Oregon SB 749: Relating to participatory budgeting when preparing a school district budget; declaring an emergency.

Bill Text

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83rd OREGON LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY--2025 Regular Session
Senate Bill 749
Sponsored by Senator GORSEK; Representatives NGUYEN H, RUIZ (at the request of Participatory Budgeting
Oregon) (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: Creates a pilot program for students to be involved in the making of a school district
budget. (Flesch Readability Score: 70.1).
Directs the Department of Education to establish and administer a pilot program that provides
for participatory budgeting by students in the preparation of a school district budget.
Sunsets on January 2, 2029.
Declares an emergency, effective on passage.
A BILL FOR AN ACT
Relating to participatory budgeting when preparing a school district budget; and declaring an
emergency.
Whereas youth are vastly underrepresented in government decision-making; and
Whereas policy decisions often are made on issues that affect youth, but without youth in-
volvement and decision-making power; and
Whereas data shows that the same risk factors affecting chronic youth absenteeism, dropout
rates and suicide rates can be ameliorated by opportunities of youth civic engagement and authentic
peer-to-peer connections; and
Whereas it is essential that youth voices be included when decisions affecting youth are being
made; now, therefore,
Be It Enacted by the People of the State of Oregon:
SECTION 1. (1) As used in this section, “participatory budgeting” means the delegation
of budgeting power directly to students to make determinations about how to spend a portion
of a school district budget.
(2) The Department of Education shall establish and administer a pilot program that
provides for participatory budgeting in the preparation of the budget of a school district
under ORS 328.542.
(3) Under the pilot program, the department shall award grants to public schools in this
state to:
(a) Recruit and train students to participate in participatory budgeting; and
(b) Maximize the shared decision-making among students, teachers and administrators.
(4)(a) The State Board of Education shall adopt by rule the requirements for a school
district to apply for a grant under this section and the amounts of grants to be awarded
under this section.
(b) When adopting rules as provided by this subsection, the board shall consult with a
nonprofit organization with experience in implementing participatory budgeting.
(5) The department shall first award a grant under this section no later than October 1,
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 2376

SB 749
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2025.
(6) The department shall submit reports concerning the pilot program to the interim
committees of the Legislative Assembly related to education as follows:
(a) A progress report must be submitted no later than September 15, 2026; and
(b) A final report must be submitted no later than September 15, 2028, to summarize the
outcomes of the program.
SECTION 2. In addition to and not in lieu of any other appropriation, there is appropri-
ated to the Department of Education, for the biennium beginning July 1, 2025, out of the
General Fund, the amount of $500,000, which may be expended for the pilot program estab-
lished under section 1 of this 2025 Act.
SECTION 3. Section 1 of this 2025 Act is repealed on January 2, 2029.
SECTION 4. This 2025 Act being necessary for the immediate preservation of the public
peace, health and safety, an emergency is declared to exist, and this 2025 Act takes effect
on its passage.
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