Final 2017 State Legislative Report Out
Final 2017 State Legislative Session Report Out –
I. Update on Major 2017 Session Themes
a. Transportation passed (HB 2017)
b. Spending reforms
c. Taxes / Revenue – Think there will be ongoing dialogue about PERS reform between now and next session
II. Major OSCC Bills – Where they stand.
Taxes:
HB 2060-A: Repeals the small business tax cut passed by the 2013 legislature. – Dead. Letters and calls from chambers and their member businesses help kill this bill.
HB 2830: Tax plan that implements a 0.48% baseline gross receipts tax on all businesses with $3 million or more in Oregon sales. – Dead, chambers and their members with feedback to legislators helped stop this bill.
HB 2391: Solves Medicaid budget shortfall of $900 million – which it is poised to do with a variety of taxes on hospitals, medical providers and insurance premiums – Passed in agreement with hospitals, is a self imposed tax, possible referendum
HB 2019: Corporate tax disclosure scheme for businesses that claim tax credits. – Dead
Budget:
SB 1067: Cost containment bill – Passed, but hurts local hospitals, health care providers
SB 1068 PERS Reform: Re-directs 2% of employee contributions from the Individual Account Program to shore up the unfunded liability of the pension program – Dead. There was some initial work at beginning of session that would have impacted PERS costs
Labor:
SB 828: Predictive scheduling for retail, food service, hospitality businesses – Passed with numerous changes that were more acceptable to business. Final outcome, focused on companies with 500 employees and above, retail, food service and hospitality. 7 days in advance for schedule. Allows for a pool of workers that could be on call inside that window with no penalties. Also does not allow local preemptions of this statewide deal.
HB 3458: Fixes BOLI’s bad interpretation on daily/weekly overtime pay, but also implements workweek caps – Passed, but caps work week at 60 hours, but provisions to accommodate agricultural and food service producers, allows for greater overtime hours during seasonal production. Seafood companies exempted.
HB 2856: Union Organizing & Sick Leave Penalties – Dead
HB 2005: Pay equity enforcement – Passed
Environment Regulation:
HB 2269: increases DEQ fees to fund the new DEQ ‘Cleaner Air Oregon’ regulatory scheme. – Dead
SB 1008: Diesel engine regulations – Passed, but completely stripped of all regulation
Tourism:
HB 2064: Allows local government more latitude to spend TRT money on ‘tourism-related’ projects not related directly to tourism promotion. – Dead
Liability:
HB 2807 (formerly SB 487/SB 737): Eliminates the $500k cap on non-economic damages in civil lawsuits – Dead