OR SB658

Public employers must interview veteran applicants who meet minimum qualifications and demonstrate transferable military skills for civil service positions, including positions where duties are performed by only one person in the organization

Public employers must provide written notice to veterans within three business days when eliminating them from consideration for a civil service position

Veterans may request jury trials for employment preference violations and can recover noneconomic damages; courts cannot award attorney fees or costs to public employers in these cases

Department of Veterans' Affairs must establish a program by July 1, 2026 for investigating and conducting nonbinding arbitration of alleged veterans' employment preference violations, with complaints filed within one year of the alleged violation

Public employers must conduct annual training on veterans' employment preference requirements; completing DVA-approved training serves as an affirmative defense to violation claims