Oregon Senate votes to make passing civics a graduation requirement Updated Apr 07, 2021; Posted Apr 07, 2021 Oregon lawmakers are considering a bill that would require a half-credit of civics in order for public high school students to graduate.Mark Graves/The Oregonian Facebook Share Oregon high school students would be required to pass at least one semester of civics in order to graduate from a public high school, under a bill approved Wednesday in the state Senate. “It’s time that people understand how the sausage is made,” said Sen. Fred Girod, R-Lyons during a speech in support of Senate Bill 513, which passed 25-3. Girod said his office routinely receives calls from Oregonians upset at how he voted on a bill approved by Congress, for instance. As a state lawmaker, Girod doesn’t get a say in what happens in Washington, D.C.