Bill to silence union critics

By Oregon Senate Republican Caucus
May 28, 2025 

Today, Senate Democrats passed House Bill 3789, a deeply partisan measure that gives unions sweeping new powers to sue their political opponents while refusing to hold those same unions accountable for well-documented cases of fraud and deception against public employees.

HB 3789 creates a dangerously broad new definition of “false impersonation,” allowing union leaders to weaponize civil lawsuits against individuals or organizations that communicate with public employees about their rights under Janus v. AFSCME. However, false impersonation is already criminalized under existing Oregon law. The bill’s real target is the Freedom Foundation, a nonprofit that helps public employees understand their constitutional right to opt out of union membership and dues.

“Democrats had a choice: protect workers or protect their political allies. They chose the latter,” said Senate Republican Leader Daniel Bonham (R-The Dalles). “This bill targets one side of a political debate while turning a blind eye to serious, proven misconduct from their friends in labor leadership.”

Senate Republicans proposed a minority report that would have preserved the bill’s framework while adding equivalent protections for workers, giving public employees the right to sue unions for misrepresentation just as HB 3789 allows unions to sue others. Democrats rejected those protections on a party-line vote.

“If unions can sue over misleading tactics, workers should have the same right when unions are the ones deceiving them,” Bonham added. “Democrats made clear they have no interest in fairness—just protecting the political machine that keeps them in power. It’s another example of the culture of corruption that’s taken root in Salem, where special interests write the rules and Oregonians get left behind.”

Senate Republicans unanimously opposed HB 3789. The bill now moves to the Governor’s desk where it will almost certainly be signed into law.