OR HB3026

Grants the Higher Education Coordinating Commission (HECC) independent authority to procure goods, services, personal services, and information technology related to its functions, adding HECC to the list of state agencies with direct procurement authority under ORS 279A.050

Modifies teacher candidate scholarship program eligibility from "culturally and linguistically diverse" candidates to those "who have experience with diverse populations," with scholarships of $12,000 per academic year for up to two full-time academic years

Exempts Transfer Council subcommittee meetings related to unified statewide transfer agreements from public meetings law, and allows subcommittees with unequal faculty representation when curriculum distribution between universities and community colleges makes equal representation impractical

Requires HECC to conduct a study on higher education reporting requirements and submit recommendations for improving efficiency by November 15, 2026, with the study provision repealing January 2, 2027

Extends the deadline for the forestry workforce study report from June 30, 2025 to December 31, 2025, and declares an emergency making the act effective upon passage