Governor Kotek responds to court decision on Oregon health care law, says state will keep fighting to limit impacts on residents and protect access to reproductive health care

Oregon – Tina Kotek issued a statement in response to an oral court ruling that found the Oregon Reproductive Health Equity Act (RHEA) unconstitutional as applied in a specific context.

Kotek said the Reproductive Health Equity Act has been a cornerstone of Oregon’s approach to reproductive health care, stating that it has allowed residents with private insurance to access care without cost barriers for nearly a decade.

She emphasized that health care decisions should remain with individuals rather than employers, politicians, or the courts, and described Oregon as a “safe harbor” for reproductive rights at a time when such protections are being challenged nationally.

The governor said opponents of the law relied on a U.S. Supreme Court ruling in Catholic Charities Bureau Inc. v. Wisconsin Labor and Industry Review Commission, and added that her administration would continue defending Oregon’s policies as the case proceeds.

Kotek also stated she would review the court’s written opinion once issued and evaluate its full legal implications. She said her administration would work with Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield to pursue all available legal options to preserve access to reproductive health care and limit potential impacts on residents.

According to the court’s oral ruling, the case centered on whether RHEA could be applied to Oregon Right to Life. The judge found that applying the law in this instance would violate the organization’s religious freedom rights under the First Amendment. However, no final written order or injunction has been issued, and the law remains in effect while additional briefing is expected on how the ruling should be implemented.

State officials said the decision does not immediately change coverage, and further clarification will come once the court issues its written opinion.