13 www.ortrucking.org Issue 2 | 2024 jointly report on the apportionment of duties between the two entities as it relates to the program. • Removes duplicative leave purposes when they are also covered by the federal Family and Medical Leave Act or Paid Leave Oregon. • Rectifies conflicts with scheduling provisions seen in both Paid Leave Oregon and Oregon’s Family Leave Act. Similarly, this bill was heavily negotiated by the business community, who engaged in a workgroup process facilitated by the Chair of the Senate Labor and Business Committee, Sen. Taylor. The bill was amended to change some of the operative dates in the bill, but no specific policy concepts were significantly altered. SB 1515 easily passed both chambers, and when signed by the governor, the bill will be effective immediately. Employee Retention and Hiring Bonuses HB 4050, a bill to functionally allow employers to provide retention bonuses, was brought back for the second time in 2024 after failing during the 2023 session. Oregon’s pay equity law currently makes it illegal for an employer to offer a hiring bonus, as increased compensation can only be based on certain bona fide factors like seniority, merit, piece rate, education, etc. The bill sought to expand the list of factors to include business necessity, which would allow for hiring bonuses to address challenges like workforce shortages. The bill received broad support from over 50 business trade associations and companies, who all cited the need to allow for bonuses to address the persistent workforce shortage. Oregon’s unions, including SEIU, PCUN, AFSCME and AFT-Oregon all came out in strong opposition. These groups argued that “business necessity” was an overly broad term and could undermine the spirit of Oregon’s pay equity law and allow for bonuses that may marginalize certain classes of workers. Despite its bipartisan and bicameral cosponsors, the bill was not scheduled for a work session and died at the first legislative deadline. Campaign Finance Reform One big surprise from the session was the passage of campaign finance reform. For years, Oregon has been one of the only states without campaign finance limits, and after countless attempts to reach agreement on reform, the legislature passed a bill to refer to the voters in November a solution that would cap giving at $3,300 from individuals to candidates for statewide office, the state House and Senate and district attorney per election. “Small donor committees,” which would include union PACs, could give $10 for every one of their donors for statewide candidates and $5 per donor for state lawmakers and local elections. Though neither business nor union entities are completely satisfied with the proposal, it is seen as a preferable alternative to a competing ballot measure that could have had the support to pass in November. Should this referral pass in November, the limits would begin in 2027. What to Expect Going Forward Now that drug crime reform, housing reform, semiconductor manufacturing incentives, and campaign finance reform have successfully passed the legislature, there are few looming issues that could dominate the conversation in the 2025 Legislative Session. One of the few priorities of the 2025 session will be passing a transportation funding package. The last transportation package was passed in 2017 after multiple years of failed attempts. It resulted in the trucking industry accepting a 53% tax increase to help pay for several large infrastructure projects, including the Rose Quarter freeway improvement project. With that project still just in the planning phases, increased concern around tolling, and a Department of Transportation that is on the verge of insolvency, the urgency for passing a transportation package in 2025 will be great. Legislators and advocacy groups alike will transition their focus for the remainder of the year toward campaign season. Three major statewide offices will be up for election in November 2024 including State Treasurer, Secretary of State, and Attorney General. In the Oregon Senate, at least eight seats will turn over because of retirements and the Supreme Court ruling that those who walked out in the 2023 Legislative Session to deny quorum and halt bills from moving forward would not be allowed to run for reelection. That ruling affirmed the intent of Ballot Measure 113 from 2022, which said that any legislator who has 10 or more unexcused absences would be ineligible to run again for office. OTA will remain engaged in the election process as campaign season heats up. If you’re interested in getting involved in the political process, or making a donation to TruckPAC to support candidates who recognize the important role trucking plays in Oregon’s economy, please contact Christine Logue at [email protected]. or Jana Jarvis at [email protected]. In the Oregon Senate, at least eight seats will turn over because of retirements and the Supreme Court ruling that those who walked out in the 2023 Legislative Session to deny quorum and halt bills from moving forward would not be allowed to run for reelection.
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