Your monthly round-up of news, policy updates and more from the OBI team. |
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Delta Variant Threatens Oregon Recovery |
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On Friday, Aug. 20, OBI hosted more than 250 people for a briefing from officials at Oregon Health & Science University and the Oregon Association of Hospitals & Health Systems on the state of the Delta virus in Oregon.
Please watch a recording of the webinar here.
Speakers provided a sobering update on the situation in Oregon hospitals, which were described as “in crisis” and in danger of collapse if trends continue. Hospitalizations – including patients on ventilators – are the highest they have been throughout the pandemic, and the vast majority of hospitalized COVID patients are unvaccinated.
On Aug. 13, Gov. Brown instituted a statewide mask mandate in an effort to stop the rapid spread of the Delta variant. Speakers at the OBI webinar said it is too early to see if hoped for results of that order are being realized.
If you have not received a vaccine yet, click here for information about how to get one. OBI member Stoel Rives recently published a blog outlining what employers should think about if they are considering mandating vaccinations.
Additionally, the Expanded Vaccine Tax Credit (EVTC) program is still available for employers with fewer than 500 employees. Employers can get fully refundable tax credits for: 1) employee time-off due to COVID vaccinations and/or recovery care; and 2) for employee time off to care for a family member’s vaccination and/or recovery care. For 1), an employer can get tax credit for up to 80 hours of time per employee, a maximum of $500/day up to a total of $5,000 per employee. For 2) an employer can get credit for up to two-thirds of an employee’s wage/salary, maximum of $200/day up to of $12,000 total per employee. For same employee, employer can qualify for both 1) and 2).
This is an expansion of the previous credit that applied to employers with employees who missed work because of COVID-19 or COVID-19 symptoms. Even if an employee lost time in 2020 or early 2021, and the employer took credit, the credit reset on April 1, 2021, to the new totals which expire on Sept. 30, 2021. You can get more information here.
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Rules Round-up: Masks, Heat & Smoke |
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Oregon OSHA has published a series of rules in the past month with significant impacts to Oregon businesses. OBI has alerted our members each time a new rule was published, but in case you missed it, here’s a quick round-up that might be helpful for your workplace.
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Mask Mandate: Effective Aug. 13, masks are now required in all indoor public settings due to the rapid rise of the Delta variant across Oregon. Modeling has shown that if at least 80% of Oregonians wear a mask, hospitalization will decrease by half, which will alleviate the current crisis. Find the OSHA rules, including signage and penalty information, here.
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Excessive Heat: Effective Aug. 9, new requirements around labor housing and workplace regulations during excessive heat are in effect. Employers have obligations to ensure the safety of their employees working outside including providing more frequent rest breaks, shade and water. Find the rules here.
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Wildfire Smoke: Effective Aug. 9, employers are now required to put administrative controls in place and provide respirators (N95 masks) to employees when temperatures reach dangerous levels. When AQI exceeds 500, employees who will be exposed to hazardous air must wear respiratory protection. OSHA has worked with several partners to distribute masks. Learn more here.
OBI is in constant communication with Oregon OSHA, advocating for fair and common-sense regulations that businesses can easily implement. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us via email.
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Senate Passes Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill |
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In good news, the U.S. Senate passed a bipartisan legislative package that will invest resources in improving America’s roads, bridges, waterways and electrical grid. This was a top federal priority for OBI as well as our partners at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. Most importantly, the $1.5 trillion package will pay for these much-needed investments without raising taxes on Oregon businesses.
Read more here. The bill now heads to the House of Representatives, and its path forward is uncertain. OBI will continue to advocate with our congressional delegation about the importance of passing the bill.
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Mark Your Calendar: Redistricting Public Hearings Moving to Virtual Format |
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Due to the recent rise in COVID cases, the statewide redistricting tour planned for September is moving to a virtual format. Members of the public are invited to participate during one of the following virtual public hearings to provide feedback on the draft maps created by the House and Senate Interim Redistricting Committees.
These maps will be available starting on Sept. 3. More information on how to sign up to give testimony will be coming soon. In the meantime, start preparing your testimony with these talking points from OBI.
Public Hearings for Residents of Congressional District 1:
- Wednesday, Sept. 8 at 8:00 a.m.
- Thursday, Sept. 9 at 5:30 p.m.
Public Hearings for Residents of Congressional District 2:
- Wednesday, Sept. 8 at 1:00 p.m.
- Friday, Sept. 10 at 8:00 p.m.
Public Hearings for Residents of Congressional District 3:
- Wednesday, Sept. 8 at 5:30 p.m.
- Friday, Sept. 10 at 1:00 p.m.
Public Hearings for Residents of Congressional District 4:
- Thursday, Sept. 9 at 8:00 a.m.
- Friday, Sept. 10 at 5:30 p.m.
Public Hearings for Residents of Congressional District 5:
- Thursday, Sept. 9 at 1:00 p.m.
- Monday, Sept. 13 at 8:00 p.m.
Public Hearings for Residents of Any Congressional District
- Monday, Sept. 13 at 1:00 p.m.
- Monday, Sept. 13 at 5:30 p.m.
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SBA Announces Opening of Paycheck Protection Program Direct Forgiveness Portal |
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As of Aug. 4, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) launched a streamlined application portal to allow borrowers with Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans $150,000 or less through participating lenders to apply for forgiveness directly through the SBA. The new portal will allow more than 6.5 million small businesses across the country to begin receiving relief.
Check out the portal here. In addition to the new technology, the SBA has established a customer service team to answer questions and directly assist borrowers with their forgiveness applications. Call (877) 552-2692.
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New Law Allows Fiscal Year Filing for CAT |
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After strong advocacy from OBI and our partners, Oregon businesses subject to the Corporate Activity Tax (CAT) will be allowed to file fiscal-year returns beginning with the 2021 tax year – thanks to the passage of SB 164, which goes into effect Sept. 25.
The legislation adds a fiscal-year filing option for CAT taxpayers who use a fiscal tax year rather than the calendar year for federal tax purposes. For a fiscal tax year ending during 2021, the measure requires taxpayers to file a short-year CAT return covering Jan. 1, 2021, through the end of their fiscal tax year. Those short year returns are due by April 15, 2022.
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DEQ Releases Climate Protection Program Rules |
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The Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) issued its proposed Climate Protection Program (CPP) in early August. Formerly known as “Cap and Reduce,” the CPP is a large and complex regulatory program that has been in development since January and is the central feature of Gov. Brown’s executive order to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in Oregon by 80% by 2050.
The program regulates the natural gas and transportation sectors, which will add significant cost to fuel prices, increase the cost of doing business and raise the price of consumer goods. Extremely concerning is that the structure of the program does not prioritize reducing greenhouse gas emissions, which raises the question of whether it will raise costs for Oregonians but still not achieve the goals in the governor’s executive order.
OBI staff and our policy committees are working to review the rule, quantify the economic impacts and formulate a response. We will be providing message points to our membership that can be submitted to DEQ before the end of the public comment period Oct. 4. Contact Sharla Moffett if you are interested in more information on the rulemaking.
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City of Portland Moving Forward on New Emissions Tax |
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OBI is working with our members and partners in the City of Portland to address a proposal from the Bureau of Planning and Sustainability that would tax businesses for emissions they produce. The proposed emissions tax would be the first of its kind in the country and would narrowly target large manufacturing businesses. A proposal earlier this year was put on hold after questions were raised, but conversations have resumed, and city leaders appear prepared to move forward with a plan.
The tentative new proposal, which would force industrial businesses to undergo an emissions audit in preparation for a new tax, would cost $17.70 per ton (previous proposals had this tax at $25 per ton). Some of the revenue would be returned to impacted businesses to invest in emissions reductions.
We expect the formal proposal to be released in September, followed by a two-month public comment period. OBI is working with the Portland Business Alliance and several of our members in the city on how we will respond to the proposal. If you have any questions about the proposal or how it may impact your business, reach out to Sharla Moffett via email.
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USDA Invests $15 Million in Klamath River Basin |
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The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is investing a $15 million block grant in a new drought pilot program to assist agricultural producers in Oregon’s Klamath River Basin, which is experiencing severe record-breaking drought. The announcement, made Aug. 2, came as the department Secretary Tom Vilsack traveled throughout Oregon meeting with industry leaders.
The grant to the Klamath Drought Response Agency (Klamath DRA) will provide payments to producers to reduce irrigation demand. This will assist in allowing the limited supply of water to be used for other practices that are vital to the region’s food supply and to reduce adverse impacts to producers in the region and supply and distribution chains. Producers will apply for funding through the Klamath DRA. Learn more here.
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Oregon Business & Industry
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Salem, OR 97301
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