b'2023 WPMA State ReportOREGON Fuels Association ReportHappy Fall! The Legislature met for Interim Committee hearings September 27-29, 2023 and will meet The leaves have turned,football is wellagain November 6-8, 2023 to plan for the 2024 underway, and Oregonians have adjusted quiteshort session. Pre-session filed bills for the short nicely to the changes brought by HB2426, whichsession must be submitted to Legislative Coun-offers them choice at the pump. This matter ofsel no later than November 9, 2023. The session self-service, which The Oregonian said has longis scheduled to run from February 5-March 10, been one of the most polarizing issues in Or- 2024. The Capitol building will have limited ac-egon was historically signed into law on Augustcess in 2024 due to the ongoing Capitol renova-Tracey Anderson4, 2023 by Governor Tina Kotek, thus allowingtion construction which is expected to last until at OFA Executive Director Oregonians to pump their own gas for the firstleast 2025, and is currently running $100 million time in 72 years!over budget.HB2426 was a topic that Oregon Fuels Associa- Salem Payroll Tax Referral tion has been championing for years and we areOregon Business & Industry (OBI) is spearhead-thrilled to finally find success thanks to the harding an effort to refer the Salem payroll tax to work of our tireless lobbyists, Danelle Romainthe November 2023 ballot. A referral requires and Mike Freese.4,000 valid signatures verified by August 9. This week, OBI submitted nearly 13,000 signatures Current Oregon to the Marion County Elections Division, which will likely far exceed the minimum required to Policy Update qualify the referral. If the Salem Council doesnt withdraw the tax before November, it is expected Here are some of the latest updates to face a near-certain defeat by voters at the ballot.regarding Oregon policy. 2023Secretary of State Bars SenateRepublicans from Running OFA Conferencefor Re-electionIn a mid-August press release, newly appointedat SunriverOregon Secretary of State (SOS) LaVonneLet me close with a recapand reflection on Griffin-Valade directed the Oregon Electionsour convention this past July in Sunriver. This Division to disqualify the Oregon Republicanyears convention was Senators who participated in the six-week longextremely successful legislative walkout from running for re-election.and very well attended. GOP lawmakers led by Senate Minority LeaderIt offered some needed Tim Knopp will challenge the rule in court,improvements to the contending they are allowed to serve anotherformat, which were well term under the plain language of Ballot Measurereceived, including the 113, passed by Oregon voters in November 2022.addition of a Family This issue will need to be resolved by Oregon (orPool Party, organized potentially Federal) courts in time for the Marchand hosted by our Board 12, 2024 deadline to file for re-election, in orderof Directors President, to provide time for the lawmakers to appear onJeff Rouse, and his the May 21, 2024 primary election ballot. lovely wife, Erin. We Election Deadlines & Interim Calendar at OFA recognize that The first day for candidates to file for re-electionour convention would in 2024 was September 14, 2023. As of thisnot have been possibleBett Lucas and her childrenwriting (08/01/23), we expect to see a potentialwithout the generous shakeup in the Legislature based on severalsupport of our sponsors, and to them we offer open statewide races, including Oregontremendous gratitude and praise.State Treasurer, Oregon Secretary ofWe were fortunate to have a great lineup State, and potentially Oregon Attorneyof notable speakers including keynote General. These high-profile positionsspeaker, Roger Grannis, who spoke on will almost certainly be sought after byhis Yellow Cake Principle, and Oregon well-known elected officials. Senator Tim Knopp, who graciously of-32 www.wpma.com / Fall 2023'