House considers regulated work schedules, small business tax up in the air and state education budget is narrowly approved.
Another worker benefit bill moves forward. A bill to mandate work schedule predictability is up for final approval in the House. If approved, employers would have to provide schedules at least seven days in advance. Additional pay would also be required for employees with less than 10 hours between shifts. Read more from the Statesman Journal.
Another business tax hits a wall. The House approved a bill last week to curtail business tax breaks for small businesses, but Senate President Peter Courtney isn’t eager to move the legislation forward. OPB has the story.
Educators take what they can get. On Tuesday the legislature narrowly approved an $8.2 billion education budget — an 11% increase from last year — but it’s not enough to hire more teachers or even cover all costs for all districts. Read more from the Register Guard.
Don’t drink the water. Portland will decide in the next six weeks if the city will spend up to $500 million to protect drinking water from parasites. The decision stems from a state order after cryptosporidium was found in 14 water samples this year. The Oregonian has more.
Solar expansion could take a hit. A report from GTM Research found proposed trade action could slow solar installations by more than 60% in the next five years. Read more from the Portland Business Journal.
From the Magazine — Marijuana growers. Information about marijuana growers in Oregon is not easy to find, as the OLCC has chosen to make their information unobtainable. OB research editor Kim Moore tracked down some of the elusive growers in her monthly ranking. Check out the list of growers, ranked by square feet.
Sweet Cakes case back in action. The Supreme Court decided to hear a case about a baker who refused to sell a wedding cake to a gay couple. No, it’s not the case of Oregon’s Sweet Cakes by Melissa. The court will decide a similar case from Colorado. But the decision could finally mean the end of appeals by Oregon’s bakers. Check out the story from OPB.
LNG fight not over yet. After a May ballot measure to stop the export of natural gas failed in Coos County, the company behind a proposed pipeline refiled its permit application with the government. Another series of public meetings began yesterday in Jordan Cove, and opponents are ready for another fight. OPB has more.
