Oregon transportation bills

What it would do: Amends Oregon transportation statutes to increase weight-mile tax rates for heavy vehicles effective July 1, 2028, establish new governance for the Department of Transportation director, create oversight mechanisms for major projects, and impose civil penalties for improper dyed diesel use.

What it would do: Establishes a workforce development program in the Higher Education Coordinating Commission to award grants to local workforce development boards for commercial driver license training, financial assistance, and wraparound services to address trucking industry workforce shortages. Appropriates $5,000,000 for the biennium beginning July 1, 2025.

What it would do: Requires the Department of Transportation to study increasing vehicle weight limits for commercial motor vehicles transporting fluid milk products and establish a pilot program allowing such vehicles up to 129,000 pounds on approved routes.

What it would do: Defines Kei trucks as motor vehicles manufactured in Japan or South Korea with 660cc engines, 11 feet or less in length, 4.9 feet or less in width, 6.6 feet or less in height, and model year 25+ years old. Sets registration fee at $63, restricts operation to highways with speed limits of 65 mph or less, and exempts them from certain equipment and emissions standards.

What it would do: Establishes a regulatory framework for autonomous vehicles in Oregon, defining automated driving systems and operational requirements, and authorizes the Department of Transportation to permit driverless for-hire autonomous vehicle networks while preempting local regulation.

What it would do: Requires the Oregon Business Development Department to study establishing an inland port in Deschutes, Jefferson, and Crook counties called the Port of Central Oregon, and submit recommendations to the Legislative Assembly by September 15, 2027.

What it would do: Prohibits the Department of Environmental Quality from implementing or enforcing the Advanced Clean Trucks regulations before January 1, 2027, and declares an emergency.

What it would do: Requires the Oregon Department of Emergency Management to study seaport transportation infrastructure resilience and submit a report with possible legislative recommendations to interim Legislative Assembly committees by September 15, 2026. This requirement repeals January 2, 2027.

What it would do: Requires the Department of Transportation to offer written examinations for commercial driving privileges in both English and Spanish, and specifies that this requirement applies to examinations administered on or after the effective date.

What it would do: Defines Kei trucks as Japanese or South Korean motor vehicles with 660cc engines, model years 25+ years old, and specific size limits. Allows Kei trucks to register for $63 biennially, exempts them from federal vehicle standards and pollution control requirements, prohibits operation on highways with speed limits over 65 mph, and permits non-ethanol gasoline sales for Kei trucks.

What it would do: Requires trains to have at least two crew members (a certified locomotive engineer and conductor), except when the Federal Railroad Administration grants special approval or federal law permits one-person crews. Establishes civil penalties of $250-$1,000 for violations, with escalating penalties for repeat violations.