Oregon Could Remain One of the Only States With Unlimited Political Donations as Lawmakers Seek a Delay
Oregon will most likely continue to be one of five states where political donations remain uncapped, as multiple lawmakers from both parties support postponing the law that will change the complexion of campaigns.
House Bill 4024 was passed by the Legislature in 2024, introducing significant changes to the campaign finance law, which becomes effective at the beginning of 2027. However, following a request by the Secretary of State (SoS) for $25 million, lawmakers have stalled its implementation.
Source: Oregon State Library eClips (Jan 9 2026) and Oregon Legislature Legislative Fiscal Office budget review for Secretary of State
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The State Must Maintain a System to Keep Track of Political Campaign Contributions
The bill will restrict the amount of donations that political candidates can receive from individuals, corporations, and unions. In addition, the bill requires the state to establish and operate a system to track all political contributions, with implementation set to begin in 2028.
This is the cap schedule the law sets for common donor types.
| Contributor type | Statewide candidate cap | Other candidate cap | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Individuals and corporations | $3,300 per election cycle | $3,300 per election cycle | Same cap applies across races |
| Political party committees | $30,000 per election cycle | $15,000 per election cycle | Lower cap for legislative / DA / circuit judge races |
| Membership organizations (unions and nonprofits) | $26,400 per election cycle | $13,200 per election cycle | Category used in the law for certain groups |
The lawmakers who support delaying the implementation of the law follows on the heels of a request by the SoS for $25 million needed within the next 12 months to address key provisions of the bill.
Supporters of the delay contend that allowing the agency additional time will help prevent early implementation issues when the new law – designed to increase transparency in political campaigns – takes effect. Lawmakers, who must consider the funding request during the upcoming legislative session, also highlight that the agency has yet to select a contractor to develop the required technological infrastructure.
The SoS’s Office states that it needs the additional funding to prepare for the roll-out of the law next year, but campaign finance advocates say the agency does not require significant additional funding.
Only $5 Million Has Been Spent on the Roll-Out of the Law
The only funding received by the SoS since the law was passed in 2024 was $5 million to address the rollout.
Yesterday (Tuesday) afternoon, Secretary of State Tobias Read told a Senate committee that significant cost savings could be effected by delaying current deadlines for its implementation. He asserted that the state would have to pay a premium to any business prepared to accept such a high-stakes project, given its narrow time frame.
However, advocates of campaign finance reform argue that the state has more than sufficient time to prepare for the implementation of the new law.
The New Law was Supported by 78% of Oregonians
House Bill 4024 was the result of a vote in 2020, supported by 78% of Oregonians who passed Measure 107 to limit campaign donations as law.
To date, Oregon political candidates from both parties have received substantial financial contributions to fuel their campaigns.
By far the largest recipient of financing in the 2022 campaign trail was Republican Senator Christine Drazan of Canby, whose $22 million race was bolstered with a $1 million donation from Oregon’s richest man, Phil Knight.
The Nike co-founder supported Drazan in her race for Governor, but was defeated in a hard-fought battle by Democrat Tina Kotek.