Oregon — Tina Kotek has signed Senate Bill 1599 into law, officially moving Oregon’s high-profile transportation tax referendum from the November 2026 general election to the May 19, 2026 primary ballot.
The bill advanced through the Legislature on largely partisan lines, with Senate Democrats voting 17–13 in late February to shift the election date. The referendum — officially 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.
More than 250,900 signatures were submitted to qualify the referendum, far exceeding the 78,116 required. Organizers described it as one of the largest and fastest volunteer referendum drives in state history, arguing the transportation package would cost families hundreds of dollars annually.
Critics say the move undercuts expectations of the roughly 250,000 Oregonians who signed petitions believing the vote would occur during the higher-turnout November election. In non-presidential election years, general election turnout typically reaches 68–70%, while primary turnout is often closer to one-third of voters.
Bruce Starr, a chief petitioner behind the referendum effort, has argued the timing shift disadvantages voters who expected a broader November electorate.
Senate President Rob Wagner, a chief co-sponsor of SB 1599, acknowledged the political dimension of the decision, telling reporters, “Is it political? For sure, I don’t think people want to see this on a November ballot.”
Democratic leaders defended the change, arguing voters should weigh in “at the earliest possible juncture.” Senate Majority Leader Kayse Jama and Sen. Khanh Pham said clarity is needed before lawmakers address long-term transportation funding and budget planning.
In addition to changing the election date, SB 1599 accelerates 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 limits the pamphlet to a single ballot issue and was declared an emergency measure, allowing it to take effect immediately upon passage.
Opponents have cited a 1935 Oregon Attorney General opinion suggesting that once a measure has been referred to voters, the Legislature may not interfere with it until the public has acted — a claim supporters of the bill dispute.
In a March 3 statement, Christine Drazan (R-Canby) accused Democrats of “manipulating the rules simply because they have the power to do it,” adding, “A reckoning is coming, and Oregonians will have the final word.”
With the law now signed, voters are set to decide in May 2026 whether to uphold or repeal the transportation tax increases enacted in 2025 — but debate over the timing of that decision remains a central flashpoint in Oregon politics.
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