Advocacy in Action: Springfield Chamber Submits Opposition to HB 3838

The Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce remains committed to advocating for policies that foster economic growth, support local businesses, and create a stable and thriving workforce. In recent testimony submitted to the House Committee on Labor and Workplace Standards, the Chamber voiced strong opposition to House Bill 3838, a bill that would establish a Workforce Standards Board with sweeping authority over employment policies in the home and community-based care sector.

While the Chamber recognizes the importance of strengthening Oregon’s workforce – especially in critical fields like healthcare – HB 3838 presents serious concerns for employers, particularly small businesses and nonprofit care providers operating on tight margins. The proposed legislation would shift wage and employment decisions from elected representatives to an unelected board, introduce new regulatory burdens, and threaten the stability of essential care providers across the state.

“HB 3838 would establish a Workforce Standards Board with broad authority to set employment policies for an entire industry. While we strongly support strengthening Oregon’s workforce, particularly in critical sectors like healthcare, this approach creates significant risks for employers, particularly small businesses, both non-profit and for-profit.”

– Vonnie Mikkelsen, President & CEO, Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce

Rather than imposing rigid mandates, the Chamber urges policymakers to pursue employer-supported solutions that address workforce challenges without jeopardizing the viability of businesses that serve Oregon’s most vulnerable populations. Below is the full testimony submitted to the committee outlining the Chamber’s position on HB 3838:

March 19, 2025 
RE: Opposition to HB 3838 – Home and Community-Based Services Workforce Standards Board

Chair Grayber, Vice Chairs, and Members of the Committee,

Thank you for the opportunity to submit testimony in opposition to HB 3838 on behalf of the Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce. Our Chamber represents a diverse business community, including many small employers in the home and community-based care sector, who are deeply concerned about the impact of this bill. HB 3838 would establish a Workforce Standards Board with broad authority to set employment policies for an entire industry. While we strongly support strengthening Oregon’s workforce, particularly in critical sectors like healthcare, this approach creates significant risks for employers, particularly small businesses, both non-profit and for-profit.

Concerns with HB 3838

1. Outsourcing Employment Policy to an Unelected Board
   HB 3838 shifts wage and employment decisions away from the Legislature to an appointed board with sweeping regulatory powers. Creating an unelected regulatory body introduces unnecessary bureaucracy and uncertainty for employers, undermining authority of the Department of Human Services, Oregon OSHA, and the Bureau of Labor and Industries who already have regulatory authority over this industry sector.
2. Threat to Small Businesses and Workforce Stability
   Many care providers are small businesses and nonprofits operating on tight margins. Additional regulatory costs and wage mandates could force closures or industry consolidation, limiting choices and driving up costs for Oregon’s most vulnerable residents. As noted in Monday’s public hearing, many providers already invest in workforce training and career development—this bill risks disrupting those efforts with rigid new mandates.
3. One-Size-Fits-All Regulation Ignores Industry Complexity
   Oregon’s home and community-based care providers serve diverse populations under different funding models. A broad regulatory board will struggle to account for these differences, potentially imposing inflexible rules that do more harm than good.

Other solutions to consider
Rather than outsourcing employment and wage policy, the Legislature should focus on practical, employer-supported solutions such as:

• Increasing Medicaid reimbursement rates to allow sustainable wage increases. 
• Expanding workforce development grants and training initiatives to incentivize upskilling and professional development. 
• Reducing regulatory barriers that drive up the cost of doing business. 

The Springfield Chamber supports policies that encourage workforce participation, maintain fair employer-employee relationships, and foster economic growth without creating unnecessary costs or administrative burdens on business. We urge you to reject HB 3838 bill in favor of collaborative strategies that support both workers and employers.

Sincerely, 

Vonnie Mikkelsen 
President and CEO 
Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce 

More About the Springfield Chamber’s Business Advocacy Efforts
As a trusted convener and provider of business resources, the Springfield Chamber is committed to fostering policies and incentives that contribute to our competitive position in private sector job creation, retention, and economic growth. The Chamber recognizes the systemic interdependencies of a healthy economy and provides an ear and a voice for local business at the confluence of government, commerce, and community. Through a robust platform of member advocacy services, the Chamber advocates for business by increasing visibility, dialogue, and representation at local, state, and federal policy circles around issues of impact and interest to their members.