SB 1579

83rd OREGON LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY--2026 Regular Session
  Senate Bill 1579
 Sponsored by Senators THATCHER, MANNING JR, Representative BOICE; Senator PROZANSKI, Representatives
  BUNCH, HARBICK, LEVY B, SCHARF, SMITH G, YUNKER (Presession filed.)
  SUMMARY
 The following summary is not prepared by the sponsors of the measure and is not a part of the body thereof subject
 to consideration by the Legislative Assembly. It is an editor’s brief statement of the essential features of the
 measure as introduced. The statement includes a measure digest written in compliance with applicable readability
 standards.
  Digest: The Act increases the penalty for making a false report of child abuse. (Flesch Read-
 ability Score: 63.4).
  Modifies the offense of making a false report of child abuse. Punishes a first offense by a max-
 imum of six months’ imprisonment, $2,500 fine, or both. Punishes a second offense by a maximum of
 364 days’ imprisonment, $6,250 fine, or both. Punishes a third or subsequent offense by a maximum
 of five years’ imprisonment, $125,000 fine, or both.
  Takes effect on the 91st day following adjournment sine die.
1A BILL FOR AN ACT
2 Relating to false reports of child abuse; creating new provisions; amending ORS 419B.016; and pre-
3      scribing an effective date.
4 Be It Enacted by the People of the State of Oregon:
5      SECTION 1. ORS 419B.016 is amended to read:
6      419B.016. (1) As used in this section, “child abuse” means “abuse” as defined in ORS
7 419B.005.
8      [(1)] (2) A person commits the [offense] crime of making a false report of child abuse if, with the
9 intent to influence a custody, parenting time, visitation or child support decision, the person:
10      (a) Makes a false report of child abuse to the Department of Human Services or a law enforce-
11 ment agency, knowing that the report is false; or
12      (b) With the intent that a public or private official make a report of child abuse to the Depart-
13 ment of Human Services or a law enforcement agency, makes a false report of child abuse to the
14 public or private official, knowing that the report is false.
15      [(2) Making a false report of child abuse is a Class A violation.]
16      (3)(a) Except as provided in paragraph (b) or (c) of this subsection, making a false report
17 of child abuse is a Class B misdemeanor.
18      (b) Making a false report of child abuse is a Class A misdemeanor if the person has one
19 prior conviction under this section at the time of the offense.
20      (c) Making a false report of child abuse is a Class C felony if the person has two or more
21 prior convictions under this section at the time of the offense.
22      SECTION 2. The amendments to ORS 419B.016 by section 1 of this 2026 Act apply to:
23      (1) False reports of child abuse made on or after the effective date of this 2026 Act.
24      (2) For purposes of ORS 419B.016 (3)(b) and (c), prior convictions occurring before, on or
25 after the effective date of this 2026 Act.
26      SECTION 3. This 2026 Act takes effect on the 91st day after the date on which the 2026
27 regular session of the Eighty-third Legislative Assembly adjourns sine die.
 NOTE: Matter in boldfaced type in an amended section is new; matter [italic and bracketed] is existing law to be omitted.
 New sections are in boldfaced type.
 LC 78
SB 1579
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