Tomorrow’s Oregon Senate Vote Could Redefine Transportation Funding for the Next Decade

Oregon senators are expected to pass the Department of Transportation (ODOT) funding bill sometime tomorrow (Wednesday), following a thorny journey with hours of verbal jousting by Democrat and Republican lawmakers.

After failing to pass through the last legislative session, Governor Tina Kotek called a special session to ensure that ODOT receives a much-needed cash injection to maintain the transportation network and prevent layoffs of hundreds of workers. She worked closely with industry specialists to devise a fund-generating plan.

The Bill Had a Bumpy Ride Before Landing on the Senate Floor

On Sunday, the funding package was passed by the Joint Special Session Committee on Transportation Funding and is expected to raise $4.3 billion in fees and taxes for road and bridge maintenance over the next 10 years.

It then proceeded to the House, where arguments for and against continued. While supporters believe the bill will maintain roads and bridges, ensuring the safety of citizens, opponents believe increased taxes will harm Oregonians who are already battling to keep pace with rising costs.

Republicans tabled an alternative proposal to redirect $134 million from transit and climate programs.

The bill, extensively panel-beaten and resprayed during the hours of heated debate, also ensures reliable transport services for the elderly and people with disabilities, and introduces a levy on owners of electric vehicles.

The balance of the funds will be raised with a six-cent-a-gallon increase on the price of gasoline, and doubling the state’s payroll tax from 1% to 2% over the next two years.

House Bill 3991 had its first reading in the Senate yesterday (Monday), and could have been passed on the same day had all the lawmakers agreed to suspend the rules and hold both the second and final readings.

However, Republicans made it clear that they would not agree to the move to hasten the progress of the bill.

The second senate reading will take place today (Tuesday), with the final vote expected tomorrow.

The majority of lawmakers are optimistic that the bill will arrive on Governor Kotek’s desk by the end of this week for signature. However, while Democrats may have a three-fifths majority in the House and Senate, the bill could still be prevented from progressing should any Democratic lawmakers change their minds or abstain from voting.