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Bill > SB1580

OR SB1580

OR SB1580
Relating to compensation for journalism.

summary

Introduced
02/02/2026
In Committee
02/02/2026
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead

Introduced Session

Potential new amendment
2026 Legislative Measures

Bill Summary

The statement includes a measure digest written in compliance with applicable readability standards. Digest: Requires a covered platform to have an agreement in order to access the online content of a news provider. Creates a group for civic information to give grants. (Flesch Readability Score: 62.7). Prohibits an online news aggregating platform from accessing for an Oregon audience the online content of a digital journalism provider without an agreement. Specifies requirements that an agreement must meet. Creates a private cause of action that a digital journalism provider may bring against a platform if the platform accesses for an Oregon audience the online content of the digital journalism provider without an agreement or fails to comply with an agreement. Allows for the recovery of the greater of statutory or actual damages, and for punitive damages. Bars a cause of action if the platform is participating in arbitration or in compliance with a final arbitration order, judgment or settlement agreement. Bars a cause of action for access that occurs between January 1, 2027, and December 31, 2028, if the platform elects to pay a certain sum amount. Allows a platform or group of digital journalism providers to initiate an arbitration process to determine a percentage of the platform’s advertising revenue to be remitted to the digital journalism providers. Requires platforms to report annually certain information about compensation paid to digital journalism providers. Establishes the Oregon Civic Information Consortium. Directs the consortium to award grants for applicants that seek to improve civic information.

AI Summary

This bill requires "covered platforms," which are large online businesses that access and display online content, to have an agreement with "digital journalism providers" (news publishers and broadcasters) before they can use their content for an Oregon audience. These agreements must outline compensation and cannot be tied to other services. If a platform accesses content without an agreement or violates its terms, the journalism provider can sue for damages, with the possibility of recovering twice the statutory amount or actual damages, plus punitive damages. The bill also establishes a two-year exemption from lawsuits for platforms that pay a set amount to journalism providers between January 1, 2027, and December 31, 2028, with a portion of these payments going to the newly created Oregon Civic Information Consortium. This consortium will be a nonprofit organization governed by a board appointed by the Governor, and its purpose is to award grants to support local news and civic information projects in Oregon. The bill also allows for arbitration to determine a percentage of a platform's advertising revenue to be paid to journalism providers and requires platforms to report on compensation paid. Finally, digital journalism providers must use at least 70% of the funds received under this bill for news journalists and support staff, with some exceptions for smaller providers.

Committee Categories

Business and Industry

Sponsors (15)

Last Action

Public Hearing held. (on 02/11/2026)

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