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!

2024 BUSINESS CLIMATE REVIEW

The Chamber's survey of over 800 members aimed to understand the overall perception and experience of doing business in the region, identify business challenges, and uncover opportunities to leverage Springfield's competitive advantages.

view the 2024 business climate survey here

Springfield Chamber 2025 State Legislative Policy Agenda

WHO

HOW

WHAT'S NEXT

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.

ENVIRONMENTAL POLICIES

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.

INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENT

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.

→ Read our Letter of Opposition for HB 3062

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.

BUSINESS ECOSYSTEM

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.

TAX ENVIRONMENT

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.

REGULATORY PROCESSES

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.

WORKFORCE ENVIRONMENT

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.

→ Read our Letter of Opposition to SB 426

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.

Economic Competitiveness

Workforce Readiness

Taxation

Quality of Life

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.

Transportation and Infrastructure

Land Use

Community Resiliency

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.

Stay Informed, Stay Engaged

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.

Industry Associations, Government Affairs Collaboration

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.