Kayse Jama is a Democratic and Working Families Party state senator from Oregon Senate District 24 who was appointed in January 2021, became Senate majority leader ahead of the 2025 session, and is seeking re-election on November 3, 2026.[1]
Kayse Jama was born in Somalia and emigrated to the United States in 1998 as a refugee, settling in Portland.[1]He earned a B.A. in sociology from Marylhurst University, and his career includes work as a nonprofit executive director, policy advisor and community organizer.[1]Jama co-founded the Center for Intercultural Organizing, now Unite Oregon.[1]
Jama ran for the Senate seat in 2018 and finished third in the Democratic primary behind Shemia Fagan and incumbent Rod Monroe.[1]Commissioners from Multnomah and Clackamas counties appointed him to the Senate in January 2021 to replace Fagan, who had been elected Oregon Secretary of State, and he was re-elected in 2022 with 59% of the vote.[1]He chaired the Housing and Development Committee in the 2021-2022 and 2023-2024 sessions, and was selected as Senate majority leader ahead of the 2025 session, replacing Kathleen Taylor.[1]
Their recorded votes on bills that divided the chamber (unanimous votes left out), grouped by topic. A bill can sit under more than one topic. "With" and "against" compare each vote with how most Democrats voted. How topics are assigned
›Jobs & cost of living267 with · 2 against269 votes
Digest: Declares that this state does not want a certain federal law to apply to consumer finance loans made in this state. Says who the laws that govern consumer finance loans in this state apply to and when. Says what needs to be in an application for a license to make consumer finance loans in this state. (Flesch Readability Score: 73.0). Declares that this state does not want the amendments set forth in section 521 of the Depository Institutions Deregulation and Monetary Control Act of 1980 to apply to consumer finance loans made in this state.
<b>Digest: The Act approves agency fees. (Flesch Readability Score: 66.4).</b> [<i>Digest: The Act creates an agency budget. (Flesch Readability Score: 73.8).</i>] [<i>Appropriates moneys from the General Fund to _____ for biennial expenses.</i>] [<i>Limits biennial expenditures from fees, moneys or other revenues, including Miscellaneous Receipts, but excluding lottery funds and federal funds, collected or received by _______.</i>] [<i>Limits biennial expenditures from federal funds.</i>] <b>Approves certain fees adopted by the Department of Consumer and Business Services.</b> Declares an…
Digest: The Act makes laws about unpaid wages for workers who work on construction projects. (Flesch Readability Score: 65.7). Makes an owner and a direct contractor jointly and severally liable in a civil action for any unpaid wages owed to the unrepresented employees of the direct contractor and subcontractors at any tier. Provides the statute of limitations for actions regarding recovery for unpaid wages.
Digest: This Act makes rules about how Medicare supplement policies work and when they can be offered. (Flesch Readability Score: 63.6). Prohibits the increased cost or denial of a Medicare supplement insurance policy due to a preexisting condition and establishes open enrollment standards for Medicare supplement policies.
Digest: Stops people in charge of companies that do not do medical work from running both the company and another entity that does medical work. Stops companies from telling their workers that they cannot work for someone else, say that the company is bad or speak out about bad acts. Stops companies from punishing those who speak out. (Flesch Readability Score: 61.3).
<b>Digest: The Act tells drug makers not to take actions that make it hard for a drug store to get certain drugs for health care providers, deliver the drugs to the providers, or dispense the drugs. Makes it a civil penalty to violate the Act. (Flesch Readability Score: 71.0).</b> [<i>Digest: The Act tells drug makers not to take actions that make it hard for a drug store to get certain drugs for health care providers, deliver the drugs to the providers or dispense the drugs.
Digest: The Act makes betting on dog races illegal. (Flesch Readability Score: 82.3). Prohibits wagering on dog races. Modifies animal racing law to remove references to greyhound racing. <b>Becomes operative July 1, 2027.</b>
Digest: The Act requires the Governor to appoint a U.S. Senator when a vacancy happens in the office. The Act states when the appointment ends and when a special election must occur. (Flesch Readability Score: 62.8). Requires the Governor to appoint a United States Senator when a vacancy in the office occurs.
Digest: The Act makes changes to laws about when juvenile court records may be expunged. (Flesch Readability Score: 71.7). Modifies the procedure for the expunction of certain juvenile records. Directs the juvenile department to initiate the statutory expunction process for juvenile records relating to acts that if committed by adults would constitute misdemeanors involving violence. Creates exceptions. Modifies venue for juvenile court expunction proceedings. Expands expunction eligibility for records relating to felonies.
Digest: The Act increases fees related to wells. The Act takes effect when the Governor signs it. (Flesch Readability Score: 77.1). Increases certain fees related to wells. Declares an emergency, effective on passage.
Digest: This Act makes changes to laws about areas with ground water quality problems. (Flesch Readability Score: 63.4). Modifies provisions of law related to declarations of ground water quality concern areas and ground water quality management areas. Directs the Governor to appoint an agency to lead an interagency team in ground water quality concern areas and ground water quality management areas.
<b>Digest: This Act tells the EQC to make landfills in Benton County test and fix methane gas leaks. (Flesch Readability Score: 85.0).</b> [<i>Digest: This Act tells the EQC to make landfills test and fix methane gas leaks. (Flesch Readability Score: 95.9).</i>] Requires the owner or operator of a municipal solid waste landfill <b>located in Benton County</b> to conduct surface emissions monitoring and report data as specified in the Act. Takes effect on the 91st day following adjournment sine die.
<b>Digest: Tells ODE to do an audit of the tests given to kindergarteners. (Flesch Readability Score: 67.7).</b> [<i>Digest: Directs ODE to study the state of education in this state. (Flesch Readability Score: 72.6).</i>] Requires the Department of Education to [<i>study the adequacy of public education in this state for kindergarten through grade 12</i>]<b> conduct an audit of assessments administered to kindergarteners in public schools</b>. Directs the department to submit findings to the interim committees of the Legislative Assembly related to education not later than September 15, 2026.
Digest: The Act creates an agency budget. (Flesch Readability Score: 73.8). Appropriates moneys from the General Fund to the Teacher Standards and Practices Commission for biennial expenses. Limits biennial expenditures from fees, moneys or other revenues, including Miscellaneous Receipts, but excluding lottery funds and federal funds, collected or received by the commission. Declares an emergency, effective July 1, 2025.
<b>Digest: The Act makes changes to the education laws of this state. The Act goes into effect when the Governor signs it. (Flesch Readability Score: 79.3).</b> [<i>Digest: Tells the HECC to study higher learning. (Flesch Readability Score: 78.8).</i>] [<i>Requires the Higher Education Coordinating Commission to study higher education.
Jun 11, 2025 · Failed 13–10 · against most DemocratsOfficial record ↗
Digest: Tells two state agencies to set rules for making housing easier to access and use for people with disabilities. Takes effect 91 days after the session ends. (Flesch Readability Score: 61.5). Requires the Director of the Department of Consumer and Business Services to adopt rules to conform the state building code to accessibility requirements under the Fair Housing Act and to certain American National Standards Institute standards for housing accessibility.
Digest: This Act requires the OHCS to create a statewide shelter program. (Flesch Readability Score: 72.6). Requires the Housing and Community Services Department to establish a statewide shelter program through which regional coordinators are selected to administer funding to shelter providers.<b> Sunsets January 2, 2034.</b> Requires the department to adopt rules on or before January 1, 2026, and to select regional coordinators on or before May 1, 2026. Declares an emergency, effective on passage.
Digest: This Act limits rent increases and sales constraints by a landlord in a home park or marina. (Flesch Readability Score: 70.1). [<i>Reduces</i>]<b> Fixes at six percent </b>maximum rent increases for rental spaces in a <b>larger</b> facility [<i>to match changes to the consumer price index. Limits to 10 percent the maximum increase in rent paid by the purchaser of a dwelling or home in a facility.</i>]<b> beginning in 2026.
<b>Digest: The Act tells ODOT to team up with the State of Washington and Vancouver, B.C., to make plans for rail. Adds more to passenger rail plan. Expands biennial report on rail. (Flesch Readability Score: 78.9).</b> [<i>Digest: The Act tells ODOT to team up with the State of Washington and Vancouver, B.C., to make plans for rail. The Act tells ODOT to report every two years to the JCT. (Flesch Readability Score: 79.5).</i>] <b>Expands requirements for the passenger rail plan.
Digest: The Act says the vote on the transportation ballot measure will be in May. (Flesch Readability Score: 77.8). Moves the election date for the parts of chapter 1, Oregon Laws 2025 (special session), referred to the people by Referendum Petition 2026-302, to the primary election held on May 19, 2026. Sets the procedure for the statewide special election on Referendum Petition 2026-302. Declares an emergency, effective on passage.
Digest: The Act creates an agency budget. (Flesch Readability Score: 73.8). Appropriates moneys from the General Fund to the Department of Transportation for certain biennial expenses. Limits certain biennial expenditures from fees, moneys or other revenues, including Miscellaneous Receipts and certain federal funds, but excluding lottery funds and other federal funds, collected or received by the department. Limits certain biennial expenditures by the department from other federal funds. Limits certain biennial expenditures by the department from lottery moneys.
<b>Digest: The Act says that a public body may not give certain data to a data broker unless the data broker says that it will not be used to enforce immigration law. The Act provides certain exceptions. (Flesch Readability Score: 64.0).</b> [<i>Digest: The Act says that a public body may not give certain data to a data broker unless the data broker says that it will not be used to enforce immigration law. A public body can also give out data under public records law or a court order.
<b>Digest: Requires a covered platform to have an agreement in order to access the online content of a news provider. Creates a group for civic information to give grants. (Flesch Readability Score: 62.7).</b> [<i>Digest: Makes online platforms pay online news providers and a group for civic information. Creates a group for civic information to give grants. (Flesch Readability Score: 61.0).</i>] [<i>Requires online platforms to pay moneys to digital journalism providers and the Oregon Civic Information Consortium.
Jun 24, 2025 · Failed 14–15 · against most DemocratsOfficial record ↗
Digest: Says that a person may not make a sales call by voice or text unless the person follows certain rules. (Flesch Readability Score: 80.7). Prohibits as an unlawful practice under the Unlawful Trade Practices Act a person's initiating a telephone solicitation outside specified hours or more than three separate times within a 24-hour period[<i>,</i>]<b> or</b> misrepresenting or falsifying the person's identity[<i>,</i>]<b> or</b> the purpose of the call [<i>or the location from which the person is calling or failing to make required disclosures or inquiries during the call</i>].
<b>Digest: Changes the term "militia" in the state statutes to "National Guard." (Flesch Readability Score: 64.9).</b> [<i>Digest: Changes the term "militia" in the state statutes to "national guard." (Flesch Readability Score: 64.9).</i>] Modifies terminology by changing statutory references to "militia" to [<i>"national guard."</i>]<b> "National Guard."</b> <b>Removes "unorganized militia."</b>
Digest: The Act lets deployed people get married even if they cannot be there in person if certain criteria are met. (Flesch Readability Score: 60.6). Modifies provisions regarding solemnization of marriage to permit deployed service members to be married remotely. .
<b>Digest: The Act would have Business Oregon give grants to small businesses for costs that are due to tariffs. The Act would have the agency work with other state and local bodies to update the state's unified trade strategy. (Flesch Readability Score: 60.6).</b> [<i>Digest: The Act would have Business Oregon give grants to small businesses for costs due to federal tariffs. The Act would have Business Oregon work with other state and local bodies to update the state's unified trade strategy. The Act would have DAS make a procurement reform roadmap by December 15 of this year.
Voted against most of their party on 4 of 269 party-divided votes on file.
Modifies exemption from the taxable estate for the value of natural resource property to accommodate interests owned through a trust or business entity.
What it does: Digest: The Act would make it so estates would not pay estate tax for farm, forestry or fishing interests that are owned by trusts and businesses. (Flesch Readability Score: 63.0). Modifies exemption from the taxable…
Voted yes · most Democrats voted no · Democrats 8–10, Republicans 11–0
Prohibits a covered platform from accessing for an Oregon audience the online content of a digital journalism provider without an agreement.
What it does: <b>Digest: Requires a covered platform to have an agreement in order to access the online content of a news provider. Creates a group for civic information to give grants. (Flesch Readability Score: 62.7).</b> [<i>Dig…
Voted no · most Democrats voted yes · Democrats 14–4, Republicans 0–11
Removes the shared responsibility model by which a qualified student, the student's family, the federal government and the state share the cost of education for the student.
What it does: Digest: Tells the HECC to give money to certain students to help with college costs. (Flesch Readability Score: 83.8). Removes the shared responsibility model by which a qualified student, the student's family, the fe…
Voted no · most Democrats voted yes · Democrats 12–1, Republicans 0–8
Modifies eligibility requirements for a scholarship program for teacher candidates.
What it does: <b>Digest: The Act makes changes to the education laws of this state. The Act goes into effect when the Governor signs it. (Flesch Readability Score: 79.3).</b> [<i>Digest: Tells the HECC to study higher learning. (Fl…
Voted no · most Democrats voted yes · Democrats 13–1, Republicans 0–9
Substantive votes concern legislation or nominations; procedural votes concern how the chamber considers them. A Yes vote applies to the motion shown, which may not be final passage.
HB 4016 · OR SENATE
Requires public contractors to demonstrate and maintain tax compliance, through a certification process, as a condition of the execution of a public contract.
YesVOTED
Motion: Third reading. Carried by Frederick. Passed.
Digest: Says that people who get public contracts must obey tax laws and must show proof of compliance with tax laws. (Flesch Readability Score: 76.8). Requires public contractors to demonstrate and maintain tax compliance, through a certification process, as a condition of the execution of a public contract. Becomes operative January 1, 2027. Directs the Secretary of State to study methods for collecting information through business registry function to ensure tax compliance by persons doing business in this state. Takes effect on the 91st day following adjournment sine die.
Establishes the Housing Opportunity, Longevity and Durability Fund to deposit Article XI-Q bonds to be used by the Housing and Community Services Department to preserve affordable housing at risk of loss.
YesVOTED
Motion: Third reading. Carried by Pham. Passed.
Digest: This Act sets up a bond fund to preserve low-cost housing and requires OHCS to report on low-cost housing barriers. (Flesch Readability Score: 63.8). Establishes the Housing Opportunity, Longevity and Durability Fund to deposit Article XI-Q bonds to be used by the Housing and Community Services Department to preserve affordable housing at risk of loss.
Authorizes the State Treasurer to issue Article XI-Q general obligation bonds to finance renovation or expansion of courthouses.
YesVOTED
Motion: Third reading. Carried by Smith DB. Passed.
<b>Digest: The Act lets the State Treasurer issue bonds to pay to expand or renovate courthouses. The Act also changes who has to notify the court, and when, if a defendant found unfit to proceed is not complying with CRS. (Flesch Readability Score: 65.5).</b> [<i>Digest: The Act lets the State Treasurer issue bonds to pay to expand or renovate courthouses. (Flesch Readability Score: 61.8).</i>] Authorizes the State Treasurer to issue Article XI-Q general obligation bonds to finance renovation or expansion of courthouses.
Directs the Oregon Business Development Department to set up a program for micro-enterprise tariff adjustment grants to small businesses for costs increased by federal tariffs.
YesVOTED
Motion: Third reading. Carried by McLane. Passed.
<b>Digest: The Act would have Business Oregon give grants to small businesses for costs that are due to tariffs. The Act would have the agency work with other state and local bodies to update the state's unified trade strategy. (Flesch Readability Score: 60.6).</b> [<i>Digest: The Act would have Business Oregon give grants to small businesses for costs due to federal tariffs. The Act would have Business Oregon work with other state and local bodies to update the state's unified trade strategy. The Act would have DAS make a procurement reform roadmap by December 15 of this year.
Requires the State Treasurer to use up to $44 million from the Unclaimed Property and Estates Fund to guarantee a loan made to a rural hospital for financial stabilization.
YesVOTED
Motion: Rules suspended. Third reading. Carried by Smith DB. Passed.
<b>Digest: This Act makes the State Treasurer use unclaimed moneys to guarantee a loan to a hospital. (Flesch Readability Score: 63.6).</b> [<i>Digest: This Act lets the State Treasurer loan unclaimed moneys to rural hospitals. (Flesch Readability Score: 60.7).</i>] [<i>Authorizes</i>]<b> Requires</b> the State Treasurer to [<i>loan</i>]<b> use</b> up to [<i>20 percent of</i>] <b>$44 million from </b>the Unclaimed Property and Estates Fund to <b>guarantee a loan made to a</b> rural [<i>hospitals</i>]<b> hospital</b> for financial stabilization. Declares an emergency, effective on passage.
<b>Digest: The Act would set up a Joint Permitting Council to run a fast track permit program. The Act would direct certain state agencies to publish a list of certain permits that can be issued by the agencies. The Act would adjust certain requirements of the enterprise zone program and restrict the use of the program for data centers. The Act would adjust the tax credit for a taxpayer that creates new jobs.
Directs the Oregon Business Development Department to develop a roadmap for the purpose of promoting industrial symbiosis activities in Oregon.
YesVOTED
Motion: Third reading. Carried by Sollman. Passed.
<b>Digest: The Act would have Business Oregon make a plan to boost industrial symbiosis, which means the use of the resources of one firm by a second firm. The Act would set up four pilots that would get tech help from the agency for symbiosis projects. The Act would let certain county service districts fund their facilities with the charges they collect. (Flesch Readability Score: 62.7).</b> [<i>Digest: The Act would have Business Oregon make a plan to boost industrial symbiosis, which means the use of the resources of one firm by a second firm.
Requires owners or operators of bulk oils or liquid fuels terminals to obtain a certificate of financial responsibility from the Department of Environmental Quality.
YesVOTED
Motion: Rules suspended. Third reading. Carried by Frederick. Passed.
Digest: This Act makes owners of bulk oils and liquid fuels terminals show they can cover the costs of oil or fuel spills. (Flesch Readability Score: 80.6). Requires owners or operators of bulk oils or liquid fuels terminals to obtain a certificate of financial responsibility from the Department of Environmental Quality. Directs the Environmental Quality Commission to establish rules pertaining to certificates of financial responsibility. Requires the department to report to the Legislative Assembly on the implementation of the Act each even-numbered year.
Creates authority to coordinate emergency management.
YesVOTED
Motion: Rules suspended. Third reading. Carried by Manning Jr. Passed.
Digest: The Act creates new systems and structures and changes law to improve emergency response in the state. (Flesch Readability Score: 65.1). Creates [<i>statewide emergency preparedness offices and authorities</i>] <b>authority</b> to coordinate emergency management. [<i>Authorizes bonding for public safety projects.</i>] Requires state agencies to designate liaisons for emergency management. Imposes duties on the Oregon Department of Emergency Management related to management of emergency preparedness assets.
Requires the Oregon Health Authority to adopt a payment mechanism to pay certain nonprofit reproductive health care providers that are not eligible to receive federal Medicaid funds for services provided to medical assistance recipients.
YesVOTED
Motion: Third reading. Carried by Patterson. Passed.
Digest: The Act allows OHA to pay health care providers that may not receive federal Medicaid funds. The Act requires OHA to pay providers using only state funds. (Flesch Readability Score: 62.7). Requires the Oregon Health Authority to adopt a payment mechanism to pay certain nonprofit reproductive health care providers that are not eligible to receive federal Medicaid funds for services provided to medical assistance recipients.
