PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) – The Oregon House passed a bipartisan bill on Thursday that would clear fines for possessing small amounts of marijuana.

House Bill 3825 comes after Oregon legalized possession of less than one ounce of marijuana for adults 21 years of age and older in 2015.

That was followed by former Governor Kate Brown’s decision in 2022 to pardon tens of thousands of state-level convictions and fines; however, Democratic lawmakers say there is still a critical gap where local court cases were not included.

As a result, some Oregonians face debt in city and county courts despite small marijuana possession no longer being a crime.

In a statement on Thursday, Representative Willy Chotzen (D-Southeast Portland) who carried the bill, explained, “These fines are all at least a decade old and have disproportionately fallen on low-income communities and people of color. By eliminating debt for conduct that is now perfectly legal, this bill will make it easier for Oregonians to access housing, school, and jobs.”

Lawmakers noted that in Oregon, court debt from criminal cases can be collected for a maximum of 20 years, while Washington and California allow collection for up to 10 years.

Most debts that would be cleared by this bill have been sent to collections, damaging their holders’ credit scores, leading to long-term barriers for stability, Democratic lawmakers said. Without having those fines cleared, lawmakers argue those affected may never have the chance to clear their records for an “outdated offense.”

“A one-time bad decision shouldn’t follow someone for the rest of their life when that person has continued to follow the law for many years,” said Rep. Tom Andersen (D-South Salem).

"For so many Oregonians, court fines become a barrier between them and the rest of their lives. Everything from housing to job placement can be hampered by fines and fees that follow you for decades—even after you’ve done the work to turn your life around. I’m not in favor of eliminating accountability. Far from it,” added Rep. Shannon Isadore (D -NW & Downtown Portland, Linnton & Cathedral Park). “I’d like to see a system that recognizes when someone has taken real steps forward and removes unnecessary roadblocks that keep them from building something better." 

After passing the House, the bill is headed to the Senate for further consideration.