Business Advocacy
Your Business. Your Community. Your Voice.
The Chamber is a trusted convener and provider of business resources.
We recognize the systemic interdependencies of a healthy economy and provide an ear and a voice for local business at the confluence of government, commerce, and community.
We advocate for business by increasing visibility, dialogue, and representation at local, state, and federal policy circles around issues of impact and interest to our members.
MOST RECENT BUSINESS ADVOCACY NEWS
Find the latest legislative and Chamber business advocacy updates in the ADVOCACY section of The Bottom Line –
the Springfield area's only dedicated business news source. Click below to stay up to date and informed!
Springfield Chamber 2025 State Legislative Policy Agenda
This agenda is informed by:
- Our board-adopted Economic Development and Business Advocacy Guiding Principles.
- Input from Chamber members, the Leaders Advisory, and key industry partners.
- Insights from the Oregon State Chamber of Commerce (OSCC) and Oregon Business & Industry (OBI).
- The Chamber’s annual Business Climate Survey (view 2024 here).
This policy agenda provides a framework, adopted by the Springfield Chamber Board of Directors, for our 2025 State Legislative priorities. For information on specific bills the Chamber is engaging on, continue to refer to this page and stay engaged on our news site, The Bottom Line, as issues emerge and develop over the course of the legislative session.
- The Leaders Advisory and Chamber staff will actively track legislation and engage with policymakers.
- We will mobilize our members to support or oppose key legislative efforts as necessary.
- This agenda will guide our testimony, coalition participation, and direct advocacy efforts at the state level.
If you are interested in joining the Chamber's efforts to mobilize on key issues, sign up for the Advocacy Bulletin for timely news and calls to action. Join this list by emailing Paige Walters.
The Springfield Chamber’s 2025 State Legislative Policy Agenda has been developed to provide a structured framework for our advocacy efforts in the upcoming legislative session. This agenda reflects our Chamber’s ongoing commitment to fostering a pro-business environment, supporting economic competitiveness, and engaging strategically on policy issues that impact our members.
Balanced, business-friendly: We advocate for environmental and energy policies that achieve sustainability goals while fostering economic growth. We support pragmatic regulations that consider industry realities, promote innovation, and provide flexibility for businesses transitioning to cleaner practices.
ADVANCED CLEAN TRUCKING
This is the DEQ Rule that mandates manufacturers of medium and heavy-duty vehicles must sell a growing percentage of zero-emission trucks each year beginning with the 2025 model year.
We SUPPORT delay of the ACT rule enforcement.
→ Read our Letter of Support for HB 3119
CLIMATE PROTECTION PROGRAM (CPP)
We supported a 2024 coalition letter with Oregon Business & Industry to the DEQ, raising concerns.
We will MONITOR the CPP implementation by DEQ and any parallel legislative efforts regarding the establishment of a Cap and Trade program.
Economic growth, connectivity: We support strategic investments in transportation and infrastructure that foster economic vitality, ensure efficient movement of goods and people, and reduce barriers to business expansion.
INDUSTRIAL LAND DEVELOPMENT AND/OR BROWNFIELD PROGRAMS
We will MONITOR legislation relating to industrial land development and consider supporting coordinated public/private development requests for support.
We OPPOSE HB 3062, which requires local governments to map sensitive uses as part of a comprehensive plan. Requires, before allowing the development of industrial uses, study and mitigation of impacts on nearby sensitive uses and an additional public hearing.
TRANSPORTATION PACKAGE
Supplementing a $1.8B ODOT maintenance gap, in addition to other local road infrastructure maintenance and growth needs.
We will MONITOR the development of the transportation package.
We OPPOSE unfunded local mandates.
We SUPPORT technical assistance and direct investment in local infrastructure development.
PROJECT LABOR AGREEMENTS (PLAS)
December 18, 2024 Executive Order 24-31 requiring the use of PLAs on significant construction projects funded by the state.
We OPPOSE the Public Labor Agreement requirement for state funded construction projects.
Thriving, resilient: We champion policies that strengthen Oregon’s business climate, support entrepreneurship, and attract private investment. We advocate for initiatives that enhance economic opportunities, promote innovation, and create jobs.
BUSINESS LIABILITY REFORM
We SUPPORT liability waiver reform to relieve small business exposure to egregious litigation claims, driving up costs, driving out insurance providers, and adversely impacting the business climate.
→ Read our Letter of Support for HB 3140
We OPPOSE legislation which would significantly expand the scope of litigation over insurance claims, driving up costs and reducing coverage for Oregonians.
→ Read our Letter of Opposition for SB 174
OFFICE OF ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY
We will MONITOR OBI proposal for new executive Branch office, including business advisory committee and business ombudsman.
Transparent, growth-oriented: We support tax policies that stimulate economic growth, ensure fairness across all business sectors, and maintain transparency. We advocate for reforms that reduce administrative burdens, promote fiscal responsibility, and minimize disproportionate impacts on businesses, especially small and emerging enterprises.
CORPORATE ACTIVITY TAX (CAT)
We SUPPORT small business CAT relief with no new negative impact on large businesses.
The Chamber has submitted testimony urging lawmakers to pass either SB 381 or SB 490 to ensure that Oregon’s small businesses can continue driving economic growth. We emphasize that supporting small businesses ultimately strengthens local communities by preserving jobs and fostering long-term prosperity.
→ Read our Letter of Support for SB 381 / SB 490
ESTATE TAX
We SUPPORT increasing the estate tax threshold.
LODGING TAX (TLT/TRT)
We will MONITOR TLT-related legislation (state tax increase, flexible local use)
We SUPPORT industry positions where appropriate.
As written, HB 2977 would increase the state’s TRT tax from 1.5% to 2.5% and dedicate the tax increase to the ‘Recovering Oregon’s Wildlife Fund.’ In addition to opposition submitted by local tourism organization Travel Lane County, it is noted that additional visitor groups are weighing in.
OSCC and Travel Lane County have also submitted their own testimonies opposing HB 3556, which would divert Transient Room Tax (TRT) dollars away from local tourism promotion.
TAX POLICY REFORM
We SUPPORT Oregon Business and Industry (OBI) tax policy agenda to address Corporate Minimum Tax, Tax Return Simplification, and streamlining tax compliance for businesses.
Efficient, transparent: We support regulatory reforms that enhance transparency, reduce bureaucratic delays, and eliminate duplicative processes that hinder business growth.
REGULATORY TRANSPARENCY AND OVERSIGHT
We SUPPORT Oregon Business and Industry’s Regulatory Modernization proposals.
REGULATORY MANDATES
This includes mandates by Executive Order or Legislation on Local Government, Business and Industry.
We OPPOSE unfunded mandates.
Competitive, flexible: We support labor policies that encourage workforce participation, maintain fair employer-employee relationships, and foster economic growth without creating unnecessary costs or administrative burdens on businesses.
UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS FOR STRIKING WORKERS
We OPPOSE the expansion of unemployment benefits for striking workers.
The purpose of SB 916 is to allow unemployment benefits to striking workers, which the Chamber argues to be unfairly burdensome to small businesses while the Unemployment Insurance (UI) system is funded entirely by employers.
→ Read our Letter of Opposition to SB 916
LABOR STANDARDS BOARDS
We are MONITORING the establishment of labor standards boards, which essentially decentralize rule making from the legislature for select industries.
Bills we are watching: HB 2545, HB 2548, HB 3838, SB 1138
We OPPOSE HB 3838, which establishes a Workforce Standards Board with sweeping authority over employment policies in the home and community-based care sector.
→ Read our Letter of Opposition to HB 3838
GENERAL CONTRACTOR LIABILITY
While the Chamber supports efforts to prevent wage theft and ensure fair compensation, we OPPOSE an approach that places undue liability on law-abiding businesses in the construction industry.
Economic Development and Business Advocacy Guiding Principles
The Chamber advocates for business-friendly policy in support of private enterprise, entrepreneurial endeavors, and an economically competitive business climate. These Guiding Principles reflect our commitment to advocacy for our members and with our partners.
The Chamber supports policies and incentives that contribute to our competitive position in private sector job creation, retention, and economic growth and oppose regulatory overreach, legislation, and policies that unnecessarily encumber innovation, negatively impact business, or otherwise diminish economic competitiveness.
The Chamber advocates for adequate funding and responsible spending in education. We support targeted investment and collaborative partnerships that create a strong workforce development system and that contribute to talent attraction, retention, and business growth. We support access to quality and affordable childcare options that enable parents to participate in the workforce.
We support a tax system that stimulates economic growth, avoids a disproportionate tax burden on select sectors of the economy, and provides rules and processes that are transparent. Taxes and regulatory fees should be levied for the purpose of maintaining essential government services with the least detrimental effect on economic vitality.
The Chamber supports initiatives that create a welcoming community attractive to live, work, play, and do business. These include initiatives that address workforce housing needs; local access to quality healthcare; public safety efforts that ensure safe neighborhoods and that build trust between various communities; and the development and preservation of facilities and amenities that improve our region’s quality of place.
The Chamber supports investment in efficient and well-maintained transportation and infrastructure vital to the health of our region’s economy. To support the needs and growth of the region, objectives must foster the movement of consumers, workers, and freight for commerce, a healthy business climate, safe passage and promote economic development.
The Chamber supports policy that creates an adequate supply of commercial and industrial land and eliminates barriers to commercial development and commerce. We support a consistent and reasonable application of federal, state, and local land use laws; and oppose excessive, costly, and duplicative regulatory overreach.
The Chamber supports policies that advance economic sustainability and resiliency; that increase or improve economic opportunity; and that reduce or stabilize economic hardship in our community. We believe that issues surrounding homelessness, mental and behavioral health, energy, environment, and emergency preparedness are best solved when public and private sectors work side by side.
MEMBER ADVOCACY SERVICES
However you choose to engage in advocacy, the Chamber is here for you, giving you a voice and keeping you informed with Roundtable discussions, pulse surveys, action alerts on important policy issues, and written and verbal testimony where it impacts critical business interests. Your Chamber acts as a steward of essential information as well as a direct conduit to your elected officials.
Join the Business Advocacy Mailing List to stay informed and to receive:
- invitations to monthly round table discussions, designed to facilitate healthy dialogue on issues of interest and impact to business and community.
- information on issues of interest to the business community,
- pulse surveys that ensure your business experience and views are known, and
- action alerts on policy issues that need your voice.
Participate in pulse surveys that help inform legislators, policy makers, and chamber leadership about where you stand, what you’re experiencing, and how we can improve policy outcomes.
Reach to our advocacy team with concerns, questions, or requests for advocacy services.
Contact your elected representative and copy chamber staff so we know where you stand.
The Springfield Chamber is a member of state, regional, and national chamber associations that provide government and legislative affairs resources. The Oregon State Chamber of Commerce, Oregon Business and Industry, and the US Chamber of Commerce, are key sources of legislative and policy insight at the state and federal level. We’re also connected with associations that offer specialized industry sector advocacy and will work with staff at these organizations to gain perspective, resources, and, where aligned, may support their position, research, or other efforts. Oregon Restaurant and Lodging Association, Lane Families for Farms and Forests, Oregon Forest Industries Council, and Travel Lane County are examples. We also work with local business associations, chambers of commerce, and government affairs liaisons at public and private entities representing local jurisdictions or businesses.
Springfield Chamber Backs HB3205, Supporting Workforce Recruitment and Retention Strategies for Small Businesses
Springfield Chamber Submits Testimony to Add BSN Degree to Oregon Community Colleges
Providing broader, equitable, quality education and earning opportunities for nursing students in Oregon is a path forward to addressing the shortage of credentialed and qualified nurses and why the Springfield Chamber's workforce development initiative supports SB 523.
Corporate Activities Tax Relief Bill: Springfield Chamber Submits Testimony Supporting Raising The CAT Exemption Threshold
The Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce stands with Oregon’s small businesses who have demonstrated exceptional resiliency under the most extraordinary pressures of inflation, workforce shortages, and rising cost of providing living wages and employee benefits.
Springfield Chamber Endorses Public Safety Ballot Measure 20-327
The Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce supports renewal of the local option levy for Springfield jail and police services and encourages constituents vote "Yes" on Ballot Measure 20-327 in November.
Springfield Chamber Submits Public Testimony Advocating on Behalf of Best and Highest Use of Proposed Room Tax (TRT) Increase
Springfield Chamber Joins Coalition Advocating for Energy Choice
The City of Eugene is considering a ban on natural gas and other fossil fuel infrastructure in newly constructed buildings. Businesses report grave concerns that such policy will limit their ability to operate locally or remain competitive in other markets.
Eugene and Springfield Chambers of Commerce Release Statement Following Business Survey Findings
The City of Eugene is considering a ban on natural gas and other fossil fuel infrastructure in
newly constructed local buildings.
Recognizing the significant impact this could have immediately and in the future for local
businesses, the Eugene and Springfield Chambers of Commerce together developed and
administered a survey of their members to measure business community sentiment on these
issues and the impacts such policies could have on local organizations, jobs, and families.
Springfield Chamber Submits Testimony to Oregon Department of Forestry on Western Oregon Habitat Conservation Plan
I offer this perspective as a supplement to our testimony submitted May 31st, 2022, asking for a more thorough analysis of impacts the Habitat Conservation Plan proposal will have on rural Oregon, and a process more inclusive of local business, industry, and taxing districts. We ask that you consider the ramifications of regulations posed on one sector impact Oregon businesses, families, and communities.
Springfield Chamber Comments on Draft Environmental Impact Statement for Western Oregon State Forest Habitat Conservation Plan
I write to express concerns that the Oregon Department of Forestry’s (ODF) draft Habitat Conservation Plan(HCP) and the associated draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) would increase the environmental and economic harm our communities and forests have faced over the past several decades, all of which were exacerbated by the 2020 Labor Day Wildfires from which we are still struggling to recover. We hope a better path forward can be found and we are reliant on your leadership to enable this.
Springfield Chamber Comments on Main Street Safety Project
Investing in road infrastructure, commuter and public safety, and quality of place enhancements has its merits, but should not come at the expense of small and medium-sized enterprises, the foundation of our economic strength, resilience, and opportunity.
Springfield and Eugene Chambers Issue Joint Statement to Eugene City Council on Potential New Construction Natural Gas Limitations
The IPCC is clear, our global climate is warming and as a country and society we must take action to slow the impacts of climate change. Locally, we implore you to consider and implement policies that will reduce greenhouse gas emissions in a way that does not compromise the delicate ecosystem on which we’ve built our society – a local economy that provides jobs which pay for housing, food, clothing, and other necessities; a local economy that funds the infrastructure we rely on such as public education, roads, sewers, and even climate policy implementation.
Springfield Chamber Submits Testimony on Oregon Redistricting
Appeal for reasonable revisions to OR-OSHA COVID-19 Permanent Standard Draft Rules
OR-OSHA should be providing workers and local businesses with certainty, not layering new regulations on local employers nearly 14 months into the pandemic that pose barriers to already challenging economic recovery efforts.
Coalition Letter Urging Extension of PPP Deadline
March 3, 2021
The Springfield Area Chamber joins 12 Oregon chambers of commerce in support of letter to congress urging extension of the Paycheck Protection Program deadline.
ILR Leads Letter Urging Congress to Pass COVID-19 Liability Protections
February 1, 2021
The Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce signed on to the Institute for Legal Reform's letter to Congress urging members to consider targeted and temporary liability protections in the next COVID relief package.
Appeal for Small Business Remedy and Relief
12/15/20
The Springfield Chambers wrote a letter to Governor Kate Brown and Lane County representatives to the Oregon legislature to recognize the critical role small business plays in sustaining our state’s economy and to prioritize substantial remedies for small business employers.
Chamber Calls for City Council's Focus on Business Recovery
9/4/20
