The Oregon State Capitol

The Oregon legislature pushes forward on a bill to study a potential land-value tax in the state. It is sponsored by Senator Boquist (R). It has been put forward at the request of Common Ground OR-WA (CGORWA) , the Pacific Northwest chapter of Common Ground-USA, a single tax organization.

The bill, if passed, would require the Legislative Revenue Office to study the impacts of an LVT in different forms as a replacement to the current property tax. Different areas of focus would be if the tax included homestead exemptions, the tax as a revenue neutral system, and if the tax were applied locally.

There was a public hearing today (February 21) on the bill. CGORWA sent testimony in advocating for the tax overhaul, while others in the community also brought favorable opinions not just for the study but for the establishment of an LVT.

Any LVT eventually implemented would be difficult in Oregon. All changes in the state’s property tax would require a constitutional amendment, putting it up for a vote by the entire state. If the study passes and finds favorable results, then the amendment would have to be initiated by majority agreement in both houses of the state legislature or a citizen’s initiative.