CHIEF JOSEPH

Moving Forward: The Formal Invitation

My draft for a Formal Invitation to the leaders of the Nine Federally Recognized Tribes of Oregon: I’ve leaned into my "Sovereign Summit" concept. To show I’m not a "Salem-first" Governor, I've drafted this for a meeting at Seven Feathers, putting me on their home turf. 

DRAFT: Formal Invitation to the Sovereign Nine

TO: The Honorable Leaders of Oregon’s Nine Federally Recognized Tribes

FROM: The Office of the Governor

DATE: March 16, 2026

SUBJECT: The Sovereign Summit: Launching the Oregon Tribal Partnership Act

Honorable Leaders,

For too long, the State of Oregon has viewed our relationship through the lens of regulation and "compacts" that treat Tribal generosity as a line item. As I begin my term, I am moving to change the "Giving State" from a slogan into a statutory reality.

I am formally inviting the Chairpersons and Councils of the Nine Tribes to join me for a 

Sovereign Summit at the Seven Feathers Convention Center in Canyonville.

Our Agenda is Simple:

1. The Altruism Swap: Discussing the full state income tax exemption for all enrolled Tribal members.

2. The Direct Giving Provision: My proposal to remove the "non-profit" requirement for Tribal donations, allowing you to fund individuals and small businesses directly without those recipients—or your Tribes—facing a state tax penalty

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3. The Sovereignty Credit: Reforming how the State credits Tribal giving toward community benefit obligations

I am a military retiree who believes in service. I know that the Cow Creek Umpqua, the Siletz, the Grand Ronde, and all our sister tribes have been serving Oregonians since time immemorial. It is time the State got out of your way.

I look forward to meeting you on your ancestral lands to discuss how we build a future where a neighbor helping a neighbor is never taxed by the State

.

Respectfully,

STEVE WILLIAM LAIBLE, MBA

Governor of Oregon  

OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR | STATE OF OREGON

OFFICIAL CORRESPONDENCE

TO: The Tribal Councils and Chairs of the Nine Federally Recognized Sovereign Tribes of Oregon

FROM: The Honorable STEVE WILLIAM LAIBLE, MBA Governor of Oregon

DATE: March 16, 2026

SUBJECT: INVITATION TO THE SOVEREIGN SUMMIT ON DIRECT ALTRUISM

Honorable Leaders,

I am writing to you today not as a regulator, but as a partner in service. As a military retiree, I understand that the greatest strength of any community is the willingness of its people to stand up for one another. For decades, your Tribes have been the backbone of Oregon’s philanthropy, contributing over $27 million in Southern Oregon alone through the Cow Creek Umpqua Indian Foundation, and many millions more across the state.

However, I believe the State of Oregon has spent too much time placing hurdles in front of your generosity. 

It is time for the Tribal Partnership Act.

I am formally inviting you to join me for a Sovereign Summit at the Seven Feathers Convention Center in Canyonville on TBD 2026.

Our Legislative Goals for the 2027 Session:

• The Individual Tax Shield: Establishing that any  direct grant from a Tribe to an Oregonian or small business is 100% exempt from State Income Tax for the recipient.

• The Sovereign Credit: Removing the      "501(c)(3) only" restriction on Tribal giving. If you see a      neighbor in need, a farmer in debt, or a student in crisis, you should be      able to help them directly without a non-profit "middleman" or state interference.

• Total Member Exemption: A legislative push to      exempt all enrolled Tribal members from Oregon state income tax,      recognizing your unique status and contributions to our state's welfare.

The era of "government knows best" is over.

We are entering the era of the Giving State, where your sovereignty and your altruism are the primary engines of our local economies.

I look forward to sitting across the table from you at Seven Feathers to finalize this compact of compassion.

With Deep Admiration, Respect and Gratitude,

STEVE WILLIAM LAIBLE, MBA

Governor of Oregon

This is my bold vision for a "Giving State." I’ve done some digging into the current 2026 landscape to see where I stand on these initiatives and how I might navigate the legal and financial hurdles.

1. Native American Tax Exemptions

True altruism—a noteworthy model. The Cow Creek Umpqua Indian Foundation (which oversees Seven Feathers) just hit $27+ million in total giving from conception to this year, recently awarding $759,000 to 93 different non-profits in Southern Oregon.

• Current Status: Many tribal members      are already state tax-exempt, but there’s a catch: they      must live and work in "Indian Country"      (reservations or trust land).

• My Goal: I want to exempt all tribal members or the profits from      casinos entirely, but an Executive Order likely      won't cut it. In Oregon, tax exemptions usually require      legislative action (altering the ORS—Oregon Revised Statutes) because the      Governor cannot unilaterally change tax code or bypass the Department of      Revenue’s statutory requirements. (Or can I?)

2. Senior Property Tax Exemption (65+)

This is a massive pillar of my plan.

• Current Reality: Oregon has a Property Tax Deferral program for those 62+,      but it’s essentially a loan from the state with 6% interest that gets paid      back when the house is sold.
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• The 2026 Update: There is actually a bill      moving through (HB 3249) that looks to create a 50% exemption for those 65+ starting July 1,      2026.

• The Challenge: Moving from a      "deferral" or "partial exemption" to a 100% exemption would leave a giant hole in      local county budgets (which fund schools and police). Using the Lottery is      a steam engine move, but I’d need to check if those funds are already      "constitutionally dedicated" to education and parks.

3. Military Retiree Income

As of 2026, Oregon has been moving toward fully exempting military retired pay.

• Current Status: Previously, you      could only subtract pay earned for service before 1991. However, new legislation      taking effect for the 2026 tax year aims      to significantly expand or fully exempt that income for all veterans.
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• My Strategy: Since I’m already 85%  exempt, using that "savings" to seed a state-wide altruism fund  would be a powerful "lead by example" move for my  administration.

Governor’s Summary Table

Initiative

Current Status (2026)

Governor’s Action Needed

Tribal Tax Exemption

Only for those living/working   in Indian Country.

Legislative bill to expand   ORS 316.777.

Senior Property Tax

Partial 50% exemption   proposed; 100% doesn't exist.

Massive fiscal overhaul;   likely a ballot measure.

Military Retiree Tax

Improving; 2026 laws expand   exemptions.

Finalize full exemption   through the 2026 session.

The Next Step

Since I am positioning myself as the "Giving Governor," I’ve proposed a draft conceptual framework for a "Tribal Partnership Act" that trades state tax revenue for a guaranteed increase in tribal-led community scholarships and local grants?

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TRIBAL PARTNERSHIP ACT

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Tribal Partnership Act 

In the spirit of being the "Giving State," this isn't just a tax break—it's a social compact. I’m betting that a dollar in the hands of the Tribes does more for Oregonians than a dollar in the state's general fund. Pushback will be fierce but that’s okay.

Here is the framework based on the 2026 data for the Cow Creek Umpqua Indian Foundation and other regional partners.

The Tribal Partnership Act (Framework)

I. The "Altruism Swap" (The Core Mechanism)

Currently, Tribal members only get state tax exemptions if they live and work on the reservation. This Act would expand that to all enrolled members of Oregon's nine federally recognized tribes, regardless of where they live or work in the state.

• The Benefit: Full Oregon income tax      exemption for all enrolled tribal members.

• The "Giving"      Requirement: In      exchange, the Tribe enters a formal "Giving Covenant." For a      tribe like the Cow Creek (Seven Feathers), I would recognize their      existing $27M+ in giving and formalize a commitment to expand:
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  • Educational Scholarships: Directing a percentage of       "saved" tax revenue into a state-wide scholarship fund for both       Native and non-Native students.
  • Emergency Services: Funding for rural fire and       police in the seven counties they already support (Coos, Deschutes,       Douglas, Jackson, Josephine, Klamath, and Lane).

II. Casino Profit Protection

Currently, Oregon’s Tribal-State Gaming Compacts require about 6% of net income to go into Community Benefit Funds.

• My Policy: We stop viewing this as a  "tax" or "fee" and rebrand it as Social Capital.
• The Change: We would propose amending  the Compacts to remove state-level oversight fees in exchange for the      Tribes increasing their direct donations to local non-profits and beyond.

III. Supporting Data: The "Seven Feathers" Impact

To sell this to the legislature, I'll use the 2026 numbers from the Cow Creek Umpqua Indian Foundation:

• Total Giving to Date: Over $27.1      million.
• Recent Impact: In just the last      award cycle (Jan 2026), they gave $759,000 to 93      different non-profits.
• The Argument: They are already doing the      state's job in Southern Oregon. By exempting their members and protecting      their profits, I am essentially "outsourcing" compassion to the      people who do it best.

Why this works:

1. Lead by Example: Me personally, as a military retiree, I've enjoyed 30 years relief (85%) of my military retirement is exempt—this Act matches my personal "Giving State" philosophy at a government level.

2. Efficiency: Every dollar the Tribes give to a food bank or a rural fire department is a dollar the state doesn't have to manage through a [bloated] bureaucracy.

Governor’s Note: To make this stick, I'll need to sit down with the Legislative Commission on Indian Services. They’ll be my best allies in turning this into a bill for the 2027 session

This is a game-changer idea. I’m effectively proposing to cut the "red tape of compassion."

Right now, the system is rigged toward bureaucracy. If the Cow Creek or Siletz wants to help a local family whose house burned down, or a small business owner whose shop was vandalized, they often must jump through "non-profit" hoops or use specific foundation rules that make it complicated to just be a good neighbor.

The Problem with the Current "Non-Profit" Trap

Under the current Tribal-State Gaming Compacts and Foundation rules:

• The 501(c)(3) Barrier: Most tribal  foundations (like the Cow Creek Umpqua Indian Foundation) are legally set      up to only give to registered 501(c)(3) organizations.
• The "Private      Inurement" Rule: Federal tax law (IRS Section 501(c)(3)) strictly prohibits      giving money to individuals or for-profit businesses. If they do it, they      risk their tax-exempt status.
• The Government Filter: Compacts often require the      "Community Benefit Fund" (the 6% they pay) to go specifically to      local government bodies or      charitable organizations.

My Vision: "The Direct Giving Provision"

In our Tribal Partnership Act, we can include a provision that specifically recognizes the Sovereign Right of Altruism. Here’s how I’ve framed it:

1. Direct Relief Power: We rewrite the State's portion of the Compact to allow Tribes to credit direct-to-citizen aid (scholarships, medical bills, small business emergency grants) against any state-mandated community benefit requirements.

2. Removing the "Middleman": If a Tribe wants to give $5,000 to a local farmer whose equipment failed, the state shouldn't care if that farmer has a 501(c)(3) status. It’s a net positive for Oregon.

3. State Tax Protection: We ensure that when a Tribe gives directly to an Oregonian, the State does not tax that gift as income for the recipient. It stays a "pure gift."

Governor’s Reality Check

• The Federal Hurdle: We can change Oregon law, but we can't easily change Federal IRS rules for their 501(c)(3)      foundations.
• The Solution: We encourage the Tribes to      use Governmental Funds (which are not 501(c)(3)      restricted) for this direct giving. As Governor, I will pledge that Oregon      will recognize and incentivize that specific      type of giving over the traditional "foundation" model.

Wit & Wisdom: Why should a tribe have to ask a bureaucrat in Salem if they can help a neighbor in Canyonville? They shouldn't.

{Protecting} "Direct Community Grants" to individuals and small businesses from being taxed by the State of Oregon?

I'm  essentially creating a "Tax-Free Compassion Zone" in Oregon.

By removing the tax burden from both the giver (the Tribe) and the receiver (the individual or small business), I'm ensuring that $1,000 of help actually stays $1,000 when it hits the kitchen table or the shop floor.

Here is the structural breakdown of my proposed Direct Community Grants (DCG) Provision for my Act.

The Direct Community Grants (DCG) Provision

This provision shifts the power from Salem {bureaucrats} back to local Tribal leaders. It effectively bypasses the 501(c)(3) "non-profit" requirement for state-level recognition.

1. The "Neighbor-to-Neighbor" Tax Shield

Normally, if a Tribe gives a $10,000 emergency grant to a local baker to fix a broken oven, the state might try to tax that as "miscellaneous income."

• The Change: Under this Act, any grant      issued by a federally recognized Tribe to an Oregon resident or      Oregon-registered small business for "community welfare, emergency      relief, or vocational advancement" is exempt      from Oregon State Income Tax.
• The Logic: If the state didn't provide      the help, the state shouldn't "skim off the top" of the help      provided by the Tribe. MAKE SENSE!?

2. Eliminating the "Entity" Requirement

I am officially removing the requirement that a recipient must be a registered non-profit. 

[THIS IS HUGE]

INNOVATIVE & FORWARD THINKING, KEEPING MY ALIGNMENT MANDATE TO PAYING IT FOWARD

• Eligible Recipients: * Individuals: For medical bills, housing      stability, or educational costs.
  • Small Businesses: For disaster recovery,       equipment repair, or local hiring incentives.
  • Unincorporated Groups: Neighborhood watch       programs or youth sports teams that aren't formal 501(c)(3)s.
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3. The "Sovereign Credit" System

To encourage Tribes to use this "Direct Giving" model instead of just handing money to large, slow-moving non-profits:

• Every $1.00 given directly to an Oregon individual      or small business counts as $1.25 toward      the Tribe’s "Community Benefit" obligations under their state      compact.
• Why? Because direct aid has a      higher velocity of money—it helps the local economy immediately!

Visualizing the "Giving State" Flow

The current system is a funnel; my vision is a web.

Implementation Strategy

To protect the Tribes from federal IRS headaches, we will advise them to distribute these funds through their Tribal Government Accounts (which have broader spending powers than their charitable foundations). As Governor, I will issue an Executive Memo to the Oregon Department of Revenue instructing them to "non-collect" on any verified Tribal Direct Community Grant.

Governor Reality Check (GRC)

We’ll need a simple, one-page "Grant Receipt" form. This ensures the recipient has proof for the Department of Revenue that the money came from a Tribe and is therefore "Oregon Tax-Exempt." We want to keep it simple—no 20-page applications.