[{"_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",6313258,"mediaKeyId","2388546-91defb74ba5982237fd7f907c623b366","parentId",2388546,"title","DAS gives overview of Oregon Forward program for employing people with disabilities","audioSeconds",229,"startMs",4497000,"endMs",4726000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2388546-91defb74ba5982237fd7f907c623b366&start=4497&end=4726","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2388546-91defb74ba5982237fd7f907c623b366/thumbnail_4497000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6313258/Oregon/DAS-gives-overview-of-Oregon-Forward-program-for-employing-people-with-disabilities","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6313258-415dbc5befc2a4c8d97adc8a83af9ebd/orig.mp4?Expires=1774967402&Signature=jJ~phrTB4Uo3ZswP9e6SRW3Sa6IOse9EVQc8ZqHUdI1LR3f4p6sMGEhAEVpkCMW-yhh2CdgSItMPddJ77NuF6hcibWAOrWJh5r4MOYLcnqhu-pe2DhlfF5cI5xmFqr~uilfirFrUBaiwQVRUdUAvysZEKxYP5CUHjy1U6-9txSmx8AIu4EHT~phiQS14EfueWOSs49H8PE7ApBYTynmksBxT-HrRNcthKqGFN4aJ4~hs-6pDtZwZINmlfOdILd2h~RnghxZMe3LXq2fIFxlfyqkAyP3neJNv3mKF~~qZ27lPzbrNtPO~vf9hygBXBmvW75rIz1OO58vbDu8n3lAfqQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Oregon State Legislature","date","2025-02-24T00:00:00Z","article","Debbie Dennis, chief administrative officer and deputy director at the Department of Administrative Services, gave a brief informational overview of the Oregon Forward program, a state program that requires public agencies to purchase products and services from qualified nonprofit organizations that employ people with disabilities.

Dennis summarized the program’s purpose and administration: Oregon Forward was established in 1977 to encourage employment and independence for individuals with disabilities; DAS certifies and maintains a list of qualified contractors and determines program suitability and cost-recovery pricing for goods and services. She said contractors must have at least 60% of direct labor performed by individuals with disabilities under the current standard (the rate was 75% prior to 2019, changed to 65% in 2019, and reduced to 60% in 2021).

Dennis provided program-scale figures: in 2024, Oregon Forward nonprofits employed nearly 2,000 individuals with disabilities and sales under Oregon Forward agreements totaled about $89 million; she said roughly 75% of those sales were with cities, counties and other local jurisdictions. Dennis described DAS responsibilities for successor contractors when an awarding agency replaces a provider: if an outgoing contractor employed affected employees at 28 hours or more per week, a successor contractor must offer wages and benefits equal to or better than those workers previously received and DAS makes the comparison and notification.

Committee members asked a clarifying question about the 60% threshold; Dennis confirmed the recent statutory change history and said DAS enforces the percentage and pricing rules. The committee said it will carry the topic forward for a more detailed informational session.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","House Committee On Labor and Workplace Standards 02/24/2025 3:00 PM","oneSentenceSummary","The Department of Administrative Services (DAS) provided the committee a brief overview of the Oregon Forward program, which requires public agencies to purchase goods and services from qualified nonprofits that employ people with disabilities.","taxTitle","Workplace Standards, House of Representatives, Committees, Legislative, Oregon","taxId",78401,"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},6313262,"Prevailing-wage bill drawing wide testimony on off-site fabrication, enforcement and scope concerns",2136,2313000,4449000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2388546-91defb74ba5982237fd7f907c623b366&start=2313&end=4449","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2388546-91defb74ba5982237fd7f907c623b366/thumbnail_2313000.jpg","/articles/6313262/Oregon/Prevailing-wage-bill-drawing-wide-testimony-on-off-site-fabrication-enforcement-and-scope-concerns","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6313262-32e4234161f6e3dfeea8c27cad88de84/orig.mp4?Expires=1774967402&Signature=dwEKb8VBrfx1-qevnUAZb~M5tRJll2fuRfdb6L3rxsNyNVskSVQcO8kNvWE09sdzf8sV23O8hPG1yPvNWFvx1wV3raYRRi3XEVyNHgtzJFaFahFy7jsNPPEhGFmW4T96e~eouS5E6RCxwxK~ayZLCvQ8ZXxwoho0Ob1Jz1-CJMLY2GxnG6xULKuoa3Utx3xH~g4GZNSpq00xRy23anOGZ8ZltWJP2CMvVCai-cCxYjX2Xm6yVhd4MFNTV9BBnNjxeC5TDFBinZ4TCvKVKuBfeAhHDEiwXUjgeRX-yd1z-XPYGUQnnijHB2vFeJFgqMjC9VqXwWHlBK~SG6AYSFZatg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The House Committee on Labor and Workplace Standards held a lengthy public hearing on House Bill 26 88, which would expand the definition of public works for prevailing-wage purposes to include custom off-site fabrication, assembly or production of goods, modules, components, structures, supports or fixtures specifically made for a public works project.

Sponsor Zach Hudson told the committee HB 26 88 aims to preserve prevailing-wage protections as construction technology and off-site fabrication grow, ensuring that work moved off the job site remains covered. Scott Strickland of SMART Local 16 said the law is designed to secure economic benefits for workers and cited University of Oregon research his organization relies on, testifying that prevailing-wage law “creates 5,400 jobs, improves the state economy by $752,000,000 and generates $35,000,000 in state and local tax revenues every year,” and that states with prevailing-wage laws have higher apprenticeship participation and productivity measures.

Union and labor representatives argued off-site fabrication can reduce on-site hours for apprentices and skilled workers and that prevailing-wage coverage should follow the work when it is custom-made for a public project. Russ Benton of SMART Local 16 and Lauren Bowling of Ironworkers Local 29 said the bill is meant to prevent work-hour erosion and protect training opportunities as fabrication shifts off site.

Business groups, contractors and local-government associations opposed the bill as drafted, saying it is overly broad and would significantly complicate compliance. Kirsten Adams of the Associated General Contractors said the measure would impose substantial new administrative burdens on general contractors, who would have to ensure that manufacturers — potentially outside Oregon or the United States — comply with Oregon prevailing-wage requirements. Paloma Sparks of Oregon Business and Industry and Rich Angstrom of the Oregon Concrete Aggregate Producers Association gave detailed examples of manufacturing processes (batch plants, precast and pretensioning operations) where identifying a single “site of work” or tracking prevailing-wage hours would be difficult, and suggested the Bureau of Labor and Industries (BOLI) would face complex new survey and enforcement tasks.

Local-government and special-district witnesses said the bill could create procurement challenges and inventory complications. Mark Landauer of the Special Districts Association of Oregon and the Oregon Public Ports Association noted that district members sometimes inventory specialized components for emergency repairs; he said applying prevailing wage to such off-the-shelf parts after a statutory change could produce operational problems and legal uncertainty. Justin Lowe of the Association of Oregon Counties emphasized concerns for rural counties with limited vendor access and potential interstate-commerce implications.

A range of witnesses asked for clarifying amendments. Proponents signaled they would offer a dash-1 amendment to narrow scope to truly custom, project-specific fabrication (excluding catalog items) and to address enforcement and fiscal questions. Committee members asked proponents and opponents to work with BOLI and other stakeholders on precise language and fiscal effects. No committee vote was recorded during the hearing; the chair closed the public hearing and indicated amendments will be developed for future consideration.","House Bill 26 88 would expand Oregon’s prevailing-wage rules to cover custom off-site fabrication and components made for public works. Proponents said the change protects workers and apprenticeships as fabrication moves off job sites; business groups and local governments warned of enforcement, interstate-commerce and supply-chain impacts.",{"_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},6313267,"Committee advances bill removing an 8-week reduction to requalified unemployment benefits; motion passes to floor",184,2075000,2259000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2388546-91defb74ba5982237fd7f907c623b366&start=2075&end=2259","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2388546-91defb74ba5982237fd7f907c623b366/thumbnail_2075000.jpg","/articles/6313267/Oregon/Committee-advances-bill-removing-an-8-week-reduction-to-requalified-unemployment-benefits-motion-passes-to-floor","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6313267-6796dbb09d1df2f893856705d5d0bf11/orig.mp4?Expires=1774967402&Signature=R4Ca-iCIQ3cs63uQerLUu5r32iJGjNiziBrmyfBUKSoxdj7Gz-RGlSKMe9zrjKyLqGyLbDMP4hZzVrwUsnFMOTK0tuFLjXTpdx4jLluGhlR-itzejLVPD2MkWZ9VbfsRupFt2-gqVbCyE9~F1Bci327qBN3idDFQj07XCgVbHUbIDfK5El2RXaxnE2ubmDVx1QkkhJu6jgqF4q-x8mxOK~kQR6DVuZZ1-oRM59bfm5ohdhUECmcE6kvGS7Jm0EXkqTBcJXpwTl2b~soBN0vx-5qcNdXHz0GP-eHCX79RXvuCsjQrHXCaxr1CVhuOtEFMML6jJg~P1VLdZImeNY90ug__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The House Committee on Labor and Workplace Standards advanced House Bill 30 24 in a work session, voting to send the bill to the floor with a do-pass recommendation.

Vice Chair Munoz moved the measure to the floor. During the committee discussion members asked about fiscal impacts; Lindsay Leahy, Unemployment Insurance Division Director at the Oregon Employment Department, provided the division’s estimate. Leahy said removing the rule that reduces a requalified claimant’s maximum unemployment benefit amount “will result in about $1,300,000 in additional benefits paid out in the 2025–27 biennium.” She placed that figure in context by noting the UI program paid about $1,500,000,000 in benefits during calendar years 2023–24 and said the change was unlikely to affect tax schedules or the trust fund tax schedule because the impact was small relative to total payouts.

Committee members then proceeded to roll-call the motion. The clerk recorded votes as follows: Representative Montoya Davis — No; Representative Fraglia — Yes; Representative Nelson — Yes; Representative Sharp — No; Vice Chair Elmer — No; Vice Chair Munoz — Yes; Chair Graber — Yes. The motion carried and the committee chair said she would carry the bill on the floor.","The committee voted to move House Bill 30 24 to the floor with a \"do pass\" recommendation after brief work-session discussion and a fiscal review from the Unemployment Insurance Division Director.",{"_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},6313271,"Committee hears testimony on bill to require certification that public EVs and solar panels are free of forced or child labor",2008,40000,2048000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2388546-91defb74ba5982237fd7f907c623b366&start=40&end=2048","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2388546-91defb74ba5982237fd7f907c623b366/thumbnail_40000.jpg","/articles/6313271/Oregon/Committee-hears-testimony-on-bill-to-require-certification-that-public-EVs-and-solar-panels-are-free-of-forced-or-child-labor","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6313271-2e9cbb7facd18955d4242521d81defab/orig.mp4?Expires=1774967402&Signature=DTEN8VmZJoyAGVpYC3QBLDQ9Y5mNBpaJPOgw-nh8L1Lm1Wbb7vSgA6MmCmVVeC~N5EBCGgwBSZkVxxHU9zeCjulwyBSeHYn0zYTPJ0alqsgOYlfmSEuQX-hYlau0kgkIxzhEpJ-95qRGnbzQQYtPTgnQa1t3X3zT1k~ZSc434~K-E5Ny54fL2-U6YytcgqPohD2RKSmlmKhDFJAUZ7cVEKnAohkczEi4IdrvPEV8XqQMIUeWDdHS8VvbGGqzKa969PR-~Bq7MAtbNaOQN7MzPn6J1kWESMnshb6XkyDadFiYm4t2kt5FZBqd1-nyBf1v3gMB8TAjskSX9uFioLsnhQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","House Committee on Labor and Workplace Standards Chair Graber opened public testimony on House Bill 2,425, which would require public bodies that procure electric vehicles and solar photovoltaic systems to obtain certification from manufacturers, distributors or suppliers that production, assembly, transportation or sale of those materials did not involve forced labor or oppressive child labor.

Supporters told the committee the state’s green procurement and electrification mandates create demand that can drive labor abuses in global supply chains and that certification is a feasible step to avoid complicity. Representative Ed Deal (House District 17) said Oregon’s green mandates “create an artificial demand that is fueling labor abuses,” and described cobalt mining in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and polysilicon production linked to forced labor in China’s Xinjiang region.

The bill’s sponsor and proponents framed HB 2,425 as targeted to public procurement rather than a ban on electric vehicles. Nick Stark, executive director of Oregon Freedom Coalition, said HB 2,425 “does not ban electric vehicles. It simply ensures that Oregon does not procure EVs from manufacturers that cannot verify ethical supply chains.” Sal Nuzzo of Consumers Defense echoed that federal laws and enforcement are incomplete and called the bill a state-level accountability measure. Angela Crowley of the Oregon Solar and Storage Industries Association said the solar industry opposes forced and child labor and supports the intent of the bill but warned state-level certification could duplicate federal enforcement and add compliance complexity.

Committee members asked about which federal agencies or laws would be relevant and how verification would work. Several members noted existing federal tools including the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act and U.S. Customs enforcement mechanisms; others raised concerns about which federal agency would handle certification and whether that capacity exists. Representative Scharf, who said she has experience with ISO traceability standards, asked whether the bill specifies which verification systems suppliers must use; Representative Deal said the bill requires suppliers to “certify and then provide probative evidence” but leaves technical standards open for follow-up with the Department of Administrative Services.

Proponents and committee members discussed tradeoffs between maintaining clean-energy mandates and ensuring ethical supply chains. Representative Deal argued certification is feasible and that, if suppliers cannot provide credible proof, Oregon should “pause and reassess our mandates.” Industry witnesses described national traceability work: the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) has a traceability protocol and Customs and Border Protection enforces forced-labor import rules, which industry witnesses said could be coordinated with state requirements.

Committee members also pressed for data and noted federal actions. A member cited academic and industry analyses about mineral demand and supply constraints that underscore the scale of global sourcing challenges for electrification. No committee action on HB 2,425 was recorded during this session; the public hearing closed after several panelists had testified and committee members asked follow-ups.

Ending: Committee members asked proponents for written testimony and technical follow-up on traceability and enforcement. The committee closed the public hearing on HB 2,425 and moved to other agenda items.","The House Committee on Labor and Workplace Standards heard public testimony on House Bill 2,425, which would require Oregon public bodies to obtain supplier certification that electric vehicles and solar photovoltaic systems they purchase were not produced using forced labor or oppressive child labor.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

DAS gives overview of Oregon Forward program for employing people with disabilities

Prevailing-wage bill drawing wide testimony on off-site fabrication, enforcement and scope concerns

Committee advances bill removing an 8-week reduction to requalified unemployment benefits; motion passes to floor

Committee hears testimony on bill to require certification that public EVs and solar panels are free of forced or child labor