Chamber Issues & Positions

Chamber Files Amicus Briefs with U.S. Supreme Court Supporting Petitions for Certiorari

On December 14, the Roseburg Area Chamber of Commerce filed a Brief of Amici Curiae in support of petition for certiorari filed by petitioners in Murphy Company, et al v. Joseph R. Biden, Jr., in his official capacity as President of the United States, et al (No. 23-525).  On Friday, December 15, the Roseburg Area Chamber of Commerce filed a Brief of Amici Curiae in support of petition for certiorari filed by petitioners in American Forest Resource Council, et al v. United States of America, et al (No. 23-524).  

            Amicus curiae literally means “friend of the court;” an individual or organization that is not a party to a particular case, but which has interest in the case or information related to a case of critical importance to their community(ies).  The chamber’s filings are founded in its long-standing interest and advocation for active management of public forestland for all designated purposes mandated under the O & C Act of 1937.  The chamber is pleased and honored to have NFIB (National Federation of Independent Business) Small Business Legal Center join both briefs in support of said U.S. Supreme Court petitions.

                To read the chamber’s Amicus Brief in the American Forest Resource Council, et al case CLICK HERE.  To read the chamber’s Amicus Brief in the Murphy Company, et al case CLICK HERE.   

                There are numerous reasons underlying the chamber’s decision to file briefs in both of these cases.  First, the chamber, representing the interests of its members and Douglas County businesses, has significant interest in the Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument Designation, the BLM’s 2016 Western Oregon Resource Management Plan and the impacts due to lack of effective management of O & C Act forestland.  Specifically, the threat to the protectable interests of the chamber, its members and the Douglas County businesses for which the chamber advocates.   Read full article HERE.

 

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RACC’S 2023-24 Public Affairs & Legislative Agenda 

The chamber has submitted on its own or added its name to coalitions in support of:

  • Federal transportation infrastructure funding
  • Effective management of public timber lands to include increased harvest
  • More effective management of public lands after a fire or other catastrophic event
  • Funding for State Veterans Home in Roseburg
  • Allied Health School aka “Med Ed” siting in Roseburg
  • Support of Transportation & Infrastructure
  • Support for Federal permitting streamlining
  • Fought against proposed increased taxes on Oregon businesses
  • Advocated for border security and legal immigration reform to address workforce shortage (See LIBERTY Campaign Coalition Letter

Oregon’s 2024 Legislative Session:  RACC Positions on Bills

The Roseburg Area Chamber of Commerce monitors business-related bills during each legislative session.  This list of bills the chamber supports or opposes evolves as the session advances.  Below is a list of some of the bills the chamber took positions during the 2024 session.  For a recap of the 2024 Oregon Legislative Session, Click Here.


Oregon House of Representatives

SUPPORTS:

HB 4050—The Act removes an exception to the state law concerning pay equity requirement. 

HB 4055—Raises the exemption and filing thresholds for the CAT tax. 

HB 4106—Directs establishment of sustainable harvest levels of timber on state forestlands. 


OPPOSES:

HB 4005—Makes changes to state law to clarify/expanding the meaning of an individual’s performance of services.


WATCHING:

HB 4002—Ballot Measure 110 reform.


Oregon Senate

SUPPORTS:

SB 1542—Increases threshold to $5 million for Oregon businesses to pay CAT.


OPPOSES:

SB 1559—Related to greenhouse gas reduction goals. 

SB 1573—Would allow workers of subcontractors to file suits against general contractors for unpaid wages. 

SB 1593–Imposes new tax on gross proceeds from sale of unprocessed timber harvests on private land.


WATCHING:

SB 1515—Proposal to mitigate or eliminate employee “stacking” related to Paid Leave Oregon & OFLA.

SB 1537—Related to accelerated housing production.

SB 1580—Related workers’ compensation fraud and imposition of criminal penalties on employers.

SB 1595–Relating to protections from debt collection.


2024 Legislative Updates from the Oregon State Chamber of Commerce (OSCC) 

2024 Oregon Legislative Session Recap

February 5, 2024

February 12, 2024

February 19, 2024

February 26, 2024 

March 4, 2024

March 8, 2024

 
* * * * * * * * * *
Oregon’s 2023 Legislative Session:  RACC Positions on Bills

The Roseburg Area Chamber of Commerce monitors hundreds of business-related bills during each legislative session.  This list of bills the chamber supports or opposes grows as the session advances.  Below is a list of current bills the RACC has positions on, but check back frequently as the list is updated as appropriate.  For a recap of the 2023 Oregon Legislative Session, Click Here


Oregon House of Representatives

OPPOSES:

HB 2923–Related to predictive scheduling; imposing requirements on hospitals.

HB 2396–Related in indirect sources of air pollution.

HB 2494–Relating to local transient lodging taxes.

HB 2821–Relating to nonprofit corporations that receive public funds.  

HB 3019–Relating to transferring of funds from Oregon Forest Resources Institute.  See RACC’s letter opposing HB 3019.

HB 3152–Relating to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.  See RACC’s Testimony in Opposition

HB 3158–Relating to engine emissions; creating new provision.

HB 3159–Relating to funding to support species conservation; creating new provisions. Increases state TLT. 

HB 3205–Relating to the exemption of certain bonuses from pay equity requirements. The RACC initially supported HB 3205, in its original proposal, see RACC’s Testimony in Support.  On May 10, HB 3205 was gutted by Senate Labor & Business Committee Chair Kathleen Taylor.  Senator Taylor’s amendment replaces the bill previously supported. RACC no longer supports HB 3205.

HB 3229–Relating to increase in DEQ Title V permit fees.  

HB 3242 and HB 3243–Related to first party lawsuits on insurance claims.  See HB 3242 & HB 3243 Opposition Letter. 


SUPPORTS:

HB 2433–Relating to exempt amount under corporate activity tax (CAT); creating new provision.

HB 3078–Relating to designation of enterprise zones.


Oregon Senate

OPPOSES:

SB 803–Relating to diesel fuel.

SB 851–Relating to workplace psychological safety.

SB 907–Relating to employee’s rights to refuse to perform certain work assignments. 

SB 925–Relating to mandatory pay disclosures for job postings.


SUPPORTS:

SB 127–Relating to exempt amount under corporate activity (CAT) tax; creating new provisions.

SB 754–Relating to releases of liability.

SB 795–Directs State Board of Forestry to convey certain state forest lands to county that determines that county would secure greatest permanent value of lands to county. See RACC’s Testimony in Support

SB 1009–Authorizes issuance of general obligation bonds under Article XI-Q of Oregon Constitution for construction of veterans’ home in Roseburg, Oregon.

For more details about the Roseburg Area Chamber of Commerce’s positions on specific proposed state and federal legislation, visit RACC’s “Calls to Action” and “Current News” pages,  for both current and archived news from the recent Oregon Legislative Session as well as RACC positions on business-relevant matters in the US Congress.

          The Roseburg Area Chamber of Commerce keeps its members updated on issues, matters and positions relevant to Douglas County businesses in its Business Perspectives newsletter and “Chamber News” email blasts which can be found HERE. 

 

* * * * * * * *

2023 Legislative Updates from the Oregon State Chamber of Commerce (OSCC)

2023 Oregon Legislative Session Recap

June 19, 2023

June 5, 2023

May 30, 2023

May 22, 2023

May 17, 2023

May 16, 2023

May 15, 2023

May 8, 2023

May 1, 2023

April 24, 2023

April 17, 2023 

April 10, 2023

April 3, 2023

March 27, 2023

March 20, 2023

March 13, 2023

March 6, 2023

February 27, 2023

February 22, 2023

February 20, 2023

February 13, 2023

February 6, 2023

February 2, 2023

January 30, 2023

January 23, 2023

January 10, 2023


* * * * * * * *

Highlighted 2019 positions/issues are archived, below. Archived positions/issues from 2020-22 can be found “Archived” on “Calls to Action.”

RACC’S 2023-24 Public Affairs & Legislative Agenda 

The chamber has submitted on its own or added its name to coalitions in support of:

  • Federal transportation infrastructure funding
  • Effective management of public timber lands to include increased harvest
  • More effective management of public lands after a fire or other catastrophic event
  • Funding for State Veterans Home in Roseburg
  • Allied Health School aka “Med Ed” siting in Roseburg
  • Support of Transportation & Infrastructure
  • Support for Federal permitting streamlining
  • Fought against proposed increased taxes on Oregon businesses
  • Advocated for border security and legal immigration reform to address workforce shortage (See LIBERTY Campaign Coalition Letter

Oregon’s 2024 Legislative Session:  RACC Positions on Bills

The Roseburg Area Chamber of Commerce monitors business-related bills during each legislative session.  This list of bills the chamber supports or opposes evolves as the session advances.  Below is a list of current bills the RACC has positions on, but check back frequently as the list is updated as appropriate. 


Oregon House of Representatives

SUPPORTS:

HB 4050—The Act removes an exception to the state law concerning pay equity requirement. 

HB 4055—Raises the exemption and filing thresholds for the CAT tax. 

HB 4106—Directs establishment of sustainable harvest levels of timber on state forestlands. 


OPPOSES:

HB 4005—Makes changes to state law to clarify/expanding the meaning of an individual’s performance of services.


WATCHING:

HB 4002—Ballot Measure 110 reform.


Oregon Senate

SUPPORTS:

SB 1542—Increases threshold to $5 million for Oregon businesses to pay CAT.


OPPOSES:

SB 1559—Related to greenhouse gas reduction goals. 

SB 1573—Would allow workers of subcontractors to file suits against general contractors for unpaid wages. 

SB 1593–Imposes new tax on gross proceeds from sale of unprocessed timber harvests on private land.


WATCHING:

SB 1515—Proposal to mitigate or eliminate employee “stacking” related to Paid Leave Oregon & OFLA.

SB 1537—Related to accelerated housing production.

SB 1580—Related workers’ compensation fraud and imposition of criminal penalties on employers.

SB 1595–Relating to protections from debt collection.


2024 Legislative Updates from the Oregon State Chamber of Commerce (OSCC) 

February 5, 2024

February 12, 2024

February 19, 2024

February 26, 2024 

March 4, 2024

March 8, 2024

 
* * * * * * * * * *
Oregon’s 2023 Legislative Session:  RACC Positions on Bills

The Roseburg Area Chamber of Commerce monitors hundreds of business-related bills during each legislative session.  This list of bills the chamber supports or opposes grows as the session advances.  Below is a list of current bills the RACC has positions on, but check back frequently as the list is updated as appropriate.  For a recap of the 2023 Oregon Legislative Session, Click Here


Oregon House of Representatives

OPPOSES:

HB 2923–Related to predictive scheduling; imposing requirements on hospitals.

HB 2396–Related in indirect sources of air pollution.

HB 2494–Relating to local transient lodging taxes.

HB 2821–Relating to nonprofit corporations that receive public funds.  

HB 3019–Relating to transferring of funds from Oregon Forest Resources Institute.  See RACC’s letter opposing HB 3019.

HB 3152–Relating to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.  See RACC’s Testimony in Opposition

HB 3158–Relating to engine emissions; creating new provision.

HB 3159–Relating to funding to support species conservation; creating new provisions. Increases state TLT. 

HB 3205–Relating to the exemption of certain bonuses from pay equity requirements. The RACC initially supported HB 3205, in its original proposal, see RACC’s Testimony in Support.  On May 10, HB 3205 was gutted by Senate Labor & Business Committee Chair Kathleen Taylor.  Senator Taylor’s amendment replaces the bill previously supported. RACC no longer supports HB 3205.

HB 3229–Relating to increase in DEQ Title V permit fees.  

HB 3242 and HB 3243–Related to first party lawsuits on insurance claims.  See HB 3242 & HB 3243 Opposition Letter. 


SUPPORTS:

HB 2433–Relating to exempt amount under corporate activity tax (CAT); creating new provision.

HB 3078–Relating to designation of enterprise zones.


Oregon Senate

OPPOSES:

SB 803–Relating to diesel fuel.

SB 851–Relating to workplace psychological safety.

SB 907–Relating to employee’s rights to refuse to perform certain work assignments. 

SB 925–Relating to mandatory pay disclosures for job postings.


SUPPORTS:

SB 127–Relating to exempt amount under corporate activity (CAT) tax; creating new provisions.

SB 754–Relating to releases of liability.

SB 795–Directs State Board of Forestry to convey certain state forest lands to county that determines that county would secure greatest permanent value of lands to county. See RACC’s Testimony in Support

SB 1009–Authorizes issuance of general obligation bonds under Article XI-Q of Oregon Constitution for construction of veterans’ home in Roseburg, Oregon.

For more details about the Roseburg Area Chamber of Commerce’s positions on specific proposed state and federal legislation, visit RACC’s “Calls to Action” and “Current News” pages,  for both current and archived news from the recent Oregon Legislative Session as well as RACC positions on business-relevant matters in the US Congress.

          The Roseburg Area Chamber of Commerce keeps its members updated on issues, matters and positions relevant to Douglas County businesses in its Business Perspectives newsletter and “Chamber News” email blasts which can be found HERE. 

 

* * * * * * * *

2023 Legislative Updates from the Oregon State Chamber of Commerce (OSCC)

2023 Oregon Legislative Session Recap

June 19, 2023

June 5, 2023

May 30, 2023

May 22, 2023

May 17, 2023

May 16, 2023

May 15, 2023

May 8, 2023

May 1, 2023

April 24, 2023

April 17, 2023 

April 10, 2023

April 3, 2023

March 27, 2023

March 20, 2023

March 13, 2023

March 6, 2023

February 27, 2023

February 22, 2023

February 20, 2023

February 13, 2023

February 6, 2023

February 2, 2023

January 30, 2023

January 23, 2023

January 10, 2023


* * * * * * * *

Highlighted 2019 positions/issues are archived, below. Archived positions/issues from 2020-22 can be found “Archived” on “Calls to Action.”

2019 Chamber Issues & Positions (Archived)

The chamber has submitted on its own or added its name to coalitions in support of:

  • Federal transportation infrastructure funding
  • Jordan Cove LNG & Pacific Connector Pipeline Project
  • Effective management of public timber lands to include increased harvest
  • More effective management of public lands after a fire or other catastrophic event
  • Funding for State Veterans Home in Roseburg
  • Allied Health School aka “Med Ed” siting in Roseburg
  • Support of Transportation & Infrastructure