Clock ticks as Oregon lawmakers postpone transportation referendum vote yet again
The Oregon Senate postponed a vote for the third time this week on a controversial bill to reschedule a referendum on transportation tax and fee increases from November to May.
Senate Bill 1599, a Democratic proposal to shift a statewide vote on whether to approve or reject parts of a 2025 transportation law from November to May, was listed as the first thing on Friday’s agenda in the Oregon Senate. Senators took up several other bills on the agenda until Senate President Rob Wagner, D-Lake Oswego, who was seen nervously pacing back and forth on the Senate floor and conferring with Senate Minority Leader Bruce Starr, R-Dundee, adjourned floor proceedings until Monday morning.
Time is running out for Democratic lawmakers. They have until Wednesday to get the bill past both chambers and signed by Gov. Tina Kotek, according to the secretary of state’s office. That’s because of deadlines to print ballots for Oregonians living overseas and gather arguments for the state-issued voter’s pamphlet.
The Oregon Senate was originally set up to take up the bill on Wednesday, but Republicans staged a walkout ahead of the vote citing the need for “more meaningful discussions” between parties. The following day, the Senate unanimously agreed to move the bill from Thursday’s agenda to Friday’s.
https://oregoncapitalchronicle.com/2026/02/20/clock-ticks-as-oregon-lawmakers-postpone-transportation-referendum-vote-yet-again/