House Revenue Committee adopts one-year freeze amendment to House Bill 2,092

Chair Nathanson opened a March 13 work session of the House Committee on Revenue on House Bill 2,092, the annual bill that determines how Oregon aligns its tax law with federal changes. Representative Lori Walters moved adoption of the dash 6 amendment dated 03/07/2025, which the Legislative Revenue Office described as "a one-year freeze."

Kyle (staff), who introduced the materials, told the committee the fiscal impact for both the dash 6 and dash 7 amendments was "indeterminate" because the federal tax code has not been finalized. Chris Alenac of the Legislative Revenue Office said, "With the dash 6, it's a 1 year freeze," and explained the practical effect: if Congress takes no action, "it's business as usual" for 2025, but a congressional change that applies retroactively to tax year 2025 could leave Oregon taxpayers excluded from any new federal benefit because the state would be frozen to the earlier law.

Representative Walters formally moved to adopt the dash 6 amendment, saying, "I move to adopt the dash 6 amendment dated 03/07/2025 to House Bill 2,092." Members asked the Legislative Revenue Office about specific taxpayer effects, including the mortgage interest deduction and other TCJA provisions. Chris Alenac cautioned that the degree of complication depends on what Congress does and whether changes are retroactive.

After discussion, the committee took a roll-call vote on adoption of the dash 6 amendment and then on a subsequent motion to send House Bill 2,092, as amended, to the floor with a due-pass recommendation. The roll calls recorded the following individual votes (as read on the record): Representative Hudson (Aye); Representative Levy (No); Representative Marsh (Aye); Representative Smith (No); Vice Chair Reschke (No); Vice Chair Walters (Aye). Both motions were recorded as passed and the bill was ordered to the House floor as amended.

The committee and staff emphasized that the dash 6 measure is explicitly a one-year suspension; committee members repeatedly noted the legislature can revisit federal changes in later sessions or by special session if necessary. Committee members also referenced past examples when Oregon disconnected from federal provisions after Congress enacted them, citing the pass-through deduction in the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act as an instance of a later state response.

Votes at a glance

- Adopt dash 6 amendment to House Bill 2,092 (03/07/2025): Moved by Representative Walters. Roll-call votes recorded in committee: Hudson (Aye), Levy (No), Marsh (Aye), Smith (No), Reschke (No), Walters (Aye). Outcome: approved (motion recorded as passed).

- House Bill 2,092, as amended, to the floor with a due-pass recommendation: Moved by Representative Walters. Same roll-call pattern recorded; outcome: approved (motion recorded as passed).

Why it matters

The committee's action pauses Oregon's automatic year-to-year reconnection to any newly revised federal tax code for one tax year. If Congress enacts changes that apply to tax year 2025 and Oregon is frozen under dash 6, taxpayers could miss any newly authorized federal benefits unless the legislature acts later to adopt them. Committee members framed the amendment as a conservative, temporary measure that preserves the option to respond after federal law is settled.

What the committee did not do

The hearing did not attach a specific fiscal estimate for the statewide revenue impact of the dash 6 beyond the Legislative Revenue Office's statement that the fiscal effect is indeterminate while federal action remains uncertain. Committee members emphasized that further fiscal analysis and possible follow-up legislation could occur in subsequent sessions once federal decisions are final.