6 Oregon Trucking Association, Inc. Oregon Truck Dispatch Mark Gibson, Chair OTA in Action Committee/ President, Siskiyou Transportation WHILE ADVOCACY HAS always been a priority of OTA and our members, 2023 will be a pivotal year in Salem, particularly for our industry. New Leadership Means New Opportunities for Education We have already seen significant change in the leadership of our state government, including a new governor, new state agency heads, and new leadership in the legislature, including a new Speaker of the House for the first time in a decade. Significant turnover in the both the Oregon House of Representatives and the Senate means that institutional knowledge of the legislative process, policy priorities, and the many different industries operating in Oregon is at an all-time low. New faces and new priorities for these state leaders offer both a challenge for our advocacy team and an opportunity. With less institutional knowledge among decisionmakers, our team can focus on educating legislators and agency leaders about the needs and priorities of the trucking industry in Oregon. Legislative Threats to the Trucking Industry But while new beginnings may offer an opportunity for a fresh slate, we also know that our industry is facing threats this year like never before. Three months into the 2023 Legislative Session, we already know that the legislature is considering making significant policy decisions this year that will impact every aspect of your business operations. The legislature is considering dozens of bills this year that would impact employers across the state, including adjustments to the Paid Family Medical Leave program and legislation that would prohibit employers from asking anything about an applicant’s experience or education as it pertains to their ability to perform the job in question, in order to prevent age discrimination. A Pivotal Year for Trucking in Oregon: Get Involved to Protect our Industry This isn’t the year to stay on the sidelines. Thank you for helping OTA advocate for our industry.
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