Senate Republican Caucus 2025-transportation

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Oregon Senate Republicans Capitol Phone: 503-986-1950 Capitol Address: 900 Court St. NE, S-323, Salem, Oregon 97301 Email the Senate Republican Leader: Sen.BruceStarr@oregonlegislature.gov Email Press Inquiries: Ashley.Kuenzi@oregonlegislature.gov

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In 2025, the Democrat supermajority passed House Bill 3991, a $4.3 billion package of taxes and fees to fund the Oregon Department of Transportation after repeatedly rejecting a no-tax plan from Senate Republicans to address ODOT’s budget problems using existing resources. They insisted higher taxes were the only way to avoid cuts to maintenance and layoffs of frontline workers.

That claim never held up. Operations and maintenance make up just 9% of ODOT’s total budget, while billions continue to be directed toward non-essential priorities.

Oregonians across urban, suburban, and rural communities saw through it. They know they already pay enough in taxes, and they expect government to focus on the basics like plowing winter roads and fixing potholes before asking families to pay higher taxes.

That frustration was unmistakable during the Governor’s fall 2025 special session. Of more than 5,000 pieces of written testimony submitted to the Legislature, 4,836 were in opposition and just 263 were in support. That is 95% opposed.

To highlight this overwhelming response, we created an interactive map of testimony by city. The map shows what the numbers make clear: from Portland to Pendleton, opposition is spread across every corner of the state.

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But Oregonians didn’t stop at testimony. They took action.

Led by Senate Republican Leader Bruce Starr and Representative Ed Diehl, more than 250,000 Oregonians signed a referendum petition to send HB 3991, a $4.3 billion package of transportation taxes and fees, to the ballot. That is more than three times the number required. The measure was certified for the November 2026 General Election, freezing the law and putting the decision directly in the hands of voters.

Rather than allowing that vote to proceed as expected, the Democrat supermajority passed Senate Bill 1599 to move the election to the lower-turnout May 2026 Primary Election. This change came after certification, altering the process midstream and limiting participation in a decision of this magnitude. Thousands of Oregonians quickly submitted testimony in opposition, many pointing out they signed the petition with the understanding the vote would take place in November.

Democrats argued the change was necessary to give the Oregon Department of Transportation more certainty about future funding. That claim fell apart under scrutiny. During the short session, Senate Republicans worked with budget writers to identify millions of dollars in waste and implement targeted cuts, ultimately balancing ODOT’s budget using existing resources. The timeline of the vote had no bearing on the agency’s ability to function.

Even Democrat leadership acknowledged the political motivation behind the decision. Senate President Rob Wagner stated publicly, “Is it political? For sure. I don’t think anybody wants to see this on the November ballot.” That admission confirmed what many Oregonians already suspected. This was not about good governance. It was about avoiding accountability in a general election for an unpopular tax increase they voted for.

After a chaotic process marked by delays and procedural challenges, SB 1599 passed without Republican support. The law set a troubling precedent by retroactively shifting a certified referendum to a different election, reducing voter participation, limiting engagement with the voters’ pamphlet, and bypassing standard processes for transparency and public input.

In response, Leader Starr and his co-petitioners filed a lawsuit to defend the integrity of the referendum process. While the court did not ultimately block the law, the effort underscored a clear commitment to standing up for voters and holding the majority accountable.

Senate Republicans will continue to fight for transparency, fairness, and accountability in state government. And we will continue to stand with Oregonians who expect their voices to be heard, not sidelined.

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