Senate committee hears push to restore 1% lottery share for county fair accounts (SB 780)

Senate Committee on Finance and Revenue members held a public hearing on Monday, Feb. 3, on Senate Bill 780, which would ensure the county fair account receives an amount equal to 1% of Oregon video lottery net proceeds by removing a statutory cap and an inflation-adjustment clause.

Supporters told the committee that county fairgrounds now serve year-round roles — providing emergency shelter for people and animals, training sites for state agencies, vaccine and testing clinics and centers for wildfire response — and that the current capped funding has not kept pace with those demands. "Our fairgrounds, serves as a backup for a hospital. It's the emergency center in times of disaster," said Senator Todd Nash, who introduced the measure.

The bill would remove a long-standing cap ($1,530,000) on the amount deposited to…