After false starts, Oregon House passes transportation tax package

A bill to fund road maintenance and stave off hundreds of layoffs at the Oregon Department of Transportation narrowly cleared the Oregon House on Monday, more than two months after a prior attempt fizzled on the final night of the regular legislative session.

A 36-12 Labor Day vote on mostly party lines, reached after Democrats who control all branches of government agreed to make temporary a payroll tax increase to fund public transit, is the first major step to passing a 10-year, $4.3 billion package of tax and fee increases. The proposal still needs a vote from the Oregon Senate, anticipated on Wednesday.

It’s less than one-third the size of an ambitious earlier proposal, and even supporters characterized it as only a temporary fix meant to keep roads plowed, potholes filled and buses running.

“This bill keeps the lights on, but it doesn’t light the path forward,” said Rep. Mark Gamba, D-Milwaukie.

https://washingtonstatestandard.com/2025/09/02/after-false-starts-oregon-house-passes-transportation-tax-package/