Final Update: Gas tax. Kicker. Death Tax. Google Tax (session ends)

By Taxpayers Association of Oregon
OregonWatchdog.com

BILLS PASSED HOUSE-SENATE (some awaiting Governor signature):

• Gas tax swap.  SB 1599 the election of the gas tax referendum from November General Election to May Primary.

• $311M Business tax.  SB 1507 disconnects Oregon tax law from three of Trump’s 2025 tax cuts in the Big Beautiful bill.

• Allows backroom deals by politicians: Right now, local Oregon city and county elected officials are not allowed to meet in private where matters of lawmaking can occur.  HB 4177 wants to relax those rules by creating exceptions.   The more politicians can meet in secret or hidden the public, the more they can make back room deals and hash out issues without the need for public involvement.

• +83% hotel tax: HB 4134 raises the hotel tax by 83% in order to fund wildlife programs and forestry.

• Gun Bill: HB 4145 Bill started out with horrific laws (double gun fee, double permit length) but was gutted at the last minute, and made more agreeable by both sides.

BILLS THAT DIED:

• Kicker theft #1:  HB 4125 manipulates the formula on how the Kicker is determined, which would have eliminate most Kicker Refunds.

• Kicker theft bill #2:  SJR 201 is the SECOND Kicker theft bill introduced in the Legislature. SJR 201 is a Constitutional Amendment to be referred to voters for approval that would divert HALF of your Kicker tax refund to education, community colleges and forestry.

• Removes Home mortgage interest deduction for second property: HB 4136 would roll back the home mortgage interest deduction for second homes.

• Sue businesses into oblivion bill: HB 4007 puts more businesses under the Unlawful Trade Practices Act.

• Superfund (big 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).

• Limits number of bills Legislature can create: HB 4002 limits the number of bills a lawmaker can propose to 25.  This hamstring the minority party and it results in more surprise gut-and-stuff of existing bills.

• Google tax:  SB 1580  forces social media companies like Google and Facebook to enter into forced agreements or pay a heavy fine if they don’t.

• Raises death tax:  SB 1511 tweaks the death tax so it exempts a few more Oregonians at the bottom of the scale while at the exact same time RAISING the death tax rate for higher valued estates.  If you wish to sign the petition to abolish the death tax, please email us your name and address below and we will mail you a petition:

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