EDITOR’S NOTE: The flurry of press releases from the Oregon legislature, each with their “view” of the passage of the ODOT funding proposals are packaged below. Instead of posting each separately, I think it’s valuable to read the perspectives together, to get an idea about how government works, and how issues can be skewed depending upon who you are talking to, always consider the source.
(Press release FROM THE OFFICES OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE OREGON SENATE & SPEAKER OF THE OREGON HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES)
Transportation Safety Crisis Averted: Senate Passes Stop-Gap Legislation to Preserve Services, Protect Jobs
HB 3991 and HB 3992 will protect critical safety and maintenance services to keep Oregon moving forward
SALEM, Ore. – Today (September 29, 2025), the Senate passed House Bill 3991 and House Bill 3992, which will preserve the safety of Oregon’s roads and keep Oregon’s economy running by protecting the jobs of 500 essential ODOT maintenance workers.
These workers are responsible for snowplowing highways, maintaining bridges, filling potholes, painting pavement markings and fog lines, clearing vehicle collisions, making roads passable after wildfires, and generally keeping the state’s roads and bridges safe.
“Oregon’s transportation systems are the connective tissue for every aspect of our daily lives. Without the work of devoted state, county, and city road crews, Oregonians wouldn’t be able to access health care, take kids to school, travel to jobs, or enjoy everything the four corners of Oregon has to offer,” said Senate President Rob Wagner (D-Lake Oswego). “With this legislation, we are averting an immediate transportation safety crisis and doing our part to keep Oregonians safe on the roads.”
Oregon is one of many states faced with declining gas tax revenue due to more fuel efficient vehicles on the road. Without stable and sufficient funding, the safety of Oregon’s roads will be increasingly at risk.
Insufficient funding also risks pulling resources away from other public services like health care and education at a time when federal cuts are already impacting the state’s budget. “With the passage of this bill, families can count on safer travel and communities can count on a stronger economy,” said House Speaker Julie Fahey (D-Eugene). “Oregon’s transportation system isn’t just about roads and buses: it’s the foundation that keeps families connected, businesses growing, and workers on the job.”
The legislation also:
● Implements significant new oversight and accountability provisions to ensure that ODOT is spending public money efficiently.
● Begins the process of modernizing transportation funding and moving the state away from reliance on the gas tax.
● Ensures that hybrid and electric vehicle drivers pay their fair share for the damage their vehicles do to the roads.
● Prevents deep cuts to public transit services that many Oregonians rely on for daily life.
● Reduces administrative burdens on family-owned gas stations and truckers.
“Keeping road crews in place to plow snow, clear mudslides, and direct traffic in wildfire evacuations: these are all core services the government is responsible for providing,” said Senate Majority Leader Kayse Jama (D – E Portland, Boring & Damascus). “Especially at a time when the federal administration is turning its back on its responsibilities to the public and hollowing out government agencies, we owe it to Oregonians to fulfill our obligations to their safety and basic mobility.”
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(Press Release from Oregon Senate Republican Leader)
Senate Democrats Force Through $4.3B Tax Hike, Ignoring Oregon’s Affordability Crisis
SALEM, Ore. – With no regard for struggling families and small businesses, Senate Democrats today passed Governor Tina Kotek’s $4.3 billion transportation tax hike (HB 3991) without a single Republican vote. Senate Republicans cast a unanimous “no” vote and stood with thousands of Oregonians who pleaded with Democrats controlling this process to stop the bill. Yet Democrats signaled there is far more to come, repeatedly calling this tax increase a “band-aid.” Republicans had also offered amendments to give ODOT flexibility to use its existing funds for core services like plowing snow and filling potholes and to give Oregonians the chance to vote on the tax hike. Democrats rejected both before ramming the bill through. “Democrats proved today they neither trust the people of Oregon nor care about the affordability crisis families are living through,” said Senate Republican Leader Bruce Starr (R-Dundee). “Oregonians are already paying the price for years of Democrat control—at the gas pump, at the grocery store, in their housing costs, and more. Today, Democrats made it worse. Voters should remember this day and who stood with them.” Oregon already has the 4th highest gas prices in the nation, the 2nd tightest housing market, the 3rd highest income needed to buy a home, and the 5th most expensive child care. Economist John Topanga recently warned that “the boom days are over” as more Oregonians leave the state and fewer children are born into a failing education system. “Oregonians deserve safe roads, but they also deserve a Legislature that listens,” Starr continued. “We are more determined than ever to give voters a voice in this process. This fight is far from over.”
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Senate Democrats Reject Road Maintenance Funding Without New Taxes, Deny Voters a Voice
SALEM, Ore. – Today, every Senate Democrat voted to reject common-sense Republican amendments to Governor Tina Kotek’s $4.3 billion transportation tax hike (HB 3991). In response, Senate Republicans left the Senate floor in protest of a process that shuts out the voices of working Oregonians. Senate Republicans offered two amendments before the final vote:
• The -9 amendment would have given ODOT flexibility to use the money it already has in the budget where it is needed most, such as plowing snow, repairing potholes, and maintaining guardrails.
• The -5 amendment would have referred Kotek’s tax hike to the people, allowing Oregonians the final say on whether to shoulder $4.3 billion in new taxes. Democrats rejected both.
“Democrats are so determined to pass a $4.3 billion tax hike that they won’t even let Oregonians vote on it,” said Senate Republican Leader Bruce Starr (R-Dundee). “If they’re so proud of this plan, why not let the people decide? Over 5,000 Oregonians have already testified on this bill, and 95% opposed it. Their voices should matter. Instead, Democrats have shut them out. What are the Governor and her Democrat supermajority so afraid of?” Senate Republicans emphasized they are still willing to negotiate a bipartisan package that addresses Oregon’s transportation needs without further burdening families and businesses already struggling with high costs. “There is an offramp here,” Starr continued. “We can pause this reckless tax hike and come back to the table to deal with Oregon’s transportation problems responsibly. Republicans have solutions. Let’s work together for Oregonians, not against them.” Senate Republicans will return to the floor to vote “no” on HB 3991, standing with the thousands of Oregonians who have demanded a better path forward.
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