New beer tax scheme (Hb 3197). Also, Kotek’s liquor tax hike

By News Update
In: Uncategorized
Wednesday February 5, 2025

House Bill 3197 creates a study on a beer and wine tax which is a backdoor way of increasing or expanding taxes on  beer and wine.

By Taxpayers Association of Oregon
OregonWatchdog.com

Oregon is facing two different taxes on alcohol.  One from HB 3197 (beer/wine study tax) and another also from Governor Kotek on the liquor tax.

• Oregon House Bill (HB3197) seeks to have the Oregon Legislative Revenue Officer study the sales tax on beer and wine.   The last time Oregon government studied beer taxes they hid the results (because they showed it didn’t work) from both lawmakers and the public.  Yet, they did share the beer tax study with the anti-alcohol lobby.  Make no mistake, a governmental study on beer/wine taxes is a scheme to use tax dollars to find ways to justify higher beer/wine taxes.  Read our article “State hid tax study while lobbying for 800% beer tax hike”

•  At the same time, Oregon Governor Tina Kotek’s Oregon Liquor and Cannabis Commission (OLCC) is proposing to extend the “temporary” liquor tax on distilled spirits.  Liquor tax increase notice here. The Oregon Liquor & Cannabis Commission (OLCC) wants to keep re-instituting this tax temporary 50-cent tax from 2009.  Previously, Kotek had tried to double the liquor tax.

• Beer, wine and liquor sales have been slowing or in decline — why tax more?.  Why should we pay more in beer,wine and liquor taxes if people are using them less?   Should not the OLCC budget go down instead of up?

Here is some more information on HB 3197:

The House Bill (HB3197) summary reads, “Requires the Legislative Revenue Officer to study the taxation of the sale of beer and wine. Directs the officer to submit findings related to revenue to the interim committees of the Legislative Assembly no later than September 15, 2026. Sunsets on January 2, 2027.”  The bill is sponsored by State Representative Tawna D. Sanchez (D).

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