2024 = 26 new laws, cell-tax, 5% gas tax, electricity +17%

By Taxpayers Association of Oregon
OregonWatchdog.com

Here are some taxes, fees and laws going into effect this year.

>>> TAXES, FEES, UTILITIES

• 40-cent cell-phone tax. Second cell-phone tax increase in just three years.  More here.

• Oregon gas tax up 5%. See more here.

• DMV fees increase.  Some of the DMV fee increases = Commercials drivers license doubles! From $75 to $160. Instruction driver permit from $23 to $30. Hardship driver permit application from $50 to $75. Driver’s license from $54 to $58.

• Electricity up 17%.  Portland General Electric rates will be going up 17%.

•  77 health care fee increases.  The 2023 Legislature passed 77 fee increases/new fees which will directly impact the cost of medicine, hospitals and health care.

>>> NEW LAWS

• $1,000 child tax credit.  For families earning $30,000 with a child under age 6.  House Bill 3235 (Oregon Kids Credit): Establishes a refundable child tax credit to support families with young children.  Because poor Oregonians will need a tax credit to pay for the 17% electricity increase, 5% gas tax increase, DMV fee increases, new cell-phone tax and the 77 health care fee increases that politicians just passed.

• Higher penalties for stealing more than $5,000 from a retail store.  Apparently stealing $4,000 from a store is not considered serious.  Read this shoplifter kingpin confession.  (Senate Bill 340)

• Schools must teach fentanyl is bad (after adults decriminalized it, and allowed people to legally smoke it in public). Senate Bill 238: Mandates educational programs on the dangers of fentanyl and related legal protections for Oregon’s youth.

• It is legally easier for you to save a life by using Narcan (detox drugs).   Senate Bill 1043: Requires health facilities to provide overdose reversal medication to patients treated for opioid abuse and protects individuals who administer aid.

• Allows all cities to use photo-radar cameras.  House Bill 2095.

• Any substance that impairs your driving is now under possible DUI violation. House Bill 2316: Broadens DUII laws to include all impairing substances, enhancing road safety.

• Upgrades terrorism to include targets involving utilities, airports, roads and dams. HB 2772.

• Allowing people to sue a paramilitary group if they block public access, threaten or intimidate. (Hb 2572).  Will this apply to liberal groups that block traffic (like just this week at Portland airport?)

• Expanding stature of limitations on sex abuse from 12 to 20 years for minors.   House Bills 3632.

• Turning vacant office buildings (from businesses fleeing Portland) into apartments.  House Bill 2984 eases such zoning changes.

• Blocks insurance companies from charging you more just because the state labeled your house in an extreme-wildfire hazard zone in their wildfire risk map.  Senate Bill 82.

• Food-delivery companies must get state permit to deliver alcohol. OLCC regulation.

• Schools must teacher finance.  Senate Bill 3: Adds personal finance and higher education/career skills to high school graduation requirements.

>>> MORE NEW LAWS

– Measure 110 administrative fix. House Bill 2513 Enhances Measure 110 by improving staff, application processes, and data collection for addiction treatment programs.

– Drug help for prisoners. Senate Bill 529: Boosts addiction treatment in correctional facilities, modifying procedures for program acceptance and requiring comprehensive services.

– New 988 Crisis line. House Bill 3426: Mandates crisis hotline centers to have specific policies and training to aid firefighters and first responders.

– Affordable housing. House Bill 2761: Enhances the capacity of the Oregon Housing and Community Services to finance affordable housing projects.

– Helping non-English speakers in education. House Bill 2504: Reduces barriers for non-English speaking professionals in the early learning sector.

– Drug transparency: Senate Bill 192: Directs the establishment of upper payment limits on prescription drugs and increases transparency in drug pricing and pharmacy benefit managers’ operations.

>>> EVEN MORE NEW LAWS

– Senate Bill 536: Sets new standards for the sale of annuities in Oregon, including disclosure requirements and mandatory training for brokers and producers.

– Senate Bill 628: Requires health benefit plans to cover specific treatments for pediatric autoimmune neuropsychiatric disorders related to streptococcal infections.

– Senate Bill 797: Mandates health insurance coverage for medically necessary prosthetic and orthotic devices without imposing out-of-pocket expenses.

-Senate Bill 1529 & House Bill 3008: Implements coverage for primary care or behavioral health visits with minimal co-pay and assigns members to primary care providers if they haven’t chosen one within a specified period.

– House Bill 2002: Establishes rights for individuals’ decisions on reproductive health and mandates coverage for gender-affirming treatment, protecting providers offering such services.

– House Bill 2052: Requires data brokers to register with the Department of Consumer and Business Services before operating, enhancing personal data protection.

– House Bill 2282: Updates codification of preventive services coverage to maintain access in case of changes to federal requirements.

– House Bill 2574: Prohibits cost-sharing for post-exposure prophylactic drugs for HIV prevention and mandates policies for dispensing such drugs in hospitals.

– House Bill 2982: Requires homeowners insurance to offer a minimum of 70% content coverage without an inventory in total loss disasters.

– House Bill 2994: Expands coverage for hearing aids, cochlear implants, and related technology, ensuring reimbursement and detailed coverage policies.

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