The Oregon Legislature adjourned Friday, March 6, marking the end of the 2026 short legislative session. While the session has ended, Lines for Life’s advocacy for mental health and substance abuse continues.
Our Legislative Priorities: What Passed
This session, Lines for Life championed two bills that will protect Oregonians from emerging threats to mental health and public health. We’re excited to share that both bills SB 1546 and SB 1571 have passed the State House and Senate and are heading to Gov. Tina Kotek’s desk.
SB 1546 addresses a growing crisis: young people turning to artificial intelligence chatbots for emotional support, with devastating consequences. The bill requires AI companion platforms to:
- Detect signs of suicidal ideation and self-harm.
- Immediately refer users experiencing crisis to resources like 988.
- Implement additional protections when the user is a minor.
- Report annually to the Oregon Health Authority on crisis referrals.
Research shows 72% of teens use AI companions, with more than half as regular users. Tragically, there have been multiple cases of AI chatbots contributing to teen suicides.
“We know that intervention works,” said Lines for Life CEO Dwight Holton. “If we can convince our partners in the industry and legislatively establish guardrails that require that kind of connection to intervention, we will get folks from that path of despair to a path of hope.”
SB 1546 passed the Senate 26-1 and the House 52-0.
SB 1571 closes a dangerous loophole in Oregon’s tobacco laws regulating nicotine pouches — flavored products like Zyns that are marketed with youth-appealing flavors and can be purchased online with minimal age verification.
The bill:
- Expands the definition of nicotine products to include pouches.
- Prohibits online sales to anyone other than licensed distributors and retailers.
- Aligns nicotine pouch regulations with existing protections for cigarettes, e-cigarettes, and vape products.
Nicotine pouches are flavored, easily concealed, and growing in popularity among youth. Right now, Oregon has no state law restricting the sale of these products, even to kids. This legislation protects young Oregonians from Big Tobacco’s latest tactic to hook a new generation on nicotine.
Gov. Kotek now has 30 full weekdays to take action on these bills. She can:
- Sign the bill into law.
- Veto the bill.
- Allow the bill to become law without her signature.
If signed, SB 1546 will take effect Jan. 1, 2027, and SB 1571’s effective date will be determined by the final language of the bill.
What’s Next
While we’re proud of these victories, the real work of protecting Oregonians’ mental health happens beyond the legislative session. Policy change is just one piece of building a healthier Oregon.
Here’s how you can continue advocating for behavioral health:
- Contact Gov. Kotek and urge her to sign SB 1546 and SB 1571. Personal stories are powerful. If you or someone you love has been impacted by AI chatbots or youth nicotine use, share your story. Email: [email protected] or call 503-378-4582.
- Stay connected with your legislators. Just because the session has ended doesn’t mean your legislators stop working. They’re already positioning issues for the 2027 session. Let them know behavioral health is a priority for you. Find your legislators at oregonlegislature.gov and share how these issues affect your community.
- Track legislation and stay informed about behavioral health policy in Oregon, by following bills at oregonlegislature.gov. Also, make sure to sign up for Lines for Life’s newsletter for continued advocacy updates.
Thank you to the legislators who supported these bills and every advocate who showed up, called their elected officials, shared their stories, and made their voices heard.
