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Oregon News
TRANSPORTATION
Gov. Kotek has yet to sign the transportation bill, GOP says it's a 'calculated move'
KATU | By Vasili Varlamos
The controversial transportation funding bill, which raises taxes on gas and vehicle fees, remains unsigned on Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek's desk.
The Oregon House passed the bill on Sept. 1. After a series of unexpected delays related to the health concerns of a state senator, the Oregon Senate passed the bill on Sept. 29.
Before the bill can be sent to the Governor's desk, it must be signed by the Senate President, Rob Wagner, D-Lake Oswego, and the House Speaker, Julie Fahey, D-Eugene. Fahey signed the bill on Oct. 2, three days after it passed. Wagner signed the bill on Oct. 8.
Under Oregon law, the Governor has 30 weekdays from the end of the special session, which adjourned Oct. 1. That means her deadline would be Nov. 12. Kotek's press secretary, Roxy Mayer, did not provide any indication of when the governor would sign the bill when asked. The bill would automatically become law without her signature after that date.
The date she signs the bill has no impact on when the tax increases would take effect. The bill states that the tax increases will take effect 91 days after the special session adjourns, which would be Dec. 31.
However, the date she signs the bill does have an impact on Republican efforts to put this bill up to voters through a referendum.
The effort, called "No Tax Oregon," is led by chief petitioners Senate Republican Leader Bruce Starr, R-Dundee, Rep. Ed Diehl, R-Stayton, and Jason Williams, director of the Taxpayer Association of Oregon.
Leaders of this effort cannot start circulating petitions until the bill officially becomes law, which requires the Governor to sign it or allow it to take effect without signing.
To refer a law to the ballot, petitioners must gather 78,116 signatures, which is 4% of the total votes cast in the most recent gubernatorial election. The signatures must be collected 90 days after the special session ends, meaning petitioners have until December 30 to refer the bill to the 2026 November ballot.
Starr said Thursday that the Governor is purposefully delaying to disrupt petition efforts.
“This is a calculated move to silence voters,” said Starr. “Governor Kotek and the Democrat supermajority know Oregonians would reject this massive tax and fee hike if given the chance. She needs to stop hiding behind procedural delays and sign the bill now.”
POLITICS
Oregon lawmaker floats legislative special session in response to Trump immigration crackdown
Oregon Capital Chronicle | By Shaanth Nanguneri
Some Oregon Democrats are pushing for a possible special legislative session to respond to the Trump administration’s campaign of mass deportations and immigration raids, a Portland-area lawmaker said Thursday.
Lawmakers plan to meet Friday with legislative leaders to discuss options for legislation responding to raids, Rep. Ricki Ruiz, D-Gresham, said during a panel hosted by the national pro-immigrant group America’s Voice.
“There’s some of us having discussion on whether or not we wanted to push a special session that allows us to bring legislation before the short session, but we’re still in the midst of trying to figure that out,” Ruiz said.
“The Oregon short session begins in February, and that feels like an eternity from now,” he added. “So we’re gathering up with leadership tomorrow, as a matter of fact, to talk about what we can do in regards to next steps.”
Capital Chatter: Can Oregon balance its budget?
Oregon Capital Chronicle | By Dick Hughes
There will be no special legislative session this year to rescue Oregon’s state budget. There isn’t time before Dec. 31.
H.R. 1, signed into law by President Donald Trump on July 4, is slashing Oregon’s federal funding by an estimated $15.1 billion over the next six years while simultaneously increasing state costs.
The law also undercuts state income tax receipts. Because Oregon tax law is tied to federal tax law, the tax cuts in H.R. 1 will result in lower state taxes for some households and businesses.
Some Oregonians will see that as good. The Common Sense Institute this week issued a report noting that Oregon’s overall state budget has more than quadrupled since 2001, driven by increases in the General Fund – whose primary revenue source is income taxes – and in federal funding. (Former State Economist Mark McMullen, who now works for the institute, is among the report’s authors.)
On the other hand, H.R. 1 digs a huge hole in the current and future state budgets, especially for health care and other social services. State agencies are having to implement those new federal requirements despite not having the full-fledged federal guidelines.
Oregon spending more money on health care for noncitizens than state police, budget shows
KATU | By Tanvi Varma
For the current biennium, about $1.2 billion is budgeted toward the Healthier Oregon program. That's according to a spokesperson from the Oregon Health Authority. Additionally, about $717 million is budgeted toward OSP, according to the Department of State Police Legislative Adopted Budget.
Essentially, the state is going to be spending a little less than double what it's spending on state police on health care for noncitizens.
A spokesperson for the Oregon Health Authority sent us general information about the Healthier Oregon Plan:
Oregon Health Authority continues to stand with immigrant communities and all 1.4 million people who rely on Oregon’s Medicaid program. Our mission is to ensure health care access, and we oppose all efforts to thwart it.
Since July 2023, Healthier Oregon has provided free health coverage to children and adults who meet income and other eligibility criteria for the state’s Medicaid program regardless of their immigration status. About 105,000 people are currently enrolled in Healthier Oregon, which covers the same physical, behavioral and oral health care that is covered by Oregon’s traditional Medicaid program - including primary care, emergency and hospital care and prescription medications.
A variety of immigrants can qualify for Healthier Oregon, including people who have refugee status, lawful permanent residents (“green card” holders) who have been in the U.S. less than five years, those who are enrolled in DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals), individuals with student or work visas, and others who would otherwise qualify for Medicaid except for their immigration status.
The total 2025-27 budget for the Healthier Oregon program is approximately $1.2 billion, with about $900 million covered by state funds and about $300 million covered by federal funds. The federal funding portion covers emergency and pregnancy care that the federal government is required to cover nationwide per the Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act (EMTALA) of 1986.
We also reached out to the Oregon State Police to find out whether they agree with the current budget, and a spokesperson sent us the following response:
The Oregon State Police receives a budget each biennium as approved through the legislative process and in coordination with the Governor’s recommended budget. We are proud of our team for taking those funds and using every dollar to provide meaningful services to the communities of Oregon. Regardless of budget size, we know our team is committed to fulfilling the mission of the Oregon State Police- “safeguarding life, property, and natural resources”.
Want a say in Oregon’s natural disaster budget? New ‘resilience’ forum offers a chance
Oregon Capital Chronicle | By Shaanth Nanguneri
Oregonians may soon have greater input in how the next statewide budget seeks to mitigate natural disasters.
Gov. Tina Kotek on Wednesday, along with Oregon State University’s Oregon Climate Change Research Institute and the University of Oregon’s Oregon Partnership for Disaster Resilience, launched the first of nine online public meetings of the “Statewide Resilience Forum,” with the goal of collecting feedback on how the state should prepare for wildfires, floods, earthquakes and all manner of natural disasters.
A Travel Oregon Board Member’s Company Got a Six-Figure, No-Bid Contract From the Agency
Willamette Week | By James Neff
Travel Oregon’s CEO claims the Department of Justice gave the travel agency permission to go forward with the contract, but DOJ disputes that.
TRUMP ADMIN VS. OREGON
Oregon lawmakers demand DHS explanation for increased helicopter noise over Portland
KATU | By Bobby Corser
Oregon Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley, along with Representatives Suzanne Bonamici and Maxine Dexter have written a letter to Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem asking for answers about an increase in the use of helicopters around the ICE facility in south Portland.
Feds accuse Aloha man of pointing laser at Customs & Border helicopter, trafficking drugs
KATU | By Steve Benham
Federal prosecutors accuse a 38-year-old Aloha, Oregon man of pointing a laser at a U.S. Customs and Border Protection helicopter and for trafficking drugs, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Oregon said Thursday.
Second man accused of shining laser at federal helicopter in Oregon
The Oregonian | By Maxine Bernstein
A second man is accused of shining a laser at a cockpit crew of a U.S. Customs and Border Protection helicopter that has circled Portland neighborhoods near immigration protests.
Portland police deploy ‘informants’ within ICE protest crowds to aid in arrests, documents reveal
The Oregonian | By Zane Sparling
The nightly protests outside the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement complex in South Portland draw a swirling mix of black- and costume-clad protesters, federal agents, police officers and — buried within the crowd — covert informants, court records reveal.
Groups file lawsuit after increased ICE activity in Woodburn, Salem
Statesman Journal | By Dianne Lugo
Federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Customs and Border Protection agents have been spotted in Marion County in recent days, according to posts from local organizations.
ICE accused of denying legal counsel to immigrants detained in Oregon
The Oregonian | By Maxine Bernstein
Immigration lawyers are asking a federal judge in Oregon to block for at least three days the out-of-state transport of people rounded up by immigration officers without a warrant signed by a judge or those who lack access to a lawyer.
EDUCATION
PPS Staff Memo Floats Counting Professional Development Hours as Student Instructional Time
Willamette Week | By Joanna Hou
A Portland Public Schools staff memo on required instructional time for its students includes a future consideration for the School Board that’s sure to ruffle some feathers.
The memo proposes the School Board might vote to consider an exemption that would count up to 30 hours of teachers’ professional development time as instructional time for students—about a week of instructional time. (Professional development time is often used by educators to undergo training for new skills or otherwise receive support.)
CRIME & PUBLIC SAFETY
Hundreds of Oregon prisoners see sentences shaved by days, even years under new court ruling
The Oregonian | By Noelle Crombie
The Oregon Department of Corrections has quietly reexamined the sentences of the vast majority of the state’s prisoners after a court ruling this summer, sometimes shaving years off a prisoner’s time and in some cases releasing dozens outright without alerting prosecutors.
The massive review has led to earlier release dates for about 350 prisoners, including about 40 who were immediately released, corrections officials said.
HOUSING
As Portland suburbs get more expensive, one county aims to preserve affordable homes
KATU | By Victor Park
Washington County kicked off renovations at the Woodspring Apartment complex on Thursday as part of its effort to preserve affordable units for low-income families.
ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT
Problem Solvers: Truck manufacturer with Madras testing office says sales could stall due to Oregon’s emission standards
KTVZ | By Tracee Tuesday
The manufacturer Daimler Truck, which has a headquarters in Portland and a testing office in Madras, is pushing back against the state's ambitious clean truck mandate, warning that a lack of infrastructure and sky-high costs could lead to stagnant sales.
Oregon asks for emergency measures to save salmon in Columbia, Snake rivers from extinction
The Oregonian | By Gosia Wozniacka
The state of Oregon and environmental and fishing groups are seeking a court order to adjust dam operations to help dwindling salmon populations in the Columbia and Snake rivers.
National News
Who’s winning the blame game over the shutdown? What a new poll shows
Associated Press
As the government shutdown drags on with no end in sight, a new AP-NORC poll finds that most Americans see it as a significant problem — and all of the major players are being blamed.
Roughly 6 in 10 Americans say President Donald Trump and Republicans in Congress have “a great deal” or “quite a bit” of responsibility for the shutdown, while 54% say the same about Democrats in Congress, according to the poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research. At least three-quarters of Americans believe each deserves at least a “moderate” share of blame, underscoring that no one is successfully evading responsibility.
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