Lawmakers hear debate over exempting H‑2A employers from Oregon unemployment taxes

The House Committee on Labor and Workplace Standards heard testimony Feb. 12 on House Bill 3142, which would exempt employers from paying unemployment insurance (UI) taxes on wages paid to noncitizen agricultural workers employed under the federal H‑2A temporary agricultural worker program.

Erin (committee staff) summarized the measure: “House Bill 3,142 exempts employers from unemployment tax on the wages of non citizens who work in Oregon on h 2 a visas. It takes effect on the 90 first day following signing.”

Proponents from farming and agricultural HR organizations told the committee the change would align Oregon with federal tax treatment and reduce what they described as an unfair burden on employers who hire H‑2A workers who typically cannot claim UI benefits. Jenny Dressler of the Oregon Farm Bureau Federation said H‑2A is a highly regulated, costly program and that employers have…