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Dear OSCC Members & Colleagues –
We are now just a couple of days away from the “target” adjournment date of June 20th, but the legislature is far from finished and it’s looking entirely likely that they will need every possible day just to meet the constitutional sine die deadline of Sunday, June 29th.
We expect this to be a very busy week as legislators push to finalize budgets, and then move them through the process. We are also starting to see policy bills flood out. It almost feels like everything was saved until the final two weeks.
A very interesting element to watch this week and into next week is what happens after June 20th. Legislators can miss up to 9 days without being forced to vacate their seats. It is possible that with the flood of Democratic priorities starting to move in the final days that Republicans will at least try and leverage the last remaining days to better control the bills as the option to deny quorum becomes a viable one.
As we discussed on our Friday call, it does appear that there is an emerging bipartisan consensus on a potential wildfire funding package that will help usher in the end of the session – the plan will involve an increase in the tax on cans of nicotine pouches as well as the interest on the state’s rainy day fund. That is potentially good news.
However, the other major issue – the Transportation Package – is much less clear.
Transportation Package (HB 2025)
This past week, Democratic leadership rolled out a transportation package and held three public hearings. The package does not have bipartisan support as it levies a litany of taxes – some of them brand new – that would raise about $1 billion in new taxes annually. Next steps are to be determined, but the anticipation is that Democrats will try and work the bill and try to approve it on their own this coming week. The challenge they face is that, at the moment, they don’t appear to have the votes for the package as currently drafted. Also, an effort lead by former State Senator Brian Boquist – called “No Gas Hikes” - is threatening to refer the transportation package to the voters as part of a referendum effort. The effort has already raised $200,000.
Climate Protection Program Fix
This last week, conversations around the CPP fix seemed to stall as Democrats abandoned efforts around a bipartisan transportation package. What happens next is unclear. We expect Democrats to move forward and attempt to pass the transportation package. If that fails, next steps are undetermined. We will watch what happens closely, as the failure of transportation package is the only chance of a CPP fix in the final days of session. With only 14 days, it is becoming less likely a deal gets done during the 2025 session, and more likely that this conversation gets kicked to the interim.
OSCC ACTION ALERTS…ACTION NEEDED NOW!
1. TRANSIENT LODGING TAXES (HB 3962)
As discussed on our Friday call, this is the major remaining issue for OSCC members. The outcome on this bill still hangs in the balance. We are expecting a House Floor Vote on this bill as early as Wednesday!
HB 3962 was amended to implement a new revenue split – 60% to local government and 40% for tourism promotion – on all local TLT taxes passed after 2003. Current law gives 70% to tourism promotion and 30% to local government.
This means that the protected allocation for tourism promotion will be reduced from 70% to 40%, which strips away decades of successful tourism promotion policy. This is not reform—it’s a reallocation that weakens the industry it claims to support.
OSCC opposes HB 3962 as Oregon and our local communities are in no position to start compromising on tourism promotion – once those TLT dollars are diverted they will never go back to their intended use.
At this time, we believe the “swing” votes are:
Rep. Dave Gomberg (D-Lincoln City)
Rep.DavidGomberg@oregonlegislature.gov
Rep. Court Boice (R-Gold Beach)
Rep.CourtBoice@oregonlegislature.gov
Rep. Kevin Mannix (R-Salem)
Rep.KevinMannix@oregonlegislature.gov
Rep. Greg Smith (R-Heppner)
Rep.GregSmith@oregonlegislature.gov
Rep. Boomer Wright (R-Coos Bay)
Rep.BoomerWright@oregonlegislature.gov
Rep. Mark Owens (R-Crane)
Rep.MarkOwens@oregonlegislature.gov
2. LIABILITY WAIVERS FOR OUTDOOR/FITNESS/RECREATION (SB 1196)
OSCC members have an amazing opportunity to revive an important piece of legislation that OSCC has long supported in support of our recreation and fitness industries.
SB 1196 restores liability waivers for Oregon companies that engage in outdoor sporting, recreation, health and fitness. It would put Oregon businesses back on equal footing with surrounding western states.
Recent state court rulings have effectively nullified Oregon liability waivers, impacting the accessibility and affordability of recreation and fitness. Oregon businesses now pay significantly more for liability insurance than other western states, and as a result, recreation and fitness providers are forced to either increase consumer costs or eliminate recreation options.
Stories abound of liability insurance carriers dropping Oregon companies engaged in sports and recreation. For those able to obtain liability insurance, the premiums are dramatically higher.
WE NEED TESTIMONY IN SUPPORT OF SB 1196 TODAY!
Special THANK YOU to Bend, Springfield, Salem and Bay Area for quick response – but we need MUCH MORE!
You can submit your testimony in favor of SB 1196 here. This window will close in 24 hours.
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