Dear OSCC Members & Colleagues –

The workload continues at a relative light pace this week as the remaining policy bills are being vetted and winnowed down even further. Now is the season where we start to see some surprises – either brand new concepts that get introduced at the 11^th hour or “zombie bills” that come back from the dead in the form of an amendment stuffed into otherwise innocuous piece of legislation – but we have no surprises to report as yet.

For the most part, legislative leaders are eagerly anticipating the final revenue forecast that will be revealed on May 14^th. This is the forecast that will determine how leadership will approach final budget-writing and what policy bills there will be enough money to pay for.

In the meantime, we have three bills of real significance to our local business communities this week:

• Unemployment Benefits for Striking Workers. (SB 916) It will be time for OSCC members to engage again on 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. The Senate amended the bill slightly to allow for a 1-week waiting period before benefits could be claimed, but the bill still enables up to 26 of benefits for striking workers that would be underwritten by all Oregon businesses, even those with no connection to the labor dispute.

OSCC opposed this legislation in the Senate along with almost two dozen Chambers of Commerce.   

The House Committee on Labor & Workplace Standards will have a public hearing on SB 916 on Thursday.  OSCC members are encouraged to testify or submit comment. OSCC will be opposing the bill again. 

• Home Health Care Workforce Standards Board (HB 3838) 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.  Instead of going to the legislature and passing laws through the democratic legislative process, House Bill 3838 would enable activists to capture a relatively small regulatory board that would create laws for entire industries. OSCC opposes HB 3838.

The House Rules Committee will hear HB 3838 on Monday and take testimony through Wednesday.   



• Preserving Professional Employer Organizations (PEO’s) (HB 2236)  This issue has been on ongoing odyssey for the past three years as a peculiar aspect of Oregon’s Paid Family Leave law has sabotaged the entire PEO industry that has served small businesses in Oregon for decades. PEO’s are “administrative employers” that assist small businesses with benefits administration and regulatory compliance. However, under Oregon law, PEO’s are unable to allow their clients to either “opt out” of Oregon’s Paid Leave program and establish an “equivalent plan” or conversely, take advantage of the small business grant program for those that opt in. OSCC supported HB 2236 in the House and will work to see it pass in the Senate.

The Senate Labor & Business Committee will hear the bill on Tuesday.  

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.