Starting January 1, 2026, a new Oregon law will significantly reshape how liability works in private construction projects. Under Senate Bill 426 (SB 426), property owners and general contractors can now be held liable for wage theft committed by subcontractors, even those buried deep in the contracting chain. Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek signed SB 426 into law on June 9, 2025. It’s a landmark move—and one that raises the stakes for compliance. Here’s what Oregon businesses need to know, and how they can start preparing now. What’s the Big Change Under SB 426? If you’re a property owner or GC in Oregon, SB 426 brings a shift in risk you can’t afford to ignore. The law says you are jointly and severally liable for unpaid wages, penalties, and benefits owed by any subcontractor working under your contract—even if you weren’t directly involved and had no knowledge of the issue. In short, it’s no longer enough to say, “That wasn’t

Global Package LLC again exhibited at last week’s WIN Expo after the show’s year-long absence. In its booth, the company displayed the full range of bottles it has on hand in inventory, as well as the many innovative new bottles it has introduced over the past year.     Even with Covid protocols in place, including temperature checks at the door and masking for everyone, attendance was as good as in past years. “Turnout was great!” says Founder and CEO, Erica Harrop. “The enthusiasm was palpable. Everyone was happy to be there and they were asking lots of questions.”      On display were Estal’s unique bottle collections: the award-winning 100% ‘real cycle’ Wild Glass™ and the Sommelier Mouth bottles; both lines now include Flint glass options. “People are looking for new and interesting glass,” says Harrop, “and all were quite interested in our unique bottle shapes and the