Organizers of a campaign to repeal Oregon’s recently approved gas tax and vehicle fee increases arrived at the state capitol in Salem on Friday to deliver signatures for a proposed gas tax referendum. MGN image.
SALEM, OR – Organizers of a campaign to repeal Oregon’s recently approved gas tax and vehicle fee increases arrived at the state capitol in Salem on Friday in unmistakable fashion: a horse-drawn carriage carrying Santa Claus and festively-wrapped boxes of signatures.
The group, calling itself “No Tax Oregon,” says nearly 200,000 voter signatures have been gathered in less than a month—more than double the 78,116 valid signatures needed to qualify their referendum for the November 2026 ballot.
The Secretary of State must now verify the signatures, a standard process that often disqualifies a portion of submissions. Petition campaigns typically aim far above the requirement to ensure they still meet the threshold after invalid signatures are removed.
The referendum effort targets a bill passed during a special legislative session last summer. Governor Tina Kotek called lawmakers into session to address a major transportation funding shortfall, and they approved a package expected to raise $4.3 billion over the next decade to support Oregon Department of Transportation projects and prevent large-scale layoffs at the agency.
The bill increases Oregon’s gas tax from 40 cents to 46 cents per gallon starting in January. It also increases several fees, including:
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Title fees, up by $139 for most vehicles.
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Base registration fees, up by $42 per year for passenger vehicles, motorcycles, mopeds, light trailers, and low- and medium-speed vehicles.
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An additional surcharge for high-efficiency (40+ MPG) and electric vehicles, up by $30 per year.
Petition leaders argue that the state had alternative options to fund transportation needs and say voters should have been allowed to decide on the increases directly.
The deadline to gather the minimum number signatures was the December 30, just 90 days after the bill’s passage in late September. However, organizers were unable to get started until Gov. Kotek signed the legislation — something that didn’t happen until the end of the 30 business days window allowed by law. Despite that delay, petitioners say they gathered their signatures with 18 days to spare.
The governor has slammed the referendum effort, suggesting it is misguided.
“Frankly, I would urge Oregonians to think about signing on to a referral that will take away our basic ability as Oregonians to keep our roads operating,” said Kotek. “Let’s all come together as a state to make sure we have the roads we need.”
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Tim Lantz
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