Oregon Senate unanimously passes bill protecting trafficking survivors’ testimony
SALEM, Ore. (KTVZ) — The Oregon Senate passed House Bill 4157 unanimously on Tuesday. This legislation expands state hearsay exemptions to ensure survivors of human trafficking can have their testimony presented as evidence in court trials.
Existing Oregon law allows limited hearsay exemptions for crimes involving domestic violence and child abuse. House Bill 4157 extends these same protections to victims of labor and sex trafficking, acknowledging that traffickers often use intimidation, threats or financial dependence to keep victims from testifying in person.
Sen. Kathleen Taylor (D-SE Portland & Milwaukie) sponsored the measure. She noted that she has spent her legislative career working to combat both sex and labor trafficking. "I have worked to combat sex and labor trafficking my entire legislative career and time and time again I have heard from advocates and District Attorneys about how this change would empower victims and hold traffickers accountable," Taylor said on the Senate floor.
Advocacy groups and survivors provided widespread support for the change during the legislative process. Robin Miller, an advocate and survivor with Empowered Network, testified about the importance of capturing a victim's account as soon as possible. "Early statements are often the most truthful, because they are made before fear, threats, financial dependence, or manipulation has time to take hold again," Miller said.
Rep. Thủy Trần (D-NE Portland) also sponsored the bill and emphasized the message it sends to victims regarding their safety. Trần argued that the legal system must account for the ways traffickers forcefully keep survivors away from the courtroom. "By passing this bill, we have told survivors that their safety matters and we won't let their voices be silenced by a trafficker's intimidation," Trần said. "We ensure that justice is no longer denied because a victim was forcefully kept away from a courtroom."
To be admissible under the new rule, a statement must describe an incident of human trafficking or related crimes involving commercial sex acts. The victim must have made the statement within 24 hours of the incident. These statements must be recorded electronically, in writing, or made to a peace officer, corrections officer, emergency medical provider or firefighter.
The bill includes specific guardrails to ensure the reliability of the evidence presented in court. Judges will consider factors such as the victim's personal knowledge, timing and whether the statement was corroborated by other evidence. These requirements mirror the protections currently used for other hearsay exemptions in Oregon law.
House Bill 4157 now moves to the Governor's desk for her signature. The act is scheduled to take effect on the 91st day after the 2026 regular session of the 83rd Oregon Legislative Assembly adjourns.
