HB 4124

83rd OREGON LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY--2026 Regular Session
  Enrolled
  House Bill 4124
Sponsored by Representative MARSH, Senators WAGNER, PATTERSON, Representatives
   ANDERSEN, EVANS, FRAGALA, MCDONALD, RIEKE SMITH, Senators BROADMAN,
   GOLDEN, SOLLMAN; Representatives BOWMAN, HARBICK, LEVY B, NOSSE, SOSA,
   WALLAN, WALTERS, WATANABE, WISE, Senators FREDERICK, MANNING JR, NASH,
   WEBER (Presession filed.)
  CHAPTER .................................................
  AN ACT
Relating to the state post-secondary education system; and declaring an emergency.
     Whereas about a decade ago Oregon established a statewide system of independent universities
and the Higher Education Coordinating Commission; and
     Whereas Oregon’s post-secondary education institutions have unique missions and should serve
distinct populations; and
     Whereas Oregon’s system of independent boards at public universities and community colleges
provides essential oversight and direction to the mission and operation of these institutions of
higher education; and
     Whereas market competition among Oregon’s post-secondary education institutions has eroded
cross-institutional collaboration, impaired focus on regional and state needs and undermined public
confidence in the system as a vital source of economic development and employment opportunities;
and
     Whereas after about a decade of operations, Oregon must reevaluate the accessibility, financial
resiliency, efficiency, effectiveness and coordination of its post-secondary education system to ensure
the system meets the diverse needs of Oregon’s students, economy and workforce; and
     Whereas recent, current and projected demographic, enrollment and market conditions and
trends coupled with the competitive landscape for post-secondary education institutions, including
the effects of online and out-of-state programs, require Oregon institutions to strategically assess
financial and enrollment sustainability; and
     Whereas Oregon’s community colleges are locally governed with taxing authority and fiscal re-
sponsibilities, so any statewide study, review, evaluation or recommendation regarding the structure,
coordination, funding or governance of post-secondary education institutions must recognize and
account for the distinct governance structure of community colleges; and
     Whereas Oregon’s public universities and community colleges are cornerstones of our commu-
nities and engines of economic growth and should be aligned to meet regional and state economic
needs; now, therefore,
Be It Enacted by the People of the State of Oregon:
    SECTION 1. (1) The Higher Education Coordinating Commission shall conduct a study
of the condition of Oregon’s post-secondary education system and develop detailed recom-
Enrolled House Bill 4124 (HB 4124-B)  Page 1
mendations for the design, implementation and operation of a viable and superior institu-
tional framework that:
    (a) Supports access to post-secondary education institutions for students across ge-
ographic location, including rural communities and other underserved populations;
    (b) Fuels regional and statewide economic development and employment opportunities;
and
    (c) Improves the financial viability of each post-secondary education institution in
Oregon and the post-secondary education system as a whole, including by addressing
projected enrollment, increased personnel costs, changes in federal law or priorities, sector-
specific inflationary costs or other related factors.
    (2) The study must evaluate and make recommendations on each of the following sub-
jects:
    (a) The distinct objectives and missions of each category of post-secondary education
institution, including community college, public university, regional university and research
university, in consideration of key variables such as research, public services, instruction,
academic programming, educational model and the student population served; and
    (b) Opportunities for collaboration, restructuring or integration in the post-secondary
education system.
    (3) The study may evaluate and make recommendations on each of the following subjects:
    (a) Development of academic programs and specialties to support current and emerging
regional and state economic development and workforce needs;
    (b) Criteria for the review of unnecessary program duplication across post-secondary
education institutions and unmet program needs statewide;
    (c) Structures and supports to connect students and graduates to employers and em-
ployment opportunities;
    (d) Funding strategies, including strategies to foster collaboration, restructuring or in-
tegration in the post-secondary education system; and
    (e) Metrics of affordability for students and financial health for post-secondary education
institutions.
    (4) In developing recommendations under this section, the commission shall engage the
expertise of and consult public institutions of higher education, including faculty, staff and
students, and any other interested stakeholders identified by the commission.
    (5) The commission shall submit a preliminary and final report on the results of the
study, in the manner provided under ORS 192.245, along with any recommended legislative
changes, to the interim or regular committees of the Legislative Assembly related to higher
education no later than:
    (a) October 1, 2026, for the preliminary report.
    (b) April 1, 2027, for the final report.
    (6) The commission may utilize third-party contractors to carry out all or part of this
section.
    SECTION 2. This 2026 Act being necessary for the immediate preservation of the public
peace, health and safety, an emergency is declared to exist, and this 2026 Act takes effect
on its passage.
Enrolled House Bill 4124 (HB 4124-B)  Page 2
Passed by House February 27, 2026  Received by Governor:
  ........................M.,........................................................., 2026
       ..................................................................................
  Approved:
  Timothy G. Sekerak, Chief Clerk of House
  ........................M.,........................................................., 2026
       ..................................................................................
  Julie Fahey, Speaker of House
  ..................................................................................
  Tina Kotek, Governor
Passed by Senate March 4, 2026
  Filed in Office of Secretary of State:
       ..................................................................................   ........................M.,........................................................., 2026
  Rob Wagner, President of Senate
  ..................................................................................
  Tobias Read, Secretary of State
Enrolled House Bill 4124 (HB 4124-B)  Page 3