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House approves outreach bill directing BOLI to educate businesses on cash‑acceptance law
Summary
Lawmakers passed Senate Bill 1176 directing the Bureau of Labor and Industries to conduct outreach and education about Oregon’s law requiring most places of public accommodation to accept cash; the floor debate noted the agency would be asked to absorb costs and some members objected to the lack of new funding.
SALEM, Ore. — The House passed Senate Bill 1176, a bill directing the Bureau of Labor and Industries (BOLI) to conduct statewide outreach and education so businesses understand and comply with Oregon’s law requiring that places of public accommodation accept cash as payment.
Representative Chi Chi, carrying the bill, said the 2022 law — Senate Bill 1565 — established the rule that businesses open to the public generally must accept U.S. currency, with limited exceptions. She told the chamber the original statute was not funded for outreach or enforcement; SB 1176 asks BOLI to carry out virtual and in‑person events, develop materials, respond to questions and complaints, and increase investigations.
The sponsor said BOLI requested one half‑time position to do the work but that SB 1176 asks the agency to absorb the cost. Representative Chi Chi said education is cost‑effective at preventing violations and urged lawmakers to support the bill and to advocate for BOLI’s budget request.
Representative Deal opposed the measure on the floor, saying the agency already has a backlog of wage claims and “no ability to absorb the cost” of the added workload; he said he would vote no. Representative Chi Chi replied on the floor that BOLI supports the bill.
After brief debate, the clerk announced SB 1176 had received the constitutionally required majority and was declared passed.
