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Replies to this message are sent to an unmonitored mailbox.
To contact me, please click here: Sen.DebPatterson@oregonlegislature.gov
Dear Friends,
I am so grateful to live in an area with so many wonderful neighbors as we have here in the Salem, Monmouth, and Independence area. Thank you to those of you who came to my Town Hall to share your thoughts and concerns, and to others who have reached out to connect with me in other ways.
We are facing many challenges here in Oregon, not least among them the need to rebuild trust in our civic institutions. I share the concern expressed by many of you about the actions taken by ICE in Minnesota, and across the nation, including here in Oregon. I continue to call out for meaningful immigration reform, due process for all parties involved, and respect for our Constitution. I am convinced that the vast majority of residents of Oregon and beyond want to live in peace and wish the best for all their neighbors.
On Monday, February 2nd, we begin our 2026 legislative session, a short session of 35 days. We will be working to protect access to healthcare services and finding ways to stabilize its mounting costs. We will be looking to grow the housing stock and make more of it affordable and accessible. We will also be reviewing the revenue forecast and rebalancing the budget for the remainder of this biennium – responsibly stewarding both revenue and expenses for the state and its people.
I’ve been out and about talking with community members about affordability and the rising cost of living. What am I hearing and seeing as I talk with folks? Oregonians are working harder than ever to make ends meet and to cover their monthly bills for housing, insurance, and groceries. The federal administration has imposed tax measures that benefit the wealthiest families and out-of-state corporations. The changes to Medicaid and SNAP eligibility will impact hundreds of thousands of Oregonians. And the lapse of enhanced federal subsidies for health insurance premiums will put health coverage out of reach of many small business owners and other self-employed workers.
I’m committed not only to creating new jobs but also to protecting the jobs we already have here in Oregon. We need to support our schools, which are working hard to prepare students to enter the job market. We also need to identify ways to eliminate waste and hold agencies accountable. I will be working with my colleagues to seek to reduce the impact of those tax and policy changes, and to stand with ordinary Oregonians who are working hard to secure their futures and those of their children.
Please stay tuned, and please stay in touch.
Warmly,
Deb
Listen to my interview on Willamette Wake Up (KMUZ)
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This week, I joined the Willamette Wake Up radio show to talk about the upcoming legislative session. We discussed the bills I am introducing and critical health care issues facing Oregonians.
You can click here to listen to the episode. Thank you for tuning in to our conversation!
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Information for Tax Filing Season
The tax filing season is officially open for 2025 tax returns. Here are some things you should know about filing taxes this year.
You must file a return to get your kicker – Use the Kicker Calculator
The kicker is a refundable credit that will either increase a taxpayer's Oregon state income tax refund or decrease the amount of state taxes they owe. It is not sent to taxpayers separately as a check. You can use the “What’s My Kicker? Calulator” to determine your credit.
Only taxpayers who filed a tax year 2024 return and file a tax year 2025 return can receive a kicker. The credit is a percentage of Oregon personal income tax liability for the 2024 tax year.
Electronic filing is faster—especially in 2026
On average, taxpayers who e-file their returns and request their refund via direct deposit receive their refund within two weeks. E-filed returns will be processed in the order they are received, with the first refunds expected to be issued February 15. For paper filed returns, refunds will not start being issued until early April.
Due to the delayed receipt of tax forms and information from the IRS in late 2025, processing of paper-filed Oregon personal income tax returns will be delayed until late March, a process that has historically begun in February.
The delay in paper return processing means the department won’t be able to tell taxpayers who file paper returns, that their return has been received until paper return processing starts at the end of March. Also, information on paper-filed returns won’t be available in the “Where’s My Refund?” tool until that time.
Free e-filing options open now
Oregon residents who normally mail their tax return to the department should consider using Direct File Oregon, a free filing option available through Revenue Online, or other online tax preparation software, to receive their refund—and their kicker—sooner.
Free guided tax preparation is available from several companies for taxpayers that meet income requirements. Using links from the department’s website ensures that both taxpayers’ federal and state return will be filed for free.
All electronic filing software options approved for filing Oregon personal income tax returns can be found on the Electronic filing page of the agency’s website.
Free and low-cost tax help
Free tax preparation services are available for low- to moderate-income taxpayers through AARP and CASH Oregon. United Way also offers free tax help through their MyFreeTaxes program. Visit the Department of Revenue website to take advantage of the software and free offers and get more information about free tax preparation services.
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1710
Capitol Address: 900 Court St NE, S-411, Salem, OR, 97301
Email: Sen.DebPatterson@oregonlegislature.gov
Website: https://www.oregonlegislature.gov/patterson
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