Rep. Yunker’s: My lifesaving cardiac bill clears Legislature

Yunker’s Lifesaving Cardiac Preparedness Bill Clears Legislature
By State Representative Dwayne Yunker,

SALEM, ORE. – Today the Oregon Senate passed House Bill 4160, Representative Dwayne Yunker’s (R-Grants Pass) lifesaving legislation to strengthen cardiac emergency preparedness standards in K–12 schools across Oregon.

Developed in partnership with the American Heart Association and supported by medical professionals and school safety advocates, the bill requires schools to incorporate a cardiac emergency response plan into existing emergency procedures, improving coordination, training, and access to lifesaving equipment when seconds matter most.

“Getting to know Kaleb, a young constituent from Grants Pass living with serious congenital heart disease, made this issue deeply personal for me,” said Representative Yunker. “His experience is a powerful reminder that cardiac emergencies can happen without warning, and preparation in those first critical minutes can mean the difference between life and death.”

“House Bill 4160 asks one simple question: if a cardiac emergency happens at a school, are the adults in the room prepared to respond?”

Representative Yunker said. “Sudden cardiac arrest does not wait for an ambulance, and survival depends on minutes, on recognition, CPR, and rapid access to an AED.”

“This legislation strengthens preparedness while preserving local control and working within systems schools already have in place,” Representative Yunker added. “This bill saves lives.”

More information about HB 4160 is available here:
https://olis.oregonlegislature.gov/liz/2026R1/Downloads/FloorLetter/4622

The legislation now heads to the Governor for consideration.