Bill > HB3710

This bill directs the Oregon State Parks and Recreation Department to place a Ten Commandments monument in the State Capitol State Park, with specific requirements and provisions. The department must work with a nonprofit organization to design, construct, and place the monument at no cost to the state. The monument will display the full text of the Ten Commandments and must be located in an area of the park where other monuments are already present. The department, in consultation with the Capitol Planning Commission, must approve the monument's design and placement location. The bill also provides for potential legal defense of the monument, allowing the Attorney General to either prepare a defense or request assistance from a nonprofit legal organization specializing in First Amendment cases. Importantly, the bill explicitly states that the monument's placement is not intended to show preference for any particular religion or denomination. This legislation appears to be aimed at commemorating the Ten Commandments as a historical and cultural document while attempting to address potential constitutional concerns about religious displays on public property.

Agriculture and Natural Resources

https://olis.oregonlegislature.gov/liz/2025R1/Measures/Overview/HB3710