The gavels have officially fallen on Oregon’s 2026 short legislative session. While the 35-day sprint in Salem is over, the real work for Central Oregon’s business community is just beginning. Short sessions are notorious for their breakneck speed, often resulting in complex policy shifts that are “baked” before the public — or the impacted industries — truly understand the ingredients.
As we navigate the fallout of these 35 days, my vantage point serving on the boards of Economic Development for Central Oregon (EDCO) and the Central Oregon Intergovernmental Council (COIC), alongside my role as an advisor to the Regional Business Alliance, has made one thing abundantly clear: Central Oregon is a top-performing economic engine for the state, but our continued vitality is not guaranteed. In a legislative environment that moves this fast, passive observation is no longer a viable business strategy; it is a risk to our regional stability.
The “Accuracy Gap” in Condensed Policy
One of the greatest risks of a short legislative session is what I call the “accuracy gap.” When lawmakers move at high velocity to plug budget holes or respond to shifting federal tax landscapes, the nuances of specific industries are often lost in translation.
Take, for example, the recent moves regarding Senate Bill 1507 and the decoupling of certain federal tax provisions. To a policymaker in a vacuum, this might look like a simple line-item adjustment to stabilize state revenue. However, to a manufacturing firm in Redmond or a tech startup in Bend, that same adjustment can be a direct hit to cash flow, R&D credit eligibility and the ability to scale operations.
Without industry experts in the room to “stress test” these concepts, we risk enacting laws that inadvertently stifle the very growth they aim to support. The role of the advocate is to ensure that the language written on a Friday afternoon in a committee room actually reflects the operational reality of a shop floor on Monday morning.
Advocacy as Essential Education
Advocacy is frequently misconstrued as mere lobbying for special favors. In reality, effective advocacy is education. Many legislators in Salem represent districts with vastly different economic drivers than our own. They may not inherently understand the fragile ecosystem of Central Oregon’s outdoor recreation industry or the specific infrastructure needs of our rapidly expanding “traded-sector” businesses.
Through our work at the Regional Business Alliance, we see firsthand that the highest-quality policy comes from high-quality collaboration. It is our responsibility as business leaders to provide the data, the “boots-on-the-ground” stories and the technical expertise that lawmakers lack. Whether it’s explaining the necessity of expedited permitting for industrial sites — as addressed in the Prosperity Roadmap Package (HB 4084) — or the nuances of the Oregon Recreation Commerce and Affordability Act, businesses must serve as the subject matter experts. If we don’t provide the context, someone else — often with a conflicting agenda — will.
Protecting the Vitality of the Tri-County Region
Central Oregon faces a unique set of regional challenges that do not always align with the priorities of the I-5 corridor. From wildfire resilience and water availability to a critical shortage of workforce housing, our issues require tailored policy solutions, not one-size-fits-all mandates.
The close of this session brought some notable victories, such as the $40 million investment in the Industrial Site Loan Fund to help prepare shovel-ready land. This was a direct result of unified regional voices explaining that we cannot grow our economy if we have nowhere for businesses to land. However, we also saw “imperfect solutions” regarding liability for our recreation providers — a reminder that the work of educating policymakers is never truly “done.”
Our regional voice must remain loud, unified and strictly focused on economic outcomes rather than partisan division. This collaborative, non-partisan approach is what has allowed the Tri-County area to outpace much of the state in job growth and innovation.
The Post-Session Roadmap: A Call to Action
The end of a legislative session should not signal a return to “business as usual.” For the Central Oregon business owner, the “interim” period between now and the next session is actually the most critical window for influence. I urge my colleagues across the region to take three specific steps:
- Audit the Impact: Don’t wait for your tax preparer to tell you how new legislation affects you next year. Review the bills passed this session now and determine exactly how they impact your bottom line, your regulatory burden and your employees.
- Build the Relationship: Invite your local representatives to your facility this summer. Let them see the people and the processes behind the numbers. Policy is personal; when a legislator understands your workflow, they are far more likely to call you for input before a bill is even drafted.
- Engage with Regional Entities: Lean into the work being done by EDCO, COIC and your local Chambers. We are stronger when we speak as a collective economic bloc. Ensure our perspectives are reflected in the Governor’s ongoing Prosperity Council efforts before the June 30 recommendation deadline.
The economic vitality of Central Oregon depends on a functional partnership between those who write the laws and those who live under them. By taking an active, educational role in advocacy, we don’t just protect our own interests — we secure the future of the place we call home.
