The Oregon Secretary of State’s Elections Division is accepting public comment on new administrative rules designed to implement House Bill 4024, a sweeping reform measure that reshapes campaign finance law across the state.
House Bill 4024, passed by the Oregon Legislature earlier this year, establishes campaign contribution limits for the first time in decades while introducing a range of additional measures to increase transparency and accountability in state and local elections. Among its major provisions are the creation of a public campaign finance data dashboard, new requirements for organizing political committees, and restrictions on how candidates can carry over unused campaign funds into future election cycles.
Secretary of State Tobias Read emphasized that the measure represents a broad and ambitious change in how Oregon elections are conducted. “HB 4024 does a lot more than just putting limits on contributions to political campaigns. It’s an ambitious overhaul of how campaigns are run in Oregon. My office is committed to doing our best to implement this law as it stands,” Read said. He added that while the legislation addresses many long-standing concerns about campaign finance reform, some aspects still require clarification from lawmakers. The Secretary’s office, he said, intends to use the rulemaking process to refine those areas through public input and expert consultation.
As part of that process, the Elections Division drafted initial implementation rules in May and convened a Rules Advisory Committee composed of stakeholders to review and provide feedback. The division also opened the draft rules for public comment, inviting citizens, advocacy groups, and political organizations to share their input. After considering the responses, the Elections Division revised its proposed rules and formally published the updated version on September 15, 2025.
The Division is now seeking additional written feedback from the public before finalizing the rules. A key portion of the rulemaking effort involves updating candidate filing deadlines to align with the new legal framework. Under HB 4024, incumbent candidates must now file for re-election seven days earlier than challengers. The deadline to comment on those specific filing rule changes is Friday, October 24.
For other rules, including revisions to the Campaign Finance Manual, written comments will be accepted until 5 p.m. on November 21, 2025. The Elections Division will also hold a public hearing on November 7, 2025, giving residents and interested parties an opportunity to participate directly in the rulemaking discussion.
The Secretary of State’s office is encouraging all Oregonians—voters, candidates, and advocacy groups alike—to take part in shaping the future of campaign finance transparency in the state. Full details on the draft rules, comment submission procedures, and hearing participation are available on the Oregon Secretary of State’s official website.
The final version of the administrative rules is expected to set the foundation for how Oregon enforces campaign finance limits and transparency standards moving forward, marking one of the most significant updates to state election law in years.