Gov. Tina Kotek May Veto Sending State Money to Study Impacts of Decriminalizing Sex Work

“The Governor believes it can and should be privately funded.”

29994612241_317a6a7bbc_o Oregon Health and Sciences University was supposed to receive funding to study the decriminalization of sex work. (Ian Sane / Flickr)
By Lucas Manfield

Last month, WW reported that legislators wanted to spend $600,000 on a pair of studies, one by the state Criminal Justice Commission and the other by Oregon Health & Science University, to study the impacts of decriminalizing sex work.

Now Gov. Tina Kotek says she’s considering vetoing the proposals. A press release listing seven “potential vetoes” includes both. “While there is value to this study, particularly as it relates to understanding disproportionate impacts on communities of color, the Governor believes it can and should be privately funded,” it explains.

Decriminalizing sex work has many prominent Portland backers, including state Rep. Rob Nosse (D-Portland), who sponsored legislation in 2021 that would have invalidated the state’s prostitution statutes. But that bill never received widespread support.

Some of the other proposals on the chopping block are $1 million for the Willamette Career Academy and a Salem streetcar feasibility study.

Not included on the list: a bill that would allow Oregonian to pump their own gas, and a bill decriminalizing the distribution of “drug paraphernalia” for harm reduction purposes.

Gov. Kotek will announce her final decision Aug. 4.

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