June 22, 2023 3:00 a.m.
This week State Senator Cedric Hayden introduced Senate Bill 1104, the Oregon Media Tax Credit bill.
A release from Hayden said the proposal would provide Oregonians a dollar-for-dollar tax credit akin to the Oregon Political Tax Credit, when they pay to subscribe to any news outlet that covers Oregon news happenings.
Hayden said the Oregon Political Tax Credit is a $50 per person, $100 per tax filing couple tax credit that most Oregonians see back on their tax return when they contribute to a political action committee for political candidates, or a policy issue committee that supports property tax or ballot issue measures. Hayden believes a parallel Media Tax Credit is necessary to encourage Oregonians to subscribe to media outlets and help defray the cost of news published behind paywalls.
Hayden said, “The media plays an important role in maintaining the republican form of representative government we enjoy in that it’s the role of the free press to hold government responsible for its actions”. Hayden said, “Now more than ever, we need journalism to thrive, and we need a fair, democratic way to give people encouragement to support local journalism in the same way politicians have carved out a way to receive tax-free political contributions”. He said, “Having one type of tax credit that supports political speech while not fairly using tax dollars to support the free speech of the press which holds us accountable is no longer acceptable”.
Though late in the session, Hayden hopes the Media Tax Credit bill will be the start of an important conversation to support Oregonians’ ability to access news coverage that impacts Oregon.
The measure allows for $50 per person or $100 per tax filing couple, with no household income limit, to receive the tax credit when they file their tax return if they paid for media subscription services that meets certain criteria. Hayden said the tax credit could be used by a subscriber when the news outlet is for profit or nonprofit, the outlet has to employ journalists, the outlet has to cover news related to Oregon, and the outlet has to be a registered entity for at least twelve months.
Senate Bill 1104 will have its first reading this week. Hayden anticipates bringing the measure back in a subsequent session.