No Tax Oregon Urges Gov. Kotek to Stop Delaying, Veto SB 1507

Delay tactics are harming Oregonians’ constitutional right to make their voices heard.

SALEM, OR – Oregon Freedom Coalition (OFC) and No Tax Oregon urge Governor Tina Kotek to take action on SB 1507, the $300 million tax increase gut punch to small businesses.

During debate of SB 1507 on the house floor, Representative Ed Diehl announced his intention to refer the bill to the voters in November.

OFC welcomes the effort and No Tax Oregon stands firmly behind the signature gathering efforts of the referendum. Oregonians will have until early June–the constitutionally allotted 90 days–to collect roughly 80,000 signatures to refer SB 1507 to the November ballot.

However, Governor Kotek, Speaker Julie Fahey, and Senate President Rob Wagner are again playing games to limit the voice of Oregonians on a bill that severely impacts their wallets.

Lawmakers passed SB 1507 on February 25, with more than two weeks left in the short session. Speaker Julie Fahey and Senate President Rob Wagner used procedural gimmicks to delay the transmission of the bill to Governor Kotek so that her timeframe to sign the bill overlaps with Oregonians timeline to collect signatures. Delaying the signing of SB 1507 effectively cuts the constitutionally allotted timeframe in half.

Representative Ed Diehl, President of OFC and a Chief Petitioner on the upcoming referendum, emphasized the impact SB 1507 has on Oregonians and the need to refer the bill to voters:

Oregonians are taxed enough already. This $300 million tax increase hurts small businesses and working families at a time when we must make Oregon more affordable, not more expensive. SB 1507 denies businesses key federal tax relief on equipment investments. Instead of supporting job creators, it protects government spending at the expense of Oregonians.

Representative Dwayne Yunker, the second Chief Petitioner, criticized the Governor’s lack of leadership:

This is the same playbook we saw in 2025 with the Gas Tax Referendum, the Governor trying to run out the clock to avoid accountability. Now with SB 1507, she’s refusing to sign so Oregonians can’t exercise their right to referendum. That’s not leadership, that’s blocking the people.

Nick Stark, Executive Director of OFC and the third Chief Petitioner, reiterated OFC and No Tax Oregon’s commitment to protecting Oregon taxpayers:

Oregon Freedom Coalition and No Tax Oregon have proven their ability to defend Oregon taxpayers when Salem imposes its will on their wallets. SB 1507, which essentially amounts to small business robbery, was passed with very little public scrutiny. We intend to give voters a say on whether their taxes go up. This bill will be on the ballot in November alongside the same politicians who think they do not have to be held accountable to the people of Oregon.

No Tax Oregon is taking volunteer sign-ups for the referendum petition. For more information, visit NoTaxOR.com.