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Oregon Credit Unions Weigh in on Issues Ahead of Special Session

Posted by on August 21, 2025

Ahead of the August 29 Special Session for the Oregon Legislature, Oregon’s credit unions are making their positions known on priority items that will be under consideration.

Protecting Privacy in HB 4024 Rulemaking

GoWest, on behalf of Oregon’s credit unions, submitted testimony on HB 4024, raising concerns that the proposed administrative rules could weaken Oregonians’ right to privacy. The administrative rules proposed for the bill that passed, HB4024, aim to improve governance, the draft rules risk enabling broad collection and disclosure of sensitive personal information—such as addresses, birth dates, and phone numbers—without sufficient safeguards.

Our letter to the Oregon Elections Division urges state officials to narrow data collection to only what is necessary, establish clear limits on retention and sharing, strengthen consent requirements, and create oversight mechanisms to protect against misuse. Without these changes, the rules could expose individuals to identity theft, discourage civic participation, and erode public trust.

Credit unions requested that the bill’s rules be revised to ensure that implementation aligns with Oregon’s values of civil liberties, accountability, and respect for individual rights.

Credit Unions Urge Lawmakers to Protect Low-Income Oregonians from Rising DMV Fees

GoWest also raised concerns about proposed Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) fee increases that could disproportionately impact rural, low-income families. In a letter to lawmakers, Oregon’s credit unions shared feedback from the leadership Ken Olson, President/CEO of Old West Federal Credit Union in John Day, which serves members across eight counties with some of the state’s highest unemployment rates. Old West FCU frequently helps members escape predatory loans and high-interest debt by refinancing into lower-cost credit union loans. However, each refinance requires families to pay DMV title transfer fees—costs that could rise by up to 180% under proposed legislation.

Credit unions are asking the lawmakers to carve out an exception so borrowers who refinance existing loans aren’t forced to pay new title fees, arguing that this adjustment would provide meaningful relief for families already struggling to make ends meet, while supporting the credit unions’ mission of helping Oregonians build financial stability.

 

Posted in Advocacy on the Move, Oregon Advocacy.

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