HB 4097
Plain-language analysis
Generated analysis, not an official summary or legal advice. Confirm with linked Oregon documents.
HB 4097 authorizes the Oregon Ocean Science Trust to establish and operate a separate entity with federal tax-exempt status under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, enabling the trust to solicit tax-deductible donations to support its ocean science mission without creating state revenue or expenditure impacts.
Basis: Bill text · Source: Enrolled
Official sources do not state why this measure was proposed.
Sponsor testimony, staff summaries, committee materials, or statutory findings may explain it.
Inferred from cited text; not a stated purpose.
The measure likely aims to expand the Oregon Ocean Science Trust's funding base by allowing it to solicit tax-deductible contributions, which are not available through direct state appropriations or standard government entities. This inference is based on the authorization of a 501(c)(3) entity for 'advancing the mission' and the background noting the trust's role in securing funding for research and monitoring.
Basis: Inferred · Sources: Enrolled; Staff Measure Summary
Gains statutory authority to create and maintain a 501(c)(3) nonprofit entity, expanding its operational tools for fundraising and mission advancement.
Basis: Bill text · Source: Enrolled
Gain the ability to make tax-deductible contributions to the trust's activities through the new entity, subject to IRS approval.
Basis: Bill text · Source: Enrolled
No direct fiscal impact; enables private funding for public resource management goals without increasing state obligations.
Basis: Bill text · Source: Enrolled
The Trust must incorporate the entity, obtain an Employer Identification Number, and apply for IRS recognition of tax-exempt status. The new entity will be subject to federal 501(c)(3) compliance requirements, including governance standards, annual reporting, and restrictions on political activity. Formation and ongoing administrative costs are borne by the entity or trust, not the state, consistent with the 'No fiscal impact' determination.
Basis: Bill text · Sources: Enrolled; Fiscal Impact Statement INTRO
Oregon Ocean Science Trust and coastal communities
The nonprofit entity successfully leverages tax-deductible status to raise substantial private capital, fully funding multi-year nearshore ecosystem monitoring and research initiatives that would otherwise be unfunded, significantly enhancing coastal resilience and scientific knowledge.
Basis: Inferred · Source: Staff Measure Summary
Oregon Ocean Science Trust and public trust
The entity fails to maintain IRS compliance or engages in prohibited political advocacy, resulting in revocation of tax-exempt status, reputational damage to the Trust, and potential liability for misuse of funds, with no state mechanism to recover assets due to the separation of the nonprofit entity.
Basis: Inferred · Source: Enrolled
The distinction is between the authorized purpose (advancing mission via tax-exempt entity) and potential misuse (political activity, private benefit, evasion of public accountability).
Sources · Enrolled
The measure trades expanded fundraising capacity and operational flexibility for the new entity against increased administrative complexity, federal compliance burdens, and potential separation from direct public oversight.
Access to tax-deductible private capital reduces reliance on state appropriations; enhances ability to attract philanthropic support for ocean science.
Basis: Inferred · Source: Enrolled
Requires ongoing federal compliance and governance; introduces risk of mission drift or opacity in the nonprofit entity's operations.
Basis: Inferred · Source: Enrolled
No substantive text changes between the Introduced and Enrolled versions. The statutory authorization remains identical. Co-sponsorship expanded in the Enrolled version.
None.
none
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None.
none
Co-sponsorship expanded. The Enrolled version adds Representatives Gamba, Levy B, and Rieke Smith to the list of co-sponsors compared to the Introduced version.
low
Sources · Introduced; Enrolled
Tradeoff: None.
high confidence. The bill text is clear and unambiguous regarding the authorization. Fiscal impacts are explicitly stated as none by official sources. The rationale is inferred from standard nonprofit mechanisms and trust background, as no explicit legislative purpose statement is provided.
31 records currently loaded
Records available in the current snapshot.
Earliest loaded signal
Introduced bill text posted
Posted Jan 28, 2026, 3:25 PM PST
Follow the official text for HB 4097 and every amendment branch. Connections come from each amendment's stated base. Horizontal position shows when each document was first posted, when available.
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Selected document summary
No deeper official pre-number history was found.
Chief sponsors: Representative David Gomberg, Senator Dick Anderson, Senator David Brock Smith, House Majority Leader Ben Bowman
Regular sponsors: Representative Tom Andersen, Representative Court Boice, Representative Boomer Wright, Senator Suzanne Weber, Representative Sue Rieke Smith, Representative Bobby Levy, Representative Mark Gamba
House carrier
Representative David Gomberg
Third Reading Of House Bills
Senate carrier
Senator Dick Anderson
Third Reading Of House Measures
A carrier presents the measure or report but is not necessarily its sponsor or author.
Records already listed in Activity are not repeated here.
Official origin records are incomplete; missing facts are not inferred.
The artifact has broad business or technology relevance, but it does not identify a concrete effect on Yex Labs LLC.
74% confidence · deterministic fallback
31 events
Full timeline
31 entries shown.
Chapter 18, (2026 Laws): Effective date January 1, 2027.
Governor signed.
President signed.
Speaker signed.
Third reading. Carried by Anderson. Passed.
Ayes, 29; Excused, 1--Smith DB.
Carried over to 02-25 by unanimous consent.
Second reading.
Recommendation: Do pass.
Work Session held.
Work Session
Heard and Reported Out · Agenda item 4 · Room HR D · Authorizes the Oregon Ocean Science Trust to create and maintain a nonprofit organization.
IS_Impact HB 4097 INTRO
Revenue Impact Statement
Public Hearing held.
Public Hearing
Heard · Agenda item 3 · Room HR D · Authorizes the Oregon Ocean Science Trust to create and maintain a nonprofit organization.
Referred to Natural Resources and Wildfire.
First reading. Referred to President's desk.
Third reading. Carried by Gomberg. Passed.
Ayes, 57; Excused, 1--Valderrama; Excused for Business of the House, 2--Diehl, Skarlatos.
Second reading.
Recommendation: Do pass.
Work Session held.
Work Session
Heard and Reported Out · Agenda item 2 · Room HR 70 · Authorizes the Oregon Ocean Science Trust to create and maintain a nonprofit organization.
IS_Impact HB 4097 INTRO
Revenue Impact Statement
Public Hearing held.
Public Hearing
Heard · Agenda item 6 · Room HR 70 · Authorizes the Oregon Ocean Science Trust to create and maintain a nonprofit organization.
Referred to Agriculture, Land Use, Natural Resources, and Water.
First reading. Referred to Speaker's desk.
ovisions of the measure EFFECT OF AMENDMENT: No amendment. BACKGROUND: In 2009, House Bill 3106 created the Oregon Task Force on Nearshore Research to recommend long-term fund
regon Ocean Science Trust was created by the legislature through the passage of Senate Bill 737 in 2013. Its mission is to secure and distribute funding to promote ocean and c
d identified research and monitoring needs. As a result, the legislature passed Senate Bill 737 in 2013, creating the Oregon Ocean Science Trust to promote ocean and coastal r
“Authorizes the Oregon Ocean Science Trust to create and maintain a nonprofit organization.”
Confirm with the official record.
Supplemental, source-linked analysis from project researchers and community contributors. It is separate from Oregon's official record.