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Climate Emergency

Legislative Report - Week of 4/14

Climate Emergency Team

Coordinator: Claudia Keith

Efficient and Resilient Buildings: Bill Glassmire
Environmental Justice: Nancy Rosenberger
Environmental Rights Amendment: Claudia Keith
Natural Climate Solution - Forestry: Josie Koehne
CEI - Critical Energy Infrastructure : Nikki Mandell and Laura Rogers
Community Resilince & Emergency Management: Rebecca Gladstone
Transportation: Claudia Keith
Joint Ways and Means - Budgets, Lawsuits, Green/Public Banking,
Divestment/ESG: Claudia Keith
Find additional Climate Change Advocacy volunteers in Natural Resources

Please see Climate Emergency Overview here.

Jump to a topic:

Environmental Rights Constitutional Amendment
Environmental Justice Bills
Climate Priority Advocacy Groups
Climate Priorities with League Testimony, League Endorsement
Critical Energy Infrastructure (CEI) Emergency Management Package
Energy Affordability and Utility Accountability Package
Climate Treasury Investment Bills
Natural and Working Lands
Other Priorities
Other Climate Bills: New
Priority Bills That Died In Policy Committee
Transportation
Climate Emergency JWM Budget Concerns
Senate EE and House CEE Policy Committee Notes (4/7 - 4/10)
Example of recent Chamber votes
News and Commission Meetings
Climate Lawsuits/Our Children’s Trust
Oregon Climate Policy

The Trump administration actions including project 2025 and other

partisan issues are and will continue to effect Oregon financial stability

including Climate / Energy policies and funding. April 10, 2025: ‘Trump

targets climate laws with order that could derail Oregon’s efforts ‘ |

OPB. “Meredith Connolly, Oregon-based director of policy and strategy

at nonprofit advocacy group Climate Solutions, said the executive order

could target almost all laws that focus on climate, renewable energy

and environmental justice that any city or county in Oregon have

passed “even if there isn’t a constitutional or legal basis for it.”

Environmental Rights Constitutional Amendment

At this point in the session, it is unclear if SJR 28 will move out of Sen Rules. SJR 28 proposed -1 amendment, Environmental Rights Constitutional amendment (ERA) Senate Joint Resolution - with referral to the 2026 ballot, public hearing was 3/26. The League provided support with comments testimony. The bill is in Senate Rules, so the Legislative first chamber deadlines are not applicable. A Work Session is not yet scheduled. The -1 amendment is a partial rewrite and may address the League’s concerns.

LWVUS has provided guidance since over 26 states have - or are in the process of voting on green / environmental rights constitutional topics or initiatives. These usually take the form of a legislative–referral to the people. The New Mexico green amendment campaign focuses on racial justice.

Environmental Rights Amendment News:

March 27, ‘Oregonians ask Legislature to let voters decide on constitutional right to healthy climate - A hearing for Senate Joint Resolution 28 was packed with children and seniors asking legislators to refer to voters a constitutional amendment enshrining climate rights’| OCC Oregon Capital Chronicle. Find ERA coalition Q and A here.
March 27, 2025: Oregonians Urge Senate Rules Committee to Refer SJR 28-1 to the People (Constitutional Environmental Rights Amendment)

Environmental Justice Bills

HB2548: establishes an agriculture workforce labor standards board, League Testimony. Work Session was held 4/9 passed with no amendments, no recommendation and referred to House Rules.

Climate Priority Advocacy Groups

For the first time, this year most of our priorities are included in the bipartisan 2025 Legislative Environmental Caucus Priorities, Citizens Utility Board (CUB) Priorities and/or Oregon Conservation Network (OCN) priorities. OCN is the only formal environmental lobby coalition group in the capitol. Consequently, for some of these bills (especially those in a package) the League may just join coalition sign-on letters rather than providing individual testimony.

Climate Priorities with League Testimony with League Endorsement and Still Alive

HB 3170: Community Resilience Hubs and networks: Work Session 3/4, passed to JWM, DHS, Sponsors, Rep. Marsh, Sen Pham and Rep Tan. League testimony

Critical Energy Infrastructure (CEI) Emergency Management Package

The following four bills are part of a package which was the subject of public hearings February 27 and March 6 in the House Energy Management, General Government, and Veterans Committee:

HB 2151: Testimony; appears dead 
HB 2152: Testimony; work session held, passed, moved to Joint Ways and Means (JWM) with -1 and -2 amendments Staff Measure Summary (SMS).
HB 2949: Testimony; work session held, passed to JWM w -5 amendment new SMS.
HB 3450A Testimony, work session held, 4/8 passed adopted amendment -1.
See CEI Hub Seismic Risk Analysis (The study, Impacts of Fuel Releases from the CEI Hub, is intended to characterize and quantify the anticipated damages from the CEI Hub in the event of the Cascadia Subduction Zone (CSZ) Earthquake.) CEI energy storage transition plan

Energy Affordability and Utility Accountability Package

HB 3081 (League testimony) work session held 4/8, adopted -1 amendment, awaiting transfer to desk, creates an active navigator to help access energy efficiency incentives all in one place  
SB 88 (League testimony) work session was 3/24, limits the ability of utility companies to charge ratepayers for lobbying, litigation costs, fines, marketing, industry fees, and political spending.  Moved to Sen Rules on 3/28.

In addition to our testimony, LWVOR joined the Oregon Conservation Network, coordinated through the Oregon League of Conservation Voters, in sign-on letters supporting both HB 3081 and SB 88. PH 3/4 3/4

Climate Treasury Investment Bills

SB 681: Dead: Treasury: Fossil Fuel investment moratorium, Senate Finance and Revenue, PH 3/19. testimony. Sen Golden.  
HB 2200 -1 , work session was 4/8, bill was requested by previous Treasury Sec Tobias and supported by Treasurer Steiner, related to ESG investing, identified as the compromise bill. League – NO Comment, moves to the floor, no JWM required.
HB 2966A: Establishes the State Public Financing / public bank Task Force, Work Session 3/6/2025 passed to Joint Ways and Means (JWM), League Testimony, Representative Gamba, Senator Golden, Frederick, Representative Andersen, Evans

Natural and Working Lands

HB 5039 financial administration of the Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board; JWM NR SC, League testimony    
HB 3103A – work session 3/31. Moved to JWM, Overweight Timber Harvest, , League Testimony, new adopted -5 amendment.

Other Priorities

HB 2566A: Stand-alone Energy resilience Projects, Work Session was 3/20, moved to JWM, Rep Gamba was the only nay. At the request of Governor Tina Kotek (H CEE), DOE presentation      
HB 3365A: work session was 4/9, moved to floor with adopted amendment -4. climate change instruction /curriculum in public schools, House Cm Educ, PH was 3/12, League Testimony , NO Fiscal noted, Chief Sponsors: Rep Fragala, Rep McDonald, Rep Andersen, Gamba, Lively, Neron, Senator Patterson, Pham, Taylor.    
SB 688A: -5 , Public Utility Commission performance-based regulation of electric utilities, PH 3/12,& 3/19, work session was 3/24, $500K fiscal, moved to JWM , League testimony, Sen. Golden, Sen. Pham,     
SB 827: Solar and Storage Rebate, SEE Work session 2/17, Gov. Kotek & DOE, Senate voted 21-7, moves to House 3/4   first reading.  referred to H CEE 3/10  , PH 4/22
HB 3546, -3 the POWER Act, work session was 4/8, bipartisan vote, moved , awaiting transfer to desk. PH was 3/6, The bill requires the Public Utility Commission (PUC) to create a new rate class for the largest energy users in the state. (data centers and other high-volume users). These regulations would only apply to customers in the for-profit utility's service areas of PGE, Pacific Power, and Idaho Power. NO Fiscal, on its way to the floor. The League has approved being listed on a coalition sign on advocacy letter.     
Oregon lawmakers introduce legislation to rein in utility bills | KPTV, Citizens Utility Board CUB presentation here.    
SB 1143 : -3, moved to JWM, with bipartisan vote, PH was 3/19, Work session was 4/7 SEE, PUC established a pilot program that allows each natural gas Co to develop a utility-scale thermal energy network (TEN) pilot project to provide heating and cooling services to customers. Senator Lieber, Sollman, Representative Levy B, Senator Smith DB, Representative Andersen, Marsh. Example: Introduction to the MIT Thermal Energy Networks (MITTEN) Plan for Rapid and Cost-Effective Campus Decarbonization.

Other Climate Bills: New

HB 3609 work session 4/8, moved to JWM. The measure requires electric companies to develop and file with the Oregon Public Utility Commission a distributed power plant program for the procurement of grid services from customers of the electric company who enroll in the program. H CEE, PH 3/11
HB 3653 work session 4/8 passed unanimous awaiting transfer to desk. Allows authorized state agencies to enter into energy performance contracts without requiring a competitive procurement if the authorized state agency follows rules that the Attorney General adopts, negotiates a performance guarantee, and enters into the contract with a qualified energy service company that the ODOE prequalifies and approves.

Priority Bills that died in policy committee

Some of these related to funding may appear in the end of session reconciliation (“Christmas tree”) bill.

HB 3477: Update to Greenhouse Gas Emission Reduction Goals. League testimony . House Climate, Energy, and Environment (CEE), Sponsored by Rep GAMBA, Sen Frederick, Golden, Patterson, Pham K, Taylor    
SB 54: Work Session was cancelled. The bill required landlords provide cooling for residential units. The League endorsed and added our name to a OJTA Oregon Justice Transition Alliance, sign-on letter. Energy Trust of Oregon neutral testimony includes a presentation slide deck posted to OLIS on March 19, 2025. “Energy Trust of Oregon does not support or oppose SB 54, and this is in accordance with Energy Trust’s contract with the Oregon Public Utility Commission which prohibits Energy Trust from lobbying. We are a neutral party per agreement with PUC.”
SB 1187 new Climate cost recovery Liability interagency bill, PH 4/7, Sen. Golden, Senate Energy and Environment   (Replaces SB 679 and SB 682:   
SB 680: Climate Science/Greenwashing, Sen. Golden and Manning, moved to Sen Judiciary, no recommendation, S NRWF PH was 2/26, sponsors: Campos, Frederick, Gorsek, Patterson, Prozanski, Taylor

Transportation

This ODOT video gives a good overview of the history and current status /challenges with Transportation funding and management strategic issues.

Oregon Democrats unveil $1.9 billion transportation funding plan

The plan includes raising the state gas tax to 60 cents per gallon, higher DMV fees, higher bike taxes and more. | *Oregon Capital Chronicle (OCC). ODOT answers to budget presentation questions an 18-page document dated March 13. ODOT budget presentation package detail materials can be found Here. The League is concerned with federal guidelines: “McLain and Gorsek said they’re confident in Oregon’s ability to continue to receive federal transportation grants, despite directives from U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy that federal funding should go toward states with high marriage and birth rates, no vaccine or mask mandates and that are committed to working with the federal government to enforce Trump’s immigration policy — all areas that don’t apply to Oregon.” See OCC article. KGW NEWS: What it could cost you to rescue Oregon's transportation funding | The Story | April 4, 2025

Climate Emergency JWM Budget Concerns

In order to stay on track, the Legislature must prioritize investments for vital environmental justice, climate and community protection programs (CPP). Without additional appropriations this session, the following existing successful climate, CPP and environmental justice programs may run out of funding:

Community Renewable Energy Grant Program (ODOE)   
Rental Home Heat Pump Program (ODOE)   
Community Heat Pump Program (ODOE)   
Oregon Clean Vehicle Rebate Program/Charge Ahead (DEQ)   
Medium and Heavy-Duty Vehicles Rebates + Infrastructure Grants (DEQ)   
Community Resilience Hubs and Networks (ODHS)   
Climate Change Worker Relief Fund (DAS)   
Oregon Solar + Storage Rebate Program (ODOE)   
Natural & Working Lands Fund (OWEB)

Senate EE and House CEE Policy Committee Notes (4/7 - 4/10)

The committee reported out many energy- and environment-related bills at the deadline, sending the following bills to Joint W&M with "lite" fiscal notes:

HB 3081-1 (on OCN hot list and supported by LWVOR with written testimony) – One-Stop Shop 2.0, creating an online navigation program at ODOE to help Oregonians obtain information on federal, state, local, and utility incentives in a single place.
HB 2062-1 (on OCN hot list) – Requires producers of batteries or battery-containing products to join a battery producer responsibility organization and implement it to collect and recycle batteries. The -1 amendment is a substantial replacement of the introduced bill.
HB 3868 – Requires ODOE to study avoided costs paid to qualifying facilities under the federal Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act (PURPA) compared with the costs incurred by investor-owned utilities to acquire or maintain renewable energy generation facilities.
HB 2038-3 – Requires ODOE et al. to study a broad range of nuclear energy topics, including legal pathways for the disposal of nuclear waste. The amended bill is less focused on drawing out positive aspects of nuclear energy.
HB 2410-2 – Allows EFSC to issue a site certificate for a small modular reactor nuclear facility demonstration project in Umatilla County, subject to a referendum of county residents. The amendment adds requirements for consultation with tribes that have lands in the county and prohibits temporary storage of high-level radioactive waste on tribal lands without prior consultation. Republican members characterized the bill as an agreement to “start the conversation” with tribes in the county. Their votes in favor prevailed against the opposing Democratic votes.
HB 3539 – Requires EQC to contract with a third party to study and determine a GHG reporting emissions factor for electricity purchased from unspecified sources.
HB 2065 – Establishes a process for interconnecting microgrids and community microgrids with a public utility’s distribution or transmission system, including timelines and procedures for review and approval. Applicants could use either utility-conducted or third-party studies, and utilities would have to provide requested technical data.
HB 2066-2 – Directs the PUC to investigate and establish a regulatory framework to allow ownership, deployment and use of microgrids and community microgrids. The amendment greatly expands the scope of the required investigation and gives the PUC 18 months from the effective date to establish the regulatory framework. Chair Lively noted that the PUC will need flexibility in the study timeline, as increasing demands on the commission to study policy issues will increase its workload significantly.
HB 3609 – Requires each electric utility to develop a distributed power plant program for the procurement of grid services to be provided by distributed energy resources.

The committee moved the following bills to the House floor with a do pass recommendation (minimum fiscal impact):

HB 3546-3 (on OCN hot list) – Requires the PUC to provide for a classification of service for large energy use facilities rated at 20 MW or more (such as data centers). PUC would have to require utilities to enter into a 10-year contract with these users to pay a minimum amount or percentage for the contract term, which could include a charge for excess demand.
HB 2961-7 (on OCN hot list) – Increases the percentage of electrical service capacity for EV charging that must be installed in parking areas of new multifamily and mixed-use buildings with privately owned commercial space and 10 or more residential dwelling units. The amendment limits the bill’s application to the Portland metro area.

The committee moved HB 3597-1 to Joint Transportation and W&M without recommendation. The amendment replaces the original “study” bill with policy changes to the EV rebate program, allowing DEQ to adjust Charge Ahead Program rebate amounts based on available funding and expanding rebate eligibility. It also requires the EQC to allocate at least $500,000 per biennium from the Zero-Emission Incentive Fund for outreach and education, but directs DEQ to suspend activities if the fund balance falls below $1 million.

NOTE: The committee removed HB 3119 from the agenda -- this is the bill that would prohibit DEQ from implementing or enforcing the Advanced Clean Trucks regulations before January 1, 2027.

By a 41-13 vote, the House passed HB 3336 (Gamba), which would declare state policy that electric companies must meet the required clean energy targets in ORS 469A.410; develop sufficient resources to meet load growth; create efficiencies and resilience in the transmission system; and maintain energy affordability. It would require electric companies selling more than 2 million MW annually to file strategic plans with the PUC to use cost-effective grid enhancing technologies (GETs, defined in the bill) and update the plans every two years. An electric company would have to carry out its first filed strategic plan by January 1, 2030.

By a 17-10 vote, the Senate passed SB 726 A (Gelser Blouin), directing the EQC to adopt rules requiring the use of advanced methane detection technology to monitor surface emissions at municipal solid waste landfills. Landfill operators would have to use approved technologies to monitor emissions across the landfill surface, report results in a standardized format to DEQ, retain monitoring records for at least 5 years, and conduct follow-up monitoring within 10 days of any exceedance. In case of an exceedance in an active landfill area, operators would have to submit a mitigation plan to DEQ. Per the fiscal impact statement, the advanced technology specified in the bill would cost local governments operating landfills approximately $5,000 per monitoring event, or $20,000 annually per landfill.

Example of recent Chamber votes

The originating chambers today passed two bills listed as OCN Bills of Support:

News and Commission Meetings

Oregon Climate Action Commission to Meet Virtually on April 11, 2025 — Agenda, includes 2025 Legislation update, Transmission Policy issues,  Federal Funding Status, Energy Strategy, Closing remarks and next steps.
Climate Solutions : Thermal Energy Networks win win :   
Carbon sequestration/storage: See DOGAMI Agency Budget– Geologic Carbon Dioxide Sequestration Interactive Map | U.S. Geological Survey (usgs.gov ). (see Natural Resources Legislative Report which covers both these topics and Geothermal Drilling.  pics and Geothermal Drilling.

Climate Lawsuits/Our Children’s Trust

Here is one example of how to track ODEQ Climate Protection Program cases.

Basically, there are a number of active federal lawsuits,

March 2025 2 updates: March 27, 2025

Climate Litigation Updates (March 2025, Part 2)

March 10, 2025: Climate Litigation Updates (March 2025, Part 1)

Another source: Columbia University Law - Sabin Climate DB lists 85 lawsuits , (active and dismissed) mentioning Oregon.

Our Children’s Trust : Recent Press Releases and News Coverage

April 4, 2025: Youth Plaintiffs Ask Alaska Supreme Court to Intervene in Closed Door Transfer of Alaska LNG Project, Hear their Claims in Court

March 24, 2025: Supreme Court Denies Cert in Juliana; Legacy of Youth-Led Climate Lawsuit Lives On

April 2, 2025 – KLCC : Our Children's Trust: What now?

April 2, 2025 - OPB - Think Out Loud ‘Founder of Our Children’s Trust on what the end of Juliana v. US means for youth and climate policy

Founder of Our Children’s Trust on what the end of Juliana v. US means for youth and climate policy

Oregon Climate Policy - Historical Abbreviated Outline:

AI Opinion with footnotes: 4/9/25:

Oregon aims to significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions, with goals to achieve 50% reduction by 2035 and 90% by 2050, through initiatives like the Climate Protection Program (CPP) and investments in carbon capture projects. [1, 2, 3, 4]

Here's a more detailed look at Oregon's climate, energy, and carbon reduction efforts:

Climate Action Goals: [4, 4, 5, 5]

2035 Goal: Reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 50% below 1990 levels. [4, 4, 5, 5]
2050 Goal: Reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 90% below 1990 levels. [4, 4, 5, 5]
Executive Order 20-04: Established the 2035 and 2050 goals. [5, 5, 6]
Oregon Climate Action Commission: Tracks emissions, recommends strategies, and prepares communities for climate change impacts. [7, 7]
Climate Protection Program (CPP): Aims to reduce emissions from fossil fuels used in Oregon. [2, 2]
Natural and Working Lands: Oregon aims to increase carbon capture and storage in forests, grasslands, and other natural areas. [1, 1, 8, 8]

Energy and Carbon Reduction Strategies: [9]

Clean Energy Targets: Require utilities to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from electricity sold in Oregon. [9]
Oregon Clean Fuels Program: Reduces the carbon intensity of transportation fuels by encouraging cleaner alternatives. [10, 11]
Carbon Reduction Program: A federal grant program to fund transportation projects that reduce emissions. [12]
Renewable Energy: Encourages the use of wind, solar, and other renewable energy sources. [13]
Carbon Capture Projects: Investments in projects that capture and store carbon in forests, grasslands, and wetlands. [1]
Decarbonization: Fossil fuel companies are expected to gradually decarbonize their energy supply. [13]

Key Actions and Programs: [5]

House Bill 3543: Established initial climate change goals in 2007. [5]
Oregon Environmental Quality Commission (EQC): Adopts rules and programs to reduce emissions. [2, 4]
Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ): Tracks greenhouse gas emissions and publishes reports. [14, 15]
Oregon Global Warming Commission: (Now Oregon Climate Action Commission) tracks trends in greenhouse gas emissions and recommends strategies. [7, 14]
TIGHGER Project: Analyzed the feasibility of achieving accelerated climate goals. [6]
Oregon Climate Action Roadmap to 2030: Provides recommendations for state climate action. [6]
Carbon Cap-and-Trade Program: A program that places a declining cap on emissions associated with fossil fuel combustion in the state. [16]