<body><div><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=2TBN5V_0zkqPObP00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=2TBN5V_0zkqPObP00" width="1200" height="600" >SALEM Ore. (KPTV) - Lawmakers are considering some changes to the kicker, the Oregon surplus refund in which the state returns excess revenue to taxpayers.Some want to get rid of it entirely, while others want to change where that money ends up.So far, three different bills have been introduced. Two - Senate Bills 399 and 573 - deal with the personal kicker, while the other would change how the state spends the corporate kicker.House Bill 3360This bill would create the “The School Facility Improvement Fund” using the corporate kicker.“Voters have already assigned the corporate kicker to be used for education and this [bill] is meant to clarify what is meant by ‘education’ and making sure that corporate kicker is going to have the most impact,” sponsor of the bill and state representative Zach Hudson said.Currently, any corporate kickers go to the general school fund. The way the law is written, money from that fund is not allowed to be used on school infrastructure projects like new roofs or replacing old HVAC systems.Right now, the only way schools can get funding for those projects are through bonds that are approved by the voters in that district.Hudson says getting bonds to pass is harder for some districts than others.“Many schools find they go to the voters again and again for a bond and the voters turn it down,” he said. “This [fund] would be available to school districts that have tried to pass a bond in the previous three years and failed.”But since the kicker is a part of the state constitution, even if HB 3360 passes, the voters would also have to pass Resolution 13 in the 2026 general election to allow this fund to be created.HB 3360 was heard by the House Committee on Education on Monday.Senate Bill 399This bill would simply require the state to pay out the personal kicker via check rather than issuing tax credits. The state’s Department of Revenue stopped issuing checks back in 2011.The sponsor of the bill, state senator Fred Girod, first introduced it back in 2023, but it never made it out of committee.SB 399 is currently in the Senate Committee on Finance and Revenue and has not been scheduled for a public hearing or work session.Senate Bill 573This bill arguably impact the most people, as it proposes to get rid of the personal kicker entirely.The bill sponsor, state senator Lew Frederick, said the personal kicker is only beneficial to wealthiest Oregonians who are filing their tax returns.The senator thinks that money could be better spent.“If you want us to accomplish things, we are going to need to use money that is available. The kicker is available,” Frederick said.He would like to see the kicker money go toward the school general fund, like the corporate kicker does.Frederick first introduced back in 2023 but it died in committee. Even if it does pass this year, in order to become law, voters would have to approve the constitutional change in the 2026 general election.SB 573 is currently in the Senate Committee on Rules and has not been scheduled for a public hearing.</div></body>

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SALEM Ore. (KPTV) - Lawmakers are considering some changes to the kicker, the Oregon surplus refund in which the state returns excess revenue to taxpayers. Some want to get rid of it entirely, while others want to change where that money ends up. So far, three different bills have been...

Oregon lawmakers consider changes to tax kicker refund

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SALEM Ore. (KPTV) - Lawmakers are considering some changes to the kicker, the Oregon surplus refund in which the state returns excess revenue to taxpayers.

Oregon lawmakers consider changes to tax kicker refund

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