On Thursday, the clouds broke over Salem. Governor Tina Kotek issued her only veto of the 2026 legislative session, striking down House Bill 4177, which had passed after being championed by Hillsboro legislator Nathan Sosa. In doing so, she didn’t just reject a poorly written bill; she validated the warnings of journalists, ethics experts, and every citizen who refused to accept a “cloaked” version of democracy.
As we analyzed in our investigation last week, the sections of this bill I was most worried about—Sections 1 and 7—were the very sections that made this legislation impossible for a pro-accountability Governor to sign. The Herald came out swinging on this Bill as soon as it was processed, and more so after it passed.
Governor Kotek, Veto HB 4177 Before the Doors Close for Good – We Are Loosing Our Sunshine
The “Private Planning” Nightmare
The core of our opposition was a simple, terrifying reality: Section 7 would have legalized secret meetings that are currently against the law…