Oregon House Bill HB3553

Oregon 2025 Regular Session

• Introduced: 2/11/25
• Refer: 2/12/25
• Refer: 4/15/25

Caption

Relating to controlled substance crimes; declaring an emergency.

Summary

HB 3553 creates a new felony offense aimed at the manufacture and distribution of equipment used to make counterfeit or illicit drugs. The bill makes it unlawful, unless authorized by registration, to possess, purchase, make, deliver, sell, or possess with intent to sell or deliver a tableting machine, encapsulating machine, or controlled substance counterfeiting materials when the person knows, intends, or has reasonable cause to believe the item will be used to manufacture a controlled substance or counterfeit substance. A violation is classified as a Class C felony, with sentencing tied to crime category 6 under Oregon’s sentencing guidelines. The bill also amends Oregon’s existing controlled-substance crime statute, ORS 475.916, by removing a prior misdemeanor provision that specifically addressed counterfeit-drug making tools and replacing it with the new felony section. It includes an emergency clause, so it would take effect immediately upon passage rather than waiting for the usual effective date.

Impact

HB 3553 would expand Oregon’s controlled-substance enforcement framework by elevating conduct involving pill presses and similar drug-manufacturing equipment from a misdemeanor-style provision in ORS 475.916 to a standalone Class C felony. The measure would affect people who possess or traffic in tableting machines, encapsulating machines, or counterfeiting materials, as well as businesses or registrants that may lawfully handle such equipment under ORS 475.125. It also updates sentencing treatment by directing courts to use crime category 6 for sentencing guideline purposes.

Sentiment

The available legislative history suggests generally favorable committee treatment, with the House committee voting 8-0 to refer the bill to Ways and Means without recommendation as to passage. No committee transcript excerpts are provided, so there is no recorded floor or hearing debate to indicate broader public or member opposition. The emergency clause and the bill’s focus on drug enforcement suggest the measure was treated as a public-safety response.

Contention

The main policy issue is whether Oregon should criminalize possession and trafficking of pill presses, encapsulating machines, and related counterfeiting materials as a felony when there is knowledge or reason to believe they will be used for drug manufacture. Potential points of contention include the breadth of the knowledge standard, whether the bill could reach legitimate industrial or pharmaceutical equipment, and whether felony penalties are proportionate compared with the prior misdemeanor treatment. The bill text itself carves out authorized conduct under registration, which may address some concerns from lawful manufacturers or registrants.