2024 Legislative Priorities
OUR GUIDING PRINCIPLES
Economic Health
Promote policies that enable businesses of all sizes to thrive and grow.
Inclusivity
Engage and listen to business stakeholders on those policies that impact how employers can operate.
Collaboration
Develop policies collaboratively with a willingness to consider alternative paths and compromise agreements.
Fiscal Responsibility
Prioritize State spending based on intended outcomes and results to create a more balanced, stable budget and verify that spending goals are met.
WHO WE ARE
The Washington County Chamber of Commerce is the independent, influential voice of the Washington County area’s thriving business community, which is considered the economic engine of Oregon. We are a member-driven organization proud to represent more than 800 small and large employers and nonprofits operating in Washington County, ranging from local restaurants and auto repair shops to high-tech manufacturers. The businesses we represent are integral to making Washington County an economically prosperous, safe, healthy, and innovative place to live, work, and play.
OUR LEGISLATIVE FOCUS
As we approach 2024, new challenges have emerged, and many businesses are feeling the burden. Many local businesses are experiencing increased prices due to inflation and a lack of access to credit due to high-interest rates. Housing affordability, both for rental and owner properties, are at an all-time low, causing additional workforce issues and putting some of our most vulnerable populations out on the streets. With these issues in mind, we ask the Oregon State Legislature to promote policies that assists the businesses of Oregon. This includes finding ways to bolster our workforce and encourage businesses to invest their dollars into our communities. Additional costs and regulations on businesses due to new taxes, fee increases, or changes in business operations could be devastating to economic recovery. We continue to ask our State Legislators to DO NO HARM to our member businesses.
OUR VALUES
Our mission is to promote business prosperity and a healthy, equitable, inclusive, and diverse community in Washington County by providing information, services and advocacy for our members.
Climate and Energy
The Washington County Chamber of Commerce recognizes the eminent dangers of climate change that we face today. However, it is important that we continue to offer our residents affordable, reliable forms of energy.
Support: A more streamlined approach that is more in sync with the speed of the market to help navigate environmental regulations for new facilities.
Support: Tax credits or incentives for ‘green’ business practices.
Support: Data driven policies that encourages and commonsense solutions to meet climate goals.
Oppose: Legislation that curtails or restricts energy choice or resiliency.
Oppose: Legislation or rules that would impact local Transportation System Plans (TSP) that would result in costly infrastructure investments.
Education and Workforce
Washington County and the State of Oregon face a major issue with a workforce shortage and the disruption in the global supply chain.
Support: Legislation that would prepare and enhance the workforce of Oregon.
Support: Legislation that would provide a tax credit or incentive to those who support qualified workforce training organizations.
Support: Legislation or rules that would prepare graduating high school students for the next phase of life. ‘Future Planning,’ such as financial planning, interview preparation and resume building are of utmost importance.
Support: Legislation that would expand crucial apprenticeship programs and direct BOLI to remove obstacles preventing the establishment of new apprenticeship programs and opportunities.
Support: Study of statewide, equitable Preschool for All education model.
Land Use Issues & Housing
Many developers in Oregon are dealing with State regulations, fees, permits and zoning issues that often slow and make the building process challenging. It is vital the State Legislature make it easier to develop both housing and employment land.
Support: Legislation that would incentivize residential developers to produce more housing units.
Support: A process to move forward a modernization of the Oregon land use system that is responsive to current needs, eliminates long delays and updates regulations that inhibit development.
Oppose: Legislation that would directly or indirectly increase the price of housing for both rental and owned properties.
Support: Legislation or rules that would speed up and enhance the permitting process for developable land.
Support: Legislation that would make available more shovel-ready land that is responsive to industry need.
Oppose: Additional fees and other impediments that would deter businesses from locating and developing.
Tax Policies & Economic Development
Tax policies must consider research, data and the voices of the business community and demonstrate a direct result to Oregon’s recovery. Economic development tools and tax credits have a direct positive impact on employers – their ability to stay in business, grow their employees, hire new employees, and expand.
Support: Legislation that would bring in new economic development tools, such a capital investment tax credit and a jobs tax credit and expand the R&D tax credit.
Support: Legislation that preserves and supports State and local tools to help businesses expand and hire new employees, including the strategic investment program, urban renewal, and enterprise zones.
Support: Efforts to increase the current $1 million revenue threshold for taxable commercial activity and reduce pyramiding effects.
Oppose: Legislation increasing the corporate activities tax.
Oppose: Any changes to economic development tools, such as the SIP or enterprise zones that are not developed in consensus with a broad base of the business community.
Oppose: Any new business taxes.
Tourism Investment
The Hillsboro Hops Baseball Club has been an economic development boost for the entire Portland Metropolitan region and demonstrates the ability to sustain and support a major sports presence.
Support: Investment in the Hillsboro Hops Stadium to ensure they can meet the new MLB requirements and remain in Hillsboro and Washington County.
Transportation Infrastructure Planning & Funding
Strategic investments in transportation and vital infrastructure will spur job and economic development growth throughout Oregon.
Support: Funding for vital infrastructure projects that will infuse Oregon communities with critically needed
investments resulting in an increase in local spending. This should be in accordance with the Oregon State Constitution and should leverage Federal funding available from IIJA and IRA.
Oppose: Any transportation-based policy that would impose a fee or tax but would not add needed capacity to our already congested highways.
Support: The construction of a new I-5 bridge featuring additional space for all modes of transportation – including motor vehicles – to help ease congestion challenges while doing so in an equitable way.
Support: A well-vetted, region-wide Oregon Toll Program strategy where the revenue is dedicated to solving critical transportation infrastructure and capacity needs and minimizes diversion to neighboring communities.