ORS 291.055 State agency fee approval; exemptions; restoration of temporarily reduced fees

Notwithstanding any other law that grants to a state agency the authority to establish fees, all new state agency fees or fee increases adopted during the period beginning on the date of adjournment sine die of a regular session of the Legislative Assembly and ending on the date of adjournment sine die of the next regular session of the Legislative Assembly:

Are not effective for agencies in the executive department of government unless approved in writing by the Director of the Oregon Department of Administrative Services;

Are not effective for agencies in the judicial department of government unless approved in writing by the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court;

Are not effective for agencies in the legislative department of government unless approved in writing by the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives;

Shall be reported by the state agency to the Oregon Department of Administrative Services within 10 days of their adoption; and

Are rescinded on adjournment sine die of the next regular session of the Legislative Assembly as described in this subsection, unless otherwise authorized by enabling legislation setting forth the approved fees.

This section does not apply to:

Any tuition or fees charged by a public university listed in ORS 352.002.

Taxes or other payments made or collected from employers for unemployment insurance required by ORS chapter 657 or premium assessments required by ORS 656.612 and 656.614 or contributions and assessments calculated by cents per hour for workers’ compensation coverage required by ORS 656.506.

Fees or payments required for:

Health care services provided by the Oregon Health and Science University, by the Oregon Veterans’ Homes pursuant to ORS 408.362 and 408.365 to 408.385 and by other state agencies and institutions pursuant to ORS 179.610 to 179.770.

Copayments and premiums paid to the Oregon medical assistance program.

Assessments paid to the Department of Consumer and Business Services under sections 3 and 5, chapter 538, Oregon Laws 2017.

Fees created or authorized by statute that have no established rate or amount but are calculated for each separate instance for each fee payer and are based on actual cost of services provided.

State agency charges on employees for benefits and services.

Any intergovernmental charges.

Forest protection district assessment rates established by ORS 477.210 to 477.265.

State Department of Energy assessments required by ORS 456.595 and 469.421 (8).

Assessments on premiums charged by the Director of the Department of Consumer and Business Services pursuant to ORS 731.804 or fees charged by the director to banks, trusts and credit unions pursuant to ORS 706.530 and 723.114.

Public Utility Commission operating assessments required by ORS 756.310 or charges paid to the Residential Service Protection Fund required by chapter 290, Oregon Laws 1987.

Fees charged by the Housing and Community Services Department for intellectual property pursuant to ORS 456.562.

New or increased fees that are anticipated in the legislative budgeting process for an agency, revenues from which are included, explicitly or implicitly, in the legislatively adopted budget or the legislatively approved budget for the agency.

Tolls approved by the Oregon Transportation Commission pursuant to ORS 383.004 and administrative fees imposed for failure to pay tolls when due as required under ORS 383.035.

Portal provider fees as defined in ORS 276A.270 and established by the State Chief Information Officer under ORS 276A.276 (3) and recommended by the Electronic Government Portal Advisory Board.

Fees set by the State Parks and Recreation Director and approved by the State Parks and Recreation Commission under ORS 390.124 (2)(b).

Fees temporarily decreased for competitive or promotional reasons or because of unexpected and temporary revenue surpluses may be increased to not more than their prior level without compliance with subsection (1) of this section if, at the time the fee is decreased, the state agency specifies the following:

The reason for the fee decrease; and

The conditions under which the fee will be increased to not more than its prior level.

Fees that are decreased for reasons other than those described in paragraph (a) of this subsection may not be subsequently increased except as allowed by ORS 291.050 to 291.060 and 294.160.

Note 1: The amendments to 291.055 by section 5, chapter 502, Oregon Laws 2025, become operative on the date the Public Utility Commission adopts necessary rules, no later than December 1, 2026. See section 11, chapter 502, Oregon Laws 2025. The text that is operative from that date until January 2, 2038, is set forth for the user’s convenience.

291.055. (1) Notwithstanding any other law that grants to a state agency the authority to establish fees, all new state agency fees or fee increases adopted during the period beginning on the date of adjournment sine die of a regular session of the Legislative Assembly and ending on the date of adjournment sine die of the next regular session of the Legislative Assembly:

Are not effective for agencies in the executive department of government unless approved in writing by the Director of the Oregon Department of Administrative Services;

Are not effective for agencies in the judicial department of government unless approved in writing by the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court;

Are not effective for agencies in the legislative department of government unless approved in writing by the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives;

Shall be reported by the state agency to the Oregon Department of Administrative Services within 10 days of their adoption; and

Are rescinded on adjournment sine die of the next regular session of the Legislative Assembly as described in this subsection, unless otherwise authorized by enabling legislation setting forth the approved fees.

This section does not apply to:

Any tuition or fees charged by a public university listed in ORS 352.002.

Taxes or other payments made or collected from employers for unemployment insurance required by ORS chapter 657 or premium assessments required by ORS 656.612 and 656.614 or contributions and assessments calculated by cents per hour for workers’ compensation coverage required by ORS 656.506.

Fees or payments required for:

Health care services provided by the Oregon Health and Science University, by the Oregon Veterans’ Homes pursuant to ORS 408.362 and 408.365 to 408.385 and by other state agencies and institutions pursuant to ORS 179.610 to 179.770.

Copayments and premiums paid to the Oregon medical assistance program.

Assessments paid to the Department of Consumer and Business Services under sections 3 and 5, chapter 538, Oregon Laws 2017.

Fees created or authorized by statute that have no established rate or amount but are calculated for each separate instance for each fee payer and are based on actual cost of services provided.

State agency charges on employees for benefits and services.

Any intergovernmental charges.

Forest protection district assessment rates established by ORS 477.210 to 477.265.

State Department of Energy assessments required by ORS 456.595 and 469.421 (8).

Assessments on premiums charged by the Director of the Department of Consumer and Business Services pursuant to ORS 731.804 or fees charged by the director to banks, trusts and credit unions pursuant to ORS 706.530 and 723.114.

Public Utility Commission operating assessments required by ORS 756.310 or charges assessed under ORS 759.685 and paid into the Residential Service Protection Fund.

Fees charged by the Housing and Community Services Department for intellectual property pursuant to ORS 456.562.

New or increased fees that are anticipated in the legislative budgeting process for an agency, revenues from which are included, explicitly or implicitly, in the legislatively adopted budget or the legislatively approved budget for the agency.

Tolls approved by the Oregon Transportation Commission pursuant to ORS 383.004 and administrative fees imposed for failure to pay tolls when due as required under ORS 383.035.

Portal provider fees as defined in ORS 276A.270 and established by the State Chief Information Officer under ORS 276A.276 (3) and recommended by the Electronic Government Portal Advisory Board.

Fees set by the State Parks and Recreation Director and approved by the State Parks and Recreation Commission under ORS 390.124 (2)(b).

Fees temporarily decreased for competitive or promotional reasons or because of unexpected and temporary revenue surpluses may be increased to not more than their prior level without compliance with subsection (1) of this section if, at the time the fee is decreased, the state agency specifies the following:

The reason for the fee decrease; and

The conditions under which the fee will be increased to not more than its prior level.

Fees that are decreased for reasons other than those described in paragraph (a) of this subsection may not be subsequently increased except as allowed by ORS 291.050 to 291.060 and 294.160.

Note 2: The amendments to 291.055 by section 18, chapter 4, Oregon Laws 2025, become operative January 2, 2038. See section 23, chapter 4, Oregon Laws 2025. The text that is operative on and after January 2, 2038, including amendments by section 5, chapter 502, Oregon Laws 2025, is set forth for the user’s convenience.

291.055. (1) Notwithstanding any other law that grants to a state agency the authority to establish fees, all new state agency fees or fee increases adopted during the period beginning on the date of adjournment sine die of a regular session of the Legislative Assembly and ending on the date of adjournment sine die of the next regular session of the Legislative Assembly:

Are not effective for agencies in the executive department of government unless approved in writing by the Director of the Oregon Department of Administrative Services;

Are not effective for agencies in the judicial department of government unless approved in writing by the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court;

Are not effective for agencies in the legislative department of government unless approved in writing by the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives;

Shall be reported by the state agency to the Oregon Department of Administrative Services within 10 days of their adoption; and

Are rescinded on adjournment sine die of the next regular session of the Legislative Assembly as described in this subsection, unless otherwise authorized by enabling legislation setting forth the approved fees.

This section does not apply to:

Any tuition or fees charged by a public university listed in ORS 352.002.

Taxes or other payments made or collected from employers for unemployment insurance required by ORS chapter 657 or premium assessments required by ORS 656.612 and 656.614 or contributions and assessments calculated by cents per hour for workers’ compensation coverage required by ORS 656.506.

Fees or payments required for:

Health care services provided by the Oregon Health and Science University, by the Oregon Veterans’ Homes pursuant to ORS 408.362 and 408.365 to 408.385 and by other state agencies and institutions pursuant to ORS 179.610 to 179.770.

Copayments and premiums paid to the Oregon medical assistance program.

Fees created or authorized by statute that have no established rate or amount but are calculated for each separate instance for each fee payer and are based on actual cost of services provided.

State agency charges on employees for benefits and services.

Any intergovernmental charges.

Forest protection district assessment rates established by ORS 477.210 to 477.265.

State Department of Energy assessments required by ORS 456.595 and 469.421 (8).

Assessments on premiums charged by the Director of the Department of Consumer and Business Services pursuant to ORS 731.804 or fees charged by the director to banks, trusts and credit unions pursuant to ORS 706.530 and 723.114.

Public Utility Commission operating assessments required by ORS 756.310 or charges assessed under ORS 759.685 and paid into the Residential Service Protection Fund.

Fees charged by the Housing and Community Services Department for intellectual property pursuant to ORS 456.562.

New or increased fees that are anticipated in the legislative budgeting process for an agency, revenues from which are included, explicitly or implicitly, in the legislatively adopted budget or the legislatively approved budget for the agency.

Tolls approved by the Oregon Transportation Commission pursuant to ORS 383.004 and administrative fees imposed for failure to pay tolls when due as required under ORS 383.035.

Portal provider fees as defined in ORS 276A.270 and established by the State Chief Information Officer under ORS 276A.276 (3) and recommended by the Electronic Government Portal Advisory Board.

Fees set by the State Parks and Recreation Director and approved by the State Parks and Recreation Commission under ORS 390.124 (2)(b).

Fees temporarily decreased for competitive or promotional reasons or because of unexpected and temporary revenue surpluses may be increased to not more than their prior level without compliance with subsection (1) of this section if, at the time the fee is decreased, the state agency specifies the following:

The reason for the fee decrease; and

The conditions under which the fee will be increased to not more than its prior level.

Fees that are decreased for reasons other than those described in paragraph (a) of this subsection may not be subsequently increased except as allowed by ORS 291.050 to 291.060 and 294.160.

Note 3: See note under 291.050.