HJR1 • 2025

Proposes an amendment to the Oregon Constitution to require approval by the Legislative Assembly of any new fees or fee increases adopted by a state agency. Requires that bills approving new or increased fees be approved by a three-fifths supermajority of each chamber of the Legislative Assembly.

Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor: Representative Helfrich
Last action: 2025-06-27
Official status: In House Committee
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

Using official source text because the generated explanation was unavailable or could not be confirmed against the official bill text.

Proposes an amendment to the Oregon Constitution to require approval by the Legislative Assembly of any new fees or fee increases adopted by a state agency. Requires that bills approving new or increased fees be approved by a three-fifths supermajority of each chamber of the Legislative Assembly.

Digest: The measure says that if a state agency wants to charge a new fee or increase a fee, the Legislative Assembly has to agree.

What This Bill Does

Digest: The measure says that if a state agency wants to charge a new fee or increase a fee, the Legislative Assembly has to agree.
The measure requires 3/5 of the members of each chamber to agree.
(Flesch Readability Score: 69.3).
Proposes an amendment to the Oregon Constitution to require approval by the Legislative Assembly of any new fees or fee increases adopted by a state agency.

Limits and Unknowns

This entry is temporarily using official source text because the generated explanation could not be confirmed against the official bill text during the last sync.

Bill History

2025-06-27 House
In committee upon adjournment.
2025-01-17 House
Referred to Rules.
2025-01-13 House
First reading. Referred to Speaker's desk.

Official Summary Text

Digest: The measure says that if a state agency wants to charge a new fee or increase a fee, the Legislative Assembly has to agree. The measure requires 3/5 of the members of each chamber to agree. (Flesch Readability Score: 69.3).
Proposes an amendment to the Oregon Constitution to require approval by the Legislative Assembly of any new fees or fee increases adopted by a state agency. Requires that bills approving new or increased fees be approved by a three-fifths supermajority of each chamber of the Legislative Assembly.
Refers the proposed amendment to the people for their approval or rejection at the next regular general election.
Relating to: Proposing an amendment to the Oregon Constitution relating to fees.
Current location: In House Committee

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

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83rd OREGON LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY--2025 Regular Session
House Joint Resolution 1
Sponsored by Representative HELFRICH (Presession filed.)
SUMMARY
The following summary is not prepared by the sponsors of the measure and is not a part of the body thereof subject
to consideration by the Legislative Assembly. It is an editor’s brief statement of the essential features of the
measure as introduced. The statement includes a measure digest written in compliance with applicable readability
standards.
Digest: The measure says that if a state agency wants to charge a new fee or increase a fee,
the Legislative Assembly has to agree. The measure requires 3/5 of the members of each chamber
to agree. (Flesch Readability Score: 69.3).
Proposes an amendment to the Oregon Constitution to require approval by the Legislative As-
sembly of any new fees or fee increases adopted by a state agency. Requires that bills approving
new or increased fees be approved by a three-fifths supermajority of each chamber of the Legislative
Assembly.
Refers the proposed amendment to the people for their approval or rejection at the next regular
general election.
JOINT RESOLUTION
Be It Resolved by the Legislative Assembly of the State of Oregon:
PARAGRAPH 1.
The Constitution of the State of Oregon is amended by creating a new section
16 to be added to and made a part of Article IX, and by amending section 25, Article IV, such
sections to read:
SECTION 16. (1) New fees or fee increases adopted by a state agency are not effective
unless authorized by the Legislative Assembly by enabling legislation setting forth the ap-
proved fees, and the enabling legislation is approved by a supermajority as required under
section 25, Article IV, of this Constitution.
(2) New fees or fee increases authorized by the Legislative Assembly under subsection (1)
of this section take effect on the effective date of the enabling legislation or on the date
specified in the rule adopting the new fees or fee increases, whichever is later.
Sec. 25. (1) Except as otherwise provided in [ subsection (2) ] subsections (2) and (3) of this
section, a majority of all the members elected to each House shall be necessary to pass every bill
or Joint resolution.
(2) Three-fifths of all members elected to each House shall be necessary to pass bills for raising
revenue.
(3) Three-fifths of all members elected to each House shall be necessary to pass enabling
legislation that approves new fees or fee increases adopted by a state agency, as described
in section 16, Article IX of this Constitution.
[(3)] (4) All bills, and Joint resolutions passed, shall be signed by the presiding officers of the
respective houses.
PARAGRAPH 2.
The amendment proposed by this resolution shall be submitted to the
people for their approval or rejection at the next regular general election held throughout
this state.
NOTE: Matter in boldfaced type in an amended section is new; matter [ italic and bracketed] is existing law to be omitted.
New sections are in boldfaced type.
LC 222