Last week the Legislature convened for Fall Legislative Days to receive updates from Department leadership, stakeholders and legislative staff on policy issues likely to be heard in 2025. Revenue committees also heard updated revenue projections from the September...
by Katy Brooks, CEO & President, Bend Chamber We are used to bootstrapping it on the east side of the Cascades, as evidenced in our transformation from a mill town to one of the highest-employment-per capita regions in the state. It took all of us working together...
By Katy Brooks, CEO, Bend Chamber Article first appeared in The Bulletin on January 23, 2024Although the 2024 legislative session will be a short 35 days, there is important work to be done. In legislative work leading up to this year’s session, it appears much of the...
Interested Oregonians can apply for over 130 open positions on 12 new boards and commissions Governor Tina Kotek announced that the state is accepting applications for positions on the state boards and commissions that were created in the 2023 legislative...
The House and Senate spent the last week of the regular session clearing a backlog of hundreds of bills, including those that would fund state agencies and the 2023-25 budget. Overall, Bend Chamber’s legislative priorities fared well in the 2023 session.
Earlier this week, lawmakers received the quarterly revenue forecast from state economists. This forecast is particularly meaningful as it provides the revenue assumptions for the 2023-25 biennium state budget.
Housing continues to be a hot topic both in Salem at the State House and in City Council chambers. As the days in this year’s legislative session begin to count down, State leaders are debating new and innovative policies to reduce barriers to building as well as...
–The Legislature has hit the halfway mark and several important deadlines have come and gone. Notably, the April 4th deadline for bills to pass through their first Chamber committee of reference (or be referred to Rules or Revenue Committees). Roughly half of the...
The Bend City Council’s biannual goal-setting process is well underway, and the Bend Chamber has actively engaged in educating Councilors about the business community’s priorities. The Chamber advocated for two specific priority areas in the goal-setting process earlier in the year.
The annual legislative session in Salem was anything but ordinary this year, as lawmakers gathered for the 160 day long session lasting from January through mid June. From the start, the session was unique as the Capitol building was closed to the public and all...
The 2021 legislative session was characterized by Zoom meetings, COVID-19 restrictions and disruptions. It was surprisingly productive, however. In a normal year, the legislative process is not one for the faint of heart, as over 3,500 bills are introduced in a long session addressing a vast range of issues.
As of May 17, all five counties had vaccinated over 65% of residents 16 or older with at least one dose. All five counties have also submitted equity plans to OHA.
The Oregon Department of Revenue and the Corporate Activity Tax team have provided a list of important dates to be aware of, which are listed below. CAT forms are now available on the Revenue website.
By Krista M. Middleton, CFP® Leadership Bend Class of 2020 The Bend Chamber had many talking points to raise awareness for at the Capitol on February 19, 2020, on behalf of our ever growing and beautiful city. And as one advisor pointed out, they seem to come full...
BY: Sara Odendahl // Bend Chamber Government Affairs Earlier this week Chamber members made the trek over to the State Capitol in Salem for the annual Day at the Capitol event. The group included Board members, Bend YP members, Leadership Bend alumni and others...
