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Dear OSCC Members & Colleagues –


We learned very little in the first week of the legislative session. Most committees spent their time with presentations from interest groups and state agencies.


A few new bills were introduced – nearly 200 – bringing our total to almost 2,500 unique pieces of legislation. However, as we’ve previously discussed, the vast majority of these bills are ‘placeholder’ bills designed to be surreptitiously worked and amended out of public view.


Although it appears that committees will start to pick up their pace this week, there are only a few bills of interest being discussed.


HOWEVER, we applaud the House Committee on Climate, Energy and Environment for scheduling one of the most important bills of the 2025 session – House Bill 3119


House Bill 3119 would delay the Oregon DEQ’s ‘Advanced Clean Trucks’ rule until 2027.


OSCC issued an ACTION ALERT on this very issue in November when it was pending at the DEQ


The rule effectively bans the sale of new diesel work trucks, tractor trucks, RV’s and more in Oregon starting on January 1.


Despite all the testimony that the rule would cause great harm to our hardworking agriculture, building, wood products, construction, trucking, logistics, and other industries, DEQ passed it anyways.


House Bill 3119 gives OSCC yet another opportunity to pause this rule. HB 3119 is scheduled for Thursday, January 30th, at 8:00 AM.

 

OSCC ACTION ALERT FOR HOUSE BILL 3119


  1. Please review the OSCC Action Alert from November to refresh your understanding of the issue.
  2. If you are able, please sign up to testify on HB 3119. You are more than welcome to sign up to testify remotely if you wish. You can sign up to testify by clicking “Register to Testify” on this page.
  3. If you are able, please submit your written testimony or comment on HB 3119. You can do so here. (You can see the current testimony that has been submitted here)


Organized Labor Unveils Priority Legislation


One thing we did learn this week was that labor groups, led by the AFL-CIO, would be focusing their attention on Senate Bill 916 as their priority legislation for the 2025 session.


SB 916 would allow unemployment benefits for striking workers. While Oregon law has historically allowed for unemployment benefits for workers subject to a lockout, Oregon lawmakers will consider the novel approach of extending unemployment insurance to workers who elect to go on strike. SB 916 has become the recent focus of progressive lawmakers nationwide.


SB 916 would be a substantial departure from the underlying purpose of the unemployment insurance system - to sustain employees when they lose their wages through no fault of their own.


OSCC has yet to see a cost analysis of SB 916, but in addition to giving workers more leverage in contract negotiations, it may also have the impact of creating more demand and cost on Oregon’s already expensive unemployment insurance system, as SB 916 appears to be open-ended with no time limits.


Click here to view the full list of bills OSCC is tracking. 


OSCC Video Tutorials



OSCC has create several short tutorial videos covering the basics of navigating the Oregon Legislature's website and how to participate during session. You can find each of the videos linked below. Feel free to share these links with your members.



You can also find the full list on our Advocacy page.



Reminder: Our next Legislative call will be held this Friday from 9:30-10am. These calls are open to chamber executives, advocacy staff, as well your Government Affairs or Board Chair. Click here to add these calls to your calendar.


Thank you for your ongoing support of OSCC and our efforts to carry the voice of business to the Capitol.

Oregon State Chamber of Commerce (OSCC) | 991 Liberty Street SE, Salem, OR 97302
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