St. Helens, Oregon – The Oregon House and Senate have recently passed a bill aimed at updating the state’s stalking laws to address the advances in technology that weren’t accounted for when the original laws were written. The bill, known as House Bill 4156, is currently awaiting Governor Tina Kotek’s signature and is set to take effect on July 1, 2024.
The motivation behind the bill’s modernization comes in part from the efforts of St. Helens Police Detective Sergeant Matt Smith. Smith’s involvement with the bill began when a local stalking case was brought to his attention. The victim believed she was being tracked and stalked by her ex-boyfriend, who would show up at places where he couldn’t have known her whereabouts. Further investigation revealed four hidden GPS trackers on her car. However, under the existing stalking laws, the activity did not technically qualify as stalking.
Representative Kevin Mannix, who originally drafted the stalking bill, recognized the need for an update. He acknowledged that the law he had written was designed in the age of fax machines, not smartphones. Smith also found another compelling reason to modernize the stalking laws after hearing the harrowing experience of Amber Rosenberry, a friend from school who had endured a stalking ordeal.
The previous stalking law did not cover several forms of harassment, threats, and even the release of explicit images. To address these inadequacies, the new stalking bill expands the definition of “contact” to include electronic communications and extends the definition of stalking to encompass acts like the unlawful application of GPS trackers to vehicles.
Amber Rosenberry, 2024’s International Ms. Oregon and a stalking victim, played a significant role in advocating for the bill’s passage. Rosenberry utilized her platform to bring attention to the issue and worked tirelessly to highlight the shortcomings of the existing laws. She met with legislators, provided them with comparative analyses of neighboring states’ stalking laws, and collaborated with legal consultants to shape the scope of the bill.
The bill secured resounding support in the House, passing with a vote of 54-2, and later received similar backing in the Senate, with a vote of 25-3. Rosenberry expressed her relief and excitement upon witnessing the bill’s success, emphasizing the emotional significance it held for her as a trauma survivor.
Smith, the St. Helens detective, believes that the bipartisan approval of the bill reflects its relevance and importance in safeguarding the people of Oregon from modern threats. He intends to organize a bill signing ceremony and invites his victim from the St. Helens case and Rosenberry to attend. Smith emphasizes that their courage and dedication to their respective investigations have directly contributed to the changes in state law, which will hopefully protect other women in the future.