Oregon Cracks Down on Medical Debt, Junk Fees, and Shady Car Sales

A set of bills aimed to protect Oregon consumers was signed by Governor Tina Kotek on Monday. The bills address three pressing issues:  medical debt, online transactions, and car purchases.

Gov Kotek Signs Bills Into Law

After signing three Senate Bills —SB 605, SB 430, and SB 3178 —on Monday, Governor Kotek said, “These new bills give Oregonians more peace of mind, fairness, and transparency they need for a more secure future.”

Oregon Medical Debt Bill

To ease the stress of medical debt, Senate Bill 605 bars medical service providers from sending debt reports to consumer reporting agencies to ensure medical crises don’t damage credit histories.

The bill, ending medical debt credit reporting, seeks to help shield families from the long-term harm of medical debt and sees Oregon joining other states on this issue that affects Americans nationwide.

Oregon Bill On Upfront Pricing For Online Purchases

To ensure there are no surprise fees with online purchases, Senate Bill 430 forces online sellers to show the all-in price by prohibiting them from advertising a price that doesn’t include all fees or charges up front.

The bill ensures hidden fees are a thing of the past for consumers who purchase online.

Oregon Bill Amends Car Purchase Rules

To help families clearly understand the terms of buying a car, House Bill 3178 includes safeguards around auto loan fairness and transparency by adding provisions on financing for people buying vehicles:

• Car dealers must provide plain-language disclosures in Oregon’s top six spoken languages outlining consumer rights during purchases.
• Dealers have 10 days instead of the previous 14 to finalize auto loans
• Dealers must notify consumers within two days if their purchase contract is voided.

All three laws that protect Oregon families struggling to make ends meet will take effect in 2026.

Chris Coughlin, Federal Policy Director for Oregon Consumer Justice, said. “These bills help us create a more just and equitable Oregon where people come first.”