Feb. 13, 2013--SALEM -- An effort to keep bedbug infestations secret in Oregon passed the House on Wednesday with little discussion.

House Bill 2131 allows pest control companies to report bedbug contamination to county health departments without exposing their findings to state public records laws. After a pun-riddled introduction, it passed 55-1.

"Here's the bill you've been itching to vote on," Rep. Bill Kennemer, R-Oregon City, said. Kennemer said keeping the records confidential would allow the county to gather more information about the blood-sucking critters, which have wreaked havoc in other parts of the country.

The bill, which now goes to the Senate, has backing from pest control managers, Multnomah County and the lodging industry.

-- Harry Esteve

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