b'2020 Post WPMAEXPOOREGON Fuels Association (OFA) Report Oregon OriginalMatt TruaxORthe Oregon Fuels Association (OFA)Beginning on a positive note,Annual Conference is scheduled for July 19th-21st, in Sunriver, Oregon. Events will be similar to those in the past, including evening dinners,entertainment, golf, trap shooting and an educational session. We hopeOFA President to see many of you there!Prior to the COVID-19 outbreak, 2020 was set to be a busy legislative year in Oregon. OFA During the short-session that began in February, more than 250 bills were introduced and 3 passednone of which directly impact the business community. Cap-and-Trade legisla-tion was the hot topic. Without the necessary quorum to move forward, the short session effectively ended in early March. In the wake of those events, Governor Kate Brown released an Executive Order (EO), Directing State Agencies to Take Actions to Reduce and Regulate GHG Emissions. The EO remains in effect unless and until it is superseded by statute, another EO or narrowed by a court. Sixteen state agencies have been given directives by the Governor to reduce GHG emissions; by at least 45 percent below 1990 emissions levels by 2035, and by at least 80 percent below 1990 emissions levels by 2050. These state agencies are required to report back to the Governor by March 15th, 2020, with proposed actions. OFA is considering all actions to stop these new regulations, including legalactionaspartofalargercoalitionfightingthemandates.In the spring of 2019, Oregon lawmakers passed a Corporate Activities Tax (CAT) of 0.57% on all in-state sales, allowing for a 35% deduction on either cost of goods sold or labor costs. The CAT took effect January 1, 2020, and applies to all forms of business entities. The bill contained several exemptions, including the exclusion of receipts from the sale, transfer, exchange or other disposition of motor vehicle fuel or any other prod-uct used for the propulsion of motor vehicles. Beyond fuel, excise taxes on alcohol are also exempt from the tax, as are groceries, including non-alcoholic beverage sales from wholesale and retail, including c-stores. Exempt grocery items are those that fall under the federal SNAP program. Cereals, breads, snack items, fruits and vegetables are exempt, for example, but hot prepared foods meant for immediate consumption are not exempt. The economic impacts of COVID-19 are beginning to be felt. By mid-March, there are66confirmedcasesin16Oregoncountiesand2reporteddeaths.EffectiveMarch17th, at 5:00 PM, Governor Brown ordered the closure of all restaurants and bars with theexception of take-out or delivery. This order also prohibits gatherings of more than 25 people and is scheduled to last 4 weeks. As a result, the OFA is considering the termination ofascheduledgolfingeventinearlyMay.Detailswillfollow.Spurredbyrecentevents,Oregonbusinessassociationsarerequestingtemporaryfinancialreliefincludingsuspend-ingtheCAT.TheOFAisalsoworkingwiththeGovernorsofficeonaSelfServiceRe-quest that would temporarily allow for self-service at all fueling stations in Oregon. This is to prevent stations from closing in the event that an attendant is not available.S48 www.wpma.com / Spring 2020'