Aug. 6, 2025
OBI’s Oregon Competitiveness Agenda identifies three problems limiting the state’s economic competitiveness:
- Oregon is an expensive state in which to live and operate a business.
- Oregon creates unnecessary obstacles to opportunity and success.
- Oregon’s political culture undervalues the state’s private sector.
Given these persistent problems, it’s no surprise that CNBC in 2025 dropped Oregon a stunning 11 places in its annual America’s Top States for Business ranking. The state’s overall ranking is now a lowly 39.
Unfortunately, the Legislature did little in 2025 to improve the state’s business climate. It passed up numerous opportunities to make modest, common-sense adjustments to the state’s tax structure. It also declined to make meaningful changes to the state’s regulatory climate, which the CATO Institute in 2023 deemed the country’s fifth worst.
The session’s outcome could have been far worse for businesses, however. OBI’s government affairs team worked tirelessly not only to support bills that promised to help Oregon’s employers, but also to mitigate the harm done by bills that threatened to erode the state’s business climate.
Finally, while legislators in 2025 did little to improve the state’s business climate, they increasingly cite the importance of a thriving private sector. That is a reason for optimism. Healthy businesses provide good jobs, support philanthropy and generate revenue for public services.
OBI’s 2025 End of Session Report, which you can view and download below, discusses the session’s highlights and describes the fates of dozens of bills that mattered most to Oregon’s employers.