Sen. Starr: Deadline missed, SB 1599 should be considered dead

By Oregon State Senator and Republican Leader Bruce Starr,

SALEM, Ore. – With today’s recommended deadline from Oregon Secretary of State Tobias Read passing without Senate Bill 1599 being signed into law, Senate Republicans say the bill should be considered effectively dead to ensure all Oregonians have equal access to the democratic process, as confirmed by Secretary Read this morning.

On January 27, the Secretary of State told legislative leaders in a memo that February 25 was the critical deadline for SB 1599 to be signed into law by the Governor. Missing it jeopardizes Oregonians’ fair and equal opportunity to participate in the voters’ pamphlet process if the referendum is moved to the May 2026 Primary Election.

The memo warned that each day past the deadline compresses timelines for financial estimates, explanatory statements, and public arguments. That directly threatens the long-standing statutory provisions that guarantee citizens’ ability to help shape the language voters will see in their pamphlets.

“It’s clear that Senate Bill 1599 should be considered dead by every lawmaker in this building. If Supermajority Democrats continue to move it forward, it will prove that their loyalty is to politics above all, not the people of Oregon,” said Senate Republican Leader Bruce Starr (R-Dundee).

The memo also noted that compressing statutory timelines could limit Oregonians’ ability to submit voters’ pamphlet statements without paying the $1,200 filing fee and would create significant administrative burdens for the Elections Division. Republicans have consistently raised concerns that rushing this process would disenfranchise citizens seeking to make their voices heard.

“The Democrat Supermajority, led by Governor Kotek, has demonstrated a troubling pattern of ignoring voters and making it harder for them to be heard,” Starr concluded.