Multiple minimum wage changes are being discussed in Oregon. Two are ballot measures that could be voted on this November, and one is a bill from the Governor's office that could be voted on in the Oregon Senate as early as February 8.
The first ballot measure has three different versions. The first version would repeal the state preemption on local governments setting their own minimum wage higher than the state minimum wage. The second version would repeal the preemption and raise the state minimum wage to $13.50 per hour by 2018. The third version would not repeal the preemption but would raise the state minimum wage to $13.50 per hour by 2019.
The second ballot measure would raise the state minimum wage to $15 per hour by 2019.
As a compromise between these ballot measures and taking no action on minimum wage, the Governor has proposed a bill that would raise the state minimum wage to $13.25 per hour and Portland's minimum wage to $14.50 per hour by 2022. If the bill passes, the first raise to the minimum wage would be in July 2016, when both Portland and the state minimum wage would raise to $9.75 per hour. The bill is going before the Senate Workforce Committee for a vote on February 4. The full Senate could vote on the bill as early as February 8.
Cascade will continue to monitor these developments and keep you updated if the bill passes.