poor of their rights and withhold justice from the oppressed of my people, making widows their prey and robbing the fatherless."
Leadership Insight
God pronounces woe on lawmakers who craft economic policies that oppress the poor through excessive taxation, regulatory barriers to entry, and cronyism that favors the connected over the capable. Economic freedom is justice for the poor - when the working class keeps more of their earnings, when small businesses can compete without crushing compliance costs, and when families can build wealth without government extraction. Unjust economic laws always hit the poor hardest.
SB 1051Senate 20252x

Weakening Checks on Executive Power by Transferring State Forester Appointment to the Governor

Against CEA
This bill transfers the authority to appoint the State Forester from the State Board of Forestry to the Governor, subject to Senate confirmation. The State Forester serves as the chief executive officer of the State Forestry Department and secretary of the Board. The forester must have relevant experience in forest and wildfire management and serves a four-year term at the Governor's pleasure. This change centralizes appointment power in the executive branch, reducing the independent oversight role of the Board and expanding the Governor's influence over forestry management. The partisan votes show a clear party-line split, with Republicans opposing and Democrats supporting the measure.
OPPOSE is the CEA Position, based on:
From a faith-based perspective, God calls for just governance with appropriate checks and balances to prevent the concentration of power and protect the common good. Concentrating appointment authority in the Governor risks politicizing stewardship of natural resources and undermines accountability. Responsible stewardship requires transparency and shared authority to safeguard creation and serve communities faithfully.
Proverbs 11:14 – "For lack of guidance a nation falls, but victory is won through many advisers."
Leadership Insight
Wise leaders seek counsel, not consensus. Accountability preserves freedom. Godly collaboration guards both vision and virtue.
SB 110Senate 20252x

Expanding Economic Growth by Increasing Baseball Stadium Tax Revenue Grants

With CEA
This bill increases the amount of incremental personal income tax revenues from Major League Baseball players that the Oregon Department of Administrative Services may grant for constructing a major league baseball stadium in Portland. It raises the minimum stadium cost threshold to $2 billion and increases the salary threshold for calculating incremental tax revenues. The measure authorizes grants up to $800 million plus reasonable financing costs, with provisions for legislative appropriations and protections to ensure funds are used properly. While the bill received bipartisan support, it expands government involvement in subsidizing private sports infrastructure, which may impact taxpayers and economic freedom.
SUPPORT is the CEA Position, based on:
From a faith-based perspective, stewardship of public resources requires prudence and accountability. While supporting community development and economic opportunity is important, government should avoid excessive subsidies that risk misallocating taxpayer funds. Encouraging responsible investment and protecting taxpayers aligns with biblical principles of justice, stewardship, and promoting flourishing communities.
Luke 14:28-30 – "Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Won’t you first sit down and estimate the cost to see if you have enough money to complete it?"
Leadership Insight
Vision must meet calculation. God honors leaders who count costs before claiming promises. Stewardship without foresight breeds collapse.
SB 1109Senate 20251x

Strengthening Transparency in Education Governance by Requiring Video Recording of Board Meetings

With CEA
This bill requires boards of public schools, community colleges, education service districts, and public universities to video record their governing meetings and post the recordings online within seven days. Audio recordings are permitted if broadband access is unavailable. The measure excludes executive sessions and very small school districts. While transparency is important, the bill modestly expands government requirements on educational institutions, with limited direct impact on employers or economic freedom.
SUPPORT is the CEA Position, based on:
From a faith-based perspective, transparency and accountability in public institutions promote justice and stewardship of resources entrusted to government. Ensuring open access to educational governance supports informed citizen participation and respects the biblical principles of truth and order.
1 Corinthians 4:2 – "Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful."
Leadership Insight
Operational freedom begins with stewardship. God entrusts leaders with resources, influence, and people - not to control them, but to multiply them for His Kingdom. Faithfulness is Heaven’s metric for leadership success.
SB 1154Senate 20253x

Opposing Expanded Government Control Over Groundwater Quality Management

With CEA
This bill expands government authority by creating new provisions for declaring and managing ground water quality concern areas and ground water quality management areas. It mandates the Governor to appoint an agency to lead an interagency team with broad powers to assess, monitor, and coordinate regulatory actions across multiple state departments. The bill increases bureaucratic oversight and intervention in local water use and land management, potentially imposing costly mandates and restrictions on landowners and employers. Republicans strongly opposed this bill, viewing it as an overreach that expands government control and regulatory burdens on private property and economic activity.
OPPOSE is the CEA Position, based on:
From a faith-based perspective, stewardship of natural resources is a biblical principle, but it must be balanced with respect for private property rights and limited government. Excessive regulation burdens honest work and economic freedom, undermining families' ability to provide for themselves. Government should act with humility and restraint, promoting justice and accountability without expanding its scope unnecessarily.
1 Samuel 8:10-18 – "Samuel told all the words of the Lord to the people who were asking him for a king. He said, 'This is what the king who will reign over you will claim as his rights: He will take your sons and make them serve with his chariots... He will take the best of your fields and vineyards and olive groves and give them to his attendants. He will take a tenth of your grain and of your vintage and give it to his officials and attendants... and you yourselves will become his slaves'"
Leadership Insight
Centralized power always demands sacrifice from the people. God warned Israel that human kings would grow government at the expense of liberty. Limited government protects freedom; expansive government enslaves. Leaders must resist the temptation to control what they should serve.
SB 1168Senate 20252x

Weakening Employer Flexibility by Prohibiting Per-Visit Compensation for Home Health and Hospice Staff

With CEA
This bill prohibits home health care and home hospice care staff from being compensated on a per-visit basis. It bans pay structures tied directly or indirectly to the number of patient visits or patients served. The measure imposes new restrictions on employer compensation models in the home health sector, reducing flexibility and potentially increasing labor costs. The partisan vote was sharply divided, with Democrats supporting and Republicans opposing, reflecting concerns about government overreach into private employer-employee compensation agreements.
OPPOSE is the CEA Position, based on:
From a faith-based perspective, stewardship calls for responsible management of resources and honoring the dignity of work. However, this bill imposes government mandates that limit employer discretion and economic freedom, potentially burdening honest workers and employers. Faith teaches respect for both workers and employers, but also cautions against unnecessary government interference that can stifle opportunity and personal responsibility.
1 Timothy 5:18 – "The worker deserves his wages."
Leadership Insight
God’s justice includes fair compensation. Exploitation contradicts His design. Leaders who value their teams reflect the righteousness of Heaven in the workplace.
SB 1173Senate 20252x

Protecting Healthcare Providers from Unwarranted Product Liability Claims

With CEA
This bill clarifies that certain healthcare entities, including physicians, health care facilities, hospital-affiliated clinics, professional medical corporations, and residential care facilities, are not to be considered manufacturers, distributors, sellers, or lessors of medical products for the purpose of product liability civil actions if they were not involved in the design or manufacture of those products. This legal protection applies only when the products are provided as part of healthcare services and excludes products sold in retail settings. By limiting liability exposure for healthcare providers, the bill reduces unnecessary legal risks and potential costs that could impede the delivery of medical services.
SUPPORT is the CEA Position, based on:
From a faith-based perspective, this legislation supports the biblical principle of justice and accountability by ensuring that liability is fairly assigned to those responsible for product design and manufacture, rather than penalizing caregivers who act in good faith to serve patients. Protecting healthcare providers from undue legal burdens promotes stewardship of their resources and enables them to continue their vital work of healing and caring for the vulnerable.
Luke 12:58 – "As you are going with your adversary to the magistrate, try hard to be reconciled on the way, or your adversary may drag you off to the judge, and the judge turn you over to the officer, and the officer throw you into prison."
Leadership Insight
Jesus warns against rushing to court - wisdom that protects operational freedom from predatory litigation. Businesses today face adversaries who weaponize lawsuits to extract settlements, destroy reputations, and bankrupt enterprises through legal costs alone. Operational freedom requires tort reform, loser-pays provisions, and protection from frivolous claims that use the courthouse as a tool of extortion rather than justice.
SB 141Senate 20253x

Expanding Government Control Over Schools by Mandating Student Outcome Measurements and State Intervention

With CEA
This bill requires school districts and other education entities receiving state funds to measure various student performance outcomes, including graduation rates, proficiency in math and reading, attendance, and other metrics. It mandates the Department of Education to set statewide targets and impose performance growth targets on districts, with authority to require adoption of specific instructional materials and training if goals are not met. The bill also increases state oversight by directing administrative rule reviews and reporting requirements, expanding government control over local education decisions and potentially limiting operational freedom.
OPPOSE is the CEA Position, based on:
From a faith-based perspective, while education is important, this bill expands government oversight and control in ways that may undermine parental authority and local stewardship. Biblical principles emphasize the dignity of work, personal responsibility, and the role of families in nurturing children. Excessive state mandates risk diminishing the freedom of parents and educators to guide children according to their values and conscience.
Isaiah 10:1-2 – "Woe to those who make unjust laws, to those who issue oppressive decrees, to deprive the poor of their rights and withhold justice from the oppressed of my people, making widows their prey and robbing the fatherless."
Leadership Insight
God pronounces woe on those who issue oppressive decrees - regulations, mandates, and compliance requirements that crush businesses and deprive workers of opportunity. Operational freedom fights the bureaucratic oppression that kills small businesses, prevents entrepreneurship, and protects established interests at the expense of new entrants. When licensing laws, zoning restrictions, and regulatory burdens make it impossible for the poor to start businesses, government becomes the oppressor Isaiah condemns.
SB 162Senate 20252x

Strengthening Public Safety by Authorizing Destruction of Hoop Houses Used for Illegal Marijuana Production

With CEA
This bill authorizes law enforcement officers executing a search warrant to destroy hoop houses if there is probable cause they are used for unlawful marijuana production. It also updates regulatory provisions related to marijuana and industrial hemp, including licensing terms and information sharing between state agencies. While the bill removes certain location restrictions for marijuana retailers, it enhances oversight and enforcement tools to combat illegal cannabis operations. The bipartisan support reflects a shared interest in balancing regulation with public safety.
SUPPORT is the CEA Position, based on:
From a faith-based perspective, protecting communities from illegal activities aligns with biblical principles of justice and accountability. Ensuring law enforcement has appropriate authority to uphold the law supports order and stewardship of resources, while regulatory clarity promotes responsible enterprise and respect for the rule of law.
Proverbs 21:15 – "When justice is done, it brings joy to the righteous but terror to evildoers."
Leadership Insight
Justice is not neutral - it rewards righteousness and confronts evil. Leaders who execute justice faithfully create cultures where virtue thrives and corruption fears. Moral clarity strengthens societies; moral ambiguity weakens them.
SB 163Senate 20253x

Weakening Family Integrity and Expanding Government Control by Redefining Parentage and Creating a Donor Registry

Against CEA
This bill overhauls the legal framework for establishing parentage, including new presumptions, expanded voluntary acknowledgments, and court procedures. It creates a government-controlled registry of gamete and embryo donors accessible to donor-conceived children at age 18. The bill also regulates gestational surrogacy agreements and modifies genetic testing protocols. While it aims to address modern reproductive technologies, the legislation expands government oversight into deeply personal family matters, potentially undermining traditional family structures and parental rights.
OPPOSE is the CEA Position, based on:
From a faith-based perspective, the family is a God-ordained institution foundational to society and the upbringing of children. This bill’s redefinition of parentage and state intrusion into family matters conflict with biblical principles of family integrity, parental authority, and the sanctity of life. Stewardship of children and family relationships should be protected from expansive government mandates that disrupt natural and moral order.
Isaiah 10:1-2 – "Woe to those who make unjust laws, to those who issue oppressive decrees, to deprive the poor of their rights and withhold justice from the oppressed of my people, making widows their prey and robbing the fatherless."
Leadership Insight
God pronounces woe on those who issue oppressive decrees - regulations, mandates, and compliance requirements that crush businesses and deprive workers of opportunity. Operational freedom fights the bureaucratic oppression that kills small businesses, prevents entrepreneurship, and protects established interests at the expense of new entrants. When licensing laws, zoning restrictions, and regulatory burdens make it impossible for the poor to start businesses, government becomes the oppressor Isaiah condemns.
SB 166Senate 20251x

Clarifying Legal Status of Oregon State Bar Members by Renaming Them 'Licensees'

With CEA
This bill changes the terminology used in Oregon law from "member" to "licensee" when referring to individuals licensed by the Oregon State Bar. The change updates statutes to reflect this new designation, affecting governance, elections, and procedural rules within the Bar. While largely semantic, this shift clarifies the professional status of attorneys as license holders rather than members of a private organization, reinforcing the Bar's role as a public regulatory entity. The bill passed with strong bipartisan support, indicating broad legislative consensus.
SUPPORT is the CEA Position, based on:
From a faith-based perspective, clarity and truth in language reflect biblical principles of honesty and integrity. Recognizing attorneys as licensees underscores accountability and stewardship of professional responsibilities, aligning with the call to uphold justice and order in society. This measure supports limited government by affirming the public regulatory role of the Bar without expanding its powers or membership obligations.
1 Corinthians 14:40 – "But everything should be done in a fitting and orderly way."
Leadership Insight
Chaos is not creative - it’s costly. God blesses order because He builds through structure. Operational excellence flows when systems honor divine order.
SB 243Senate 20253x

Weakening Individual Liberties by Criminalizing Rapid Fire Activators and Expanding Gun Restrictions in Public Buildings

With CEA
This bill creates new crimes for the unlawful transport, manufacture, transfer, and possession of rapid fire activators—devices that increase the rate of fire of firearms—punishable by up to 10 years imprisonment and significant fines. It also expands restrictions on where concealed handgun licensees may carry firearms in public buildings, limiting affirmative defenses and imposing misdemeanor penalties for possession in certain government-controlled facilities. The bill applies provisions of Ballot Measure 114 to firearm transfers and large-capacity magazine regulations starting in 2026. The legislation represents a significant expansion of government control over firearms, undermining Second Amendment rights and imposing harsh penalties on lawful gun owners.
OPPOSE is the CEA Position, based on:
From a faith-based perspective, government should uphold justice and protect the right of individuals to defend themselves while maintaining order. This bill unjustly criminalizes lawful firearm accessories and restricts personal liberties, infringing on constitutionally protected rights. Upholding God-given freedoms and respecting lawful ownership of firearms aligns with biblical principles of justice, stewardship, and the protection of life and property.
Luke 22:36 – "He said to them, 'But now if you have a purse, take it, and also a bag; and if you don't have a sword, sell your cloak and buy one.'"
Leadership Insight
Jesus affirms the right to self-defense. Preparedness is not paranoia - it's stewardship of safety. Leaders who defend the Second Amendment defend the biblical principle that protection is both a right and a responsibility. Security begins with the citizen, not the state.
SB 289Senate 20251x

Reducing Regulatory Burden by Transitioning Prescription Drug Reporting from Quarterly to Annual

With CEA
This bill modifies the reporting requirements for prescription drug pricing information from the Department of Consumer and Business Services (DCBS) to the Prescription Drug Affordability Board (PDAB), changing the frequency from quarterly to annually. It also adjusts the number of drugs PDAB must identify for affordability concerns and updates reporting on the generic drug market. The bill passed with strong bipartisan support, reflecting a consensus to streamline regulatory processes without expanding government oversight.
SUPPORT is the CEA Position, based on:
From a faith-based perspective, stewardship of resources and limited government intervention are biblical principles that encourage responsible management of public affairs. Reducing unnecessary regulatory burdens respects God-given liberty and promotes economic freedom, allowing employers and markets to operate more efficiently while still providing necessary oversight to protect consumers.
Leviticus 25:10 – "Consecrate the fiftieth year and proclaim liberty throughout the land to all its inhabitants. It shall be a jubilee for you; each of you is to return to your family property and to your own clan."
Leadership Insight
The Year of Jubilee proclaimed economic liberty - restoration of property, cancellation of debts, and freedom from bondage. Economic freedom follows this biblical pattern: protecting property rights, enabling debt relief through bankruptcy rather than permanent servitude, and ensuring families can rebuild wealth across generations. Government policies that permanently trap families in poverty, extract generational wealth through death taxes, or prevent property ownership contradict Jubilee's vision of economic restoration.
SB 295Senate 20252x

Safeguarding Healthcare Access by Permanently Allowing Pharmacists to Test and Treat COVID-19

With CEA
This bill makes permanent the authority for pharmacists to assess, diagnose, and treat COVID-19 and certain other health conditions, including prescribing and dispensing related drugs and devices. By codifying this expanded scope of pharmacy practice, the bill enhances healthcare access, reduces burdens on traditional providers, and supports timely treatment options without expanding government mandates or regulations beyond necessary public health needs. Although the House vote was largely partisan, the Senate showed bipartisan support, reflecting recognition of the practical benefits to patients and employers.
SUPPORT is the CEA Position, based on:
From a faith-based perspective, ensuring timely and accessible healthcare honors the biblical call to care for the vulnerable and steward the gifts of health wisely. Empowering pharmacists to serve communities responsibly supports personal responsibility, compassionate care, and the dignity of work within God’s design for healing and service.
Luke 10:34-35 – "He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him. The next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper. 'Look after him,' he said, 'and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have."
Leadership Insight
The Good Samaritan embodies healthcare freedom - personal compassion delivered without government permission, insurance approval, or bureaucratic delay. He bandaged wounds himself, paid directly for care, and promised to cover additional costs. Healthcare freedom means protecting this direct relationship between caregiver and patient. When government mandates and insurance bureaucracies stand between the suffering and those who would help, compassion is delayed, costs explode, and the wounded lie waiting while paperwork processes.
SB 430Senate 20252x

Opposing Increased Regulation of Online Pricing Transparency by Mandating Fee Disclosure

With CEA
This bill prohibits sellers of goods or services online from advertising prices that do not include all fees or charges required to complete a purchase, with exceptions for government-imposed taxes, reasonable shipping or service fees, and fees based on purchaser selections. Violations are treated as unlawful trade practices. The bill imposes additional regulatory burdens on online sellers by mandating detailed upfront price disclosures, expanding government oversight into private commerce. The partisan vote was sharply divided along party lines, with Republicans overwhelmingly opposing and Democrats supporting the bill, reflecting conservative concerns about expanding government control over business practices.
OPPOSE is the CEA Position, based on:
From a faith-based perspective, while honesty in commerce is important, this bill represents an overreach of government authority that burdens honest work and economic freedom. Stewardship calls for limited government that respects personal responsibility and allows free market mechanisms to govern pricing and transactions without excessive mandates.
1 Samuel 8:10-18 – "Samuel told all the words of the Lord to the people who were asking him for a king. He said, 'This is what the king who will reign over you will claim as his rights: He will take your sons and make them serve with his chariots... He will take the best of your fields and vineyards and olive groves and give them to his attendants. He will take a tenth of your grain and of your vintage and give it to his officials and attendants... and you yourselves will become his slaves'"
Leadership Insight
Centralized power always demands sacrifice from the people. God warned Israel that human kings would grow government at the expense of liberty. Limited government protects freedom; expansive government enslaves. Leaders must resist the temptation to control what they should serve.
SB 476Senate 20253x

Expanding Government Control Over Professional Licensing by Mandating Cultural Training and Provisional Licenses for Foreign-Trained Physicians

With CEA
This bill requires professional licensing boards to provide culturally responsive training to staff who interact with internationally educated individuals and to publish guidance on licensure pathways for these individuals. It also authorizes the Oregon Medical Board to issue provisional licenses to qualified internationally trained physicians, allowing them to practice under supervision for four years before applying for full licensure. The bill expands government oversight and regulatory complexity, potentially undermining employer discretion and adding bureaucratic layers to professional licensing. The partisan vote was sharply divided, with Republicans overwhelmingly opposing and Democrats supporting, reflecting concerns about government overreach and regulatory expansion.
OPPOSE is the CEA Position, based on:
From a faith-based perspective, stewardship calls for responsible use of authority and resources, emphasizing personal responsibility and respect for lawful processes. While compassion for immigrants and recognition of their contributions are important, expanding government mandates and provisional licensing risks undermining standards, employer rights, and the dignity of honest work. Limited government that respects individual merit and employer discretion better aligns with biblical principles of justice, accountability, and stewardship.
Isaiah 10:1-2 – "Woe to those who make unjust laws, to those who issue oppressive decrees, to deprive the poor of their rights and withhold justice from the oppressed of my people, making widows their prey and robbing the fatherless."
Leadership Insight
God pronounces woe on lawmakers who deprive workers of their rights through forced union membership, mandatory dues extraction, and laws that trap workers in systems they never chose. Workforce freedom is justice for the oppressed worker - the right to keep their full paycheck, to negotiate directly with employers, and to be free from coercive representation. Unjust labor laws that force workers to fund political causes they oppose are exactly the oppressive decrees Isaiah condemns.
SB 51Senate 20253x

Growing Government by Expanding State-Controlled Funding and Management of Affordable Housing

With CEA
This bill requires the Housing and Community Services Department to contract with the Housing Development Center, Inc. to support property management and preservation of low-income affordable housing, including manufactured dwelling parks and marinas. It establishes programs for training, capacity-building, and grants to nonprofits and local governments for property management operations, funded by over $3 million from the General Fund. The bill also mandates data collection, preservation strategies, and coordination efforts to maintain affordable housing stock. The legislation imposes new government spending and administrative programs, expanding state involvement in housing markets and property management, which may crowd out private sector solutions and increase government dependency.
OPPOSE is the CEA Position, based on:
From a faith-based perspective, stewardship calls for prudent management of resources and respect for individual responsibility. While caring for the vulnerable is a biblical imperative, expanding government control and funding risks fostering dependency and diminishing the dignity of work and free enterprise. Policies should empower families and communities through opportunity rather than enlarging bureaucratic programs that may undermine personal initiative and economic freedom.
Haggai 1:6 – "You earn wages, only to put them in a purse with holes in it."
Leadership Insight
When priorities drift from purpose, prosperity leaks away. God doesn’t bless motion - He blesses alignment. Economic freedom begins when stewardship follows divine order.
SB 537Senate 20253x

Growing Government Control by Imposing Workplace Violence Prevention Mandates on Health Care Employers

With CEA
This bill creates extensive workplace violence prevention requirements for certain health care entities, including hospitals, ambulatory surgical centers, home health agencies, and home hospice programs, excluding the Oregon State Hospital. It mandates health care employers to conduct security assessments, develop and implement violence prevention programs, provide annual training, and report incidents to the Department of Consumer and Business Services. The law expands government oversight and regulatory burdens on health care employers, increasing administrative costs and limiting employer discretion in managing workplace safety.
OPPOSE is the CEA Position, based on:
From a faith-based perspective, while protecting workers from harm is important, this legislation expands government control and regulatory mandates that can stifle employer flexibility and economic freedom. Biblical stewardship calls for wise management of resources and personal responsibility, which can be undermined by heavy-handed government intervention. Employers and employees alike flourish best when empowered to address safety concerns without excessive state mandates.
Isaiah 10:1-2 – "Woe to those who make unjust laws, to those who issue oppressive decrees, to deprive the poor of their rights and withhold justice from the oppressed of my people, making widows their prey and robbing the fatherless."
Leadership Insight
God pronounces woe on lawmakers who deprive workers of their rights through forced union membership, mandatory dues extraction, and laws that trap workers in systems they never chose. Workforce freedom is justice for the oppressed worker - the right to keep their full paycheck, to negotiate directly with employers, and to be free from coercive representation. Unjust labor laws that force workers to fund political causes they oppose are exactly the oppressive decrees Isaiah condemns.
SB 598Senate 20252x

Imposing Mandates on Health Insurers to Cover Nonopioid Alternatives with Equal Restrictions

With CEA
This bill requires certain health insurance providers to cover at least one clinically appropriate nonopioid prescription drug as an alternative to each opioid prescription drug. It mandates that coverage for nonopioid drugs be subject to the same utilization review requirements, prior authorization, step therapy, cost-sharing, copayments, coinsurance, and deductibles as opioid drugs. The Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee must recommend nonopioid alternatives with no more restrictive controls than opioids when advising the Oregon Health Authority on preferred drug lists. While the bill passed with bipartisan support, it imposes government mandates on private insurers, expanding regulatory burdens and limiting insurer flexibility in managing formularies and costs.
OPPOSE is the CEA Position, based on:
From a faith-based perspective, stewardship of resources and personal responsibility are biblical principles that caution against unnecessary government mandates that increase costs and reduce freedom. While compassion for those suffering pain is vital, imposing equal restrictions on nonopioid alternatives may hinder innovation and economic freedom. Employers and insurers should retain discretion to manage benefits efficiently, promoting wise stewardship and honoring God-given liberty in healthcare decisions.
Isaiah 55:2 – "Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labor on what does not satisfy? Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good, and you will delight in the richest of fare."
Leadership Insight
God questions spending on what fails to nourish or satisfy. Healthcare freedom means rejecting one-size-fits-all mandates that force individuals and employers into systems that violate conscience or fail to meet real needs. Leaders who protect healthcare choice allow families and businesses to pursue treatments, coverage, and providers aligned with their values - "eating what is good" rather than consuming what government prescribes.
SB 599Senate 20253x

Weakening Property Rights by Prohibiting Landlords from Considering Immigration Status in Tenant Screening

With CEA
This bill prohibits landlords from inquiring about or discriminating against tenants or applicants based on their immigration or citizenship status, including rejecting applicants for these reasons. Landlords must accept a broad range of identification documents for verifying identity and are barred from disclosing or threatening to disclose immigration status to harass or intimidate tenants. The bill imposes statutory penalties for violations and limits landlords’ ability to consider immigration status in rental decisions, significantly restricting private property rights and landlord discretion.
OPPOSE is the CEA Position, based on:
From a faith-based perspective, stewardship of property and honest contractual relationships are vital. This bill undermines the biblical principle of justice and accountability by imposing government mandates that interfere with property owners’ rights to make prudent decisions. Protecting property rights and respecting lawful authority are essential to maintaining order and dignity in society.
Isaiah 10:1-2 – "Woe to those who make unjust laws, to those who issue oppressive decrees, to deprive the poor of their rights and withhold justice from the oppressed of my people, making widows their prey and robbing the fatherless."
Leadership Insight
God pronounces woe on lawmakers who craft economic policies that oppress the poor through excessive taxation, regulatory barriers to entry, and cronyism that favors the connected over the capable. Economic freedom is justice for the poor - when the working class keeps more of their earnings, when small businesses can compete without crushing compliance costs, and when families can build wealth without government extraction. Unjust economic laws always hit the poor hardest.
SB 605Senate 20253x

Weakening Credit Accountability by Prohibiting Medical Debt Reporting to Consumer Agencies

With CEA
This bill prohibits medical service providers from reporting the existence or amount of medical debt to consumer reporting agencies and bars such agencies from including known medical debt in consumer reports. It also allows individuals to sue violators and treats violations as unlawful trade practices. While framed as consumer protection, this measure undermines economic freedom and employer rights by removing a critical tool for enforcing payment obligations and shifts financial risk onto providers and taxpayers. The partisan vote shows strong Democrat support and near-unanimous Republican opposition, reflecting a divide over expanding government intervention in private credit markets.
OPPOSE is the CEA Position, based on:
From a faith-based perspective, stewardship of resources and honoring contractual obligations are biblical principles that promote justice and accountability. This bill diminishes personal responsibility and undermines the dignity of honest work by shielding medical debt from rightful collection efforts, ultimately burdening providers and honest payers. Protecting economic freedom and transparent credit practices aligns with God-ordained order and fairness.
Luke 16:10-11 – "Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much. So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches?"
Leadership Insight
Jesus connects economic stewardship to spiritual trustworthiness. Economic freedom is built on this principle: individuals who manage small resources faithfully should be trusted with more - not have government confiscate their increase through taxation or redistribute their success. When government punishes productive stewardship through progressive taxation, it contradicts Christ's teaching that faithful management of "very little" qualifies you for "much." Economic freedom rewards faithful stewardship.
SB 685Senate 20252x

Increasing Government Control Over Energy Utilities by Mandating Notice and Approval for Hydrogen Blending

With CEA
This bill requires natural gas utilities to notify customers and the Public Utility Commission (PUC) at least 60 days before increasing the hydrogen blend in natural gas above 2.5 percent for the first time. Utilities must also maintain public information about their hydrogen blending programs online and obtain PUC authorization for hydrogen projects. While framed as transparency, this law expands regulatory oversight and government involvement in energy markets, potentially increasing costs and limiting economic freedom for utilities and consumers. The partisan vote shows strong Democratic support and Republican opposition, reflecting a divide on expanding government control over energy.
OPPOSE is the CEA Position, based on:
From a faith-based perspective, stewardship calls for wise management of resources without unnecessary government interference. While innovation in energy is important, expanding bureaucratic control risks burdening honest work and economic freedom. Limited government that respects personal responsibility best allows communities to flourish while ensuring safety and transparency.
1 Samuel 8:10-18 – "Samuel told all the words of the Lord to the people who were asking him for a king. He said, 'This is what the king who will reign over you will claim as his rights: He will take your sons and make them serve with his chariots... He will take the best of your fields and vineyards and olive groves and give them to his attendants. He will take a tenth of your grain and of your vintage and give it to his officials and attendants... and you yourselves will become his slaves'"
Leadership Insight
Centralized power always demands sacrifice from the people. God warned Israel that human kings would grow government at the expense of liberty. Limited government protects freedom; expansive government enslaves. Leaders must resist the temptation to control what they should serve.
SB 688Senate 20253x

Growing Government Control by Imposing Performance-Based Regulation on Electric Utilities

With CEA
This bill authorizes the Public Utility Commission (PUC) to develop and implement a performance-based regulatory framework for electric companies. The framework allows the PUC to use financial incentives and penalties to align utility operations with declared public interests, including reducing greenhouse gas emissions, expanding distributed energy resources, improving reliability, and enhancing services for low-income customers. The bill also appropriates nearly $1 million to the PUC to develop and enforce this regulatory scheme. This represents a significant expansion of government oversight and control over private electric utilities, increasing regulatory burdens and potentially raising costs for employers and consumers.
OPPOSE is the CEA Position, based on:
From a faith-based perspective, stewardship calls for responsible management of resources and respect for individual liberty. However, this bill expands government power into the private sector, undermining economic freedom and employer rights by imposing broad mandates and financial controls. While caring for the vulnerable is important, true compassion is best expressed through free market solutions and limited government intervention that respects the dignity of work and personal responsibility.
1 Samuel 8:10-18 – "Samuel told all the words of the Lord to the people who were asking him for a king. He said, 'This is what the king who will reign over you will claim as his rights: He will take your sons and make them serve with his chariots... He will take the best of your fields and vineyards and olive groves and give them to his attendants. He will take a tenth of your grain and of your vintage and give it to his officials and attendants... and you yourselves will become his slaves'"
Leadership Insight
Centralized power always demands sacrifice from the people. God warned Israel that human kings would grow government at the expense of liberty. Limited government protects freedom; expansive government enslaves. Leaders must resist the temptation to control what they should serve.
SB 74Senate 20253x

Expanding State Control Over Waterways by Broadening Navigability Determinations

Against CEA
This bill authorizes the Department of State Lands (DSL) to extend the state's interest in navigable waterways to include current submerged and submersible lands within those waterways. It allows the DSL to negotiate property exchanges with affected landowners, prioritizing state ownership without requiring equal value exchanges, and to convey mineral and geothermal rights in these transactions. If negotiations fail, the state may assert its interest based on common law principles of accretion and avulsion. This expansion of state control increases government intrusion on private property rights and potentially burdens landowners with diminished economic freedom.
OPPOSE is the CEA Position, based on:
From a faith-based perspective, stewardship of private property is a God-given responsibility that should be respected and protected. This bill shifts rightful ownership and control from individuals to the state, undermining the dignity of work and personal responsibility. Limited government that honors property rights aligns with biblical principles of justice and stewardship, whereas expanding state claims threatens economic freedom and individual liberty.
Leviticus 25:10 – "Consecrate the fiftieth year and proclaim liberty throughout the land to all its inhabitants. It shall be a jubilee for you; each of you is to return to your family property and to your own clan."
Leadership Insight
The Year of Jubilee proclaimed economic liberty - restoration of property, cancellation of debts, and freedom from bondage. Economic freedom follows this biblical pattern: protecting property rights, enabling debt relief through bankruptcy rather than permanent servitude, and ensuring families can rebuild wealth across generations. Government policies that permanently trap families in poverty, extract generational wealth through death taxes, or prevent property ownership contradict Jubilee's vision of economic restoration.
SB 793Senate 20252x

Growing Government Control by Imposing Fees and Compensation Rates for Easements on State Territorial Sea Land

With CEA
This bill directs the Director of the Department of State Lands to establish application fees, renewal fees, and compensation rates for easements on state land located within the territorial sea. It maintains a current $5,000 one-time application fee until new rules are adopted and requires the department to report progress to the legislature. The bill expands government regulatory authority over private infrastructure projects in sensitive coastal areas, increasing costs and administrative burdens on employers and developers seeking to use state-controlled maritime lands.
OPPOSE is the CEA Position, based on:
From a faith-based perspective, stewardship calls for responsible management of resources and respect for property rights. However, expanding government fees and control over private enterprise risks burdening honest work and economic freedom. Limited government that respects personal responsibility and free market principles best allows communities to flourish while safeguarding creation.
1 Samuel 8:10-18 – "Samuel told all the words of the Lord to the people who were asking him for a king. He said, 'This is what the king who will reign over you will claim as his rights: He will take your sons and make them serve with his chariots... He will take the best of your fields and vineyards and olive groves and give them to his attendants. He will take a tenth of your grain and of your vintage and give it to his officials and attendants... and you yourselves will become his slaves'"
Leadership Insight
Centralized power always demands sacrifice from the people. God warned Israel that human kings would grow government at the expense of liberty. Limited government protects freedom; expansive government enslaves. Leaders must resist the temptation to control what they should serve.
SB 808Senate 20251x

Supporting Veterans by Providing Hiring and Promotion Preferences in Public Employment

With CEA
This bill provides hiring and promotion preferences in civil service positions within public employment to current and former members of the Oregon National Guard, as well as veterans and disabled veterans. The preferences add points to application screening and examination scores, enhancing the competitiveness of these individuals for public sector jobs. While the preferences do not guarantee appointment, they require public employers to appoint qualified veterans or servicemembers if their adjusted scores meet or exceed those of other applicants. The bill passed unanimously with strong bipartisan support, reflecting broad consensus on honoring military service.
SUPPORT is the CEA Position, based on:
From a faith-based perspective, this legislation honors the biblical principles of justice and stewardship by recognizing the sacrifices made by those who serve in the military. Providing fair consideration to veterans and servicemembers supports the dignity of their service and promotes accountability and gratitude within society. It encourages responsible stewardship of public resources by valuing those who have protected our freedoms and fosters a culture of respect and support for families who have borne the burdens of military duty.
Proverbs 29:2 – "When the righteous thrive, the people rejoice; when the wicked rule, the people groan."
Leadership Insight
Righteous leadership protects workers' freedom to negotiate, associate, and prosper; wicked rulers empower coercive unions, mandate participation, and trap workers in systems that benefit bosses over laborers. Workforce freedom means workers rejoice in opportunity; workforce oppression means workers groan under mandates, dues extraction, and forced representation they never chose.
SB 813Senate 20251x

Protecting Public Safety by Authorizing Juvenile Authority Employees to Petition for Communicable Disease Testing

With CEA
This bill expands the list of government employees authorized to petition a circuit court to compel a third party to undergo testing for communicable diseases following significant exposure to blood or bodily fluids. Specifically, it adds employees of the Oregon Youth Authority and county juvenile departments to this list, enabling them to seek court orders when voluntary consent for testing is not obtained. The measure includes procedural safeguards such as ex parte hearings within three judicial days, confidentiality of test results, and cost responsibilities placed on the petitioner's employer. This bipartisan-supported law enhances protections for public employees who face health risks in the course of their duties without expanding government beyond necessary health safeguards.
SUPPORT is the CEA Position, based on:
From a faith-based perspective, protecting the health and safety of those who serve vulnerable populations aligns with the biblical call to care for the well-being of others and to act justly. This legislation supports stewardship of life and health, ensuring responsible measures are taken to prevent harm while respecting individual dignity and privacy. It balances public safety with personal responsibility, reflecting God’s design for justice and compassion in community care.
Psalm 82:3-4 – "Defend the weak and the fatherless; uphold the cause of the poor and the oppressed. Rescue the weak and the needy; deliver them from the hand of the wicked."
Leadership Insight
God commands leaders to defend those who cannot defend themselves. Justice is not passive - it requires intervention. Leaders who ignore the vulnerable betray their calling. Advocacy for the powerless is not optional; it's obedience.
SB 817Senate 20251x

Hiking Costs and Restricting Access to Land Use Appeals by Increasing Filing Fees

Against CEA
This bill increases filing fees for notices of intent to appeal and motions to intervene with the Land Use Board of Appeals (LUBA). It also eliminates the prior practice of awarding these fees to respondents when petitioners fail to file a petition for review. While framed as a revenue measure, this fee hike imposes additional financial burdens on individuals and entities seeking to challenge land use decisions, potentially limiting access to justice and increasing government barriers to property rights and land use disputes. The partisan vote shows clear Republican opposition and Democratic support, reflecting concerns about expanding government costs and limiting economic freedom.
OPPOSE is the CEA Position, based on:
From a faith-based perspective, stewardship of resources and justice demand that government not impose undue burdens on citizens seeking to protect their property rights. Excessive fees restrict access to lawful appeals and undermine personal responsibility and fair treatment under the law. Upholding limited government and economic freedom aligns with biblical principles of justice, accountability, and respect for individual dignity.
Isaiah 10:1-2 – "Woe to those who make unjust laws, to those who issue oppressive decrees, to deprive the poor of their rights and withhold justice from the oppressed of my people, making widows their prey and robbing the fatherless."
Leadership Insight
God pronounces woe on lawmakers who craft economic policies that oppress the poor through excessive taxation, regulatory barriers to entry, and cronyism that favors the connected over the capable. Economic freedom is justice for the poor - when the working class keeps more of their earnings, when small businesses can compete without crushing compliance costs, and when families can build wealth without government extraction. Unjust economic laws always hit the poor hardest.
SB 824Senate 20252x

Expanding Government Data Collection and Confidentiality by Mandating Additional Reporting from Health Insurers

With CEA
This bill requires health insurance carriers offering plans in the state to submit detailed annual reports to the Department of Consumer and Business Services (DCBS) regarding behavioral health benefits, including analyses of treatment limitations compared to medical benefits, denial rates, reimbursement rates, and compliance with federal parity laws. The DCBS must keep this information confidential and provide annual summaries to legislative committees. While transparency in insurance practices is important, this bill expands government data collection and oversight, increasing regulatory burdens on insurers and potentially expanding government scope without clear benefits to employers or economic freedom.
OPPOSE is the CEA Position, based on:
From a faith-based perspective, stewardship calls for prudent use of resources and limited government interference. While accountability is necessary, excessive reporting mandates risk burdening businesses and diverting focus from providing quality care. Upholding personal responsibility and economic freedom aligns with biblical principles of justice and wise management of resources.
1 Samuel 8:10-18 – "Samuel told all the words of the Lord to the people who were asking him for a king. He said, 'This is what the king who will reign over you will claim as his rights: He will take your sons and make them serve with his chariots... He will take the best of your fields and vineyards and olive groves and give them to his attendants. He will take a tenth of your grain and of your vintage and give it to his officials and attendants... and you yourselves will become his slaves'"
Leadership Insight
Centralized power always demands sacrifice from the people. God warned Israel that human kings would grow government at the expense of liberty. Limited government protects freedom; expansive government enslaves. Leaders must resist the temptation to control what they should serve.
SB 827Senate 20252x

Growing Government Control and Costs by Expanding Solar and Energy Storage Rebates

Against CEA
This bill expands Oregon's Solar and Storage Rebate Program to include rebates for energy storage systems paired at installation with previously purchased solar electric systems. The program offers substantial financial incentives to residential customers and low-income service providers, funded by the Rooftop Solar Incentive Fund. By increasing government subsidies for renewable energy equipment, the bill expands state involvement in energy markets, distorts free market competition, and increases regulatory costs ultimately borne by taxpayers and consumers. The partisan vote shows strong Democratic support and Republican opposition, reflecting ideological divides over government intervention in energy.
OPPOSE is the CEA Position, based on:
From a faith-based perspective, stewardship calls for responsible management of resources and respect for economic freedom. Government subsidies that pick winners and losers undermine personal responsibility and free enterprise, while expanding costly programs that shift burdens onto families and businesses. Protecting economic liberty and limiting government overreach aligns with biblical principles of justice, stewardship, and honoring the dignity of honest work.
1 Samuel 8:10-18 – "Samuel told all the words of the Lord to the people who were asking him for a king. He said, 'This is what the king who will reign over you will claim as his rights: He will take your sons and make them serve with his chariots... He will take the best of your fields and vineyards and olive groves and give them to his attendants. He will take a tenth of your grain and of your vintage and give it to his officials and attendants... and you yourselves will become his slaves'"
Leadership Insight
Centralized power always demands sacrifice from the people. God warned Israel that human kings would grow government at the expense of liberty. Limited government protects freedom; expansive government enslaves. Leaders must resist the temptation to control what they should serve.
SB 833Senate 20251x

Opposing Increased Regulatory Burdens on Soil-Enhancing Product Labeling

Against CEA
This bill imposes expanded labeling and reporting requirements on soil-enhancing products, including detailed ingredient disclosures, guaranteed analyses, and online public access to product-specific information. While intended to regulate fertilizer and soil amendment products, these mandates increase regulatory complexity and compliance costs for manufacturers and distributors, potentially limiting economic freedom and burdening agricultural businesses with additional government oversight.
OPPOSE is the CEA Position, based on:
From a faith-based perspective, excessive regulation can hinder honest work and stewardship by placing unnecessary burdens on businesses and workers. Limited government that respects personal responsibility and economic freedom best allows individuals and communities to flourish while still prioritizing safety.
Isaiah 10:1-2 – "Woe to those who make unjust laws, to those who issue oppressive decrees, to deprive the poor of their rights and withhold justice from the oppressed of my people, making widows their prey and robbing the fatherless."
Leadership Insight
God pronounces woe on lawmakers who craft economic policies that oppress the poor through excessive taxation, regulatory barriers to entry, and cronyism that favors the connected over the capable. Economic freedom is justice for the poor - when the working class keeps more of their earnings, when small businesses can compete without crushing compliance costs, and when families can build wealth without government extraction. Unjust economic laws always hit the poor hardest.
SB 836Senate 20252x

Opposing Increased Fees by Expanding State Department Regulatory Burdens

With CEA
This bill increases various fees charged by the State Department of Geology and Mineral Industries (DOGAMI) for permits, renewals, inspections, and other regulatory activities related to mining, drilling, and mineral exploration. Fee increases are substantial, with some permit fees rising from $2,000 to as much as $10,000, and annual renewal fees and inspection fees also significantly raised. These fee hikes expand government revenue at the expense of businesses and individuals engaged in mineral industries, increasing regulatory costs and potentially discouraging economic activity and investment in the sector.
OPPOSE is the CEA Position, based on:
From a faith-based perspective, excessive regulation and fee increases burden honest work and stewardship by imposing unnecessary costs on employers and workers. Limited government that respects personal responsibility and economic freedom best allows individuals and communities to flourish while still prioritizing safety and environmental stewardship. The party-line Republican opposition reflects principled resistance to expanding government control and costs.
Isaiah 10:1-2 – "Woe to those who make unjust laws, to those who issue oppressive decrees, to deprive the poor of their rights and withhold justice from the oppressed of my people, making widows their prey and robbing the fatherless."
Leadership Insight
God pronounces woe on lawmakers who craft economic policies that oppress the poor through excessive taxation, regulatory barriers to entry, and cronyism that favors the connected over the capable. Economic freedom is justice for the poor - when the working class keeps more of their earnings, when small businesses can compete without crushing compliance costs, and when families can build wealth without government extraction. Unjust economic laws always hit the poor hardest.
SB 839Senate 20252x

Maintaining Balanced Commercial Vehicle Regulations Without Expanding Government Overreach

With CEA
This bill modifies existing laws regulating commercial vehicles, including enforcement requirements and exemptions for certain vehicles and operators. It clarifies penalties for noncompliance with commercial vehicle weight, size, and equipment regulations, distinguishing between traffic violations and misdemeanors. The bill also updates record-keeping and reporting procedures related to convictions and refines exemptions for various vehicle types, such as school buses, taxis, and vehicles used in agriculture or charitable transportation. The bipartisan support in both chambers reflects a consensus on updating regulations without imposing undue burdens on employers or expanding government scope.
SUPPORT is the CEA Position, based on:
From a faith-based perspective, responsible stewardship and respect for lawful authority are essential. This legislation balances the need for public safety and order with limited government intervention, allowing honest work in transportation while ensuring accountability. Upholding clear, fair rules aligns with biblical principles of justice, order, and respect for the dignity of work.
1 Corinthians 14:40 – "But everything should be done in a fitting and orderly way."
Leadership Insight
Chaos is not creative - it’s costly. God blesses order because He builds through structure. Operational excellence flows when systems honor divine order.
SB 840Senate 20252x

Modernizing Vehicle and Driver Regulation with Expanded Service Options

With CEA
This bill updates and modifies a broad range of laws governing vehicle drivers, vehicles, vehicle insurance, driver records, vehicle dealers, and dismantlers. Key provisions include enhanced requirements for provisional driver licenses for minors, expanded use of self-service kiosks and qualified providers for vehicle and driver transactions, and adjustments to driver license features such as photo exemptions for military families. The bill streamlines administrative processes and expands service accessibility while maintaining regulatory oversight. The unanimous bipartisan support reflects broad consensus on modernizing transportation regulation without expanding government overreach.
SUPPORT is the CEA Position, based on:
From a faith-based perspective, responsible stewardship of public resources and respect for individual liberty are paramount. This legislation balances necessary regulation with expanded access and convenience, supporting personal responsibility and economic freedom. By promoting efficient government services and protecting lawful commerce, the bill aligns with biblical principles of justice, order, and the dignity of honest work.
1 Corinthians 14:40 – "But everything should be done in a fitting and orderly way."
Leadership Insight
Chaos is not creative - it’s costly. God blesses order because He builds through structure. Operational excellence flows when systems honor divine order.
SB 842Senate 20252x

Hiking Healthcare Costs by Increasing Hospital Licensing Fees

With CEA
This bill raises the annual license fees that hospitals must pay to the Oregon Health Authority, significantly increasing costs across all hospital size categories. It repeals fees for compliance actions but allows the authority to assess late fees for renewal payment delays. The bill also restricts public access to complaint and violation information and permits acceptance of federal or accrediting body certifications in lieu of state inspections. These fee hikes impose additional financial burdens on hospitals, potentially increasing healthcare costs and expanding government revenue extraction from private healthcare providers.
OPPOSE is the CEA Position, based on:
From a faith-based perspective, stewardship of resources calls for prudent management and limited government interference. Excessive fees and regulatory costs undermine economic freedom and the ability of healthcare providers to serve communities effectively. Upholding justice and responsible stewardship means opposing policies that expand government control and impose undue burdens on employers and families.
Isaiah 55:2 – "Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labor on what does not satisfy? Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good, and you will delight in the richest of fare."
Leadership Insight
God questions spending on what fails to nourish or satisfy. Healthcare freedom means rejecting one-size-fits-all mandates that force individuals and employers into systems that violate conscience or fail to meet real needs. Leaders who protect healthcare choice allow families and businesses to pursue treatments, coverage, and providers aligned with their values - "eating what is good" rather than consuming what government prescribes.
SB 844Senate 20252x

Weakening Oversight and Expanding Government Control by Broadening Oregon Health Authority Powers

With CEA
This bill changes the reporting date for opioid and opiate overdose statistics to the Oregon Legislative Assembly, expands the Oregon Health Authority's (OHA) contracting authority for school-based health centers, and broadens regulatory definitions and confidentiality protections related to psilocybin licensees. It also aligns clinical laboratory regulations with federal law and modifies occupational health licensing requirements. While some bipartisan support exists, the initial Senate vote was strictly along party lines, with Republicans opposing the bill. The expansion of OHA's authority and confidentiality provisions increases government scope and regulatory control over health services and related professions.
OPPOSE is the CEA Position, based on:
From a faith-based perspective, stewardship calls for prudent use of public resources and accountability in government programs. However, expanding government control and confidentiality protections that reduce transparency undermine justice and responsible oversight. Biblical principles emphasize honesty, accountability, and protecting the vulnerable without unnecessary government overreach that can hinder personal responsibility and economic freedom.
Isaiah 10:1-2 – "Woe to those who make unjust laws, to those who issue oppressive decrees, to deprive the poor of their rights and withhold justice from the oppressed of my people, making widows their prey and robbing the fatherless."
Leadership Insight
God pronounces woe on those who issue oppressive decrees - regulations, mandates, and compliance requirements that crush businesses and deprive workers of opportunity. Operational freedom fights the bureaucratic oppression that kills small businesses, prevents entrepreneurship, and protects established interests at the expense of new entrants. When licensing laws, zoning restrictions, and regulatory burdens make it impossible for the poor to start businesses, government becomes the oppressor Isaiah condemns.
SB 846Senate 20252x

Expanding Government Control Over Children's Healthcare Coordination

Against CEA
This bill modifies the Oregon Health Authority's oversight of coordinated care organizations (CCOs) by mandating detailed community health improvement plans focused on children and youth. It requires CCOs to collaborate with multiple state programs and school-based health providers, integrate services, and report progress regularly to the state. The law expands government involvement in healthcare planning and funding allocation, increasing bureaucracy and potentially limiting economic freedom and employer flexibility in healthcare delivery.
OPPOSE is the CEA Position, based on:
From a faith-based perspective, while caring for children is a biblical priority, this bill expands government control and central planning in healthcare, which can undermine personal responsibility and stewardship. True compassion empowers families and communities rather than increasing state mandates and oversight.
1 Samuel 8:10-18 – "Samuel told all the words of the Lord to the people who were asking him for a king. He said, 'This is what the king who will reign over you will claim as his rights: He will take your sons and make them serve with his chariots... He will take the best of your fields and vineyards and olive groves and give them to his attendants. He will take a tenth of your grain and of your vintage and give it to his officials and attendants... and you yourselves will become his slaves'"
Leadership Insight
Centralized power always demands sacrifice from the people. God warned Israel that human kings would grow government at the expense of liberty. Limited government protects freedom; expansive government enslaves. Leaders must resist the temptation to control what they should serve.
SB 851Senate 20251x

Strengthening Accountability in Public Employee Retirement System by Improving Overpayment Recovery Procedures

With CEA
This bill modifies provisions related to the Public Employees Retirement System (PERS) by enhancing the system's ability to recover overpayments to members or other recipients. It establishes clear procedures for reducing monthly or lump sum payments to recoup overpaid amounts, sets limits on monthly payment reductions without authorization, and requires notice and appeal rights before recovery actions. The bill also raises the threshold for waiving recovery of small overpayments and clarifies timelines and remedies for recovery efforts. These changes promote fiscal responsibility and protect the integrity of public retirement funds while maintaining fairness for recipients.
SUPPORT is the CEA Position, based on:
From a faith-based perspective, stewardship of public resources is a biblical principle that calls for accountability and justice. Ensuring that retirement systems recover improper payments respects the responsible management of communal assets and upholds fairness to all contributors. This legislation balances compassion with prudent oversight, reflecting God-honoring governance that protects both individuals and the common good.
Luke 16:10-11 – "Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much. So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches?"
Leadership Insight
Jesus connects economic stewardship to spiritual trustworthiness. Economic freedom is built on this principle: individuals who manage small resources faithfully should be trusted with more - not have government confiscate their increase through taxation or redistribute their success. When government punishes productive stewardship through progressive taxation, it contradicts Christ's teaching that faithful management of "very little" qualifies you for "much." Economic freedom rewards faithful stewardship.
SB 852Senate 20251x

Modifying Public Employee Retirement Death Benefits to Clarify Distributions

With CEA
This bill modifies post-retirement death benefits under the Public Employees Retirement System (PERS) by adjusting lump sum and installment payment options for retirees and their beneficiaries. It increases the minimum lump sum payout threshold for surviving spouses or children of deceased police officers or firefighters from $30 to $200 per month and clarifies beneficiary designations and election rights related to retirement benefit options. The bill passed with strong bipartisan support, reflecting consensus on improving clarity and fairness in retirement benefit administration.
SUPPORT is the CEA Position, based on:
From a faith-based perspective, honoring commitments to public servants and their families reflects stewardship and justice. Ensuring that survivors receive fair and transparent benefits upholds dignity, accountability, and the biblical call to care for those who serve and protect the community.
Proverbs 13:22 – "A good person leaves an inheritance for their children's children, but a sinner's wealth is stored up for the righteous."
Leadership Insight
Generational stewardship reflects Kingdom economics. Leaders who think beyond their tenure create systems that bless future generations. Legacy matters more than immediate gain - righteous wealth builds; selfish wealth burdens.
SB 859Senate 20252x

Weakening Economic Freedom by Expanding Government Authority to Adjust Paid Family Leave Debts

Against CEA
This bill authorizes the Director of the Employment Department to compromise, reduce, or write off debts, overpayments, penalties, and interest related to the state's paid family and medical leave program. It grants broad discretion to waive amounts, including civil and monetary penalties, and to deem certain delinquent accounts uncollectible based on factors such as employer financial condition and administrative costs. While the bill passed with strong Democratic support and some bipartisan backing, it expands government control over employer financial obligations and increases regulatory discretion, potentially undermining economic freedom and employer accountability.
OPPOSE is the CEA Position, based on:
From a faith-based perspective, stewardship calls for responsible management of resources and honoring commitments. Expanding government authority to forgive debts and penalties risks encouraging dependency and reducing personal responsibility. Upholding fairness and accountability aligns with biblical principles of justice and the dignity of honest work, which this bill compromises by granting excessive regulatory leniency.
Proverbs 11:1 – "The Lord detests dishonest scales, but accurate weights find favor with Him."
Leadership Insight
Integrity in business is not optional - it’s spiritual obedience. Every transaction reflects the character of the Kingdom. Honesty is Heaven’s currency for influence.
SB 867Senate 20252x

Strengthening Accountability in Education by Expanding Department of Education Sanctions for Discrimination Violations

With CEA
This bill expands the powers of the Department of Education to impose sanctions on elementary and secondary schools, including public charter schools, found to be in noncompliance with discrimination prohibitions. Sanctions may include policy revisions, training, reimbursement to affected students, and withholding of state funding. The bill also clarifies investigation procedures related to abuse and sexual conduct in schools, extends the scope of investigations to include contractors and volunteers within two years prior to alleged misconduct, and modifies standards for determining when a school district is involved in religious activity. The bill passed with strong bipartisan support in the Senate but faced opposition primarily from Republicans in the House, reflecting concerns about expanded government oversight in education.
SUPPORT is the CEA Position, based on:
From a faith-based perspective, this legislation promotes justice and accountability within educational institutions, ensuring that all students are treated fairly and protected from discrimination. Upholding these standards aligns with biblical principles of dignity, stewardship, and the protection of the vulnerable, while maintaining appropriate limits on government power to respect religious freedoms and parental rights.
Proverbs 21:15 – "When justice is done, it brings joy to the righteous but terror to evildoers."
Leadership Insight
Justice is not neutral - it rewards righteousness and confronts evil. Leaders who execute justice faithfully create cultures where virtue thrives and corruption fears. Moral clarity strengthens societies; moral ambiguity weakens them.
SB 870Senate 20251x

Protecting Privacy of OLCC Permit Holders by Exempting Personal Contact Information from Public Disclosure

With CEA
This bill exempts from public records disclosure the residential address and personal phone number of individuals who hold certain permits issued by the Oregon Liquor and Cannabis Commission (OLCC). While maintaining transparency for premises and operational plans, the bill protects sensitive personal information from public exposure, except when requested by law enforcement. This measure balances privacy rights with public safety and limits government overreach into private data.
SUPPORT is the CEA Position, based on:
From a faith-based perspective, protecting the privacy and dignity of individuals aligns with biblical principles of respecting personal boundaries and stewardship of one’s own household. Safeguarding personal information honors God-given liberty and promotes justice by preventing unnecessary intrusion into private lives.
Psalm 82:3-4 – "Defend the weak and the fatherless; uphold the cause of the poor and the oppressed. Rescue the weak and the needy; deliver them from the hand of the wicked."
Leadership Insight
God commands leaders to defend those who cannot defend themselves. Justice is not passive - it requires intervention. Leaders who ignore the vulnerable betray their calling. Advocacy for the powerless is not optional; it's obedience.
SB 871Senate 20251x

Strengthening Accountability by Requiring Retail Licensees to Maintain Alcohol Delivery Invoices

With CEA
This bill requires retail licensees under the Oregon Liquor and Cannabis Commission (OLCC) to maintain invoices for all alcoholic beverage deliveries for three years and make them available for inspection. It also clarifies the definition of "alcoholic beverages" to include items with at least one-half of one percent alcohol by volume and removes certain reporting requirements to the commission. While the bill received bipartisan support, it modestly increases regulatory recordkeeping burdens on businesses but enhances transparency and accountability in alcohol distribution.
SUPPORT is the CEA Position, based on:
From a faith-based perspective, stewardship and accountability are biblical principles that call for responsible management of resources and honest dealings. This legislation promotes justice and order by ensuring lawful commerce and protecting communities from illicit activities, aligning with the call to uphold integrity and respect for civil authority.
1 Corinthians 4:2 – "Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful."
Leadership Insight
Operational freedom begins with stewardship. God entrusts leaders with resources, influence, and people - not to control them, but to multiply them for His Kingdom. Faithfulness is Heaven’s metric for leadership success.
SB 872Senate 20252x

Expanding State Regulatory Authority Over Funeral and Cemetery Industry Practices

With CEA
This bill modifies the State Mortuary and Cemetery Board's authority to impose disciplinary actions on applicants and licensees within the funeral, embalming, and cemetery industries. It broadens the scope of prohibited acts, increases potential civil penalties up to $5,000 per violation, and clarifies procedures for emergency suspensions and cease-and-desist orders. While protecting consumer interests in sensitive death care services is important, expanding regulatory power and penalties risks increasing government overreach and burdens on employers in this sector.
OPPOSE is the CEA Position, based on:
From a faith-based perspective, stewardship calls for justice and accountability in all professions, including those serving families in times of grief. However, government authority must be exercised with restraint and fairness, respecting the dignity of honest work and avoiding unnecessary expansion of regulatory power that could hinder economic freedom and personal responsibility.
Isaiah 10:1-2 – "Woe to those who make unjust laws, to those who issue oppressive decrees, to deprive the poor of their rights and withhold justice from the oppressed of my people, making widows their prey and robbing the fatherless."
Leadership Insight
God pronounces woe on lawmakers who craft economic policies that oppress the poor through excessive taxation, regulatory barriers to entry, and cronyism that favors the connected over the capable. Economic freedom is justice for the poor - when the working class keeps more of their earnings, when small businesses can compete without crushing compliance costs, and when families can build wealth without government extraction. Unjust economic laws always hit the poor hardest.
SB 904Senate 20251x

Expanding Economic Freedom by Allowing School Districts to Apply for Self-Insurance Exemptions

With CEA
This bill allows school districts to apply for an exemption from the requirement that self-insured employers demonstrate financial viability and provide security to the Director of the Department of Consumer and Business Services. By including school districts among those eligible for this exemption, the bill reduces regulatory burdens and administrative costs for these public entities, potentially increasing their operational flexibility and economic freedom.
SUPPORT is the CEA Position, based on:
From a faith-based perspective, stewardship calls for responsible management of resources and limited government interference. Allowing school districts to self-insure without onerous financial guarantees respects prudent stewardship and promotes efficient use of public funds, aligning with biblical principles of wise resource management and accountability.
Leviticus 25:10 – "Consecrate the fiftieth year and proclaim liberty throughout the land to all its inhabitants. It shall be a jubilee for you; each of you is to return to your family property and to your own clan."
Leadership Insight
The Year of Jubilee proclaimed economic liberty - restoration of property, cancellation of debts, and freedom from bondage. Economic freedom follows this biblical pattern: protecting property rights, enabling debt relief through bankruptcy rather than permanent servitude, and ensuring families can rebuild wealth across generations. Government policies that permanently trap families in poverty, extract generational wealth through death taxes, or prevent property ownership contradict Jubilee's vision of economic restoration.
SB 906Senate 20252x

Growing Government Control by Mandating Employer Wage Deduction Explanations

With CEA
This bill requires employers to provide all employees, at the time of hire, with a detailed written explanation of earnings and deductions shown on pay stubs. Employers must update this information annually and may face civil penalties for noncompliance. While transparency in pay is important, this mandate expands government regulation over employer-employee relations, imposes additional administrative burdens, and restricts employer flexibility. The partisan vote shows strong Democrat support and near-unanimous Republican opposition, reflecting a clear ideological divide on expanding labor regulations.
OPPOSE is the CEA Position, based on:
From a faith-based perspective, stewardship calls for responsible management of resources and honest communication. However, excessive government mandates that increase regulatory burdens undermine economic freedom and employer rights, potentially hindering the dignity of work and personal responsibility. Faith encourages transparency and fairness but also supports limited government that respects the liberty of employers and employees to manage their affairs without undue interference.
Isaiah 10:1-2 – "Woe to those who make unjust laws, to those who issue oppressive decrees, to deprive the poor of their rights and withhold justice from the oppressed of my people, making widows their prey and robbing the fatherless."
Leadership Insight
God pronounces woe on lawmakers who craft economic policies that oppress the poor through excessive taxation, regulatory barriers to entry, and cronyism that favors the connected over the capable. Economic freedom is justice for the poor - when the working class keeps more of their earnings, when small businesses can compete without crushing compliance costs, and when families can build wealth without government extraction. Unjust economic laws always hit the poor hardest.
SB 916Senate 20253x

Weakening Economic Freedom by Expanding Unemployment Benefits During Labor Disputes

With CEA
This bill repeals the longstanding disqualification of unemployment insurance (UI) benefits for individuals unemployed due to active labor disputes, such as strikes. While it maintains a one-week unpaid waiting period for striking workers, it allows them to collect benefits for up to eight to ten additional weeks depending on the UI tax schedule. The bill also includes provisions for repayment of overpaid benefits if back pay is later received and mandates wage deductions by school districts to recoup benefits paid during labor disputes. This expansion increases government costs, undermines employer rights, and encourages prolonged labor disputes by reducing the financial consequences for striking workers. The partisan vote was strictly along party lines, with Republicans uniformly opposing and Democrats supporting, reflecting a clear ideological divide on labor and economic freedom.
OPPOSE is the CEA Position, based on:
From a faith-based perspective, stewardship calls for responsible use of resources and respect for the dignity of work. Encouraging prolonged labor disputes through expanded government benefits undermines personal responsibility and economic freedom, placing undue burdens on employers and taxpayers. Biblical principles emphasize justice, accountability, and the value of honest labor, which this bill compromises by subsidizing strikes and expanding government intervention in employer-employee relations.
Proverbs 10:4 – "Lazy hands make for poverty, but diligent hands bring wealth."
Leadership Insight
God blesses action, not apathy. Diligence is not busyness; it’s focused obedience to your calling. Prosperity follows stewardship, not luck.
SB 951Senate 20253x

Weakening Economic Freedom and Employer Rights by Restricting Management Services Organizations in Healthcare

Against CEA
This bill prohibits management services organizations (MSOs) and their affiliates from owning, controlling, or managing professional medical entities with which they contract for management services. It voids noncompetition, nondisclosure, and nondisparagement agreements between MSOs and medical professionals, preventing retaliation against medical professionals who speak out. The law aims to prevent for-profit entities from exerting control over medical decisions or operations, but it also imposes significant restrictions on private business arrangements and employer rights. The partisan vote shows strong Republican opposition and Democratic support, indicating a clear ideological divide on limiting economic freedom in healthcare.
OPPOSE is the CEA Position, based on:
From a faith-based perspective, stewardship of resources and economic freedom are essential to honoring God-given liberty and human dignity. This bill undermines personal responsibility and employer rights by expanding government control over private business relationships and restricting free speech through voiding contracts. Protecting the integrity of medical judgment is important, but it must not come at the expense of economic freedom and the rights of employers and workers to enter lawful agreements.
Isaiah 10:1-2 – "Woe to those who make unjust laws, to those who issue oppressive decrees, to deprive the poor of their rights and withhold justice from the oppressed of my people, making widows their prey and robbing the fatherless."
Leadership Insight
God pronounces woe on lawmakers who craft economic policies that oppress the poor through excessive taxation, regulatory barriers to entry, and cronyism that favors the connected over the capable. Economic freedom is justice for the poor - when the working class keeps more of their earnings, when small businesses can compete without crushing compliance costs, and when families can build wealth without government extraction. Unjust economic laws always hit the poor hardest.
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Frequently Asked Questions

What is Sen. Bruce Starr's voting record?

Sen. Bruce Starr (R-OR-12) earned a 80% Christian Employers Alliance score for 2025, showing strong alignment with biblical business policy positions. Bruce Starr voted on 53 of the 69 substantive bills scored by CEA in 2025. Highest category scores: Workforce Freedom (100%), First Freedom (100%), and Operational Freedom (88%). Bruce Starr represents the 12th District in the Oregon State Senate.

How aligned is Bruce Starr with biblical business policy positions?

Bruce Starr earned a 80% Christian Employers Alliance score in 2025, showing strong alignment with biblical business policy positions.

What is Bruce Starr's CEA score?

Bruce Starr has a 80% CEA score for 2025.

Where does Bruce Starr serve?

Sen. Bruce Starr (R-OR-12) represents the 12th District in the Oregon State Senate as a Republican.

What issue categories does Bruce Starr score highest and lowest on?

Bruce Starr's strongest categories on the Christian Employers Alliance scorecard are Workforce Freedom (100%) and First Freedom (100%). The lowest-scoring categories are Economic Freedom (70%) and Healthcare Freedom (87%).

Christian Employers Alliance — Faith. Family. Freedom.
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