OR HB3960

Oregon Health Authority may approve suicide prevention courses as qualifying cultural competency continuing education for health care professionals

Cultural competency continuing education must now include training to effectively care for U.S. Armed Forces members and veterans, including linguistic skills for communicating with these populations

Health professional regulatory boards (covering 23 licensing entities including nursing, pharmacy, medicine, dentistry, and psychology) may count continuing education on suicide prevention and lethal means counseling toward cultural competency requirements

Lethal means counseling education must cover assessing patient suicide risk, evaluating access to lethal means, and working with patients and families to limit access during elevated risk periods

Amendments become operative January 1, 2026; act takes effect 91st day after 2025 legislative session adjourns