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Prevailing wage bill on way to Senate floor
House Bill 2545, which threatens to ban limited liability companies that fail to pay prevailing wage on public construction projects, sailed through the Senate Business and Transportation Committee on Monday.
Critics attack bill that would add energy efficiency to appraisals
House Bill 2801 would direct the Oregon Appraiser Certification and Licensure Board to come up with a program to certify that its licensed appraisers are qualified to judge green building features. Now the bill is before Senate Environment and Natural Resources Committee, and it does not seem to be gaining any popularity.
Prevailing wage bill clears latest hurdle
Senate Business and Transportation Committee members on Monday voted to require that construction workers be paid prevailing wage on public projects on Oregon college and university campuses.
Metal recycling bill sails through committee
House Bill 2403, which will make it easier to buy and sell scrap metal, is on its way to the Senate floor after getting near-unanimous approval from the Senate Judiciary Committee on Thursday.
Capitol Eye: Construction-related legislation in spotlight soon
Multiple pieces of legislation related to the construction industry will be reviewed by lawmakers at the Capitol in Salem over the next couple of weeks.
Progress made on building inspection, wage bills
Members of the Senate Business and Transportation Committee passed House Bill 2698 on Monday and is on its way to the full Senate. The bill would extend provisions for training, qualifying and certifying specialized building inspectors.
Bill on fire inspections gutted and rewritten
Senate Bill 625, which would limit the time the Oregon Fire Marshal's Office has to review construction projects, received the "gut and stuff" treatment and was completely rewritten after some people complained about the original wording.
Senate Bill 219 may fall through the cracks
One of the last construction-related bills to get a public hearing, Senate Bill 219 would allow local officials to come up with their own designs for building wastewater treatment facilities and other public projects rather than getting more expensive state-approved plans.
Bill cracks down on construction industry’s artful dodgers
If House Bill 2540 wins approval from legislators in Salem, contractors who tweak their payrolls so they 鈥� or their workers 鈥� can avoid alimony, child support, wage garnishments and similar obligations could lose their state-issued contractor licenses.
Legislature marks a busy day for construction bills
A flurry of construction-related bills hit the Oregon Legislature on Thursday. Here is a look at a few of them: Bill would level the playing field for permit violations […]
Could the corporate kicker get the boot?
State Sen. Ginny Burdick, D-Portland, is facing a big plate of political broccoli. She said she finds an initiative to reform Oregon鈥檚 corporate kicker 鈥渄istasteful.鈥� Nonetheless, she plans to vote […]
Retainage issue has industry divided
Senate Bill 657 would reduce retainage from 5 to 1 percent. Some in the construction industry love the idea. Others 鈥� with equal passion 鈥� do not. Both sides descended on the Senate Business, Transportation and Economic Development Committee earlier this week.
News
- Multnomah County commits up to $101.6M for Moda Center
- Portland code changes to take effect in November
- Los Colibris project approved for Portland’s OMSI District
- Pacific Northwest projects totaling $9.9 million in top bidders | Aug. 7, 2026
- Oregon opens infrastructure grant program
- Ex-TV host claps back at Detroit officials in blight case
- 31-unit multifamily project in Portland land use review intakes | Aug. 3, 2026
- $2.4 million office renovation in Portland building permits | Aug. 3, 2026
- Transportation commission weighs ODOT budget cuts
- Lam Research planning $1.7 billion investment in Tualatin
- Pacific Northwest projects totaling $10.6 million in top bidders | July 31, 2026
- Many Oregon counties struggling to maintain their fairgrounds
Commentary
- Beware of when the debt collector comes calling | Opinion
- Assembly of a future workforce begins with an invitation | Opinion
- Beware of overlooking legal requirements for remote workers | Opinion
- Become a critical thinker and transform a workplace | Opinion
- Managing construction risks with international suppliers | Opinion
- A rally with many engines: the lesson of 2026’s first half | Opinion
- Oregon housing challenges persist despite sound and fury | Opinion
- When does an employee’s bullying become harassment? | Opinion
- Ditch disorganization 鈥� the cost of deferred decisions | Opinion
- Consider 10 common risks for healthcare construction projects | Opinion
- Clarifying the reach of a law regarding prevailing wage | Opinion
- Adjust to legal changes now to ensure compliance later | Opinion
