[{"_1":2,"_124":-5,"_125":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100,112],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6126035,"mediaKeyId","2674046-a50dbaf72f34d42b2ce8ccd79b88e3fc","parentId",2674046,"title","Senate committee backs amendment allowing loan for Port of Coos Bay shipyard repairs","audioSeconds",272,"startMs",45965,"endMs",318865,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2674046-a50dbaf72f34d42b2ce8ccd79b88e3fc&start=45&end=318","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2674046-a50dbaf72f34d42b2ce8ccd79b88e3fc/thumbnail_45965.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6126035/Oregon/Senate-committee-backs-amendment-allowing-loan-for-Port-of-Coos-Bay-shipyard-repairs","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6126035-7e8fd1ff70d23328d6351b2912b1c88c/orig.mp4?Expires=1770720857&Signature=WNqjfHdW1ZWinG6al0puvwLRvSW5SuURSVqhJLd4wACxcPsuOKeTe9uQ7oedP9WB9g9jBZggIzga2Xnf9NZXBETJ-nHslqm60Mcr~FP-9W8XR0k7mHd0BkJgidAhf-8qaG-ea96YD0FsKWpas6CEoWUhdmV-8IeffkZ73SRY3v2iS536aTUfVgmK5P71m6Vq8JVr-sFL4EpEuaFpA2-lGdyRDCb8-PsYsogJGyVz~Zyv~tkQWYU4cFp1yjokeLX0yOanCSWSAk3RJKQmCIpEhA-j6vKbBAtrGUvlOlNRxI5kqE2PQjwF~XjR51KmR5iJE5Y4naMdHLdZIDMjwZZx4Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Oregon State Legislature","date","2025-03-18T00:00:00Z","article","The Oregon Senate Committee on Labor and Business on March 18 adopted a dash‑3 amendment to Senate Bill 921 that would allow the Oregon Infrastructure Finance Authority to enter a loan contract with the Port of Coos Bay for repairs to marine ways at the Charleston Shipyard and appropriates $1.5 million for the Oregon Port Revolving Fund.

The amendment replaces the bill text and directs 1.5 million dollars from the Administrative Services Economic Development Fund to the Oregon Business Development Department for deposit in the Oregon Port Revolving Fund for the purpose of making the loan. Committee members then voted to send the bill, as amended, to the Senate floor with a due‑pass recommendation and to request referral to the Joint Committee on Ways and Means.

Why it matters: proponents framed the measure as a targeted economic development tool for a rural maritime facility. The dash‑3 amendment explicitly ties the loan to the legal provisions of the Oregon Port Revolving Fund Act and limits the appropriation to the specified biennium beginning July 1, 2025.

Committee discussion and votes: Committee chair Senator Taylor said she supported the amendment as a revolving‑loan approach and praised the model for rural economic development, saying, \"I always think it's a good idea to consider a revolving loan, which is what I understand this to be.\" Committee staff summarized the amendment’s fiscal and referral consequences and confirmed there was no revenue impact but a fiscal impact.

Vice Chair Bonham moved the amendment (recorded in the transcript as the motion to adopt the dash‑3 amendment). A roll call recorded Senators Pham, Vice Chair Bonham and Chair Taylor voting aye; Senator Hayden and Senator Woods were recorded as excused at that moment. The committee announced the amendment was adopted. After a subsequent motion to move the bill, as amended, to the Senate floor with a due pass recommendation and referral to the Joint Committee on Ways and Means, Senators Pham, Vice Chair Bonham and Chair Taylor again recorded aye votes and the motion passed.

Procedure note: Senator Woods arrived late and the committee temporarily suspended its rules to allow him to vote on the underlying amended bill. The transcript contains inconsistent entries about his final vote; the formal roll calls recorded earlier in the hearing are the basis for the committee's action to adopt the amendment and to refer the amended measure to Ways and Means.

Next steps: The committee sent the measure, as amended, to the Senate President’s desk requesting referral to the Joint Committee on Ways and Means.

Sources: Committee staff summary of the dash‑3 amendment, Chair Taylor and Vice Chair Bonham remarks and the committee roll calls recorded on March 18, 2025.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Senate Committee On Labor and Business 03/18/2025 8:00 AM","oneSentenceSummary","The Oregon Senate Committee on Labor and Business adopted an amendment to Senate Bill 921 on March 18 that allows the Oregon Infrastructure Finance Authority to approve a loan to the Port of Coos Bay for repairs at the Charleston Shipyard and appropriates $1.5 million to the Oregon Port Revolving Fund.","taxTitle","Labor and Business, Senate, Committees, Legislative, Oregon","taxId",17989,"location","Oregon","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6126030,"Committee hears plan to fund Lewis & Clark small business legal clinic with $4 million grant",82,456575,539015,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2674046-a50dbaf72f34d42b2ce8ccd79b88e3fc&start=456&end=539","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2674046-a50dbaf72f34d42b2ce8ccd79b88e3fc/thumbnail_456575.jpg","/articles/6126030/Oregon/Committee-hears-plan-to-fund-Lewis-Clark-small-business-legal-clinic-with-4-million-grant","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6126030-c59620e06514b47be50cafa0ef86e184/orig.mp4?Expires=1770720857&Signature=BFZPTgntYc5AXiOCdVfvFGxgk4a9mOr-dz69I9qKbv2HdYHdodYByUx0R~TFNa6geuB3AwP0ce4ci8pB4OHY-FlQnFRjEXZT8a6-RnNVDpjPbs3DVkM1T8JMi~6oQ7GfLoEAXUXdQpuwFv6mzRXMkEPpdNU4CMtq-h9DTXE2sxB54oiSzW003eP-uGsUmIhgvQqEpnv7E0YYuzvs9uVs1flPbPa3X0o6bqEPmQg6o1ydsqoy~XuQYnVM0z00Jme9MGqG1Z11vaYjVNKghuIuAHt3PHm-Q5sKNOlphj5XRxMbwC42Z5WH--4SQOFE2b3u3CZwNGBagpbyOpJRovIyKA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Senate Committee on Labor and Business held a public hearing on March 18 for Senate Bill 569, which would create a grant program administered by the Oregon Business Development Department to fund the Small Business Legal Clinic at Lewis & Clark Law School and assist underserved businesses across Oregon. The dash‑1 amendment replaces the measure and includes an appropriation of $4,000,000 from the general fund for the 2025‑27 biennium.

The amendment directs the department to establish a program to grant funds to the clinic so it can help underserved businesses form appropriate entities, enter contracts, obtain minority‑business certification, and otherwise develop or expand. The department would be required to monitor and evaluate the clinic’s performance and to report to the Legislative Assembly by Sept. 1, 2026.

Supporters told the committee the clinic can scale up quickly and already serves urban, rural and tribal communities. Lauren Bulling of Ironworkers Local 29 said the clinic serves rural clients and can assist businesses pursuing public contracting. Clinic clinical professor Susan Felstiner described the clinic’s services and capacity, noting the program’s preventive, transactional focus and its history since 2006: \"Our mission is to provide transactional legal services to low income, small, and emerging businesses throughout Oregon\" and \"Our phone is ringing off the hook. The need in Oregon is great. We are capable and ready to scale our services to Oregon businesses with the help of this bill.\" Felstiner said the clinic serves clients in 23 of Oregon’s 36 counties.

At the hearing some commenters urged stronger performance metrics and accountability. Tim Cohen, speaking as a private citizen with a banking background, asked for measurable goals and reporting on outcomes such as number of businesses served, client demographics and financial returns. A public commenter, Chad Kernutt, urged rejection on ideological grounds, saying, \"I urge you to please vote no on this atrocious bill,\" describing his view that the bill would favor some businesses by race or class; his comments were presented as public comment and not a legal finding.

Procedural notes: Committee staff said the bill has a subsequent referral to the Joint Committee on Ways and Means. No committee vote occurred on March 18; the hearing record was closed and proponents and opponents provided testimony for committee consideration.

Next steps: The measure is scheduled for further consideration and carries a subsequent referral to Ways and Means under the amendment described to the committee.","Senate Bill 569 would fund Lewis & Clark Law School’s Small Business Legal Clinic with a $4 million general‑fund appropriation to help underserved Oregon businesses form entities, enter contracts and pursue certifications; the Senate Committee on Labor and Business held a public hearing March 18.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6126016,"Businesses, delivery platforms warn of costs and technical issues as committee considers online pricing‑transparency bill",102,4362465,4465110,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2674046-a50dbaf72f34d42b2ce8ccd79b88e3fc&start=4362&end=4465","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2674046-a50dbaf72f34d42b2ce8ccd79b88e3fc/thumbnail_4362465.jpg","/articles/6126016/Oregon/Businesses-delivery-platforms-warn-of-costs-and-technical-issues-as-committee-considers-online-pricingtransparency-bill","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6126016-c41a4fb2e25b8b76b8cceaa615bc8574/orig.mp4?Expires=1770720857&Signature=bxPjSHqEgymG-5TSLMNtkiCOnKPvLsM82eCjiN0x9vyGLOYkyzKNldZde3AiE2Jp5DQmO6t8uMjY0hKaWs-kVpfA2g6Vy2rn4jlmZsgdNvTRW5elLA5Bk9SPObBhMbrO3mKajrJu0eSKs~qJQjDvDLPpHWRfe8NILRX-Vd4tYMM3gPafYcPsQHXPNdOsx~rJ1cU6S2PWN8CvSFRxGI2gErJ8MOVW7Ch0bQgzOTO3DHk2x8ijLcpG5cWXrs-zJc8Peg40AKc37ICO8oMwsp-kDJCXIgg1dNUQAs5kPhDG85kui9eyAgkV3R4y1tWwd29A2rrcBNV6Q3SJFTDI1B5f~A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Senate Committee on Labor and Business heard testimony on March 18 about Senate Bill 430, a dash‑1 amendment that would require online advertisers and sellers offering goods or services to Oregon residents to display a price that includes all fees or charges a purchaser must pay to complete the transaction. The amendment provides exceptions for government‑imposed taxes/fees and for reasonable charges a seller actually incurs to ship goods or provide services.

Why it matters: Supporters framed the bill as consumer‑protection and pricing‑transparency legislation. Opponents — including travel platforms, e‑commerce companies, grocery delivery services and business groups — said the policy goal is sound but the bill as drafted raises operational and legal problems for industries that calculate variable fees late in the checkout process.

Industry concerns and suggested fixes: Mackenzie Chase of Expedia Group said Expedia already displays total price from search results through checkout and urged alignment with a forthcoming Federal Trade Commission pricing standard that takes effect May 12, 2025. \"We appreciate the dash‑1 amendment that was published. It better aligns with the federal pricing standard for our industry,\" Chase said, and asked that Oregon avoid creating a conflicting state standard.

Several witnesses, including representatives of grocery delivery partners and DoorDash, said some fees (delivery distance, promotions or variable service fees) cannot be known until customers select items and enter delivery preferences. DoorDash’s Anna Powell testified, \"On DoorDash, you'll always see what you will pay, including any and all fees before you ever check out,\" but asked the committee to allow variable fees to be calculated in the cart prior to completing checkout.

Enforcement and private‑rights concerns: Multiple business groups and liability‑reform advocates urged that any enforcement be managed by the Attorney General rather than through a private right of action under the Unlawful Trade Practices Act (UTPA). Opponents said a private right of action would encourage costly litigation. Other technical issues raised included calculating taxes and fees that are imposed by government but passed through by sellers and fees tied to variable consumer choices.

Procedure: Senator Pruzanski and staff and the Oregon Department of Justice have been engaged in discussion; witnesses reported ongoing negotiations and the expectation of additional drafting changes. The hearing closed without a committee vote.

Next steps: Committee staff and sponsors said they will continue to work with stakeholders on technical adjustments to reconcile the bill with federal rules and to address variable‑fee mechanics and enforcement language.","Senate Bill 430 (dash‑1) would require advertised online prices to include all fees and charges a purchaser must pay, with narrow exceptions; multiple industry witnesses praised transparency goals but raised concerns about variable fees, technical compliance, and a private right of action under the Unlawful Trade Practices Act.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6126021,"Committee hears amendment to bar medical‑debt reporting to credit agencies and void existing entries",266,3835960,4102290,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2674046-a50dbaf72f34d42b2ce8ccd79b88e3fc&start=3835&end=4102","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2674046-a50dbaf72f34d42b2ce8ccd79b88e3fc/thumbnail_3835960.jpg","/articles/6126021/Oregon/Committee-hears-amendment-to-bar-medicaldebt-reporting-to-credit-agencies-and-void-existing-entries","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6126021-e363ab889e6e0a087537a017c60c9902/orig.mp4?Expires=1770720857&Signature=jWb6HYoDsWSv02xvtMQWzOfszUPlgG2p9TJbcOZDxfTFQC5d3KeqO4~MvfnZuHzUYg0dOpFrtSU9-IxUUuAtEAUu0wU6MLnqmiXQAPCFcu1ybCgouljPlB9rocWn-6ssRN-wnAHZXAUjpkUHlp6a3fsFn15b1yGt~I1cbogavj4PbMfZ8kongYyDqShGQM9iGk116FdSBFhES1bAyV1QTi3WnurjRqDW9ztwpLRi5OYQGDKY4Dsfxya6HGVYyOuLUR6F6c0ZySo3yYn9mTGr5gTeRCBHdJYiYCQ~fOPHmM1beYOHhqfbk2JKeqLQMx5~cjQzw1vXkU0ul2XoqmMUlA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Senate Committee on Labor and Business heard testimony March 18 on Senate Bill 605, a dash‑4 amendment that would prohibit reporting medical debt to consumer reporting agencies and strip medical debt items from credit reports for Oregon residents.

Committee staff explained the dash‑4 amendment refines the bill’s definitions and enforcement language. The amendment specifies what qualifies as medical debt and excludes cosmetic surgery unless reconstruction is required following trauma, injury, infection or disease. It also removes an earlier definition of \"medical services provider\" and drops a provision that would have required new contractual notices by hospitals and providers.

Substantive effect: the amendment would make it an unlawful trade practice for a person to report the amount or existence of medical debt that an Oregon resident owes to a consumer reporting agency. It also says a consumer reporting agency may not include in a consumer report any medical‑debt item that it knows or reasonably should know is medical debt. A plaintiff who brings an action for a violation may obtain an order or judgment that voids the medical debt and renders it uncollectible. Committee staff said the Department of Justice is likely to propose a technical amendment clarifying the state enforcement authority.

Committee testimony: Sponsor Senator Campos described outreach to stakeholders and said the dash‑4 reflects negotiations and drafting work since the bill’s January hearing. Committee witness Chris Coughlin summarized the bill’s purpose and practical effect: \"It will do 2 things. It will end the reporting of new medical debt onto Oregonian's credit reports, and it will pull existing medical debt off of Oregonian's credit reports.\" Coughlin also described the changes narrowing the definition of medical debt and removing the hospital‑notification requirement at stakeholders’ request.

Procedure and next steps: The bill has a subsequent referral to the Senate Health Care Committee listed in the hearing materials. Committee members and staff indicated additional technical edits from the Department of Justice could arrive; the committee closed the hearing for March 18 and will consider any further drafting changes in subsequent steps.

Sources: Sponsor remarks, committee staff summary of dash‑4 amendment and Chris Coughlin testimony as recorded in the committee hearing.","Senate Bill 605 dash‑4 would make it an unlawful trade practice to report medical debt to consumer reporting agencies, remove existing medical debt from credit reports, and give plaintiffs the ability to obtain orders voiding medical debt; the dash‑4 revises the definition of medical debt to exclude cosmetic surgery and removes a definition of '",{"_33":113,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":114,"_41":115,"_43":116,"_45":117,"_47":118,"_49":119,"_51":120,"_53":121,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":122,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":123,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6126025,"Informational hearing on home‑and‑community care standards board prompts debate over scope, funding",1217,1446185,2663235,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2674046-a50dbaf72f34d42b2ce8ccd79b88e3fc&start=1446&end=2663","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2674046-a50dbaf72f34d42b2ce8ccd79b88e3fc/thumbnail_1446185.jpg","/articles/6126025/Oregon/Informational-hearing-on-homeandcommunity-care-standards-board-prompts-debate-over-scope-funding","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6126025-5a9a3cd8d0485f872e3f1e860aedaecc/orig.mp4?Expires=1770720857&Signature=VfjNcw4jqGXHBtY~pVC1LffVqloy7A1a8M4CWG6W~CBCfj0SnpI2cbf6HoJs7XlznbKPe1XPR0ACeQ9J~4jKWBOUKQ5ECMcGckdrLNDROwJsjZLx7PpS10wRgiKaSM60rlrSWMgAVN3DZ2HVR-rz7tD6Kx-0kH8FWjdJbU4VI-UTrq9EbPKFPXhNbdmTf-25NMchj6Cs51CYmtnQY1hWToahWmkaufyPTTjuvdBF~PfNnBlzVaD5lwiI4UJkXcHKRNTaQbbLnY30fx0p~mc~-E8ByXPKIkNDMUJmiQq~pab1WfggZ3bq1AntBlnTNn-RxG05~ft1GVWE~e0ml-gS8w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Senate Committee on Labor and Business held an informational hearing March 18 on Senate Bill 1138, which would establish a Home and Community Based Services Workforce Standards Board to set industrywide standards for wages, benefits, training and staffing across multiple care settings.

Proponents, including Melissa Unger of SEIU Local 503 and David Madland of the Center for American Progress Action Fund, said the board would give workers, employers and consumers a forum to set standards, address turnover and improve job quality. Unger told the committee, \"Caregivers face poverty wages, burnout, and extreme turnover, threatening quality care as demand rises,\" and argued the board is a tool to bring affected parties together to set standards and career pathways.

Bill summary and proposed changes: Committee witnesses described an amended structure under discussion. The amendment under development would set board membership at six employer representatives, six employee representatives, two consumer representatives and three government representatives; require members to have relevant expertise; require a market‑based study before any standards are adopted; and ensure that any board decision with state fiscal implications is subject to legislative funding and approval before implementation. Proponents said the amendment will also specify that no standard can be enforced until 90 days after final legislative action and that the board’s first standards would not be established before 2028.

Supporters cited experience in other states. David Madland noted workforce standards boards have been used in states such as California, Colorado, Michigan, Minnesota, New York and Nevada, and said they can raise wages and reduce turnover. \"This policy is working in 6 states and 3 cities,\" he told the committee, adding that boards can address multiple, interrelated issues at once and include affected workers and employers in standard‑setting.

Opponents from provider groups said the bill could increase costs, duplicate existing oversight and harm access to care if the state does not fund standards. Phil Bentley of the Oregon Health Care Association said Oregon already has strong regulatory systems and recent market studies show substantial underfunding; he warned that \"this board is also mandated to make new policies for 6 to 8 different care settings\" and argued the bill could accelerate closures and raise costs without guaranteed funding. Amanda Dalton of the Oregon Resource Association and Jessica Adamson of Catholic Community Services said providers face chronic underfunding; Adamson urged the legislature to fund rate increases through Ways and Means rather than create additional regulatory bodies.

Other bill mechanics discussed included enforcement (proposed to be handled by state agencies such as the Department of Human Services rather than the board itself), a requirement for biennial reporting to the legislature, and the creation of public meetings and hearings for any market study and standard‑setting process.

Next steps: Proponents said they are actively drafting amendments and plan to share those changes with the committee. The hearing was informational; no committee vote occurred on March 18.","Senate Bill 1138 would create a Home and Community Based Services Workforce Standards Board to set wages, benefits, training and staffing standards across multiple care settings. Proponents argued a board could address high turnover and low pay; opponents warned it could duplicate regulation, raise costs and worsen access without state funding.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Senate committee backs amendment allowing loan for Port of Coos Bay shipyard repairs

Committee hears plan to fund Lewis & Clark small business legal clinic with $4 million grant

Businesses, delivery platforms warn of costs and technical issues as committee considers online pricing‑transparency bill

Committee hears amendment to bar medical‑debt reporting to credit agencies and void existing entries

Informational hearing on home‑and‑community care standards board prompts debate over scope, funding