It wasn't unexpected that Governor Tina Kotek announced using her constitutional authority to call a special session of the Oregon Legislature. In anticipation, following the adjournment of the 2025 legislative session, the news has covered that without sufficient resources to fund ODOT’s budget, the agency initiated 483 of an estimated 600 to 700 total layoffs coming because HB 2025 didn't pass. However, Governor Kotek directed ODOT to postpone the start date of layoffs for an additional 45 days to allow legislative action to preserve Oregon’s transportation services, and avoid a second wave of layoffs early in 2026.

When the legislative session ended with HB 2025,"The Big Ugly Tax Bill" left on the table, Republicans announced a big win for Oregonians. Now Republican legislators have a big challenge to stay true to their constituents and keep that win and resist the bribes to show up for a special session. Attendance is not mandatory under the session rules. Republicans have all the power in a special session, especially where increasing taxes requires a three-fifths vote. They can limit the session to what will be in a bill to fund the Department of Transportation or not attend. Governor Kotek is calling lawmakers to pass "The Big Ugly Tax Bill" in an open-ended session that will take up legislation to pay for basic road maintenance and operations at the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT), as well as address funding needs for local governments and transit districts.

Governor Kotek stated: “In the weeks since the adjournment of the legislative session, my team and I have worked every day with legislators, local partners, and key stakeholders to zero in on a solution and a timeline for the legislature to come back together and address the state’s most immediate transportation needs. Oregonians rely on these basic services, from brush clearing to prevent wildfires to snow plowing in winter weather, and they are counting on their elected representatives to deliver adequate and stable funding.

“I am confident that lawmakers will step up next month to avert these layoffs by approving the necessary funding for the state’s transportation needs. I appreciate their partnership and am eager to be on the other side of this crisis.”

A D V E R T I S E M E N T

A D V E R T I S E M E N T

The Governor’s priority is to deliver needed funding for the state highway trust fund for the 2025-27 biennium and continue the state’s commitment to revenue sharing with local governments. In addition, her goal is to forestall immediate impacts to transit service through increasing the amount of funding available to the Statewide Transportation Improvement Fund.

The Governor also believes that key provisions related to ratepayer fairness, funding reliability, and agency accountability must be included in the solution. That seems to require some form of tax and fee increases and she foresees more increases in the future will be necessary to reach her goals.

“The special session will be focused on critical near-term solutions to stabilize basic functions at ODOT and local governments,” Governor Kotek continued. “This is just the first step of many that must be taken to meet our state’s long-term transportation needs.”

In the height of the debate, Republicans presented HB 3982, to reform ODOT and preserve core maintenance, especially in rural Oregon, and stabilize ODOT while avoiding raises to the cost of living. House Republican Leader Christine Drazan (R-Canby), a co-chief sponsor of the bill, said "Our legislation seeks to rebuild Oregonians’ trust in ODOT by refocusing their priorities without asking Oregonians to pay more. With a state budget that has doubled over the last decade alone, we reject the premise that politicians must make life more expensive for Oregonians if we want to fix potholes, plow the snow and keep our streets safe.”

Senate Republican Leader Daniel Bonham (R-The Dalles), the other co-chief sponsor of HB 3982, stated: "Senate and House Republicans are leading on transportation solutions that center around Oregonians’ transportation needs and their family budgets. HB 3982 proves that better outcomes come from better priorities, not bigger budgets. Democrats have given Oregonians two bad options: raise taxes, or raise them even more. Republicans are offering another path: cut the waste, refocus ODOT on its core mission, and stop asking taxpayers to subsidize government’s failure.”

Now we will see if they can lead their party to rebuild trust taking control of the special session and standing behind their words. Oregonians will be watching on Friday, August 29, 2025, whether Republicans are going to stand for Oregonians. Tell legislators how important it is to not add new taxes.


--Donna Bleiler

Post Date: 2025-07-22 15:17:49

Last Update: 2025-07-22 18:39:03