Oregon — Oregon Senate Democrats voted 17–13, on partisan lines, yesterday to advance Senate Bill 1599, legislation that would move a high-profile transportation tax referendum from the expected November 2026 ballot to the May 19, 2026 primary election — a decision critics say undercuts the expectations of the more than 250,000 Oregonians who signed petitions to secure a public vote.
The referendum, officially known as Referendum Petition 2026-302, seeks to repeal fuel tax increases, higher vehicle registration and title fees, and a transit payroll tax enacted during the 2025 special session to fund transportation maintenance and operations.
Under SB 1599, voters would weigh in during the spring primary instead of the November general election.
Democrats: “The Sooner, the Better”
Senate Majority Leader Kayse Jama said the bill allows voters to decide “at the earliest possible juncture,” arguing that clarity is needed before lawmakers address long-term transportation funding.
“The sooner that we in this governing body can get explicit direction from the public, the sooner that we in the legislature can get to work,” said Sen. Khanh Pham. This framing however is directly at odds with statements from Senate President Rob Wagner who is a chief co-sponsor of the bill to move the vote.
Supporters argue that waiting until November would delay budget planning and prolong uncertainty over road maintenance funding and related jobs.
Political Calculation Acknowledged
Republicans and referendum backers argue the timing shift is politically motivated.
Sen. Bruce Starr, one of the chief petitioners behind the referendum effort, noted that voter turnout in primary elections is typically far lower than in November general elections.
“In an off-year election, non-presidential election, somewhere around 68–70% of Oregonians vote. In the primary, it’s about a third,” Starr told KGW.
Senate President Rob Wagner, a sponsor of SB 1599, acknowledged the political dimension of the decision when speaking to reporters.
“Is it political? For sure, I don’t think people want to see this on a November ballot,” Wagner said.
That admission has intensified criticism from opponents, who argue that those who signed the referendum petition did so with the understanding the measure would appear on the November ballot, when turnout is significantly higher and more representative of the electorate.
Referendum Effort Broke Records
The referendum drive, organized by the Right to Vote on the Gas Tax PAC and often referred to as “No Tax Oregon,” gathered more than 250,900 signatures — more than triple the 78,116 required to qualify.
Petitioners described the effort as the largest and fastest volunteer referendum campaign in state history. Supporters emphasized that many Oregonians believed the transportation package would cost families hundreds of dollars annually.
“This issue does not belong in the courts. It belongs with the people,” Rep. Ed Diehl said previously, referencing concerns about efforts to repeal or otherwise alter the law before a vote.
A resurfaced 1935 Oregon Attorney General opinion has also been cited by opponents, stating that once a measure has been referred to voters, the Legislature cannot interfere with it until the people have acted.
Changes to Election Procedures
In addition to setting the May election date, SB 1599 outlines accelerated ballot title review timelines and directs a joint legislative committee — rather than state agencies — to prepare the explanatory statement and financial estimate for the voters’ pamphlet.
The bill also limits the voters’ pamphlet to a single ballot issue and establishes deadlines for fiscal estimates and related statements.
Lawmakers declared the measure an emergency, meaning it would take effect immediately upon passage.
House Consideration Next
The bill now moves to the Oregon House of Representatives. If approved, voters will decide in May 2026 whether to uphold or repeal the transportation tax increases enacted in 2025. As of 2/23/2026 the Oregon House Republicans had begun a walkout, denying quorum and the ability for the legislation to be put up for a vote.
For opponents of the tax package, the fight has shifted from qualifying the measure to debating whether the election date itself reflects fair voter access — or political strategy.
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