A bill introduced by Rep. Liz Pike, R-Camas, would require the state to give a refund to purchasers of former state-owned liquor stores if they experienced “unanticipated adverse consequences” from their purchases of those stores, which the state auctioned to the highest bidder after liquor sales were privatized, Pike said Monday in a news release.
Pike said she introduced House Bill 2026 in response to concerns from several constituents and citizens across the state.
“Based on the testimony by those representing numerous bidders, I have come to the conclusion that most of the private liquor store bidders were not given accurate financial information in order to make an informed investment,” said Pike. “Sadly, many of the investors were minorities and most of them have lost everything.”
The bill, assigned to the Government Accountability and Oversight Committee, would also protect state government from future litigation related to the transfer of state liquor stores, Pike said.
