A critical ballot initiative is coming that could restore local control in Oregon. HB 3115 forces cities to meet a vague “objectively reasonable” standard before acting, leaving them vulnerable to costly lawsuits and unable to protect their communities.
Initiative 2026‑054 puts power back in the hands of voters. In November 2026, Oregonians can repeal HB 3115 and give cities the ability to enforce commonsense policies that protect neighborhoods, public spaces, and public safety.
Some background:
What Would Initiative 2026-054 Do:
It would repeal ORS 195.530, (better known as HB 3115) an Oregon state law that currently restricts local governments’ ability to regulate sitting or lying on public property.
In practice, a yes vote would remove the statutory requirement that local camping/sitting bans be “objectively reasonable” for people experiencing homelessness, potentially giving cities and counties broader authority to impose restrictions or bans on public camping and related conduct.
The current status of Oregon Initiative 2026-054:
What Phase It’s In Now: The petition was filed with the Oregon Secretary of State on October 15, 2025 to start the process for the November 3, 2026 election.
Signature Collection Status:
Sponsorship Signature Gathering Status (as of late December 2025):
The petition has completed the initial sponsorship signature requirement (the ~1,000 signatures needed just to start the process) and has entered the ballot title phase. The Oregon Elections Division found it contained the required number of sponsorship signatures and referred it to the Oregon Attorney General for a draft ballot title.
On December 19, 2025, the draft ballot title was received from the Attorney General, and the public comment period runs through January 6, 2026.
How Many Signatures Are Needed:
To qualify for the November 3, 2026 ballot, the initiative must gather at least 117,173 valid signatures by the statutory deadline (generally early July 2026). This is like the No Tax (gas tax) initiative that was just turned in with enough signatures to place on the November ballot.
Look for the upcoming signature gathering booths.
What HB 3115 Does and Doesn’t Do:
HB 3115 doesn’t allow law-breaking. Homeless individuals are still subject to the law. Open drug use and public defecation remain illegal.
HB 3115 requires cities to manage homelessness in an “objectively reasonable” way. In Grants Pass, this means either a designated low-barrier area for the homeless or allowing use of public parks. HB 3115 also limits how often people can be moved (objectively reasonable).
Repealing HB 3115 would remove these requirements, leaving cities with fewer rules on how to handle homelessness.
Repealing HB3115 would bring us more in line with the rest of the country at this point:
Following a 2024 U.S. Supreme Court (this was Grants Pass Supreme Court Case) decision that upheld local camping bans even without available shelter, more than 150 cities in roughly 32 states passed or expanded laws banning outdoor camping.
