Relating to state financial administration; and declaring an emergency.
Senate Bill 5544 approves a set of new and increased fees adopted by the Oregon State Board of Chiropractic Examiners and reviewed by the Oregon Department of Administrative Services. The bill covers fees for chiropractic physicians and chiropractic assistants, including initial applications, background checks, licenses, annual renewals, inactive status, delinquent renewals, and criminal background checks. It also authorizes several civil penalty amounts for specific compliance failures, such as not updating contact information, not paying board debts, not meeting continuing education requirements, and failing to report certain criminal matters or designate a records custodian.
The measure is framed as part of state financial administration and takes effect July 1, 2025, under an emergency clause. By approving these fees in statute, it gives legal effect to the board’s updated fee schedule and penalty structure, affecting chiropractors, chiropractic assistants, and applicants regulated by the board. The bill does not create a new licensing program, but it changes the cost of compliance and enforcement under the Oregon chiropractic regulatory system.
SB 5544 amends Oregon’s regulatory fee structure for the State Board of Chiropractic Examiners by approving new and increased fees under ORS 291.055(1)(e). It directly affects chiropractic physicians, chiropractic assistants, reciprocity applicants, and licensees subject to renewal, delinquency, background check, and civil penalty provisions. The bill also reinforces the board’s enforcement authority by setting specific monetary penalties for administrative and professional compliance violations, and it takes effect immediately on July 1, 2025 due to the declared emergency.
The bill appears to have received generally favorable legislative support, though not unanimously. It passed the Senate committee on a 14-7 vote, then cleared Senate third reading 20-8 and House third reading 32-20. The vote pattern suggests broad enough support to advance, but with a meaningful minority expressing reservations about the fee increases or enforcement penalties.
The main points of contention are likely the size of the fee increases and the added civil penalties, especially for late renewals, nonpayment, continuing education shortfalls, and reporting obligations. Those concerns would most likely come from legislators wary of increasing costs on licensed professionals or expanding administrative penalties. Supporters, including the Department of Administrative Services and the chiropractic board, appear to have viewed the changes as necessary to maintain regulatory operations and compliance enforcement.