| SENATE MAJORITY OFFICE State Capitol
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News Release
February 22, 2011
CONTACT: Molly Woon (503) 986-1074
Bill to centralize business registration, help small business owners, has first hearing in Senate Committee
Secretary of State Brown, Senators Courtney and Rosenbaum all testify in support
SSALEM – Oregon’s Secretary of State Kate Brown and Senate leaders testified in support of Senate Bill 6 during a hearing of the Senate Business, Economic Development, and Transportation Committee this afternoon. SB 6 is a key piece of the Senate Democrats’ agenda commitment to create a “one-stop shop” for businesses to get up and running in Oregon.
“During times like these, as Oregon begins its economic recovery, we need to make sure we’re doing everything we can to help our small businesses thrive and grow,” said Senate Majority Leader Diane Rosenbaum (D-Portland). “SB 6 is one piece of our work this session to help small businesses, and I truly believe it is meaningful help.”
SB 6 will simplify the online registration process, allow businesses to update and maintain their registration information online, and set the goal of integrating the Secretary of State’s current online registry with local governments’ business registration. This vertical integration with local governments will simplify the current website, saving time for business owners and allowing them to get more done at one time, in one place.
"The organization of government should not stand in the way of any Oregon business,” said Brown. “The Corporation Division's Central Business registry cuts the red tape and makes starting up a business in Oregon as easy as possible, getting more Oregonians back to work.”
According to the Secretary of State’s Office, there are more than 300,000 active registered businesses in Oregon. There are 110,000 businesses that have employees. Small businesses make up 98 percent of the business here in Oregon.
“The bottom line is this: this bill will make it a little bit easier to start and maintain a business in Oregon,” said Courtney.
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For more information on the Senate Majority Caucus, please visit orsenatemajority.org