OregonCourts may consider victims’ statements in certain commercial sex crime cases
Starting June 5, 2026, courts may admit certain victims’ statements about listed commercial sex crimes when the statements meet legal conditions.
What it does
Courts may admit certain victims’ statements about listed commercial sex crimes if the statements meet the timing, recording or reporting, and reliability rules.
Argument forConsidering a recorded or promptly reported victim’s account may help courts hear relevant evidence in these cases.
Argument againstUsing an out-of-court statement could make it harder for accused people to question how a victim described the event.
More detail
Courts may admit certain victims’ statements about listed commercial sex crimes as evidence. The listed crimes include trafficking in persons, buying sex with a minor, promoting or compelling prostitution, and attempts, conspiracies, or solicitations involving a commercial sex act. The statement must be recorded or written, or made to one of the listed officials or emergency workers. The court must find the statement sufficiently reliable. The statement must be made within 24 hours before or after the victim engages in, offers, or agrees to engage in the commercial sex act.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed House
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Apr 6Chapter 71, (2026 Laws): Effective date June 5, 2026.Latest
- Mar 31Governor Tina Kotek signed.Became Law
- Mar 5President signed.Major
- Mar 4Speaker signed.Major
- Mar 3Third reading. Carried by Taylor. Passed.Passed Senate
- Vote recorded Third reading. Carried by Taylor. Passed. Result: pass.Upper
- Mar 2Carried over to 03-03 by unanimous consent.
- Feb 27Second reading.Minor
- Feb 27Recommendation: Do pass.Minor
- Feb 25Work Session held.
- Vote recorded Heard and Reported Out. Result: pass.Upper
- Feb 23Public Hearing and Work Session held.
- Feb 20Referred to Judiciary.Minor
- Feb 20First reading. Referred to President's desk.Minor
- Feb 19Vote explanation(s) filed by Chaichi.
- Vote recorded Third reading. Carried by Tran. Passed. Result: pass.Lower
- Feb 19Third reading. Carried by Tran. Passed.Passed House
- Feb 19Rules suspended. Without objection, carry over to February 20, 2026 rescinded.
- Feb 19Rules suspended. Carried over to February 20, 2026 Calendar.
- Feb 19Rules suspended. Carried over to February 19, 2026 Calendar.
- Feb 17Second reading.Minor
- Feb 17Recommendation: Do pass.Minor
- Feb 16Work Session held.
- Vote recorded Heard and Reported Out. Result: pass.Lower
- Feb 9Public Hearing held.
- Feb 2Referred to Judiciary.Minor
- Feb 2First reading. Referred to Speaker's desk.Introduced
Criminal Justice