SALEM, Ore. – Today, House and Senate Republicans announced legislation that stabilizes ODOT without raising taxes, while preserving operations and maintenance that serve core functions, such as plowing roads and filling potholes. This comprehensive proposal makes statutory changes to redirect money outside of core mission back to paying for priority needs. This proposal serves as a bridge – an interim plan – to rebuild Oregonians’ trust in ODOT.
“We reject the premise that if we don’t make life more expensive for Oregonians, we can’t fix potholes, plow the snow, or keep rural roads safe,” said House Republican Leader Christine Drazan (R-Canby). “By reprioritizing funding, focusing on accountability, modernizing administration, and streamlining regulations, this legislation holds ODOT accountable to core mission and protects families from tax increases.”
“Oregonians are tired of being told the fix is always paying more,” said Senate Republican Leader Daniel Bonham (R-The Dalles). “Our plan puts common sense first—keeping roads clear, potholes filled, and the pressure off taxpayers. It’s about rebuilding trust and demanding accountability before asking families to dig deeper into their pockets.”
This plan includes:
• Redirecting over $146 million of current spending on climate initiatives and $38 million in funding for passenger rail service.
• Redirecting half of the payroll tax to provide truckers with a tax credit on future tax bills, thereby repaying them for years of unconstitutional overpayments.
• Capping Oregon’s hidden gas tax (Clean Fuels Program) at the current level and returning the program to its original intent.
• Creating the Major Projects Office to manage projects costing more than $99 million.
• Creating a publicly accessible dashboard displaying key performance indicators for major projects.
• Establishing independent Dispute Review Boards for projects exceeding $5 million to resolve conflicts between ODOT and the contractor ensuring smooth delivery, on-time completion, and budget adherence. ###