HB 3177 Restricts pandemic impact on businesses

This bill brings equity across the business sector during the remainder of the state of emergency related to the COVID-19 outbreak, restricting what the Governor may impose on certain businesses.

Personal Choice and Responsibility
Nothing in this bill limits the authority of the Governor to impose generally applicable requirements on individuals, including physical distancing or masking requirements.

Limited Government
For nearly a year of business closures, tens of thousands of Oregonians have been unemployed from the hospitality sector across our state. Many of these entrepreneurs in the hospitality sector are being forced to close their doors forever. These business owners, their hardworking employees and their families have faced extreme hardships with devastating delays in business relief, unemployment insurance payments, with little to no income and no relief in sight. Many of these restaurants and hospitality industry businesses will close their doors forever, taking these jobs with them. The majority of these impacted Oregonians are the most vulnerable working families across our state. According to the Oregon Employment Department, Oregonians employed within the hospitality industry are the most racially diverse and the second most ethnically diverse in Oregon. We are losing our unique, locally family owned, independent small eateries. These businesses do not have the ability to weather the income deficits from closures, unlike their corporate chain competitors.

Free Markets
The Governor may not impose restrictions under ORS 401.165 to 401.236 or 433.441 to 433.452 on businesses of eating and drinking establishments; and indoor physical recreation and fitness establishments. The governor may: (a) Impose physical distancing requirements of up to six feet between individuals; (b) Require physical barriers or partitions between individuals; or (c) Impose restrictions that are generally applicable to all types of businesses.