Oregon Ballot Measure 7 (2000)

From Ballotpedia

Oregon Ballot Measure 7 was an initiated constitutional amendment to require state, local governments to pay landowners the amount of reduction in market value if law or regulation reduces the property value.^[1]

Results

The measure passed at the November 2000 general election with over 53% approval.

Lawsuit overturns measure

Measure 7, after the voters approved it, was challenged by the League of Oregon Cities, a lobbying association of city governments that is financed by dues from cities. The League's lawsuit succeeded, and the Oregon Supreme Court nullified Measure 7 in 2002.^[2]

A second chance

In 2004, Oregon voters approved Measure 37 which had a number of similarities to Measure 7. The differences between the two were that:

• Measure 37 did not amend the Constitution.
• Measure 37 gave government the option to waive regulations, rather than reimburse a property owner.
• Measure 37 was retroactive.

Voters in neighboring Washington considered a similar measure, Initiative 164, in the mid-1990s, but did not pass it.^[3]

Support

Oregonians In Action ran the campaign supporting Measure 7, after taking it over from Bill Sizemore's organization, Oregon Taxpayers United.

Opposition

1000 Friends of Oregon opposed Measure 7 as well as Measure 37 in 2004.

References

1. ↑ Lane Powell Spears Lubersky LLP News: "Measure 7 And Its Impact On Oregonians" by Peter Livingston
2. ↑ Oregon Supreme Court State Records, October 4, 2002
3. ↑ hcn.org: "Legislature votes to hamstring Washington state", High Country News, May 29, 1995

{{oregon}]