Since 2003, Tax Fairness Oregon has helped save the state budget hundreds of millions of dollars by working towards an equitable tax system.
In some cases that means killing tax breaks like the BETC, or winning changes to enterprise zones such as the Rural SIP. In other cases its means supporting bills that rein in wage theft (which also always means tax theft) or advance tax enforcement.
From helping to retain the Oregon Estate Tax to helping to pass Measures 66 and 67, Tax Fairness Oregon has been a critical force in state government.
Tax Fairness Oregon works to reform our tax code so that it serves the common good, not special interests.
We help shape the debate about tax policy in Oregon:
- We work to reform Oregon’s tax code by monitoring and evaluating tax concepts.
- We identify, research, and analyze critical bills.
- We testify at legislative hearings and meet with legislators.
- We bring public attention to tax issues through Facebook and eblasts, speakers, media outreach, workshops, and public relations.
- We build coalitions with partner organizations.
We engage in legislative action, grassroots organizing, education, and coalition building to promote a revenue system that is more progressive, sustainable, and adequate.
You can review our past successes from the drop-down menu under the “Successes” tab.
2022
Washington County Commission 10.25
SB 1502 – This small woodland tax credit bill needs amendments
SB 1506 – Marijuana Tax Increase
SB 1507 – Elimination of CAT on pharmaceutical and other personal items
SB 1524 -1 – Gain Share is a boon for Washington County and a bane to the rest of the state
SB 1524 SECTION 1 – The tax subsidy for movies and millionaires
2021
Timber tax invited testimony 2.23.2021. docx
SB727A – Pass-through SALT exception
SB 852 – Essential Reforms to the Mortgage Interest Deduction
SB 842 – Tax-free stimulus payments.
SB 475 – Expanding PERS benefits for dispatchers
SB 335 -3 – A wise change in governance for the Department of Forestry
SB 330 – Making landlords whole is not a job for the tax code
SB 330 – Landlord tax credit
SB 316 – Oppose this Distillers’ Subsidy Bill
SB 312 – We support Corporate Tax Transparency
SB 154 – Solar farm taxation needs evaluation.
SB 153 – Do not extend this port property tax break
SB 149 – TFO Life insurance subsidy
SB 146 – Support this refundable tax credit for families with dependent care costs
SB 143 – Extend of the Rural Medical Care Tax Credit
SB 139 – Eliminating or reducing pass through tax break
SB 138 – Supporting reduction of who qualifies for pass-through rates
SB 136 – Broadcasters excise taxation pdf
SB 15 – Estate Tax exemptions changes should be revenue neutral
HB 3328 – Tax Fairness Oregon opposes a targeted income tax
HB 3302 – A great idea with the wrong funding mechanism.
HB 3244 – Tax Fairness Oregon opposes an increase in tax credits
HB 3130 – Substitute teachers eligible for PERS only if…
HB 2839 – Supporting the Cares Act disconnect
HB 2737 – Americorps tax treatment
HB 2607 – Construction Tax deserves some guard-rails
HB 2551 – Instead, end the IDA tax credit and start the IDA Fund
HB 2500 – Lodging tax extension
HB 2441 – Public University Venture Development Fund
HB 2429 – CAT exceptions HB 2385 – Property tax software for statewide use
HB 2379 – We support Reinstituting an Oregon Severance Tax
HB 2357 – Eliminating OFRI and redirecting the resources
~$mber tax invited testimony 2.23.2021. docx
~$B 164 Corrections to the CAT Legislation
~$ 2453 Insurance Industry Tax Credit
~$ 137 -1 CARES disconnect TFO
HB 2268 – Financial Institutions should not get this special exemption from the CAT
HB 2131 – DOR Tax Enforcement Authority
HB 2070 – Setting Harvest Tax Rates.. 6.2.2021 hearing
2020
HB 4010-Disconnect from Opportunity Zone Tax Breaks
HB 4010-Disconnect from federal Opportunity Zone tax provisions
HB 4047 A first step in addressing tourism taxes
HB 4079 – Support Rural Telecommunications
HB 4096-Tax Credits for Child Care Facilities
HJR 203-Referral to Remove the Transfer Tax Pre-emption from Oregons Constitution
SB 1529 – Repeal of Broadcasters’ Special Statutes
SB 1531-Makes corrections to and updates tax statutes
SB 1541-An Unnecessary Fix for Seniors
SB 1560 We Oppose a More Generous Estate Tax Law
SB 1565 The Distillers Subsidy Bill
HB 4010-Disconnect from Opportunity Zone Tax Breaks
HB 4010-Disconnect from federal Opportunity Zone tax provisions
HB 4047 A first step in addressing tourism taxes
HB 4079 – Support Rural Telecommunications
HB 4096-Tax Credits for Child Care Facilities
HJR 203-Referral to Remove the Transfer Tax Pre-emption from Oregons Constitution
SB 1529 – Repeal of Broadcasters’ Special Statutes
SB 1531-Makes corrections to and updates tax statutes
SB 1541-An Unnecessary Fix for Seniors
SB 1560 We Oppose a More Generous Estate Tax Law
SB 1565 The Distillers Subsidy Bill
2019
HB 2053 Business Oregon Modifications
HB 2387 Changes 529 & Able Account Contributions to a Refundable Tax Credit
HB 2387 Creates a refundable tax credit for 529 and ABLE account contributors
HB 2429 Hay baling equipment
HB 2522, HB 2538 TC for emergy supplies, comm1unity gardens and food banks
HB 2575 Brownfield Tax Credit
SB 34 Industrial Site Readiness
SB 114 Additional subsidy for providers of farmworker housing
SB 161 College Savings Plan expansion
SB 188 ET Adding $500k Home
SB 194 Shall Oregon End the Gambling Loss Deduction
SB 211 Employers Tax Break aka Pass-Through
SB 304 ET family-owned business exempt
SB 459 Tax Credit Sales at Increased Discounts
SB 523 Public Exposure (and Shame) for Tax Delinquents
SB 674 & SB 319 ET Elimination
SB 701 ET Exemption to $11 m
SJR 2 & SJR 21 Address Property Taxes variation in assessments
HB 2053 Business Oregon Modifications
HB 2387 Changes 529 & Able Account Contributions to a Refundable Tax Credit
HB 2387 Creates a refundable tax credit for 529 and ABLE account contributors
HB 2429 Hay baling equipment
HB 2522, HB 2538 TC for emergy supplies, comm1unity gardens and food banks
HB 2575 Brownfield Tax Credit
SB 34 Industrial Site Readiness
SB 114 Additional subsidy for providers of farmworker housing
SB 161 College Savings Plan expansion
SB 188 ET Adding $500k Home
SB 194 Shall Oregon End the Gambling Loss Deduction
SB 211 Employers Tax Break aka Pass-Through
SB 304 ET family-owned business exempt
SB 459 Tax Credit Sales at Increased Discounts
SB 523 Public Exposure (and Shame) for Tax Delinquents
SB 674 & SB 319 ET Elimination
SB 701 ET Exemption to $11 m
SJR 2 & SJR 21 Address Property Taxes variation in assessments
Recent News
Warehouse Tax Breaks
Since summer we’ve been having conversations with both legislators and the press about ending Oregon’s property tax breaks for warehouses and distribution centers. Clearly it’s working, we expect to bring changes to these enterprise zone programs in the coming legislative session with HB 3011. In an Oregonian article Mike Rogoway [...]
Off to Salem: TFO circulates its priorities
The House speaker and the Senate president were elected without a hitch. Legislators were sworn in and started dropping bills. Some of them are ours, so we were off to Salem to start talking them up. Semiconductor Incentives. The Biden administration is working to bring home manufacturing, and under the [...]
TFO testifies against the business lobby’s wish lists
In its final “Legislative Days” before the new House and Senate are sworn in, TFO was invited to describe Oregon’s tax structure in a hearing of the House Committee on Economic Development and Small Business. Appearing with the tax lobbyist from Oregon Business and Industry, Jody Wiser countered pleas that [...]
More subsidies for the semiconductor industry?
The star-studded “Oregon Semiconductor Competitive Task Force,” chaired by Ron Wyden, Kate Brown and the CEO of Portland General Electric industry includes industry, government and academic boosters intent on promoting a more inviting climate for semiconductor companies. Since the task force issued its “initial report” in August, TFO has been [...]
The Inflation Reduction Act is oddly named, but great tax policy
We hope The Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 actually makes it through Congress. It has some great tax policy in it, things we’ve been advocating at the national level for a long time. But despite the bill’s name, it is about reducing wealth inequality more than reducing inflation. Amy Hanauer, [...]