March 4, 2021 3:30 a.m.

Senate Bill 842, introduced by Oregon State Senator Dick Anderson on Wednesday, would return stimulus check money to working Oregonians.

A release from Anderson, a Lincoln City Republican, said the legislator was following through on his previous commitment to keep Economic Impact Payments in Oregonians pockets.

Anderson said, “There is no reason to be ‘nickeling and diming’ Oregonians by taking part of their stimulus check”. Anderson said the State of Oregon is doing better than expected with tax revenues.

The release said due to a loophole in the state tax code, an estimated 870,000 Oregonians will be sending a part of their federal stimulus checks to the state government, with middle-class families the hardest hit.

Anderson had previously indicated that residents might have to amend their tax filing or get a tax credit on 2021’s taxes. The release said SB 842 includes language that would require the Department of Revenue to send checks for the amount of taxes taken out of Oregonian’s stimulus checks. Anderson said this is similar to how the Oregon Kicker Tax refund is collected.

Anderson said to ensure that most Oregonians get their money back, supporters have opted to go for a system that proactively sends checks to those affected.

SB 842 was first read on the floor on Wednesday. It will head to the Senate President’s desk to await committee referral. Go to: https://olis.oregonlegislature.gov/liz/2021R1/Measures/Overview/SB842 for more information regarding the proposed legislation.