Legislative Update: Week of February 16, 2026
The 2026 short legislative session is now in week three. Monday marked a key procedural deadline: bills not voted out of their initial policy committees are now considered dead, unless assigned to a committee exempt from that rule, such as Rules or Revenue.
Below is an update on the bills seeing movement this week, including hearings, work sessions, and anticipated floor votes.
ADVANCING ECONOMIC GROWTH AND SITE READINESS
SB 1586 – Oregon JOBS Act
This bill advances several pro-growth tools.
- Doubles the availability of Oregon’s R&D tax credit and expands beyond semiconductor to advanced manufacturing and biotech.
- Enhances the current enterprise zone tool, one of Oregon’s most effective incentives for creating jobs and growing our tax base.
- Creates new tax abatements for equipment purchases, helping ensure expansion by existing Oregon companies.
- Streamlines industrial site readiness eligibility, providing more infrastructure financing flexibility, particularly in rural areas.
ACTION ALERT: This bill had a hearing Monday, February 16th, and has another hearing scheduled for February 18th, at 8:00am.
The Springfield Chamber Supports this bill.
HB 4084 – Governor’s Bill Establishing the Joint Permitting Council
This bill would set up a Joint Permitting Council to run a fast track permit program, update requirements and thresholds for the enterprise zone program, and put $40M towards the Industrial Site Loan Fund.
ACTION ALERT: This bill had a hearing Monday, February 16th at 8:00AM, and has a work session scheduled for Thursday, February 19th at 8:00AM
The Springfield Chamber supports this bill.
UNFAVORABLE BILLS TO ECONOMIC COMPETIVIENESS
SB 1507 – Federal Tax Code Disconnect
This bill disconnects Oregon from several federal tax provisions. Most notably, the bill would eliminate bonus depreciation for machinery and equipment placed into service beginning in tax year 2026, increasing the cost of capital and directly disincentivizing business investment and expansion. The bill also removes the exclusion for gains from qualified small business stock and limits deductions for interest on vehicle loans for U.S.-made autos. Collectively, these changes increase taxes on capital investments, remove support from small businesses.
ACTION ALERT: This bill passed out of the Senate, and has a public hearing scheduled for Wednesday, February 18th at 3:00pm in the House Revenue Committee.
The Springfield Chamber opposes this bill.
HB 4134 – Statewide Transient Lodging Tax Increase
This bill would increase the statewide lodging tax, raising costs for visitors and potentially reducing demand for travel-dependent communities.
BILL ACTIVITY: This bill passed out of committee during Monday’s work session.
Springfield Chamber opposes this bill.
HB 4148 – Transient Lodging Tax Diversion
This bill would weaken longstanding protections that ensure lodging tax revenues are reinvested in tourism promotion and visitor-driven economic activity.
ACTION ALERT: This bill has a work session scheduled for Wednesday, February 18th at 3:00PM
The Springfield Chamber opposes this bill.
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