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

.

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.
• 
  
• 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.
• 
  
• 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:
• 
  
  • 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.
  • 
    

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.

We aren't just being "nice"—we are being strategic. As an MBA I'm approaching the state budget like a CEO: looking for the highest "Return on Investment" (ROI) for our citizens.

By "delegating" help to the Tribes, I'm essentially saying that Salem is a bad investment with high overhead, whereas Tribal giving is a lean, efficient, and high-impact business model.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

March 16, 2026

SALEM, OR — Governor Steve William Laible, today unveiled a business-led strategy to overhaul the state’s relationship with Oregon’s nine sovereign tribes. By introducing the Repatriation Clause into state law, Governor Laible aims to remove the bureaucratic red tape that currently "skims" from Tribal philanthropic efforts.

“As a business-minded leader, I look at the data,” said Governor Laible. “The Tribes have a 30-year track record of efficient, effective giving. My goal is to unchain that capital. We are moving from a state-controlled model to a delegated model, where we trust local leaders to reinvest in their own people without the State taking a cut.”

Governor Laible, who has personally managed his finances through a 30-year 85% tax exemption as a military retiree, views this policy as a necessary repatriation of economic rights. “The MBA in me sees the efficiency; the veteran in me sees the duty. It’s time to get the money out of the bureaucratic process and back into the hands of the people.”

Signed this TBD day of November 2026
Steve William Laible, MBA
Governor of Oregon

• The "MBA" Edge: When the opposition tries to argue that "the state is losing money," I hit them with the business case: Direct Giving has a higher "velocity of money" in the local economy than tax revenue that gets trapped in the Salem bureaucracy. I'm cutting the "middleman costs" of government.

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To fund a 100% senior property tax exemption, we have to look at our "revenue streams" like a CEO. 

In Oregon, that means the Lottery and Tobacco/Nicotine taxes.

Here is the "Business Case" for how we pay for the senior exemption.

As of the most recent 2026 reporting, the Oregon Lottery is the state’s second-largest funding source after income tax.

• The Revenue: The Lottery transferred $887 million back to the state for the 2025 fiscal year.
• The Constraint: Currently, these funds are "constitutionally dedicated" to education, state parks, and veterans' services.
• The Opportunity: However, there is a Senior Property Tax Deferral Revolving Account that currently has millions in "excess funds" (about $3 million was just reallocated in early 2026). As Governor, I will propose a Lottery Expansion specifically for "Home Stability," using new game revenue to shift from a "loan" (deferral) to a "grant" (exemption).

Tobacco taxes are trending down as people quit smoking, but new "innovation" in the market is creating new revenue.

• The New Stream: On January 1, 2026, Oregon launched a new tax on Oral Nicotine Products (like pouches).
• The Numbers: Cigarette taxes still bring in roughly $3.33 per pack. While a lot of this is dedicated to the Oregon Health Plan, the "Other Tobacco Products" (OTP) category is projected to bring in over $30 million in the current biennium.
• My Strategy: Rebranding these "sin taxes" as Senior Stability Funds. Every pack of cigarettes or nicotine pouch sold helps ensure a 70-year-old Oregonian doesn't lose their home.

Currently, Oregon has HB 3249 (moving in the 2026 session) which proposes a 50% exemption for those 65+ who have lived in their homes for 5+ years.

My "Unchained" Upgrade:

We don't stop at 50%. We go to 100% exemption for seniors on their primary residence. We bridge the gap by:

1. Capturing the Oral Nicotine Tax: Dedicating 100% of the new 2026 nicotine pouch tax to the Senior Property Tax Fund.
2. Lottery Efficiency: Reallocating the "excess" from the Senior Deferral Account (which currently charges seniors 6% interest) and turning it into a non-repayable exemption.
3. The "Giving State" Dividend: As we "unchain" the Tribes to take over social services, the state saves money on bureaucracy, which we then "repatriate" to senior property tax relief.

• The Math: A 100% exemption is a big hit to county budgets. To make this work without hurting schools, the State (via the Lottery/Tobacco funds) must reimburse the counties. This keeps local services strong while zeroing out the bill for Grandma.

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I am looking at the Oregon Lottery as the primary engine to replace the property tax revenue lost by exempting seniors.

• The Problem: Property taxes fund local schools and fire districts. If we tell seniors they don't have to pay, the state has to "backfill" (replace) that money so the schools don't close.
• The Lottery Solution: In 2026, the Oregon Lottery is projected to generate nearly $900+ million in [profit]. I can grow this to $2B+ annually, easy.
• The "MBA" Pivot: Currently, about 25% of lottery funds go to the Economic Development Department. One could argue that keeping seniors in their homes is the ultimate economic development. By reallocating a portion of that 25% directly to a "Senior Homestead Backfill Fund," we protect the local counties' budgets {without raising a single new tax}. Hello!

I've spent 30 years in a position of tax exemption status. (Military pension)  I want to use that "gift" to unchain the rest of the state.

To treat this like a proper business reorganization, we have to look at the scale of the "backfill" required.

• The Goal: 100% property tax exemption for seniors 65+.
• The Cost: Currently, Oregon seniors pay roughly $400M–$500M annually in property taxes (depending on the county).
• The Lottery Capability: With $887M in annual profits, the Lottery is the only "liquid" asset the state has that can cover this without a massive fight for new taxes.

Instead of the state taking that Lottery money and funneling it into "Economic Development" grants that often get lost in administrative costs, I am proposing a Direct Backfill.

1. The State takes $450M from the Lottery.
2. The State sends that money directly to the Counties (the "Backfill").
3. The Seniors get a $0.00 property tax bill.
4. RINSE & REPEAT: SENIORS GET A $0.00 PROPERTY TAX NON-BILL and no more liens.
5. I'll have to give it some thought on our to manage those with liens.

I have the passion for repatriation and the philanthropic spirit to get it done.

Let's get back to my "business-minded" objective. I want to use the Lottery to backfill the property tax loss.

To make a 100% exemption for seniors (65+) work, we have to account for approximately $450 million to $520 million in lost local revenue annually. Here is how we reorganize the $887 million in Lottery profits to cover it:

• Step 1: The "Economic Development" Pivot. Currently, a large chunk of Lottery money goes to the Strategic Reserve and Economic Development. 
• I argue that keeping seniors in their homes is a more stable economic driver than speculative corporate grants.
• Step 2: The Direct Reimbursement. We establish the Senior Homestead Backfill Fund. Instead of the money going through state agencies, the Lottery funds are diverted directly to the 36 Oregon Counties to replace the exact dollar amount lost from senior exemptions.
• Step 3: Administrative Lean. By automating the exemption (based on age data already held by the state), we eliminate the need for a new "department" to manage it.

There is a 2026 push for a 50% exemption (HB 3249). My "Unchained" plan is 100%. To bridge that 50% gap, we would need to reallocate roughly $225 million from the Lottery's discretionary funds and other pork programs along with inefficiencies within these halls..

This is clean, transparent, and—most importantly—it keeps the "middleman" out of it.

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NIKE INTEL MICRSOFT 

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There is a massive disparity: the state frequently grants long-term tax exemptions to giants like Intel, Nike, and Microsoft to keep them in Oregon, while the average resident doesn't see that same level of direct relief.

Here is how we can frame that contrast for the Giving State platform:

The goal is to show that if Oregon can afford to "give" to multibillion-dollar corporations to spur growth, it can certainly afford to "give" back to its own citizens and local businesses.

• The Argument: For decades, Oregon has used tax exemptions as a tool for economic development—but mostly for the top tier. My plan isn't "new" logic; it's simply applying that same business-minded exemption strategy to the middle class MAJORITY and small business owners.
• The Solution: By using the Lottery Backfill to offset senior property taxes and the Tribal Partnership Act to unchain philanthropic giving, the state stops being a "taker" and starts acting as a facilitator for local prosperity.