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Oregon Voters Force Governor Kotek’s Transportation Tax Hike to the 2026 Ballot After 150,000 Signatures News By Diane Megaw On Nov 27, 2025 Last updated Nov 27, 2025 FILE - Oregon Department of Transportation Building - October 2024 | Photo by Seth Smigelski Groups challenging the tax increases in Oregon Governor Tina Kotek’s transportation bill said they have collected over 150,000 signatures, and the measure will now have to be put on the ballot. Oregon Transportation Bill Tax Increase Opponents Sign Petitions in Their 1,000s The controversial Transportation Bill raises the state’s gas tax and DMV fees to fund the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) and fix Oregon roads. Senate Republican Leader Bruce Starr, R-Dundee, Rep. Ed Diehl, R-Stayton, and chief petitioner Jason Williams are the petitioners on the referendum opposing the bill. Key Figures in the Transportation Tax Debate Item Number / Detail Minimum signatures required for 2026 ballot 78,116 Signatures reported collected (mid-petition) 150,000+ Gas tax increase $0.40 → $0.46 per gallon Vehicle registration fee $43 → $85 per year Vehicle title fee $77 → $216 Estimated new revenue from gas tax ~$90 million annually Projected total revenue ~$4.3 billion / 10 years With the gas tax up six cents per gallon, registration up $42 a year and the payroll transit tax up 0.1 percentage point, an average Oregon worker would pay roughly $140–$145 more per year under the new package (estimate based on ~13,662 miles/year, 26.4 mpg and $68,283 annual wage). How Much Will the Average Oregon Driver Pay? Estimated yearly cost increase for a typical commuter under the proposed transportation tax changes. $149 Extra gas tax per year* (15k miles) $55 Registration fee increase $85 Est. payroll impact ≈ $289 / year *Assumes 15,000 miles/year at 25 MPG with a 10¢ gas tax increase dailytidings.com Referendum to Move Forward as Signature Count Surpasses State Requirement The petitioners said that as of midday Tuesday, over 150,000 signatures had been collected. 78,116 signatures are the minimum requirement to put the measure on the ballot for the 2026 midterms. Thousands of volunteers are gathering signatures across the state to refer this bill to voters next fall and have indicated they will continue collecting signatures until the Dec. 30 deadline to demonstrate to the governor the extent of public opposition. No Tax Oregon said it expects to double its initial goal of 100,000 signatures at least. Opponents of the bill say the cost of this tax is too high and families may end up paying $300 to $600 more. Seniors on a limited income and the unemployed will be hit with a cost that they cannot afford. Governor Kotek indicated that the emergency funding that the legislature provided to keep Oregon’s roads, bridges, and transit systems safe and working will be suspended immediately once the Secretary of State certifies that the petitioners have enough signatures. The suspension of additional revenue for ODOT and Oregon roads could lead to the reintroduction of layoffs and maintenance station closures at ODOT. Share Twitter Facebook ReddIt WhatsApp Pinterest Email