Oregon governor delays signing her own transportation bill

Republican lawmakers say Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek has delayed signing an emergency transportation funding bill in a bid to make it harder to bring the issue before voters.

Kotek, a Democrat, called a special session in August after lawmakers in the Democratic-controlled legislature failed to pass a transportation budget and Oregon Department of Transportation officials said they would have to lay off up to 700 workers and scale back on basic services like winter freeway plowing.

Within hours after lawmakers approved House Bill 3991 on Sept. 29, Kotek directed ODOT to halt planned layoffs, at that point an estimated 483 workers, but she had not signed the bill as of Friday morning.

“When leaders believe in their policy, they sign it. The Governor pushed for this $4.3 billion tax package—now she owes it to Oregonians to own it,” said House Republican Leader Lucetta Elmer, R-McMinnville. “If she’s confident it’s the right plan, she should welcome voters’ input, not run out the clock.”

Republican leaders say the governor’s delay is preventing Oregonians from collecting the signatures needed to refer the bill to the ballot for voter approval. In Oregon, a new law can be put before voters if enough valid signatures are collected within 90 days after the Legislature adjourns. The special session adjourned on Oct. 1. Opponents cannot begin collecting signatures until after the governor signs it.

HB 3991, scaled down from the transportation package floated during regular session, would double Oregon’s payroll tax and increase the gas tax and vehicle fees to raise $4.3 billion to fund road maintenance, bridge repairs, and other transportation needs. The bill also prevents layoffs.

“This is a calculated move to silence voters,” said Senate Republican Leader Bruce Starr, R- Dundee. “Governor Kotek and the Democrat supermajority know Oregonians would reject this massive tax and fee hike if given the chance. She needs to stop hiding behind procedural delays and sign the bill now.” 

The state legislature’s Republicans are no angels when it comes to exotic legislative rules maneuvers, having staged a weeks-long walkout in 2023 to deny a quorum to Democrats who had the votes to pass legislation.

If Kotek waits until the Nov. 12 deadline, to sign the bill, opponents will have 54 days to gather signatures, Rep. Ed Diehl, R-Scio, told the Oregon Chronicle.

To get the referendum on the ballot for the November 2026 election, opponents must gather at least 78,116 signatures from registered voters.

If the matter is referred to voters, it would delay the tax increases until voters weigh in next November.

Kotek told pubic broadcaster OPB she will sign it by the time it needs to be signed.