New year brings variety of new Oregon laws

As Oregonians prepare to ring in the New Year, they ‘re also preparing for a lineup of new laws that go into effect on Friday, Jan. 1 st .

Some of the most notable laws passed by the Oregon Legislature this summer affect the workplace, education and transportation.

On New Year’s Day, Oregon will become the first state to implement over the-counter birth control for women. Two new laws will take affect, the first allows pharmacists to prescribe birth control without a doctor’s note, though a health-screen questionnaire will be provided. The second will require insurers to cover a 12-month supply, avoiding frequent refills.

In the workplace, Oregon employers with 10 or more workers will get up to five days of paid sick leave a year.

And the “Ban the Box” bill prohibits employers from asking employees about criminal history on a job application. They can still ask during an interview, but the goal is to prevent discrimination against ex-offenders by allowing them to get an interview.

Also, new workplace protections go into affect for domestic workers such as housekeepers, nannies and groundskeepers. They have to be offered rest periods, earned overtime pay and paid vacation time.

New state and local marijuana laws will continue taking shape in 2016. Recreational marijuana will be taxed 17 percent by the state, while local governments can add 3 percent above that.

With the 2016 election around the corner, a new “motor voter” law takes effect and the state will automatically register eligible voters when they a get driver’s license. That could add hundreds of thousands of Oregonians to voter rolls; the new driver’s license-holders can opt out of voter registration, or choose a party affiliation (the default will be non-affiliated).

Education laws will affect students of all ages. Students must start attending school at 6, not 7. Parents can opt their children out of taking standardized testing, and 4,000 to 6,000 community college students will get some or all of their tuition paid by the state.

Getting around might be a little different, too. Starting January, drivers will be able to pump their own gas between 6 p.m. and 6 a.m. in counties with fewer than 40,000 residents, including Jefferson and Crook counties.

And last but – not least? – Portland NBA fans can now show off their pride. In 2016, you can buy a Trail Blazers license plate.