Gun control bill passes the Oregon House
By Terry Murry on Thursday, February 26th, 2026 in Columbia Basin News Columbia Basin Top Stories
SALEM – House Bill 4145, which its supporters say will strengthen Oregon’s unenforced gun control law (Measure 114) passed the House of Representatives by a vote of 33 to 19. Only Democrats voted in favor of the bill. Meanwhile, two members of that party crossed the aisle and voted against it. They are Rep. Farrah Chaichi of Beaverton and Rep. Paul Evans of Monmouth. In this area, Rep. Bobby Levy (R-Echo) and Rep. Mark Owens (R-Crane) voted against it.
Rep. Greg Smith (R-Heppner) did not vote. In a remonstrance he delivered on the floor of the House, he said he would not participate in the process because he feels he and the public have made their feelings clear about his opposition to the bill.
Democrats say that HB 4145 is written in part to clarify elements of the permitting system outlined in Measure 114 will work. However, the bill requires any court challenges of constitutionality can only be filed in Marion County Circuit Court if the bill passes the Senate.
House Republicans say there are no meaningful public safety improvements in the bill.
“By doubling the permit processing time from 30 to 60 days, nearly tripling the permit fee from $65 to $150, and creating a permanent registry, House Bill 4145 makes it more difficult and more expensive to exercise the constitutionally-protected right to bear arms while doing nothing to deter crime or stop illegal gun possession,” the GOP statement reads.
