[{"_1":2,"_112":-5,"_113":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6349263,"mediaKeyId","2239109-8d982f143810f0547cc68ee10de5e7e1","parentId",2239109,"title","Liquor agents ask to be classified as licensees in HB 2121 to standardize enforcement","audioSeconds",1078,"startMs",1535750,"endMs",2614330,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2239109-8d982f143810f0547cc68ee10de5e7e1&start=1535&end=2614","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2239109-8d982f143810f0547cc68ee10de5e7e1/thumbnail_1535750.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6349263/Oregon/Liquor-agents-ask-to-be-classified-as-licensees-in-HB-2121-to-standardize-enforcement","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6349263-f1585e71428c49dc45652be88f07e087/orig.mp4?Expires=1777244175&Signature=Gyl9U5KVDOKFW~s2K1CTKFG6aVxHxjNTVpcMVW-DINTsmap10FEyQ94BZdSeYo6WKRI5HsUJTYM5I5OpXX53wOUWgbqSR2Q41NkZgTFXCu5A8STm1EyOcBV1h3tK6BfuJ3XdU-wF9xDZT9ssDYMbhVNwJI6pqJ6qtYUPT7xCDzBpjhZVQ0eEcZPbwSDGrx7XasA5QPr1MIbQkYZMAKmpguPCDdT8NMxW3UyMw9iGvRYZxsW8aF3U456JmHUxeyDnyX0BQXQURaimFv8GdAl1YABhUE164HOCPjJnnF3s82A76UHUTK2NJUcSPN3QaNg9Y7TjJZQPZcDP88vqqEr50A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","State of Oregon","date","2025-02-05T00:00:00Z","article","Owners of Oregon contract liquor stores testified Feb. 5 that House Bill 2121 should reclassify liquor agents as \"licensees\" to ensure consistent enforcement and compliance treatment under Oregon law.

Oliver Coker, president of the Associated Liquor Stores of Oregon, told the committee that liquor agents operate under contract with the Oregon Liquor and Cannabis Commission and must follow the Retail Operations Manual (ROM), but the current status produces \"gray area\" for enforcement when stores also sell beer and wine. Coker said that in recent instances OLCC enforcement officers conducted visits at closing time, sought employment records, or otherwise acted in ways liquor agents found unprecedented.

Coker summarized the bill’s purpose: \"House Bill 2,121 aims to level the playing field by classifying liquor agents as licensees, ensuring consistent treatment across all entities that sell alcoholic beverages.\" He emphasized that agents are not seeking a separate or duplicate license but rather statutory clarity so inspectors and enforcement processes match those applied to off-premise licensees.

Committee members pressed witnesses on intended effects and potential unintended consequences, including whether classification as licensees would conflict with existing contractual obligations to OLCC. Witnesses said the bill is intended to be a wording clarification for compliance and guidance, not to eliminate contract obligations. Representatives asked whether rulemaking and renewed training for inspectors might address concerns without legislative change; witnesses said they would welcome cooperative rulemaking and training if it delivered consistent enforcement and reasonable penalties.

Craig Prins, executive director of the Oregon Liquor and Cannabis Commission, answered committee questions. He provided a compliance statistic: OLCC’s compliance rate for liquor stores was 68% in 2024, and he said cannabis retailers have a higher compliance rate (about 90% in the period cited). Prins said OLCC has been working to raise compliance and that training and enforcement practices are part of that work.

No formal committee action was recorded on HB 2121 during the public hearing; members suggested additional discussions with OLCC and stakeholders to refine whether the issue could be addressed by rule changes, training, or statute.

Why it matters: Witnesses said contract liquor agents face different penalties and risk (including potential jeopardy to their contract) compared with other licensees for the same infractions, and they asked for statutory clarity to avoid disparate enforcement outcomes.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","House Committee On Economic Development, Small Business, and Trade Feb 5, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Liquor store owners told the House committee that HB 2121 would clarify that contract liquor agents are \"licensees\" so enforcement, inspections and penalties are consistent with other sellers of alcoholic beverages.","taxTitle","Economic Development and Small Business, House of Representatives, Committees, Legislative, Oregon","taxId",17512,"location","Oregon","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6349267,"Liquor agents urge rollback of CPI adjustment to store classifications in HB 2120",1364,167910,1532770,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2239109-8d982f143810f0547cc68ee10de5e7e1&start=167&end=1532","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2239109-8d982f143810f0547cc68ee10de5e7e1/thumbnail_167910.jpg","/articles/6349267/Oregon/Liquor-agents-urge-rollback-of-CPI-adjustment-to-store-classifications-in-HB-2120","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6349267-25d2af99fcda7f6cc70a11ff3ce649e5/orig.mp4?Expires=1777244175&Signature=NloVDnc4gmoVFxA9VlYZZVBtXodgmBmNh7iV2xr2hqyT90umXRkOTOaEX7KQDLTYJqgQ9K07wF63KlBZqGkNm~9cFUZ8vmLxVCAzTBF1OW1lfB~gqXqTlbAVQbkRXHQzbxwDnAPxz91S6UsHH4Vn0-OCox4eToToGuAxW4~GHGb0369ZmAhLoEqhNtWa3wG5D9sXii-EOMQGvXrYs3MMlyQvQ0nAdeWd4bgXTwT4QZTwoLKDO7azwVQdl6LcBFXhOAUHgGv9ttfHY1Xw6vBnEiv-hRk9Tcn5IKseQISWgT0PEg9NHO87puqF3rcxDibrbUUtY3LWW6Xm8Z8Z~Ikz9Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Representatives of the Associated Liquor Stores of Oregon testified Feb. 5 in favor of House Bill 2120, asking the Legislature to remove the Consumer Price Index (CPI) adjustment from store classification thresholds so CPI affects only the small monthly base payment rather than a store’s classification.

Marshall Koba, representing the Associated Liquor Stores of Oregon, said the control-state system \"is working well for every sector of the distilled liquor industry, and we look forward to the continuation of this highly efficient and effective system.\" He described owners as independent small-business operators who rely on the state warehouse and commission structure to support operations.

Oliver Coker, president of the Associated Liquor Stores of Oregon and a retail owner, told the committee that \"Our sales commissions of 9.02% must cover payroll, taxes, maintenance, theft charges, and various other business costs.\" He said the commission-based portion of compensation is not adjusted by CPI and that applying CPI to store-class thresholds has reduced some stores’ classified levels even when sales remained steady.

Testimony and examples presented by store owners argued the CPI’s application to store-class thresholds produced unintended downgrades: one example described a retailer dropping a class because a CPI-adjusted threshold rose above the store’s unchanged sales level, producing an estimated monthly base compensation loss in the written example. Witnesses said their analysis showed 35 stores were affected in 2023, and they estimated a cumulative impact in 2023 of about $392,000 across those stores (figures provided by witnesses; committee staff said data could be provided to members on request).

Committee members asked whether alternative indexing methods could be used and whether removing CPI from class thresholds would create a windfall if retail prices rose sharply; witnesses responded the change would keep classifications fixed while CPI would continue to apply to the small base payment only.

No formal action was taken; the committee held a public hearing to receive testimony and questions. Committee members asked to receive additional data from OLCC and the witnesses to better understand retail pricing history and the magnitude of the effect described by agents.

Why it matters: Witnesses said the CPI adjustment to store classifications can reduce monthly compensation for some contracted liquor agents even when their sales are stable, which they said impairs small-business budgeting and operations.","Owners and representatives of Oregon contract liquor stores told the House Committee on Economic Development, Small Business and Trade that HB 2120 would prevent CPI adjustments from changing store classification thresholds, which they say has lowered compensation for some stores despite steady sales.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6349271,"Committee forwards HB 2348 to House floor after work session",149,36749,186420,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2239109-8d982f143810f0547cc68ee10de5e7e1&start=36&end=186","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2239109-8d982f143810f0547cc68ee10de5e7e1/thumbnail_36749.jpg","/articles/6349271/Oregon/Committee-forwards-HB-2348-to-House-floor-after-work-session","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6349271-5ae34826af26387830c65725dcdb20e9/orig.mp4?Expires=1777244175&Signature=Jkh~-DnFa3H-au3q~NA5NKb42dlYiqPmuXcx-johGfWEHQhc2mVgXna~zXtcY2k8Bgo9Vyk6kZPQKOHx3215JoVgbaZfHTpgmBNrRqAND8vE6zVe5VZVXvZhlnvkpes92AWSwF3Eg66o5y61ZuGWdJFyt1cq-luu~kOevhPyfffGRASr~wTPhNDJ-ASlfFv58HJ84s9i4SUlcj1MHfzUjifpu8XwZMhD1bVQnQKg9TQmDc8dtUGLOmDlR3zoBlABQ-1lHiuUEbMOxYWQ68UDWZGH4PMP2MNQgyCAeKOAX05hYU~MsjerAdxFOs09DEtLHRBWzqZjApzr0i-TmK9uDw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The House Committee on Economic Development, Small Business and Trade moved House Bill 2348 to the House floor with a \"do pass\" recommendation following a brief work session on Feb. 5.

Committee staff summarized HB 2348 as making administrative changes to statutory programs administered by the Oregon Business Development Department, including updates to requirements for the Oregon Growth Board, clarification of the department's responsibility for enforcement of deed restrictions, adjustments to definitions, changes to uses of the Oregon Port Revolving Fund, and modifications to grant requirements and eligible applicant definitions for certain programs. Committee staff said the measure \"takes effect on the 91st day following adjournment sine die and there is no fiscal impact, no revenue impact, and no amendments.\" (summary read by committee staff).

Vice Chair Bridal moved the bill to the floor with a \"do pass\" recommendation and the clerk called the roll. The transcript records members answering \"Aye,\" and explicitly records Vice Chair Deo and Vice Chair Wittenberg saying \"Yes/Aye.\" The motion passed. The committee assigned Brittney Sotto to carry the bill on the House floor.

No opposition or fiscal concerns were recorded during the public work session. The committee chair closed the work session and proceeded to public hearings on other bills on the agenda.

Why it matters: HB 2348 primarily makes administrative, statutory clarifications and technical updates across several economic development programs overseen by the Oregon Business Development Department. Committee staff reported no fiscal or revenue impact in the summary presented to members.

What’s next: With a due-pass recommendation the bill will be scheduled for consideration on the House floor; the committee assigned a member to carry the bill forward.","The House Committee on Economic Development, Small Business and Trade voted to send House Bill 2348 to the House floor with a \"do pass\" recommendation after a short work session. The bill makes administrative changes to programs administered by the Oregon Business Development Department and was reported to have no fiscal or revenue impact.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6349259,"Liquor agents push for stronger business-loss compensation in HB 2123, cite privatization risk",2069,2779530,4848605,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2239109-8d982f143810f0547cc68ee10de5e7e1&start=2779&end=4848","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2239109-8d982f143810f0547cc68ee10de5e7e1/thumbnail_2779530.jpg","/articles/6349259/Oregon/Liquor-agents-push-for-stronger-business-loss-compensation-in-HB-2123-cite-privatization-risk","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6349259-582993781ab02fde6f20501f476a9c20/orig.mp4?Expires=1777244175&Signature=ETeCSxKWy1sdbvjorIxTpspro-bjaEgIRlDkcQUbS1jgQ3WLI8uMAelEj4-3HxO8JygziTMkV1knBZJSrXlvxpmrOIovNtQFkVhQUPMWJlK-8sNeaVTfY8pRIw7UL8tQ7T8zvDYyoaQYcMqVaIp4-5AXmnOVtLeRUN~M6YV6DIt-qCbndEk4u-Tpi~ujs4DbmQb-a-ZeP8MSfi15BIlUGQl7QMwwl0mGpUxDUz6l~VfXIiB19b4L3ia4BzP7aJ-jqy5BZ-5-wOh4llab2HztU8Oz~EG0ZEpkmasgtL7h0dH~uOZCZEXv-19xupBQeSdARakj618ebKAzSfoNpAorzg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Owners and representatives of Oregon state-contracted liquor stores urged support Feb. 5 for House Bill 2123, which changes how business-loss compensation would be calculated if the state's control system were altered.

Committee staff summarized HB 2123 as directing the Oregon Liquor and Cannabis Commission (OLCC) to determine a formula for calculating compensation for stores that have operated at least five years and changing the compensation for stores that have operated less than five years from 4% to 10% of average annual gross distilled-liquor sales in the five years preceding the change. Staff said the change would apply only if there is a change to the state’s current system for selling distilled spirits, and the bill declares an emergency effective on passage.

Oliver Coker and Salim Noorani, leaders of the Associated Liquor Stores of Oregon and longtime agents, framed the measure as a protection should privatization occur. Noorani said, \"This bill would only and only go into effect if there was a change in the current system of retailing in Oregon,\" and witnesses emphasized they do not support privatization but want an insurance mechanism to protect owners' investments if privatization were enacted.

Witnesses told the committee that many stores have modernized since earlier statutes and that non-liquor sales now account for an average of about 25% of overall store sales; they urged a valuation process that recognizes market value instead of measuring compensation solely by distilled-liquor sales. Owners described scenarios where appraisals were used by incoming buyers and noted cases where prior policy discussions and OLCC rulemaking on market value were not completed as expected.

Multiple store owners testified that the absence of a market-based valuation for buyouts can leave retiring agents without compensation reflecting their investment in non-liquor inventory, fixtures and customer goodwill. Several witnesses said they had expected OLCC to finalize market-value rule changes in late 2024 but that process had not concluded; one testifier said that two recently sold stores captured market prices while others remained uncertain.

No committee vote was recorded on HB 2123 in the transcript excerpt. Members asked questions about whether the bill is intended to block privatization (witnesses said they do not want privatization) and about the basis for the 10% figure; witnesses described the bill as a contingency for an unlikely but consequential policy change.

Why it matters: Owners described the bill as protecting long-term investments and retirement assets for small-business operators who contract with OLCC in a state control system that could be materially altered by future policy changes.","Owners of Oregon contract liquor stores testified in support of House Bill 2123, which would change the formula for business-loss compensation if the state control system were altered. Witnesses said the bill is intended as an insurance policy that would apply only in the event of privatization and argued current buyout rules do not reflect the …","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Liquor agents ask to be classified as licensees in HB 2121 to standardize enforcement

Liquor agents urge rollback of CPI adjustment to store classifications in HB 2120

Committee forwards HB 2348 to House floor after work session

Liquor agents push for stronger business-loss compensation in HB 2123, cite privatization risk