Dear OSCC Members & Colleagues –

We are at the halfway point of the 2025 legislature. Here is where we stand on the bills we are most closely watching and advocating for local chambers and business communities:

TAX ISSUES

• CAT Tax Exemption – Increase to $5 million gross revenue. (SB 381; SB 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. Both are still alive. Although we believe there is some sympathy for this concept, we are hearing that leadership is largely not interested in this concept unless it is “revenue neutral.”

• Increased Estate Tax Exemption (HB 2301; SB 124) There are several bills in the 2025 session designed to give family businesses some tax relief upon the death of an owner. Although OSCC would like to see HB 2301, we believe SB 124 is the likely vehicle for this discussion. At this point, we believe there is an appetite for a modest increase in the exemption, perhaps from $1 million to $2 million. 

• 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. Serious efforts are being made to pass these bills.

WORKPLACE ISSUES

• Unemployment Benefits for Striking Workers. (SB 916) This bill passed the Senate with the bare minimum 16 votes and is now in the House for consideration. SB 916 extends unemployment benefits for striking workers in a stunning reversal of decades of unemployment policy that allowed for benefits only for those not employed through no fault of their own. This bill appears to be on track to be labor’s big win for the 2025 session. OSCC opposes. 

• Workplace Marijuana Accommodation. (SB 176 ) OSCC is very pleased to report that SB 176 was amended - due to pushback from OSCC and others – to eliminate required employer accommodation of medical marijuana use. This bill, although it is alive, is no longer of concern to OSCC. 

• 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. HB 2548 remains alive. OSCC opposes.

• Expansion of Paid Leave Oregon (HB 3491): This “gut and stuff” of HB 3491 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. OSCC opposed. HB 3491 is dead.

BUSINESS LIABILITY

• ‘Bad Faith’ Insurance Lawsuits. (SB 174) SB 174 continues to be the most costly of the remaining insurance and liability-related issues. ‘Bad Faith’ legislation is an ill-conceived idea that has driven up will insurance premiums for commercial property and casualty policies in states where it has been passed. OSCC opposes.

• Property Owner & Contractor Liability. (SB 426) OSCC continues to be deeply concerned about this bill which would hold property owners and general contractors liable for any unpaid wages at the subcontractor level. The bill directly punishes the wrong parties for wage theft at the subcontractor level and will have a chilling effect on commercial construction. OSCC opposes.

• Age Discrimination Lawsuits. (HB 3187) OSCC is pleased to report that this bill has been amended significantly to eliminate concerns. Previously, the bill would have expanded 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. 

• 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 with penalties for non-compliance. This bill is still alive. OSCC opposes.

• 90-Day Notice to Sue. (HB 2957) This bill eliminates the 90-day ‘notice to sue’ limitation, 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. OSCC opposes an open-ended timeframe to file a lawsuit. This bill is still alive. OSCC opposes.

• Liability Waivers. (HB 3140) OSCC strongly supported this bill which would have allowed enforcement of liability waivers for Oregon’s fitness, recreation and outdoor industries. OSCC members turned out heavily to testify and show support. However, the bill ran into opposition from trial lawyers, and House Leadership would not allow it to move despite 32 out of 60 House members sponsoring the bill. HB 3140 died.

ENVIRONMENTAL REGULATION

• Delay of Advanced Clean Truck Rule. (HB 3119)  Although HB 3119 itself is dead, we believe another similar bill will start moving – be on the lookout for a new bill number to emerge. OSCC will support continued efforts to delay the Advanced Clean Truck rule, which has been a major regulatory overreach that has kept 2025 diesel trucks out of the Oregon market.

• “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 and the fossil fuel industry. Although the bill is technically alive, we don’t believe it will move this session.  

• Restrictions on Industrial Sites. (HB 3062) OSCC regarded 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. This bill is dead.

TOURISM

• TLT Diversion. (HB 3556) OSCC 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. HB 3556 is dead. 

• Additional TLT Diversions. (SB 453; SB 457) OSCC will continue to monitor the two remaining TLT diversion bills that are still alive in the Senate Finance & Revenue Committee. Both bills are “placeholder” bills.

ENERGY COSTS

• Rate Controls. (HB 3179) This bill, in its original form, would have implemented some soft rate controls for residential electricity customers. OSCC objected as this would have effectively shifted and accelerated rate increases down to commercial and large electricity ratepayers. The bill was amended to include all ratepayers in the soft rate controls. Not a great bill, as rate controls don’t work, but a worse outcome would have been cost shifting those costs onto commercial and large ratepayers. 



• Low Income Assistance. (HB 3792) OSCC was concerned about initial versions of this bill which would have accelerated low income bill assistance programs by an additional $20 million and shifted those costs to commercial and large electricity ratepayers in an open-ended fashion. The bill was amended to create a cap for larger ratepayers, but the bill will still shift electricity costs onto other residential and commercial payers.  

Legislative calls are held weekly from 9:30-10am Friday mornings throughout session. These calls are open to chamber executives, advocacy staff, as well your Government Affairs or Board Chair.

OSCC Chamber Day at the Capitol



OSCC will hold a Chamber Day at the Capitol on May 8th from 9am-12pm at the State Library in Salem. OSCC will provide an update on bills we have been watching, as well as an update on where things currently stand with session. Legislators will also be invited to speak with the group and answer questions. We encourage chambers to schedule time to meet with their individual legislators during the afternoon to talk about issues important to your business community. You can register here.

Due to limited seating, attendance will be limited to three attendees per chamber. A virtual attendance option is available for additional attendees, as well as those chambers who may not be able to attend in person.