No Tax Oregon, Rep. Diehl, Rep. Yunker Launch No Tax Clawback Referendum

No Tax Oregon, Rep. Diehl, Rep. Yunker Launch No Tax Clawback Referendum

Hours after Governor Kotek signed SB 1507 into law, petitioners filed to refer the $300 million tax increase gut-punch to voters.

By NO Tax Oregon, Press Release

SALEM, OR – No Tax Oregon, Representative Ed Diehl, and Representative Dwayne Yunker are launching No Tax Clawback, a referendum petition to give voters a voice on the $300 million tax increase gut-punch to small businesses and working families. The filing comes mere hours after Governor Kotek signed SB 1507 – the federal tax code disconnect bill – into law.

Representative Ed Diehl previously announced his intention to refer the bill to the voters in November. OFC welcomes the effort and No Tax Oregon, the successful tax reform project, will once again take part in assisting with the signature gathering effort. Oregonians will have until early June – the constitutionally allotted 90 days – to collect roughly 80,000 signatures to refer SB 1507 to the November 2026 ballot.

Lawmakers passed SB 1507 on February 25, yet Speaker Julie Fahey, Senate President Rob Wagner, and Governor Kotek used procedural gimmicks to delay signing SB 1507, effectively cutting Oregonians’ constitutionally allotted timeframe in half. Despite the delay, petitioners were ready to file and did so within hours of the Governor signing.

The No Tax Clawback Referendum specifically refers to voters provisions of SB 1507 that were set to harm small businesses and working families the most: the auto loan interest payment deduction and the accelerated business depreciation deductions.

Representative Ed Diehl, a Chief Petitioner on the No Tax Clawback Referendum, emphasized the impact SB 1507 has on Oregonians and the need to refer the bill to voters:

Oregonians are taxed enough already. This $300 million tax increase hurts small businesses and working families at a time when we must make Oregon more affordable, not more expensive. SB 1507 denies businesses key federal tax relief on equipment investments. Instead of supporting job creators, it protects government spending at the expense of Oregonians.

Representative Dwayne Yunker, the second Chief Petitioner, noted Oregon’s pattern of treating its businesses poorly:

SB 1507 is just another attack on Oregon businesses. The Governor and her allies keep raising the burden while businesses pack up and leave. At some point, you have to ask, when do they start listening?

Nick Stark, Executive Director of OFC and the third Chief Petitioner, reiterated OFC and No Tax Oregon’s commitment to protecting Oregon taxpayers:

Oregon Freedom Coalition and No Tax Oregon have proven their ability to defend Oregon taxpayers when Salem imposes its will on their wallets. We will give voters a voice on SB 1507, which essentially amounts to small business robbery. This bill will face public scrutiny, and it will be on the ballot in November alongside the same politicians who think they do not have to be held accountable to the people of Oregon.

No Tax Oregon is taking volunteer sign-ups for the referendum petition. Volunteers are expected to begin collecting signatures as soon as possible, with No Tax Oregon’s Sign Across Oregon event taking place April 25-26. For more information, visit NoTaxOR.com.