Decisions/2025-432
Ordinance2025-432

Should Portland amend Business License Law Code to allow sharing select business license tax information with the Bureau of Environmental Services (amend Code Section…

ORS 314.835 imposes strict confidentiality provisions on every piece of information related to certain state tax returns. It also refers to other statutes, rules, and law that allow, in specific circumstances and with specific persons, the sharing of tax return information. Most notable is ORS 314.840 though it includes PCC 7.02.240. The 2024 Oregon Legislature passed, and the Governor signed House Bill 4031 amending ORS 314.835. The bill's intent and language apply the state's stricter confidentiality provisions to certain local taxes such as the Business License Tax. The bill became effective March 28, 2024. The Council passed Ordinance 191745 June 5, 2024, to conform the Business License Law's confidentiality and disclosure provisions to ORS 341.835 as amended by House Bill 4031.The City's Bureau of Environmental Services is required by both federal and state law to perform certain compliance activities. Information sources available to support the bureau's compliance activities are limited. The purpose of this legislation is to allow sharing certain nonfinancial tax return information to allow the bureau to perform the compliance activities it is required to perform. The information shared may only be used for the bureau's compliance activities and is not allowed to be disclosed further for any other purpose.

Official impact statement
See the official legal title

Amend Business License Law Code to allow sharing select business license tax information with the Bureau of Environmental Services (amend Code Section 7.02.240)

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01 · Understand it

What this proposal would actually do.

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What would change

ORS 314.835 imposes strict confidentiality provisions on every piece of information related to certain state tax returns. It also refers to other statutes, rules, and law that allow, in specific circumstances and with specific persons, the sharing of tax return information. Most notable is ORS 314.840 though it includes PCC 7.02.240. The 2024 Oregon Legislature passed, and the Governor signed House Bill 4031 amending ORS 314.835. The bill's intent and language apply the state's stricter confidentiality provisions to certain local taxes such as the Business License Tax. The bill became effective March 28, 2024. The Council passed Ordinance 191745 June 5, 2024, to conform the Business License Law's confidentiality and disclosure provisions to ORS 341.835 as amended by House Bill 4031.The City's Bureau of Environmental Services is required by both federal and state law to perform certain compliance activities. Information sources available to support the bureau's compliance activities are limited. The purpose of this legislation is to allow sharing certain nonfinancial tax return information to allow the bureau to perform the compliance activities it is required to perform. The information shared may only be used for the bureau's compliance activities and is not allowed to be disclosed further for any other purpose.

Official proposal and impact statement
What would stay the same

The reviewed sources do not clearly identify every existing policy, service, contract, or obligation that would remain unchanged.

Official matter record
Who may be affected

This legislation will provide the Bureau of Environmental Services with information needed to efficiently and effectively fulfill its responsibilities while retaining taxpayers' confidence that the City will protect the confidentiality of their tax return information.

Official community impact statement
What happens next

Passed

Latest official agenda appearance
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Official Council agenda
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Official documents1 sources
Final legal actionOrdinance 192128

The operative official record after Council action.

Open at Portland.gov
Read the full official text

The City of Portland ordains.Section 1. The Council finds:The 2024 Oregon Legislature passed, and the Governor signed House Bill 4031 amending ORS 314.835 regarding confidentiality of tax return information. These changes became effective on March 28, 2024. ORS 314.835 contains Oregon's tax return confidentiality law which prohibits sharing any tax return information unless specifically provided in law.As amended by House Bill 4031, ORS 314.835 now applies the same manner to local governments for the tax returns of certain types of taxes. The Council adopted Ordinance 191745 on June 5, 2024, to conform to the requirements of this statute.The City's Bureau of Environmental Services is required by both federal and state law to perform certain compliances activities. Information sources that can aid the bureau's compliance activities are limited.Amending City code per Exhibit A will allow the Revenue Division to share certain nonfinancial Business License Tax Return information with the bureau. The information provided will aid the bureau in performing the compliance activities it is required to perform. The information shared will only be used for the bureau's compliance activities and must not be disclosed outside the bureau for any other purpose. NOW, THEREFORE, the Council directs:Amend City Code Section 7.02.240 as shown in Exhibit A.

Meetings, motions, amendments, and votes4 meetings · 2 votes
Read all 1 exact motions
Nov 10, 2025 · Main · Passed

Motion to refer the Ordinance, Document Number 2025-432, to City Council with the recommendation it be passed: Moved by Pirtle-Guiney and seconded by Green. (Aye (4): Green, Pirtle-Guiney, Novick, Zimmerman; Absent (1): Avalos)

Final Council action · Dec 3, 202511 yes · 0 no · 1 absent

Final action on 2025-432: Amend Business License Law Code to allow sharing select business license tax information with the Bureau of Environmental Services (amend Code Section 7.02.240)

Meeting-level motion or recommendation · Nov 10, 20254 yes · 1 absent

Motion to refer the Ordinance, Document Number 2025-432, to City Council with the recommendation it be passed: Moved by Pirtle-Guiney and seconded by Green. (Aye (4): Green, Pirtle-Guiney, Novick, Zimmerman; Absent (1): Avalos)

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Source record
First discovered
Aug 13, 2026, 1:09 PM PDT
Last checked
Sep 13, 2026, 2:28 AM PDT
Evidence hash
3d23eeb85519daad
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Append-only timeline
  1. SOURCE UPDATED

    Passed

  2. DOCUMENT PUBLISHED

    Observed in the official source.

  3. Council Action

    Passed

  4. Council Action

    Passed to second reading

  5. Council Action

    Rescheduled

  6. Council Action

    Referred to City Council