As we move into the final days of the 2025 Oregon Legislative Session, decisions made in Salem are poised to leave a lasting imprint on McMinnville’s economy, public services, and overall quality of life. With most committees now closed, only Rules, Revenue, and Ways & Means remain active—working swiftly to finalize budget decisions and determine the outcome of major policy proposals.

What happens in these final weeks will determine how the state invests in workforce development, funds transportation infrastructure, supports (or undermines) tourism and small businesses, and manages the balance between employer needs and regulatory change.

Your Chamber has been on the front lines throughout this session—advocating for our members, testifying before committees, collaborating with statewide coalitions, and ensuring that McMinnville’s voice is heard loud and clear. Whether fighting for a transformational education bond, opposing legislation that would drain tourism revenue, or seeking clarity and fairness in clean energy transitions, our focus is simple: support what builds opportunity, and push back on what imposes unnecessary burdens.

This report provides a detailed summary of the top bills we’ve tracked, supported, or opposed—along with what has passed, what has stalled, and what still needs your voice.

SUMMARY

Chemeketa Community College Bond Measure

Chamber Position: Strongly Support

Outcome: PASSED – 53.4% overall; 55.02% in Yamhill County

This generational $140 million bond renewal—approved without raising existing tax rates—represents a landmark investment in the future of our region’s workforce. It will expand and modernize Chemeketa’s Career & Technical Education (CTE) programs, ensuring that students across Yamhill County and the broader Mid-Willamette Valley have access to high-quality, hands-on training in growing fields. From state-of-the-art health sciences labs that prepare students for careers in nursing, dental hygiene, and allied health, to skilled trades training centers focused on manufacturing, welding, and construction, and expanded early childhood education programs that serve both workforce parents and future educators—this bond will reshape the career landscape for a generation.

By aligning education with the real needs of local employers, this investment ensures that businesses in McMinnville and beyond will benefit from a steady, homegrown pipeline of well-trained, job-ready talent—reducing hiring gaps, enhancing economic resilience, and creating opportunities for upward mobility in our own community.

HB 3643 – Oregon Youth Suicide Awareness Day

Chamber Position: Strongly Support

Outcome: PASSED – Signed by the Governor

This deeply meaningful legislation was inspired by the life and legacy of Mikalynn Morris, a beloved McMinnville High School student whose memory continues to inspire action, healing, and advocacy in our community. HB 3643 designates October 9 as Oregon Youth Suicide Awareness Day, creating an annual statewide observance focused on suicide prevention, mental health awareness, and community engagement.

The new law encourages schools, nonprofits, local governments, and businesses to partner in hosting events, sharing resources, and building education campaigns that reduce stigma and connect youth with lifesaving support services. It will foster a culture where struggling teens feel seen, heard, and supported—and where families, educators, and peers are better equipped to recognize warning signs and intervene early.

Youth suicide is one of the leading causes of death among young people in Oregon. This legislation is a reminder that behind every statistic is a name, a face, a family—and a community that can make a difference.

We are proud to stand with Mikalynn’s family, her friends, and the entire McMinnville community in honoring her story by supporting this powerful and practical step toward building a more compassionate, proactive, and connected approach to youth mental health statewide.

Advanced Clean Trucks Rule – Implementation Delay

Chamber Position: Support measured delay

Outcome: SUCCESS via regulatory adjustment

Thanks to sustained advocacy from the Chamber and business coalitions across the state, the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) has agreed to adjust the implementation timeline of the Advanced Clean Trucks (ACT) Rule—a state mandate requiring increasing percentages of new medium- and heavy-duty truck sales to be zero-emission vehicles starting in 2025.

While the Chamber supports Oregon’s long-term climate goals, we recognize that the original rule was moving faster than the market could realistically support, especially for small and mid-sized businesses in rural areas. Truck manufacturers and commercial fleets alike raised red flags about equipment availability, cost barriers, and infrastructure challenges—concerns echoed by our members in transportation, agriculture, and logistics.

Rather than push forward with unrealistic mandates that could disrupt supply chains, limit fleet availability, and drive up business costs, DEQ’s decision to modify its rulemaking process reflects a more balanced, business-informed approach. The updated timeline will give Oregon employers—especially those in rural communities like McMinnville and throughout Yamhill County—more time to plan fleet transitions, invest in charging infrastructure, and adapt to evolving technologies.

This is a meaningful win for local flexibility, regulatory reasonableness, and Oregon’s broader economic resilience. The Chamber will continue monitoring DEQ’s rulemaking and advocating for implementation pathways that are technologically feasible, economically sound, and environmentally responsible.

HB 2025 – 2025 Transportation Package

Chamber Position: Support – with funding concerns

The long-sought Newberg-Dundee Bypass remains well positioned in this statewide transportation package. If funded, it would dramatically improve freight mobility, ease commuter congestion, and enhance safety throughout Yamhill County and the entire Hwy 99W corridor. However, the current funding structure is raising alarms.

Democratic leadership unveiled the $1 billion per year package last week. It includes a complex mix of new and increased taxes that would fall heavily on Oregon’s drivers, businesses, and working families—especially in rural communities like ours. The package currently lacks bipartisan support, and it’s unclear if leadership has the votes to pass it without significant revisions.

Adding to the uncertainty, a citizen referendum effort led by former Senator Brian Boquist—“No Gas Hikes”—has raised over $200,000 to refer the package to voters if it passes.

We continue to support the infrastructure goals of the package—but not at the cost of placing an unfair burden on rural residents and small businesses. We are advocating for smarter, more equitable revenue strategies and clear accountability metrics for funded projects.

SB 5531 – Alpine Avenue & Hwy 18 Improvements

Chamber Position: Support

Outcome: DID NOT ADVANCE

This bill would have invested in two vital McMinnville infrastructure efforts:

Alpine Avenue improvements between 11th and 14th Streets (including sidewalks, bike lanes, and safety upgrades).

The design phase for Hwy 18 frontage improvements around Norton and Cumulus.

Unfortunately, SB 5531 did not make it into the final capital construction package. While this is disappointing, our work doesn’t stop here. We will continue advocating for these projects through other avenues, including federal grants, regional partnerships, and future legislative sessions.

HB 3870 – McMinnville Ambulance Station Funding

Chamber Position: Support

Outcome: DIED in Committee

HB 3870 would have funded a new ambulance station in northwest McMinnville—reducing response times by up to five minutes and improving emergency preparedness as our city continues to grow.

Though it failed to advance this session, this project remains a top priority for local public safety. The Chamber will continue to support the City and our emergency services in identifying new funding options.

SB 916 – Unemployment Benefits for Striking Workers

Chamber Position: Oppose

Outcome: PASSED – Scaled back to 10 weeks

It was a turbulent final stretch for this controversial bill. SB 916, which allows striking workers to access unemployment benefits, ultimately passed and is now headed to the Governor’s desk. However, the version that passed is significantly scaled back from earlier drafts, thanks to persistent opposition from the Oregon Business & Industry (OBI) coalition and concerned chambers and employers across the state.

Key Provisions of the Final Bill:

  • 10-week cap on unemployment benefits for striking workers.
  • If state unemployment is at recessionary levels, benefits are further capped at 8 weeks.
  • Earlier versions would have provided up to 26 weeks—matching full UI benefits for workers laid off through no fault of their own.

The Chamber continues to oppose this policy on principle. Using UI trust funds to subsidize labor disputes is poor public policy and represents a misuse of funds designed to protect workers during involuntary job loss. While we are relieved the final version is more measured, it still introduces a troubling precedent.

HB 3838 – Workforce Standards Board for Home & Community-Based Services

Chamber Position: Oppose

Status: Still alive – awaiting vote in House Rules Committee

This bill would establish a board to set wage and working condition standards for home care providers. While raising compensation for caregivers is a shared goal, HB 3838 lacks a sustainable funding source and could result in unfunded mandates for providers already navigating workforce shortages.

We urge legislators to adopt practical, collaborative solutions that uplift this vital sector without destabilizing the service system.

HB 3962 – Transient Lodging Tax (TLT) Reallocation

Chamber Position: Oppose

Status: Passed House Revenue Committee – House floor vote expected this week

This bill continues to move forward and poses a serious threat to McMinnville’s tourism economy.

As amended, HB 3962 would reduce the required percentage of local TLT revenues spent on tourism promotion and tourism-related facilities from 70% to 40%. This would affect all local lodging taxes passed after 2003.

While less extreme than previous iterations (some of which stripped all tourism allocations), the Oregon State Chamber, OBI, ORLA, and numerous local tourism groups remain strongly opposed.

Why It Matters:

  • Tourism is one of the few dedicated economic development revenue streams in Oregon.
  • TLT investments have fueled year-round jobs, event infrastructure, and visitor spending in rural and urban communities alike.
  • McMinnville depends on a strong tourism economy, anchored by 3rd Street, local lodging, wineries, food tourism, and attractions like Evergreen Aviation & Space Museum.

The process surrounding HB 3962 has also drawn criticism. The bill emerged late in session through a legislative maneuver (“gut and stuff”) that bypassed meaningful input from the very industries the tax funds are supposed to support.

What’s Next—And How You Can Help

We are in the final stretch. Here’s how Chamber members can engage:

  • Speak Up: If your business is affected by any of these bills, tell your story. Personal experiences make all the difference in advocacy.
  • Make Contact: Reach out to your legislators—especially on HB 3962 and HB 3838. Let them know these bills impact our local economy.
  • Stay Involved: Join a Chamber committee, help host a site tour, or attend one of our economic vitality roundtables.

With only days remaining in the 2025 session, this is the time when fast-moving negotiations can shape outcomes—sometimes without proper vetting or public input. That’s why your Chamber remains vigilant: following amendments in real time, calling out backroom deals, and working with partners across the state to uphold fair, transparent, and thoughtful policymaking.

But we can’t do it alone.

We need your engagement—whether that’s making a phone call, writing a personal email, offering testimony, or simply sharing how a bill will affect your business or industry. These stories don’t just inform—they persuade. They turn abstract policy into real-world impact, and they give legislators a reason to think twice.

The McMinnville Area Chamber of Commerce is proud to stand with you as your advocate, connector, and voice for business. Together, we are shaping a resilient, opportunity-driven McMinnville—one where policy aligns with possibility, and prosperity is built from the ground up.

Thank you for continued trust and participation.

Onward,

John Olson

President/CEO