In January, a new Legislative Assembly will convene. Newly elected officials will be sworn-in, legislative leaders will be elected, committees will be appointed and another round of bills with the potential to change the business landscape will be introduced.
During the 2023-24 legislative sessions, Oregon State Chamber of Commerce tracked 317 bills that had implications for business. During these sessions, two unnerving trends resurfaced. First, 2023 saw a massive number of vague ‘placeholder’ bills introduced, meaning that a bill could quickly transform into major policy statements with little notice or process. Second, many of the bills introduced in 2024 were far too complicated and pushed too far with inadequate time for vetting during a short, 35-day session.
This process does nothing to support our small businesses at the state level. In fact, it suppresses the voices of those who are impacted the most.
Pushing legislation through without meaningful discussion, eleventh-hour decisions and a “pass now, fix later” mentality is a disservice. It only increases the burden on small business as they have to continue to adjust their operations to comply in a perpetually shifting environment.
Small business deserves state leaders who protect them from bad policy.
The Defend Small Business PAC believes Oregon’s leaders need to put the interests of small businesses in their districts ahead of political ambition. But this won’t happen without electing small business champions.
Small donations make a big difference in our ability to fight.
The Defend Small Business PAC (PAC 17474) - the PAC of the Oregon State Chamber of Commerce - helps protect, preserve and foster a political environment that will strengthen local businesses, their employees, their communities, and the private enterprise system.
