SALEM, Ore. – Oregon and New Jersey may not have a lot in common, but they do share a fondness for full-serve gas stations. However, the Garden State may soon be alone in its mandate against self-serve fueling, as the Oregon legislature considers whether to allow self-serve at some stations throughout the state.

The current bill (HB 3011), approved unanimously by the Oregon House and awaiting a committee hearing in the Senate, would allow self-serve fueling in the state’s rural areas, defined as counties with fewer than 40,000 residents. That accounts for half of Oregon’s counties and almost all of eastern Oregon. The bill was introduced largely due to concerns that travelers could get stranded in places where few gas stations are open after hours.

For years, Oregonians have rebuffed every attempt to overturn the prohibition on self-serve fueling since it was instituted, including a ballot measure rejected in 1982. In fact, the current bill is the first addressing the issue for more than a dozen years. However, in many cases, rural fuel retailers simply can’t afford to keep someone manning the pumps 24 hours a day. It was owners and operators of rural gas stations who requested that HB 3011 be introduced this year.

If the bill is enacted, New Jersey will be the sole state requiring full-service fueling. Most recently, in 2011, Gov. Chris Christie said he wouldn’t support legislation for self-service gasoline if most residents don’t want it.