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Oregon OSHA Adopts Significant COVID-19 Workplace Safety and Health Rules

Nov 13, 2020

From the Ground Up, Legal Developments—Oregon

Oregon has become the third state in the nation to enact a workplace safety and health standard specifically addressing the coronavirus. Many provisions of the new Oregon OSHA rule take effect November 16, 2020. While some of the more onerous provisi...

New Contractor Requirements for Oregon Public University Construction Projects

Aug 20, 2020

By Brianna J. Wellman

From the Ground Up, Construction, Legal Developments—Oregon

During the one-day second special session, the Oregon Legislature passed two budget bills—SB 5721 and SB 5722—relating to public construction. While SB 5721 increases bond authorizations for the 2019-2021 biennium and revises previously approved bond...

After Four Years of Controversy, Portland Adopts the Residential Infill Project

Aug 13, 2020

By Kelly S. Hossaini

From the Ground Up, Housing, Legal Developments—Oregon

After four years of deliberation and analysis, the Portland City Council adopted the Residential Infill Project (RIP) on August 12, 2020. According to the City, RIP legislation is intended to increase housing opportunities by opening up the types of...

New DOJ Clean Water Act Civil Enforcement Discretion Memo

Jul 29, 2020

By Suzanne C. Lacampagne

From the Ground Up, Environmental

The U.S. Department of Justice recently issued a new policy on limiting federal civil enforcement penalty actions under the Clean Water Act when a state is already enforcing. The Assistant Attorney General for the Environment and Natural Resources Di...

Bid Shopping Protection Extended to Steel and Rebar Subcontractors on Public Works Projects

Jul 28, 2020

From the Ground Up, Legal Developments - Washington

Washington continues to expand its protection of subcontractors from the dubious business practice of bid shopping, at least on public works projects. Washington law requires that general contractors list subcontractors that are to perform certain p...

Oregon “Omnibus” COVID-19 Relief Bill: What Did and Did Not Make the Cut

Jul 22, 2020

By Brianna J. Wellman

From the Ground Up, Legal Developments—Oregon, COVID-19 Resource Center, Government & Public Entities

During the first special session of 2020, the Oregon Legislature passed HB 4212A (commonly referred to as the “omnibus” bill), which was signed into law by Governor Brown on June 30, 2020. The bill contains a variety of statutory changes aimed to pro...