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Dear OSCC Members & Colleagues –
This week, the mad rush is in full swing began as we are inching closer to the halfway mark of session.
Legislators are trying desperately to move posted bills out of policy committees. Committee agendas will become very full and legislative staff will be scrambling to get the necessary paperwork finished for bills to move forward. Committee agendas will be packed with dozens of bills – some of them brand new and some totally unvetted – in an effort to beat the final April 9th deadline.
We consider April 9th to be the hardest deadline of the session. A bill that is not moved by EOD April 9th is dead. It is a hard and final deadline that totally defines the playing field for the second half of the session.
This week’s report will provide an update of what we know at this time, but expect things to change hourly as we get closer to April 9th.
GOOD BILLS still alive:
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CAT Tax Exemption – Increase to $5 million gross revenue. (Senate Bill 381; Senate Bill 490). Both of these Senate Bills increase the exemption in the CAT tax for small businesses from $1 million to $5 million in gross revenue.
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Increasing the Estate Tax Exemption (HB 2301; SB 124) There are several bill in the 2025 session designed to give family businesses some tax relief upon the death of an owner. OSCC supports these bills as Oregon currently has the most punitive ‘death tax’ law in the entire United States, taxing estates at a rate of 10% starting after the first $1 million in value.
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Delay of Advanced Clean Truck Rule (HB 3119) We are excited to report that OSCC expects this bill to start moving – but be on the lookout for a new bill number to emerge.
BAD BILLS still alive:
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Workplace Marijuana Accommodation. (Senate Bill 176 ) OSCC is very concerned about SB 176, which would force Oregon employers to accommodate medical marijuana use among its workers in Sections 34-35 of the bill.
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‘Bad Faith’ Insurance Lawsuits. (SB 174) SB 174 is being opposed by OSCC, the insurance industry and business community at large as it will drive up insurance premiums for commercial property and casualty policies.
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Age Discrimination Lawsuits. (HB 3187) This would expand the scope of Oregon’s age discrimination laws to create new claims for older workers by allowing salary, experience, and retirement status to serve as “proxies” for age discrimination. OSCC believes this bill will be modified significantly.
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Job Posting Requirements. (HB 2746) This bill dictates what information an employer must include in a job posting. Proponents want to use the bill to compel employers to disclose precise salary and benefit information in job postings.
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Farm Workforce Standards Board. (HB 2548) OSCC is very concerned about an emerging trend that would establish new industry regulatory boards that would determine employment and wage law for specific industries. This is a grave threat to Oregon employers as the “Standards Board” concept can be applied to any industry.
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TLT Diversion. (HB 3556) OSCC is activated on this bill that would divert the use of Transient Lodging Tax revenues from local tourism promotion to also pay for ‘tourism impact services.’ We have heard from many Chambers of Commerce that this would really hurt local chambers, many of whom administer local tourism programs.
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Property Owner & Contractor Liability. (SB 426) OSCC has watched this bill – which would hold property owners and general contractors liable for any unpaid wages at the subcontractor level – and has seen that it has gotten entirely too much momentum. The bill directly punishes the wrong parties for wage theft at the subcontractor level.
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“Clean Environment” Constitutional Referral. (SJR 28) This amendment to the Oregon Constitution would establish a fundamental right to a clean, safe and healthy environment. The bill allows an individual to sue against state action or inaction that allows harm or the threat of harm to public safety and health interests. The bill is aimed at industrial activity.
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Expansion of Paid Leave Oregon (HB 3491): This “gut and stuff” of a ‘placeholder’ bill with the -1 amendment requires the Employment Department to determine how to allow incremental leave to be part of Paid Leave Oregon. Incremental leave would be paid by the hour. Incremental paid leave becomes very hard to manage and is often abused.
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90-Day Notice to Sue (HB 2957): This bill eliminates the 90-day notice to sue requirement, extending the timeline that an employment claim can be filed after BOLI concludes there is no evidence to support a claim. Current law gives people a time limit of 90-days to sue an employer after BOLI concludes its investigation and finds in favor of the employer.
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Alcohol Taxes (HB 3197; HB 3940): OSCC is watching legislation that would add an alcohol sales tax (HB 3197) and add an additional beverage deposit (HB 3940) to fund wildfire mitigation efforts. Both bills would require a 3/5 “supermajority” in order to pass into law.
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Restrictions on Industrial Sites (HB 3062): OSCC regards this bill as the most harmful to traded sector job creation, as it requires local governments to map sensitive uses as part of a comprehensive plan. Requires, before allowing the development of industrial sites, the study and mitigation of impacts on sensitive uses within 1,000 feet of the proposed site. Sensitive uses include public or private parks, schools, child care facilities, hospitals or residential care facilities.
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