LOC News
Transportation Bill Delayed Until September 17
Oregon’s 2025 Special Legislative Session convened last Friday, August 29, and got off to a bumpy start, with the Senate unable to pass out rules due to a lack of 16 supporting votes on the floor, despite having enough members present to conduct business. The House originally was set to convene at 11 a.m. that same day but had to reschedule multiple times as they also waited on the presence of enough members to pass out a set of rules.
Faced with mounting pressure to extend the official start of the special session start, House Democratic leadership negotiated with Republican leadership, agreeing to add two additional amendments to HB 3991A, the transportation funding package, in exchange for Republican support of rules, which are needed to conduct business. These amendments include:
- -17 amendment – Limits the authority of the Oregon Department of Administrative Services for rate setting of weight-mile tax to downward adjustments only. The Oregon Trucking Association requested the original language to provide more immediate adjustments to rates upon completion of the Highway Cost Allocation Study (HCAS).
- -18 amendment – Repeals the payroll tax increase of 0.1% in 2028. The current base rate of 0.1% would be maintained.
On Sunday, August 31, the Special Session Joint Committee on Transportation Funding held a public hearing and work session. The LOC would like to offer special thanks to member cities submitting comments and taking time out of their weekend to testify both remotely and in Salem. The committee passed the amended version of HB 3991 on a party-line vote of 7-5.
On Monday, the Labor Day holiday, the House convened and was able to pass HB 3991 with a margin of 36-12, meeting the three-fifths requirement for a tax measure. This was a party-line vote, with the exception of Representative Cyrus Javidi (R-Astoria), who supported the bill, and Representative Annessa Hartman (D-Gladstone), who was in opposition.
The Senate was initially scheduled to vote on Wednesday, September 3, but due to an extended illness from one Democratic Senator, it will reconvene on September 17 and vote on HB 3991A.
Contact: Jim McCauley, Legislative Director – jmccauley@orcities.org
Last Updated 9/5/25