Senate approves Construction Contractors Board budget and $75 license fee increase

The Oregon Senate on May 7 approved a $23,375,802 budget for the Construction Contractors Board and ratified a $75 increase in the two‑year contractor license fee.

The measures—Senate Bill 5509, the board's budget bill, and Senate Bill 5510, which ratifies fee changes adopted by administrative rule—passed the Senate on third reading. SB 5509 passed on a recorded roll call that registered 25 ayes. SB 5510 also passed on final reading and was recorded as having received a constitutional majority.

Senator James Manning Jr., presenting SB 5509, told colleagues the joint committee on ways and means approved the board’s budget of $23,375,802 in other funds and called out funding for a licensing system replacement. “The budget includes one‑time funding, $1,500,000 and one part‑time limited duration position to complete the licensing system replacement project,” Manning said on the floor. He said the package provides for personnel and IT costs and listed an 8.7% increase over the current service level.

Manning also said the board’s budget reflects a planned $75 license fee increase for renewals effective July 1, 2024, and for new applicants effective July 1, 2025, an action that the budge bill assumed and that the legislature ratified in SB 5510. “The resulting $2,800,000 increase in revenue is assumed in the Construction Contractors Board budget bill, Senate Bill 5509,” Manning said during floor remarks.

Several senators declared potential conflicts of interest before votes. Senator Starr stated on the record that he is a CCB‑licensed contractor; Senator Thatcher also noted potential conflicts because family members are regulated by the board. Those declarations were entered into the record before the Senate proceeded to votes.

Senator Brian Bonham voiced a policy concern during debate, saying he found it “ironic” to raise the cost of general contracting while the chamber is discussing housing affordability. Bonham said the increase is modest per license but cautioned about cumulative costs. The Senate nevertheless approved both measures.

Clarifying details recorded during the hearing show the board requested 60 positions and identified a one‑time $1,500,000 allocation for the licensing system replacement; committee materials cited a license fee change that raises the two‑year renewable fee from $325 to $400. The Ways and Means committee recommended approval of SB 5509 and SB 5510.

SB 5509 and SB 5510 move forward to enrollment and, if enrolled and signed, will make the budget and fee ratification part of state law.