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Read. Follow. Verify.Oregon restricts automated license plate readers, permits data-misuse lawsuits, and updates pretrial rules
Last action · April 6, 2026: Effective date, March 31, 2026.
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What This Bill Does
Senate Bill 1516 restricts law enforcement agencies' use of automated license plate recognition (ALPR) systems, permits individuals to sue third-party vendors for data misuse, and clarifies authority in pretrial release decisions. The Act takes effect immediately upon passage on March 31, 2026.
Residents gain explicit legal standing to sue ALPR system vendors for economic and noneconomic damages if personal data is improperly accessed, sold, or shared, while law enforcement agencies face strict data retention limits and mandatory public audits.
Who It Affects
Groups the bill's text affects, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.
Law enforcement agencies
Law enforcement agencies must comply with strict authorized use criteria, 30-day data retention caps, mandatory search logging, and public audit publication requirements.
ALPR system vendors
Vendors are prohibited from monetizing or misusing data, must provide monthly and quarterly audits, and face direct civil liability and damages for unauthorized data access or disclosure.
Motorists and vehicle owners
Residents gain privacy protections regarding license plate scanning, mandatory visual verification before stops, and the right to sue vendors for data misuse.
Key Facts
You don't have to trust us. Each fact below is taken straight from the official document - click any one to see the exact passage, highlighted in the original.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long can police keep my license plate scan data?
Can private citizens sue ALPR vendors for misusing their data?
Must police visually check a vehicle before making an ALPR-based traffic stop?
What else do you want to know?
News Coverage
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Votes, people, money & the original sourceWhere This Stands
Current status: Signed into law.
Procedural history
21 actions- Apr 6, 2026SenateEffective date, March 31, 2026.
- Apr 6, 2026SenateChapter 77, 2026 Laws.
- Mar 31, 2026SenateGovernor signed.
- Mar 6, 2026HouseSpeaker signed.
- Mar 6, 2026SenatePresident signed.
- Mar 5, 2026HouseVote explanation(s) filed by Nathanson.
Show 15 earlier actions
- Mar 5, 2026HouseThird reading. Carried by Kropf. Passed.
- Mar 4, 2026HouseSecond reading.
- Mar 3, 2026HouseRecommendation: Do pass.
- Mar 3, 2026HouseWork Session held.
- Mar 2, 2026HousePublic Hearing held.
- Feb 24, 2026HouseReferred to Rules.
- Feb 24, 2026HouseFirst reading. Referred to Speaker's desk.
- Feb 20, 2026SenateThird reading. Carried by Prozanski. Passed.
- Feb 19, 2026SenateSecond reading.
- Feb 18, 2026SenateRecommendation: Do pass with amendments. (Printed A-Eng.)
- Feb 16, 2026SenateWork Session held.
- Feb 11, 2026SenatePublic Hearing held.
- Feb 9, 2026SenatePublic Hearing held.
- Feb 2, 2026SenateReferred to Judiciary.
- Feb 2, 2026SenateIntroduction and first reading. Referred to President's desk.
Version history
Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.
View official text →Lobbying Activity
No state lobbying filings in our records match this bill. Federal lobbying reports (LDA) cover Congress, so they are not listed on state bills.
Full breakdown
Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.
Discoveries
Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.
Establishment of Statutory Vendor Liability for ALPR Data
Senate Bill 1516 introduces explicit private rights of action and civil liability for private technology vendors that misuse police surveillance data.
Connected Entities
Sources
olis.oregonlegislature.gov
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance85How much this matters to a regular citizen
- Controversy50Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment10Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz45Current news / social attention level
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