Tell Lawmakers to Stop Foisting the Cost of General Aviation Airports onto the Public: Oppose HB 2153

Miki Barnes
June 17, 2025

On 3/24/2025 the Joint Committee on Transportation held a hearing on HB 2153, a bill promoted by the Oregon Department of Aviation (ODAV) likely to require commercial airline passengers to assume the cost burden of subsidizing Oregon's general aviation airports. A work session held on 5/5/2025 proposed adding to the tax burden already included in HB 2153.

According to ODAV Director Kenji Sugahara, the department operates 28 state public use airports,12 of which are federally funded. In addition it licenses and inspects 96 public use airports and registers 360 private airports. A significant portion of the funding for ODAV and these facilities is already paid for with public money via generous Connect Oregon grants. Additional funds are generated from a tax on leaded fuel passed during the 2015 legislative session. The federal government also distributes millions of dollars in public money, mostly from airline passenger fees, to Oregon airports.

ODAV became a separate state agency in 1999. Prior to that time, it was recognized as the Division of Aeronautics within the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT). Nonetheless, it continues to benefit from ODOT's Connect Oregon program.

ODAV's primary purpose is to serve the privileged few, less than one-quarter of one percent of the population, certified to fly out of Oregon's general aviation airports. Needless to say, the vast majority of Oregonians lack the financial wherewithal to own, lease, or rent private airplanes, helicopters and luxury jets, and thus have no cause to use these facilities

As noted in testimony submitted by Alaska Airlines in opposition to the bill:

"HB 2153 (2025) proposes to increase Oregon's commercial aviation fuel taxes by more than 100%, doubling the tax rate from 3 to 6 cents-per-gallon and introducing a unique biennial rate adjustment according to any increase in the Consumer Price Index. The resulting revenue would be used predominantly to support general aviation airports not utilized by commercial airlines or their passengers."

Airlines for America also opposes the bill:

"This increase unfairly targets commercial aviation and may not comply with federal law regarding the use of jet fuel tax revenue...Fuel is one of the highest costs for airlines, and any increase in costs could be passed on to passengers or absorbed through cuts to service which often impact small and medium communities." [Emphasis added]

According to joint testimony submitted by the The Port of Portland and Redmond Municipal Airport,

"It is inequitable to propose any further increase in the state aviation fuel tax. As detailed by the Airlines for America in their analysis, airlines collect federal taxes from passengers and shippers to fund the FAA's Airport Improvement Program (AIP) which provides federal grants for airports small and large. In fiscal year 2024, Oregon's commercial service airports received less than half the state's AIP grants of nearly $51 million, with Portland International Airport (PDX) receiving only 14 percent."

Allegiant Air and Oregon Business & Industry also submitted testimony opposing the bill.

Those who supported the bill were predominantly the operators of general aviation airports across the state poised to gouge the public yet again to benefit the for-profit flight training schools, charter jet companies, hobbyists, and lavish transportation choices of private pilots and aviation businesses as well as airport and aircraft owners. Many are recipients of previous Connect Oregon and ODAV grants.

To access the testimony submitted both for and against this bill click here.

The testimony submitted by this writer opposing the bill is available here.

The users of these airports routinely bombard the local residents forced to subsidize them with relentless noise, lead emissions, PM2.5 and a host of other carcinogenic pollutants. As such they pose a serious risk to public health and the environment. Instead of funding these airports, the legislature should be enacting laws requiring airports to monitor aviation generated noise, toxins and greenhouse gases in an effort to protect their constituents from the harms posed by this mode of transportation.

Take Action

Contact your state legislators. Urge them to oppose HB 2153. To find your state and federal legislators click here.