Through direct engagement with legislators, coalition partners, and regulatory agencies, AOHI ensures the hazelnut industry has a voice in Salem on issues affecting:
- Agricultural labor and workforce policy
- Environmental and climate regulation
- Taxation and business competitiveness
- Transportation and supply chain infrastructure
- Agricultural research and innovation
- Crop protection and production tools
AOHI’s advocacy helps protect the economic sustainability and long-term competitiveness of Oregon’s hazelnut industry. Below are some of the issues addressed over the past two years alone.
2026 Legislation
• Agricultural Wage Liability (HB 4089)
AOHI worked with agricultural coalitions to address legislation that would have created criminal penalties for wage disputes or administrative errors. Following industry engagement, the bill was amended to focus on construction labor brokers and removed broad impacts on agricultural employers.
• Vacation Pay Liability (HB 4094)
AOHI represented industry concerns regarding proposals requiring mandatory payout of unused vacation time at employee separation. Industry input helped shape amendments clarifying that employers must follow their written policies rather than creating new liabilities. The bill ultimately did not advance.
• Immigration Compliance and Employer Protections (HB 4111)
AOHI supported negotiations to ensure agricultural employers were protected when complying with federal employment verification requirements. Amendments were adopted to provide clear legal defenses for employers responding to federal audits or documentation changes.
• Employer Health Coverage Reporting (HB 4147)
AOHI engaged with business coalitions regarding proposals requiring the state to identify employers whose workers rely on the Oregon Health Plan. Advocacy efforts focused on preventing employer-specific reporting and encouraging aggregated sector-level reporting instead.
• State Tax Policy Changes (SB 1507)
AOHI monitored and communicated industry concerns regarding state tax changes tied to federal bonus depreciation provisions. The bill ultimately passed but raised broader discussion around maintaining Oregon’s competitiveness for agricultural businesses.
• Climate Liability Framework (SB 1541)
AOHI participated in agricultural coalition discussions regarding the proposed Climate Superfund program. Concerns centered on potential fuel cost impacts and long-term regulatory implications for agriculture. The proposal did not advance during the session.
• Transportation Funding Policy (SB 1599)
AOHI monitored changes to statewide transportation funding referral timing, recognizing the potential downstream effects on rural infrastructure and agricultural supply chains.
• Wildfire and Property Insurance Transparency (SB 1540)
AOHI tracked legislation requiring insurers to disclose wildfire risk modeling methodologies due to potential impacts on rural insurance availability and costs for orchard and processing facilities.
2025 Legislative Session
• Farm Equipment Property Tax Treatment (HB 4111)
AOHI supported legislation clarifying the tax treatment of farm machinery and equipment. The bill passed, ensuring agricultural equipment remains exempt from property taxation beginning in the 2025 tax year.
• Warehouse Workforce Regulations (HB 4127)
AOHI monitored legislation establishing productivity quota rules for warehouse operations. The final legislation was narrowed to large retail distribution centers and avoided broader impacts on agricultural processing facilities.
• Climate and Building Efficiency Regulations (HB 3409 Implementation)
AOHI worked with policymakers to ensure hazelnut processing facilities could qualify for exemptions under Oregon’s building performance standards. Agricultural buildings remain exempt from performance requirements while maintaining reporting compliance.
• Climate Protection Program Implementation
AOHI engaged in discussions surrounding Oregon’s greenhouse gas reduction framework and monitored potential indirect cost impacts on agricultural operations, transportation, and energy-intensive processing.
• Advanced Clean Trucks Rule (ACT)
AOHI participated in industry discussions regarding Oregon’s adoption of California’s zero-emission truck requirements, recognizing potential long-term implications for agricultural logistics and equipment availability.
• Agricultural Workforce and Labor Policy
AOHI monitored multiple proposals related to agricultural overtime, employer liability, and workplace standards to ensure policies reflect the seasonal and operational realities of specialty crop agriculture.
• Pesticide and Crop Protection Policy
AOHI worked with agricultural partners to monitor proposals affecting pesticide availability and crop protection tools critical to orchard management.
• Agricultural Research and Extension Funding
AOHI supported continued funding for Oregon State University’s Extension Service and Agricultural Experiment Stations, recognizing their critical role in research, disease management, and production innovation for the hazelnut industry.