City to hold off pursuit of advisory vote on street fund
The city opted not to file paperwork with Multnomah County to seek an 鈥渁dvisory vote鈥 on how to raise millions of dollars for Portland鈥檚 street fund, instead waiting to see what moves the Oregon Legislature makes when it convenes in February.
Report: State juvenile rehab facilities need work totaling $100M
The Oregon Youth Authority鈥檚 10 juvenile correctional facilities reportedly require approximately $100 million worth of maintenance, renovations and upgrades for better rehabilitation of young offenders.
Oregon pours more money into trades-related education
Oregon's Education Department and Bureau of Labor and Industries recently awarded eight grants totaling $2 million to support shop classes and other hands-on programs at schools throughout the state.
AGC鈥檚 Oregon-Columbia chapter adjusts policy positions
The Associated General Contractors' Oregon-Columbia chapter's board of directors on Friday voted unanimously to broaden its core policy positions on workforce training and public contracting methods.
Public contracting law headed for vote on Senate floor
Senate Bill 254, which would reform Oregon's public contracting law, has been in the works for a long time. Now it's on its way to the Senate floor after surviving two committees and a vote of the House.
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.
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.
Legislators strike tax deal to keep Nike in Oregon
Nike Chairman Phil Knight offered Gov. John Kitzhaber a deal where Nike would stay in Oregon with a $150 million expansion 鈥 and create at least 500 new jobs 鈥 if legislators agreed to not change the way Nike鈥檚 taxes are calculated. Legislators agreed to keep that system in place for 30 years with an opportunity to review their decision in five years.
State agencies working on construction wish lists
Agency officials are making out their wish lists, and a lot of them want the political equivalent of an Erector Set. Some of them serve on a committee that wants the Legislature to provide at least $225 million for construction to make the Oregon State Capitol safer against earthquakes. At the Oregon Department of Corrections, officials want $600 million for new prisons and $200 million more for a[...]
Legislators will see long list of CM/GC proposals
Legislators will make more than a dozen changes to Oregon's public contracting law if they accept the recommendations drafted by an advisory group made up of builders, contractors and other stakeholders.
Legislators to consider recommendations for public contracting law
A legislative work group looking to amend Oregon's public contracting law may have recommendations ready for lawmakers next month.
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







