After a 72-year reign, Oregon’s self-service gas prohibition has been decisively repealed by the Senate. While there have been intermediate years and exceptions — notably in rural counties in 2017 and during wildfires or heatwaves since 2020 — pumping your own gas in Oregon has been illegal since 1951. House Bill 2426 as proposed would require gas stations to staff half of the available pumps, but allows the other half to be self-service. Fuel companies have long pushed for the change due to staffing shortages. The Northwest Grocery Association, an advocate for retail and food suppliers, claims that jobs won’t be lost because half of gas pumps are already closed due to understaffing. There is also a provision in the bill that prevents gas stations from charging more for a full-service pump that for self-service. The bill now goes to Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek to be signed into immediate effect.
