Thomas Busse, a former candidate for the Oregon House of Representatives, expressed concerns about Oregon's proposed legislation, SB 1166. He said that the bill contains unclear and unreasonable requirements that could undermine safety measures for rideshare services. Busse made these remarks during his testimony.
"The bill includes unclear and unreasonable requirements that could undermine safety," said Busse. "We are extremely concerned that they will limit a TNC's ability to remove unsafe actors from the platform. The definition of a 'deactivation' is overly broad and captures legitimate temporary restrictions. This not only undermines reports made by survivors, but has the chilling effect of discouraging future reporting."
According to the Oregon Legislature, Uber has raised safety concerns regarding SB 1166’s deactivation policies. The company argues that the bill's definition of "deactivation" is overly broad and could limit its ability to swiftly remove unsafe individuals from the platform. Uber is particularly concerned that the bill’s provisions would delay necessary actions, especially in cases involving harassment or violence. The company also warned that the bill’s third-party review process could discourage survivor reporting.
The bill includes a progressive discipline requirement, which Uber claims could significantly delay safety actions, particularly in urgent situations requiring immediate intervention. The company highlighted that combining the "just cause" standard with mandated progressive discipline is unprecedented for safety-related deactivations. Uber noted that no other state requires such an external review process in cases involving harassment or violence.
If SB 1166 passes, Uber warns that the financial burden could force companies like itself to reduce or even cease operations in parts of Oregon. The economic impact would be especially severe in non-urban areas where driver earnings and rider demand are lower. Scaling back operations would reduce affordable transportation access and negatively affect both drivers and riders.
Uber prefers collaboration with lawmakers rather than confrontation over SB 1166. The company emphasized the importance of balancing driver earnings and safety measures without implementing policies that could hinder operations. It suggested further dialogue to achieve a more workable solution benefiting both drivers and passengers.
Busse is an accountant who ran as a Libertarian for District 33 in the 2024 general election but was not elected. He holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of California, Berkeley, and has experience volunteering with the IRS/VITA program.