SALEM, Ore. — Oregon Gov. Kate Brown has signed a bill into law that phases out the state’s agricultural overtime pay exemption.
The Capital Press reported Brown wrote in a letter Friday to Senate President Peter Courtney and Speaker of the House Dan Rayfield that she views this bill as an important step in the right direction, to correct a historic wrong.
“This policy will make a significant difference in the lives of farmworkers and their families,” Brown wrote.
The new law establishes overtime pay requirements for agricultural workers in the state after 40 hours per week, with the requirements phased in over five years starting in 2023.