Oregon House Bill HB3368

Oregon 2025 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/28/25
• Refer: 1/30/25

Caption

Relating to district attorneys; prescribing an effective date.

Summary

House Bill 3368 changes how deputy district attorneys (DDAs) are compensated in Oregon. Under current law, counties may authorize district attorneys to appoint one or more DDAs, with compensation set and paid by the county. This bill would require DDAs to be paid monthly salaries under the state salary plan, rather than compensation fixed solely by county officials. The measure also shifts part of the cost of those salaries from counties to the state. It directs the state to reimburse a county for the full salary of one deputy district attorney and for half of the salary of the other deputy district attorneys appointed by the district attorney. The bill applies to ORS 8.760 and is scheduled to become operative on January 1, 2026, with an overall effective date 91 days after adjournment of the 2025 regular session.

Impact

HB 3368 would amend Oregon law governing county district attorney offices by changing the funding structure for deputy district attorneys. It would replace county-set compensation with salaries tied to the state salary plan and create a state reimbursement obligation for counties, thereby increasing state financial responsibility while reducing the share borne by counties. The bill directly affects ORS 8.760 and would alter payroll and budgeting practices for county prosecutors’ offices statewide.

Sentiment

No committee transcript or recorded vote information was provided, so there is no documented debate or formal vote history to indicate support or opposition. Based on the text alone, the bill appears administrative and fiscal in nature, aimed at standardizing compensation and reallocating costs between state and county government rather than changing criminal law policy.

Contention

The main likely point of contention is fiscal responsibility: counties may favor state reimbursement for prosecutor salaries, while the state may be concerned about increased ongoing costs. Another possible issue is control over local staffing and compensation, since the bill moves deputy district attorney pay from county discretion to the state salary plan. No specific individuals or groups are identified in the provided materials as taking positions on these issues.