[{"_1":2,"_124":-5,"_125":-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",[32,76,88,100,112],{"_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",6629800,"mediaKeyId","2702594-6127974b56f9cc046c3e4f0d649018b3","parentId",2702594,"title","Long hearing on bill to apply apprenticeship goals to K-12 school construction divides supporters and smaller districts","audioSeconds",4844,"startMs",1267000,"endMs",6111000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2702594-6127974b56f9cc046c3e4f0d649018b3&start=1267&end=6111","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2702594-6127974b56f9cc046c3e4f0d649018b3/thumbnail_1267000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6629800/Oregon/Long-hearing-on-bill-to-apply-apprenticeship-goals-to-K-12-school-construction-divides-supporters-and-smaller-districts","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6629800-bacb2391bd7e91c348d1c7ebfa417174/orig.mp4?Expires=1773643162&Signature=OhagxGz6X8qeLuw-9ajl-nMLQovrbjFDyvh01n7Gc0yS0ASjpvJwJ5MDrTdyvSDxrjqdm0wWeOmJoYmvADQrKYiVVi1u9m55Agt~1BS-QDWz9Gv2hl4nFJ3ppiTOMl6ysijcUNXQSqjcLPO0gw1jYOC4R33Uq9vo4m~CW39fcepSWwnp94CPy3I4FfogGgOfQNE8b8gSNp72QQFtNbAS2HRhNeEN2rluh6ORDexaCF8jOuS4Z0ImjCYlZRWC7HQdq5Iq6H3ZRlg9xZAw2Y3BTlI4Iq3p83nCEBRI5xeNVBZXyArIMXdRwIPWaW~8TjZ2a7F7kQx~0tlMpvD5o6MKag__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Oregon State Legislature","date","2025-03-19T00:00:00Z","article","House Bill 3881, which would add school districts, education service districts and public charter schools to the list of qualifying agencies subject to apprenticeship-utilization and workforce recruitment goals on public improvement projects, drew lengthy testimony March 19 before the House Labor and Workplace Standards Committee.

Representative Ben Bowman, the bill sponsor, told the committee HB 3881 would align K-12 public construction projects with existing apprenticeship utilization goals that already apply to state agencies and many higher-education projects. \"By passing this bill, we will create more consistency with basic workforce standards across public works projects and further align our infrastructure investments with supporting construction workforce development outcomes to help meet industry demands going forward,\" Bowman said, citing a projected 13% increase in construction jobs by 2033.

Union apprentices, training representatives and contractors testified in support, saying the bill would create consistent, paid on-the-job training hours for apprentices and improve recruitment and retention of women, people of color and veterans. Chris Hewitt, political director of the Oregon Laborers, said HB 3881 would require a minimum of 12% of work hours on qualifying projects to be performed by registered apprentices beginning in 2026, rising to 15% in 2027. Several union witnesses emphasized that registered apprenticeship standards typically require thousands of on-the-job hours and that consistent work assignments are a key factor in apprenticeship completion.

Apprentices and current journey workers described personal experiences of gaining paid training, certifications and long-term employment. \"HB 3 8 8 1 would help to ensure the more consistent access to work opportunities building K through 12 school facilities,\" said Chelsea Shaffer, an apprentice who told the committee she began her training on Benson Polytechnic High School construction and later benefited from union-provided training and benefits.

Opponents and skeptics — including the Oregon School Boards Association, the Coalition of Oregon School Administrators (COSA), rural contractors and local school board members — urged caution. Scott Rogers, a construction manager who serves on the Athena Weston School District board, said the bill could exclude local firms in rural areas that lack access to registered apprenticeship programs and reduce competition. \"Imposing an apprenticeship hiring requirement will place a burden on these smaller firms, and additionally, it may preclude them from being able to bid work on a project in their own community for their own district,\" Rogers said.

COSA and the Oregon School Boards Association said the bill imposes state-level workforce standards on projects funded locally through voter-approved general obligation bonds, and that many smaller districts lack internal capacity to meet added reporting and compliance requirements. Morgan Allen of COSA said the bill treats local bond-funded projects \"like state dollars,\" pointing to differences between state-funded projects and local bond-funded work.

Contractors and business groups asked for exemptions or phased implementation for rural areas and specialty trades with limited apprenticeship pathways. Matt Bogatay, president of Bogatay Construction in Klamath Falls, urged flexibility and suggested phasing requirements or targeted investment to expand apprenticeship access in rural regions.

Several committee members asked proponents and opponents to submit follow-up information. Representative Sharf questioned whether apprenticeship-utilization requirements increase project costs; witnesses for apprenticeships said they found no empirical evidence that apprenticeships raised project costs and emphasized productivity and retention benefits. Vice Chair Elmer asked about project-labor agreements (PLAs); the bill allows a contracting agency to be exempt from the statute's requirements if it enters into a project labor agreement for a given project.

The hearing drew dozens of witnesses and substantial back-and-forth; the committee did not take a vote on the bill during the March 19 hearing. Committee members indicated they would seek additional information, including fiscal and implementation details and the availability of apprenticeship programs in rural counties.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","House Committee On Labor and Workplace Standards 03/19/2025 3:00 PM","oneSentenceSummary","House Bill 3881 would require certain K-12 school construction projects that use state treasury funds to meet minimum apprenticeship utilization and outreach goals. Supporters said the measure would build jobs and pipelines into construction careers; school boards and rural contractors warned it could raise costs and exclude small local firms.","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},6629806,"Committee votes to advance bill exempting minor-league baseball players from some wage and hour rules",190,1108000,1298000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2702594-6127974b56f9cc046c3e4f0d649018b3&start=1108&end=1298","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2702594-6127974b56f9cc046c3e4f0d649018b3/thumbnail_1108000.jpg","/articles/6629806/Oregon/Committee-votes-to-advance-bill-exempting-minor-league-baseball-players-from-some-wage-and-hour-rules","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6629806-79d88752454aec81e382949faf4b5e77/orig.mp4?Expires=1773643162&Signature=aPsJu0CRUnW4O7-W-JWrC7PWX-9K4KrZy3R~zPZBLpPIB98RROms~w2Tnwde3KTa2Nul~fQaOUY615cm-5oebmu-wU0~ntIFeoNfj6VQ2spXt8UQSvvxdi21HJvpeH4AukLzPdPbctzYBNY1lk9g-WawTGOS0F5acvKRGMd8sk9ynT0-92607rXBS7Ym63vt6KyHa8F5T5b4vDAOd5jhfKVfaEDY-gUzordti5pDY4p9NglExV8iOae4KXfLpONeoqXCU3lNIEjJThXVMWCXKCjSIV1Xmhe9HSJpx0AM7DJo8dI~I5rqADpNQ7pn99luqiIwzwOkF9o7dY6YnKG-OQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","House Bill 3550 was approved March 19 by the House Labor and Workplace Standards Committee and recommended to the House floor with a due-pass recommendation.

Committee staff said HB 3550 would exempt minor-league baseball players who are subject to a collective-bargaining agreement that provides for payment of wages and other working conditions from Oregon's minimum-wage, minimum employment conditions, overtime and meal-period laws. Staff said the measure was originally heard on March 5, that there were no amendments filed for the work session, and that the bill has a minimal fiscal impact and no revenue impact.

Vice Chair Munoz moved the bill to the House floor with a due-pass recommendation. Committee members discussed the policy briefly; Representative Bossard Davis said she would vote yes but raised a concern that the legislation picks winners and losers among industries. Representative Scharf characterized her vote as a \"courtesy yes\" and urged OSHA labor housing standards to be applied to temporary worker housing used by players. The motion passed on a roll-call vote and Chair Graber said she would carry the bill on the floor.

The committee recorded affirmative roll-call votes from members present during the work session; the measure will be carried to the House floor for further consideration.","The committee approved House Bill 3550 in work session, sending it to the House floor with a due-pass recommendation; the bill would exempt minor-league baseball players covered by a collective bargaining agreement from state minimum-wage, overtime and meal-period laws.",{"_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},6629810,"Committee sends $3 million workforce reentry funding bill to Ways and Means",98,1012000,1110000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2702594-6127974b56f9cc046c3e4f0d649018b3&start=1012&end=1110","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2702594-6127974b56f9cc046c3e4f0d649018b3/thumbnail_1012000.jpg","/articles/6629810/Oregon/Committee-sends-3-million-workforce-reentry-funding-bill-to-Ways-and-Means","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6629810-1965942172f59935dde4f8f5170a74a5/orig.mp4?Expires=1773643162&Signature=ckmOPCbkyff73rwb2HAuISYVRw0DI~GN9umaW5b-bctVzsAwwE~m4vfW-uJDwK5gPDfXWjAVDuX0TSynH8HctAMtz~YwvowDf6mh8eZiQF54~yCI2xWEVwwIm2ZpheGooRiD5oXmbsT50Dmz8RLjZln4YBTStTXqUkXkZ9TN1olhIv000cPiFh6BVYYFQEMydLsvXgB~x5kNFhqEafIlm0dlVDBtOZR5plWuSK0wIT~tooPUPNDyQwV8w7Pxwjkfievb1W4RJ3TlqQSNzcLD2Djj2YO-ZscUcKtu9uVqnjmrZ20IOrGiBUqae12MiHTD455fvK2DKI8z4CK1JwnCUQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","House Bill 2972 was moved out of the House Labor and Workplace Standards Committee March 19 with a due-pass recommendation and a referral to the Joint Committee on Ways and Means.

Committee staff summarized the bill as an appropriation of $3,000,000 of general fund to the Oregon Employment Department to support staffing for workforce reentry programs for adults in custody delivered through the Workforce Oregon system. Staff said the measure takes effect on the 91st day following adjournment and that a fiscal impact statement accompanying the bill outlined how the funds would be used should the appropriation be approved.

Vice Chair Elmer moved the bill to the floor with the due-pass recommendation and that it be referred to Ways and Means by prior reference; the motion passed on a roll-call vote. Committee members recorded affirmative votes during the work session.

Committee members did not engage in extended debate during the motion; the record shows the committee passed the motion and the bill will be considered further in Ways and Means.","House Bill 2972, which would appropriate $3 million from the general fund to staff workforce reentry programs delivered through the Oregon Employment Department and Workforce Oregon system, was recommended to the House floor and referred to the Joint Committee on Ways and Means by prior reference.",{"_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},6629816,"Committee advances bill creating employer-assistance division within BOLI to the House floor",142,838000,980000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2702594-6127974b56f9cc046c3e4f0d649018b3&start=838&end=980","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2702594-6127974b56f9cc046c3e4f0d649018b3/thumbnail_838000.jpg","/articles/6629816/Oregon/Committee-advances-bill-creating-employer-assistance-division-within-BOLI-to-the-House-floor","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6629816-b05c782d6148b614cd55d8e861e3dffd/orig.mp4?Expires=1773643162&Signature=W4UPh8qiLJa5QygMYBKfXzes70jIMTAJThRF1434Lgx0v5CVQN2bmLHTwU1L0~4A6TYRqSRuxKEppvH1eZVwLOMRj50m3iIbKslFo3sSk2ALztbfyuj~4OoPLmUD6Mfd5ovIW3muZhzZPtm0I-tbEk4g5I1qc82Dd3kFuq8AQAkW-eTJ7IfjIfxQinAcsXg3SQtXFTBygos~zKEqy1KEiqo92q~cUcsNtkaV7Z-KmwFr8V97mucdz2IVVYfDvpai3aSY2yVFWrAfPPv3DzH3~3XEnInQWNUSrNPLECmEcD0tgWWFIr76yybzKC8in-r2zZlZAl3ntPPAHGGb-KEotA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The House Labor and Workplace Standards Committee voted March 19 to send House Bill 2248 to the House floor with a due-pass recommendation after adopting the reported \"-2\" amendment.

Erin (committee staff) summarized the bill for the committee, saying HB 2248 would require the Bureau of Labor and Industries (BOLI) to establish an employer-assistance division, clarify BOLI's authority to enter settlement agreements for violations within its jurisdiction, and allow BOLI to enter into interagency agreements to receive certain business-identifying information from other state agencies. Staff said the bill takes effect on the 91st day following adjournment and that the measure with the -2 amendment has a minimal fiscal impact and no revenue impact.

Vice Chair Munoz moved adoption of the -2 amendment; the amendment was adopted by roll call. Vice Chair Elmer then moved the bill, as amended, to the floor with a due-pass recommendation; the motion passed on a roll-call vote. Vice Chair Elmer agreed to be the carrier of the bill on the House floor.

Committee roll calls recorded \"aye\" votes from members present during the work session. The committee clerk completed roll call for both the amendment and the final motion; committee members recorded affirmative votes during the session.

The committee did not debate the measure at length during the work session after adopting the amendment and moved it forward under the committee's routine procedures.","House Labor and Workplace Standards Committee adopted an amendment and voted to send House Bill 2248, which would create an employer-assistance division at the Bureau of Labor and Industries and clarify settlement and interagency data-sharing authority, to the House floor with a due-pass recommendation.",{"_33":113,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":114,"_41":115,"_43":116,"_45":117,"_47":118,"_49":119,"_51":120,"_53":121,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":122,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":123,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6629820,"House hearing spotlights bill to extend workplace lactation protections to certain farmworkers",302,79000,381000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2702594-6127974b56f9cc046c3e4f0d649018b3&start=79&end=381","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2702594-6127974b56f9cc046c3e4f0d649018b3/thumbnail_79000.jpg","/articles/6629820/Oregon/House-hearing-spotlights-bill-to-extend-workplace-lactation-protections-to-certain-farmworkers","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6629820-058036c2dc8e6e98ec1df247c6fa3c0a/orig.mp4?Expires=1773643163&Signature=MG1Cl431h6~1Abyademeucgu5WeBBrB-AhdWBOQd9VIaCeWAPrBXhtF4rV2KLCZB8ALIMwIBUW-HaAo~5anlxtTFBc0VkoCsU6Mh9cWnC6clng-hIR8BO3gykUxKj-Kws9VuxTN~g9DJ2606bobe6TLmUHflDGajqY1Psc8ptR5w4gECibAoqMgOhWbY1iKEX~Q4k9peSHjNwZfOtfeiDAU7vvZsgQ9hUBJaxRX41lyKhFzbD-xpFt15e6A8Ah25bNPatFhfqOXfISRzz-yVE5xRqadYdxJRMdSSTfX-ZBxNZuHBApsHc04sbnTMeO9rRBxCvctdqFAU3RAQdjzVoQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","House Bill 2541, which would extend state workplace protections for expressing breast milk to a subset of farmworkers, drew support at a March 19 public hearing before the House Labor and Workplace Standards Committee.

Representative Andrea Vadarama, who identified herself as the sponsor and said she represents House District 47 in Outer East Portland, told the committee HB 2541 would provide an individual employed in agriculture as a hand-harvest or pruning laborer and paid on a piece-rate basis the same rights to express breast milk in the workplace that many other workers already have. \"Without these rest periods, mothers may struggle to maintain breastfeeding, which can lead to health complications for both the mother and the child,\" Vadarama said.

Marta Sonato, testifying for the Oregon Law Center, described HB 2541 as a \"simple, very narrow fix\" to close a gap in current law. Sonato said Oregon law currently requires employers to provide reasonable breaks and a private space close to the employee's work area for milk expression, but a subset of farmworkers are excluded from those protections. \"This bill before you is very simple. It's very narrow fix, that can really make a big difference in building healthier communities,\" Sonato said, adding that lactation breaks also benefit employers by reducing turnover and improving productivity.

During committee questions, Representative Sharf asked how accommodations would work when a worker is in the middle of a large field. Sonato and Vadarama pointed to existing exemptions for very small employers and offered examples BOLI (the Bureau of Labor and Industries) has provided, including modest workplace changes or using a nearby private vehicle as a lactation space. They emphasized that the worker's employer of record (including contract labor companies) would be responsible for providing accommodations.

Representative Bossard Davis and others noted that the statute that created the lactation protections in 2005 includes an undue-hardship exemption for employers with 10 or fewer employees, and said agricultural employers are not broadly exempt from the law. Vadarama said the bill responds to outreach and intake her office and legal aid groups have received from farmworker communities and public-health partners.

Committee members and witnesses repeatedly framed HB 2541 as a limited fix that would bring specific, identified categories of agricultural workers under protections that exist for most other employees. The committee did not take a vote on the bill during the March 19 hearing; the public hearing was closed at the end of testimony.

Votes taken later in the meeting addressed other bills on the committee agenda; HB 2541 remained in the public-hearing phase at adjournment.

The committee received written neutral testimony from Jenny Dressler, which the committee clerk noted during the hearing.","Witnesses told the House Labor and Workplace Standards Committee that House Bill 2541 would extend Oregon's existing lactation break and private-space protections to hand-harvest and piece-rate agricultural laborers currently excluded under state law.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Long hearing on bill to apply apprenticeship goals to K-12 school construction divides supporters and smaller districts

Committee votes to advance bill exempting minor-league baseball players from some wage and hour rules

Committee sends $3 million workforce reentry funding bill to Ways and Means

Committee advances bill creating employer-assistance division within BOLI to the House floor

House hearing spotlights bill to extend workplace lactation protections to certain farmworkers