On February 25, the Oregon House passed a controversial gun bill that amends provisions of Ballot Measure 114.
The ballot measure was narrowly approved by voters in 2022 but has not yet been implemented as legal challenges to its constitutionality remain in state and federal courts. It mandates a new gun purchase licensing scheme and bans high-capacity magazines.
House Bill 4145 increases the maximum time a licensing agent has to issue a license or deny an application from 30 days to 60 days. The fee for the permit process will increase from $65 to $150, and license renewals will increase from $50 to $110. The bill would also change the eligibility for “certification of a firearms safety course” required by Measure 114.
The bill exempts peace officers and parole or probation officers from the ban on high-capacity magazines. It would also disqualify anyone convicted of a misdemeanor involving violence within the past four years from receiving a license.
Supporters say the bill provides the technical changes needed to properly implement gun safety measures.
Opponents of the bill criticized the burden it places on citizens and said it went beyond what was reasonable.
On February 25, the Oregon House passed a controversial gun bill that amends provisions of Ballot Measure 114.
Oregon House Bill 4145’s path to House under scrutiny
On February 16, the House Judiciary Committee passed the bill after a tense session.
The bill was on the verge of not advancing after Rep. Thuy Tran, D-Portland, initially voted against passing an amendment to the measure. Judiciary Committee Chairman Rep. Jason Kropf, D-Bend, immediately stopped voting, walked out of the room with Tran, and returned about 20 minutes later. After another vote, Tran changed his vote.
The incident prompted a member of the public to file a conduct complaint against Kropf, which was dismissed on February 18.
Kropf resigned as chairman of the Conduct Committee on Feb. 23, prompting a one-day walkout by House Republicans. He was also removed from his role as the bill’s chief sponsor.
Tran said there was “a lot of discussion” on the floor about her stance on the bill. She said she voted in hopes the changes would prevent gun violence and gun suicides.
“If this bill saves even one life, it’s worth it. Measure 114 reflects the will of the people who have been waiting for us to take the time to make it work,” Tran said.
Republicans on the floor introduced a motion to send the bill back to the Judiciary Committee, saying the suspension and changes to Tran’s vote raised unanswered questions. Virgle Osborne, a Roseburg Republican, said the public is paying attention to what happens in committee and if the bill is not sent back, it calls into question the credibility of the Legislature.
Sen. Ed Diehl also mentioned the incident in a speech opposing the bill, as did Rep. Shelly Boshart Davis, R-Albany.
“I’m not going to pretend that the controversy surrounding this bill is irrelevant because process matters, integrity matters and freedom matters,” Deal said.
A motion to send the bill back to committee would have killed the proposal, but ultimately failed.
House Bill 4145 sparks hour-long debate
Opponents of the bill say HB4145 goes beyond reasonable regulation and would impose a financial burden on citizens trying to exercise their constitutional rights.
“Let’s be clear about who this bill is targeting. It’s not violent criminals, it’s not repeat offenders, it’s not the people who are causing the crime crisis in Oregon today. It’s targeting law-abiding citizens,” said Rep. Dwayne Yunker, R-Grants Pass. “It tells Oregonians that they must now seek permission from the government before exercising their constitutional rights.”
Boshart Davis also objected to a provision in the bill that would have required any challenge to the legality of HB4145 to be filed in Marion County Circuit Court. The challenge to Measure 114 began in Harney County Circuit Court. Harney County Judge Robert S. Raschio ruled against the ballot measure in 2023. His ruling was later overturned by the Oregon Court of Appeals.
“Marion County voters are great, but they do not and should not have a greater say in the outcome of a constitutional lawsuit than the other 35 counties in Oregon,” Boshart Davis said, adding that lawmakers were voting to disenfranchise voters. She called the clause a “deliberate middle finger” to Lazio.
Rep. Paul Evans, D-Monmouth, was one of two Democrats to vote against the measure. Evans said he has co-authored gun violence legislation in the past and voted for bills aimed at reducing gun violence. He described the bill as “a good-faith attempt to solve an unsolvable problem.”
He added that HB4145 sets a “dangerous precedent” by requiring Oregonians to obtain a permit before exercising their constitutional rights.
Rep. Dacia Graeber, D-Portland, spoke about her experience with gun violence. She described that her daughter died in 2025 when she was able to go to a shooting range, legally purchase a gun, and commit suicide on the same day. Graeber said the bill wouldn’t bring her daughter back, but it would make a difference.
“If it has an impact on one family hearing this news today, if it has an impact on one member of this floor not knowing this pain, then it was worth it,” Graeber said. “I will continue to fight for this for the rest of my legislative career.”
Bill carrier Rep. Sarah Finger McDonald, D-Corvallis, said the bill respects the will of Oregon voters.
“HB 4145 ensures that Measure 114 is implemented in a clear and effective manner that prioritizes public safety and respects due process,” Finger McDonald said in a statement after its passage.
She added that the bill would save lives, citing statistics from other states that have passed similar legislation. Finger McDonald said that after Connecticut implemented a license-to-purchase law, the firearm homicide rate dropped by 28% and the firearm suicide rate dropped by 33%. She said states with legislation similar to Measure 114 have seen a 56% reduction in fatal mass shootings.
She added that after Missouri’s licensing laws were repealed, gun homicides increased by 47% and gun suicides increased by 24%.
“Purchasing a license is one of the best tools we have to reduce gun tragedies,” said Finger-McDonald.
The bill passed by a vote of 33 to 19. It will be sent to the Oregon Senate for further consideration.
Dianne Lugo covers the Oregon Legislature and equity issues. Contact her at dlugo@statesmanjournal.com on X @dianelugo or Bluesky @diannelugo.bsky.social.
This article originally appeared in the Salem Statesman-Journal: Progress on controversial Oregon gun bill revamping Measure 114
