ORS 358.018: Duties of Oregon Historical Society.

(1) The Oregon Historical Society shall advise the Department of Transportation on acquisition, development and operation of historic places. (2) The Department of Transportation shall consider the advice of the Oregon Historical Society, particularly advice regarding the designation of historic buildings, sites and other historic places. [Formerly 358.770] (Temporary provisions relating to the renaming of geographic features) Sec. 1. (1) As used in this section: (a) “Interested party” means an individual or entity with a right to property that may be affected by a change of name pursuant to this section. (b) “Offensive” means insulting and derogatory to any of Oregon’s nine federally recognized Indian tribes or to any race, nationality or ethnicity. (2) The executive secretary of the Oregon Geographic Names Board shall: (a) Compile a list of geographic features including, but not limited to, mountains, buttes, gulleys, gulches, rivers and creeks in Oregon that bear offensive names; and (b) Begin a process of determining new names for the geographic features. (3)(a) In fulfilling the duties imposed under subsection (2) of this section, the executive secretary shall consult with: (A) The Oregon Geographic Names Board; (B) Oregon’s nine federally recognized Indian tribes; (C) County and municipal leaders; (D) Representatives of state government; (E) Local landowners; and (F) Interested parties. (b) Leaders and representatives shall be consulted only with respect to geographic features within the jurisdictions they represent. (4)(a) The executive secretary shall provide the following items to the persons listed in paragraph (b) of this subsection: (A) The list compiled under subsection (2)(a) of this section; (B) A summary of the process by which geographic features are named; and (C) Detailed instructions on how Oregonians may propose a name for a geographic feature. (b) The persons referred to in paragraph (a) of this subsection are: (A) All members of the Legislative Assembly on the date on which the list is provided; (B) Oregon’s nine federally recognized Indian tribes; (C) All members of the governing bodies of all Oregon counties on the date on which the list is provided; and (D) All county historical societies in this state. (5) The executive secretary shall submit proposals to the U.S. Board on Geographic Names recommending names that are not offensive for all geographic features on the list compiled under subsection (2)(a) of this section no later than the date that is three years following the effective date of this 2025 Act [June 9, 2025]. [2025 c.284 §1] Sec. 2. Section 1 of this 2025 Act is repealed on January 2, 2029. [2025 c.284 §2] Sec. 3. (1) The executive secretary of the Oregon Geographic Names Board shall submit a report, in the manner provided in ORS 192.245, on the progress made in fulfilling the duties imposed under section 1 of this 2025 Act, to the interim committees of the Legislative Assembly related to history, no later than February 1, 2026. (2) The executive secretary shall provide the list as required under section 1 (4) of this 2025 Act no later than August 1, 2026. [2025 c.284 §3] (Temporary provisions relating to the America 250 Oregon Commission) Sec. 1. (1) The America 250 Oregon Commission is established, consisting of 27 members appointed as provided in subsection (2) of this section. (2)(a) The President of the Senate shall appoint two nonvoting members from among members of the Senate, one from the majority party and one from the minority party. (b) The Speaker of the House of Representatives shall appoint two nonvoting members from among members of the House of Representatives, one from the majority party and one from the minority party. (c) The Governor shall appoint 13 voting members as follows: (A) One member representing the Oregon Heritage Commission. (B) One member representing the Oregon Arts Commission. (C) One member representing the Trust for Cultural Development Board. (D) One member representing the Commission on Black Affairs. (E) One member representing the Commission on Asian and Pacific Islander Affairs. (F) One member representing the Commission on Hispanic Affairs. (G) One member representing the Commission for Women. (H) Six members representing the public at large. (d) The following 10 voting members shall serve ex officio: (A) The Executive Director of the Oregon Historical Society or the executive director’s designee. (B) The State Treasurer or the treasurer’s designee. (C) The Secretary of State or the secretary’s designee. (D) The Deputy Superintendent of Public Instruction or the deputy superintendent’s designee. (E) The State Parks and Recreation Director or the director’s designee. (F) The Director of the Oregon Business Development Department or the director’s designee. (G) The executive director of the Oregon Tourism Commission or the executive director’s designee. (H) The Director of Veterans’ Affairs or the director’s designee. (I) The Governor’s director of tribal affairs or the director’s designee. (J) The Executive Officer of the Commission on Indian Services or the executive officer’s designee. (e) The America 250 Oregon Commission may by majority vote invite additional individuals to serve as nonvoting honorary members of the commission. (f) If there is a vacancy for any cause, the appointing authority shall make an appointment to become immediately effective. (3) The commission shall: (a) Coordinate and provide guidance for Oregon’s official observance of the 250th anniversary of the establishment of the United States, as marked by the Declaration of Independence in 1776. (b) Consult with the nine federally recognized Indian tribes in Oregon when planning and developing activities throughout the state in order to meaningfully include Oregon’s tribal history. (c) Seek to ensure an official observance that is inclusive and shares the histories of Oregon’s diverse populations, including the histories of the Native American peoples who have an ancestral and tradition connection to this state. (4) The commission may: (a) Adopt rules necessary for the operation of the commission; (b) Cooperate with national, regional, state, local and Native American organizations, institutions, bodies and other public or private entities that are promoting the semiquincentennial; (c) Plan, conduct and assist with semiquincentennial events; (d) Plan, support and produce educational resources and programs related to the semiquincentennial; (e) Engage in and encourage fundraising activities, including, but not limited to, the solicitation of charitable gifts, grants or donations; (f) Coordinate interagency participation in the observance; (g) Create subcommittees of the commission comprising members of the commission, members appointed from the public at large and honorary members to further the goals of the commission; and (h) Engage in any other activity related to the powers and duties conferred on the commission under this section. (5) The commission shall meet at times and places specified by the call of the chairperson or of a majority of the voting members of the commission. (6) A majority of the voting members of the commission constitutes a quorum for the transaction of business. (7) Official action by the commission requires the approval of a majority of the voting members of the commission. (8) The Executive Director of the Oregon Historical Society or the executive director’s designee shall serve as chairperson. (9) The Oregon Historical Society shall: (a) Provide staff support to the commission. (b) Direct and supervise the budgeting, recordkeeping, reporting and related administrative and clerical functions of the commission. (c) Print and disseminate for the commission any required notices, rules or orders adopted by the commission. (d) Expend and allocate any appropriations authorized by the Legislative Assembly to carry out the purposes of this section. (e) Collect all revenues other than those appropriated by the Legislative Assembly and use them for the purposes of this section. (10) The Oregon Historical Society may employ personnel, contract for services and receive, expend and allocate the proceeds of gifts, grants and donations on behalf of the commission for the purposes of this section. (11) Voting members of the commission are entitled to compensation and expenses as provided in ORS 292.495. (12) All agencies of state government, as defined in ORS 174.111, are directed to assist the commission in the performance of the duties of the commission and, to the extent permitted by laws relating to confidentiality, to furnish information and advice that the members of the commission consider necessary to perform their duties. (13) No later than September 15 of each year, the commission shall submit a report in the manner provided by ORS 192.245 to the interim committees of the Legislative Assembly related to historical commemorations. The report may include recommendations for legislation. [2024 c.54 §1] Sec. 2. Sections 1 and 1b of this 2024 Act are repealed on January 2, 2028. [2024 c.54 §2]