Oregon business leaders urge Gov. Kotek to think bigger with prosperity council effort

The Oregon Business Council urged Gov. Tina Kotek’s economic prosperity council to pursue more ambitious policies to address the state’s economic challenges, including high housing costs, outdated land use rules, and concerns about businesses leaving Oregon. The council, led by former Senate Minority Leader Tim Knopp, was created in December to develop policy recommendations on issues like permitting reform and tax incentives, with formal proposals expected in summer. The business group criticized Oregon’s corporate activity tax and called for 2027 legislative action on land use reform, warning that Portland’s high taxes and regulatory burden are hindering the state’s ability to compete for talent and investment as it faces negative population growth for the first time in modern history.