HB 3518
Increases the county recording fee that is credited to the County Assessment and Taxation Fund and indexes the fee to inflation.
Jurisdiction
Oregon
Session
2025 Regular Session
At the request of
(at the request of Association of Oregon Counties)
Committee
Revenue
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Sign in to take actionPublic sentiment
Support
96%
Oppose
4%
- Introduced
- Passed House
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became Law
Bill overview
This bill increases the county recording fee, which currently goes to the County Assessment and Taxation Fund. It also indexes this fee to inflation, meaning it will automatically increase each year to keep pace with rising prices. Furthermore, the bill directs a specific percentage of all property tax revenues (excluding bond levies) to the same County Assessment and Taxation Fund. This change is intended to provide additional funding for county assessment functions.
Key provisions
- Increases the county recording fee to $19.
- Indexes the recording fee to inflation, adjusting annually.
- Directs a set percentage (currently 50 cents) of recording fees to the county.
- Directs a set percentage (currently 18 cents) of recording fees to the County Assessment and Taxation Fund.
- Requires a certain percentage (0.3%) of all property tax revenues (excluding bond levies) to be deposited into the County Assessment and Taxation Fund.
- Establishes a funding mechanism for county assessment functions.
- Requires a three-fifths majority vote for revenue raising.
- Specifies effective date as 91 days after adjournment sine die.
Who is affected
- Counties in Oregon
- Property owners in Oregon
- Real estate professionals (e.g., title companies, attorneys)
- County assessors
- The County Assessment and Taxation Fund
Notable changes
Sponsors
Official sponsors from legislative records.
Primary sponsor
House Committee On Revenue
Arguments in favor
Reasons to support this legislation.
Supporters of House Bill 3518 generally agree that the legislation is crucial for ensuring fairness, transparency, and equity in local tax systems. They emphasize the need for increased funding to support county assessors and tax collectors, who face significant financial struggles due to declining CAFFA revenues. Proponents argue that this funding will enable accurate property tax assessments, reduce budget deficits, and ultimately benefit residents and local governments. Many testifiers highlight the importance of stabilizing and indexing CAFFA grant revenues, which have failed to keep pace with inflationary increases in expenses, affecting the property tax system. By providing much-needed revenue for assessment and taxation services, HB 3518 aims to address concerns from various stakeholders, including a revised CPI-based schedule for document recording fees and changes to delinquent interest provisions.
Source: Testimony Summaries
Arguments opposed
Reasons to oppose this legislation.
Several ed concerns about HB 3518, citing potential negative impacts on special districts' financial health and ability to provide essential services. The Special Districts Association of Oregon warned that the bill could lead to reduced funding and decreased capacity for these districts to deliver vital services to their constituents. In contrast, some supporters of the -2 amendment emphasized the need for increased transparency and oversight, arguing that this would help address concerns raised in previous testimonies and ensure more effective management of special district finances. Overall, testifiers highlighted the importance of careful consideration of the bill's provisions to avoid unintended consequences for these critical public service providers.