People in Oregon are becoming more and more interested in the idea of getting a new $1,600 stimulus check in 2026. This plan, called Measure 118, will be voted on during the presidential election in November 2025.
It offers direct rebates for everyone who lives in the state. The measure hasn’t been approved yet, but it has the support of a number of groups and could help thousands of people.
Measure 118 wants to send up to $1,600 in stimulus checks to every person in Oregon. The plan is being put forward because the housing situation is getting worse and rent prices are going up in the state.
The plan says that anyone who has lived in Oregon for at least 200 days would be able to get the money. There are no other requirements. Also, people who depend on them would be able to join the program.
Why is this stimulus check important?
The main purpose of this move is to help low-income renters who have been more than unfairly affected by inflation and rising housing costs. Oregon’s living costs have gone up, and this bill is meant to help ease some of the stress that these people are feeling.
The Office of Economic Analysis in Oregon has found that almost half of the people who rent in the state spend more than 30% of their pay on rent. Also, more than half of these renters say that they barely have enough money left over to pay for things like food or medicine after paying rent. The $1,600 check that Measure 118 calls for could make a big difference for a lot of families in this situation.
One group that supports the measure is the Community Alliance of Tenants, whose executive director, Kim McCarty, said, “Measure 118 is a lifeline for Oregon renters facing exorbitant costs.” In a housing market that is often unstable and unfair, this refund will help right away. As rents keep going up, this check could help keep a lot of people from losing their homes.
How would measure 118 impact renters?
Leeor Schweitzer, a worker with Portland Tenants United, says that people who rent are spending less on food and medicine to pay their rent. For groups like Portland landlords United, this check would not only help landlords with their finances, but it would also be a very important safety net to keep them from losing their homes.
It’s not a perfect solution to all housing issues, but this bill is a big step toward better protecting tenants. The rebate would give renters much-needed short-term relief, but it doesn’t replace the need for more rights for tenants.
Supporters of housing stress that the check could be an important way to ease some of the current economic problems, especially while more long-term solutions are being thought up.
Oregon’s housing situation has been getting worse for years, and the COVID-19 outbreak made things worse. Many renters are still having trouble making ends meet after having money problems because of the pandemic.
Rising rents have made it even harder for them to do so. Measure 118 wants to keep more families from falling into poverty or, even worse, being homeless by giving them this refund.
Obstacles to the approval of the measure
Measure 118 has a lot of support, but it also has some people who are against it. The business world is one of the biggest critics, and they are worried about possible tax hikes that would be needed to pay for these checks.
The plan says that the state should raise the minimum corporate tax rate by 3% for companies that make more than $25 million a year. Companies are worried about this because they think that the higher tax might be passed on to customers in the long run, especially those with smaller profit margins.
An expert was reported as saying, “It’s rare for new taxes to be accepted, whether they’re for businesses or for people.” “Businesses are afraid that this tax will be based on sales instead of profits, which will hurt areas with lower profit margins.”
These worries are part of a larger discussion about how to balance giving people the money they need with having an effect on businesses’ bottom lines. Some people who are against these tax rises say that they could hurt the local economy because higher costs could stop people from investing or cause prices to go up for consumers.
But people who support the measure think that giving direct financial help to families who are having a hard time will be better for the economy than any possible downsides. They say that helping low-income families will lead to more spending in the area, which could be good for businesses and the market as a whole.
When would the stimulus check be approved?
Those who vote for Measure 118 in November 2025 will get their first $1,600 checks in 2026. These checks will be tax rebates from the previous year. This money would come at a very important time because inflation and rising costs of living are still hurting low-income families all over the state.
Measure 118’s future won’t be clear until it’s voted on, but the talks about it are making it clear how badly Oregon needs to change its housing and economic policies.
Tenants’ rights and housing advocates see the bill as a possible game-changer because it will help people right away financially and set the stage for longer-term solutions to the state’s housing problem.
Measure 118 could be a turning point for a lot of Oregonians, especially those who are having a hard time keeping up with their rising rents and other costs of living.
The plan has caused some problems and critics, but it has also started an important talk about the state’s duty to protect its weakest residents. If the bill passes, it could be a model for other states that are having the same housing problems.
