Oregon House Advances Bill to Implement Voter-Approved Gun Law Amid Ongoing Legal Challenges

The proposed legislation would strengthen some of the nation's strictest state-level firearm safety provisions narrowly enacted by Oregon voters in 2022.

Published on Feb. 26, 2026

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The Oregon House on Wednesday moved to strengthen some of the nation's strictest state-level firearm safety provisions narrowly enacted by Oregon voters in 2022, after a tense dispute during a committee hearing over the bill brought the chamber to a standstill on Monday. House Bill 4145 would serve as a roadmap for rolling out Measure 114, which bans magazines with more than 10 rounds of ammunition and requires completed background checks, permits and firearm safety training before purchasing guns.

Why it matters

Measure 114 has faced ongoing legal challenges in both state and federal courts, and the proposed legislation aims to provide a framework for implementing the voter-approved law despite the uncertainty. The bill's passage follows increased action in Salem taking on gun violence in the past year, including a law banning rapid-fire devices and empowering local governments to stop concealed carrying in public buildings.

The details

House Bill 4145 would give authorities 60 instead of the current 30 days required to either issue a permit or provide a written denial, and it would exempt background checks and permit application information from public records requests. The bill would also increase maximum permit fees the state is allowed to collect from $50 to $110, while pushing back implementation of the permit requirement until 2028. The proposed legislation requires officers conducting permit background checks to check fingerprints of applicants through state databases and then submit a request for review through the FBI.

  • The Oregon House passed the bill in a 33-19 vote on February 26, 2026.
  • Measure 114, the voter-approved gun law, was narrowly enacted by Oregon voters in 2022.
  • A federal judge ruled in 2023 that the law is allowed under the U.S. Constitution, but an Eastern Oregon Circuit Court judge blocked it from taking effect in late 2022 and determined it was unconstitutional in November 2023.
  • The Oregon Court of Appeals disagreed with the Harney County judge's ruling, and the state Supreme Court will determine whether the circuit judge or appeals court came to the right conclusion. Justices heard arguments in November over the ballot measure, though they have yet to issue a ruling.
  • In the 2025 legislative session, Democrats passed a law banning rapid-fire devices like bump stocks and empowering local governments to stop concealed carrying in public buildings, but pushed back implementation of Measure 114 to March 2026.

The players

Dacia Grayber

A Portland Democrat and chief sponsor of the legislation.

Paul Evans

A Monmouth Democrat and veteran who objected to establishing a permitting process for the constitutionally-established right to bear arms.

Farrah Chaichi

A Beaverton Democrat who has previously raised concerns about the increased fees' impact on low-income and rural Oregonians, as well as the bill's exemption of law enforcement from the high-capacity magazine ban.

Alek Skarlatos

A Republican from Winston who expressed concerns about handing over the records of thousands of Oregonians to the federal government.

Bobby Levy

A Republican from Echo who said the bill creates barriers for lawful firearm owners and raised concerns about affordability for increased permit fees.

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What they’re saying

“It does not replace the will of the voters. It operationalizes it, it clarifies it and it ensures that when Measure 114 is implemented, it will function in a way that is workable, constitutional and fair.”

— Sarah Finger McDonald, D-Corvallis (dailyfly.com)

“When you more than double the cost of the permit, you do not stop crime. You simply create a wider gap for those who can afford to comply and those who cannot.”

— Bobby Levy, R-Echo (dailyfly.com)

“I've spoken to you before about the risk of suicide for veterans, and I will continue to fight for support for them. If this bill saves even one life, it will be worth it.”

— Thủy Trần, D-Portland, lieutenant colonel in the Oregon National Guard (dailyfly.com)

What’s next

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The takeaway

This case highlights growing concerns in the community about repeat offenders released on bail, raising questions about bail reform, public safety on SF streets, and if any special laws to govern autonomous vehicles in residential and commercial areas.