Detail

Join NAPEO's ​OR/AK/WA Leadership Council Forum May 23 at the Imperial Restaurant from 5:00pm-​10:00pm. The meeting will feature presentations and discussions on legislative and regulatory issues affecting PEOs doing business in ​OR/AK/WA. Agenda highlights include:

Oregon: 

• Tom Barrows of Dave Barrow Associates, NAPEO’s contract lobbyist, will discuss the Oregon political landscape and the 2017 legislative session

• Joel Metlen, Public Engagement Manager for the Oregon Retirement Savings Plan (OregonSaves), will speak to the group about OregonSaves focusing on the rulemaking and implementation processes. Oregon is on the path to be the first state to fully implement such a plan, and the second set of rules (currently in development) is expected to address PEO specific language. Attendees will gain unique insight about the process from Metlen. 

• Oregon’s current fiscal state and a variety of revenue raising proposals being floated, including several that involve a gross receipts tax, will also be discussed. (speaker TBD)

Washington: 

• Mel Sorenson of Carney Badley and Spellman, WA contract lobbyist will survey Washington’s political landscape and the state’s 2017 regular and special legislative sessions.  He will focus on the host of tax bills introduced that would negatively impact PEOs.
• Two bills introduced during the regular session, SB 5765 and SB 5821, would remove the existing deduction PEOs have for pass through costs. Another bill introduced, HB 2186, would increase the B&O tax on PEOs (and a number of other industries). Each bill would have negative consequences for the industry. 
• None of these bills were passed before the legislature adjourned on April 23; however, they do carry over to the 2018 session. Governor Inslee has called a special session, during which yet another bill, SB 5929, increasing taxes on PEOs was introduced. 

• The Leadership Council will discuss implementing a long term strategy aimed at educating policymakers in state about the industry. The LC will decide whether or not to recommend to the State Government Affairs Committee the inclusion of such a strategy (and a request for any necessary resources) in the 2018 State Action Plan.

The meeting will also feature an update on the IRS PEO Certification program.
Stay tuned for more. Don’t miss this important industry gathering!