Responding to court cases, the Department of Revenue informed the Oregon Association of Broadcasters that radio and television stations would be assessed for taxation by the state rather local assessors. The change in assessment would have subjected on-air broadcasters to personal property taxation, sharply raising their tax liabilities. CFM recruited an influential lawmaker to champion a bill to retain local tax assessment. The initial bill language was determined too broad, so CFM negotiated a more precise definition for local broadcasters. The bill with an amended definition passed the House on a unanimous vote and later moved through the Senate with a single ‘no’ vote.
