Gas tax bill moves! Kicker bill #2, Voter age bill

By Taxpayers Association of Oregon
OregonWatchdog.com

Three key developments in State Capitol:

• GAS TAX: SB 1599 which moves the gas tax referendum election date from November 2026 (as listed on the petition) and instead places it on the May Primary ballot (where voter turnout drops by as much as 60%), has been voted out of committee to the floor for a vote. It was a party-line vote where all of the Democrat lawmakers voted Yes and the Republican lawmakers voting NO.

• KICKER THEFT #2: SJR 201 is a Constitutional Amendment to be referred to voters for approval that would divert a portion of Kicker tax refunds to education, community colleges and forestry. The bill is up for a hearing on Feb 18th in the Senate Finance and Revenue Committee.  This is not to be confused with Kicker theft Bill #1 which manipulates the formula on how the Kicker is determined.

• VOTING AGE: SB 1574 Permits a person who will be 17 years of age on the date of a primary election and 18 years of age on the date of the general election to vote at the primary election for candidates of a major political party with which the person is affiliated. SB 1574 is up for a vote on Feb 18th in the Senate Rules Committee.

• SUPERFUND (FEE) CLIMATE BILL:Senate Bill 1541 is a bill that empowers state agencies to come up with a master invoice of what they think of any negative impact done by energy companies over the last 30 years. This will then set the stage for fining these energy companies possible by the billions.  Read more here (Senator Brock Smith) and here (Taxpayers Association)

• STOPPING NEEDLES NEAR SCHOOLS: SB 1573 simply outlaws a free-needle service program from operating within 2,000 feet of a school or licensed child care facility. This bill died in committee this week.   Read more here.

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