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Climate Emergency

Legislative Report - Week of 4/7

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


SJR 28 now with -1 amendment, Environmental Rights Constitutional amendment 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 Sen Rules, so the Legislative deadlines are not applicable. A Work Session is not yet scheduled. The 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 having green / environmental rights constitutional topics or initiatives. These  usually take the form of a legislation–referral to the people. The New Mexico green amendment campaign focuses on racial justice. 


News: 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.


Environmental Justice Bills


  • HB2548: establishes an agriculture workforce labor standards board,  League Testimony. Work Session is now 4/7.



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:



Energy Affordability and Utility Accountability Package


  • HB 3081  (League testimony) work session 4/8, 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. 


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 


Climate Treasury Investment Bills



Natural and Working Lands



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 3365: work session 4/7, climate change instruction /curriculum in public schools, House Cm Educ, PH was 3/12, League Testimony , Chief Sponsors: Rep Fragala, Rep McDonald, Rep Andersen, Gamba, Lively, Neron, Senator Patterson, Pham, Taylor. 



  • SB 1187 new Climate cost recovery Liability interagency bill, PH 4/7, possible work session 4/9, Sen. Golden, Senate Energy and Environment 

(Replaces SB 679 and SB 682:  


  • SB 680: Climate Science/Greenwashing, Sen. Golden and Manning, moved to Judiciary, no recommendation, (SJ) PH was 2/26 Campos, Frederick, Gorsek, Patterson, Prozanski, 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


  • HB 3546, the POWER Act, work session 4/8, PR 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. 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 : NEW bill, PH was 3/19 and Work session now 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.  


Priority Bills that died in policy committee


Some of these related to funding may appear in the end of session reconciliation (Xmas 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.



Transportation


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. | *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)


(excerpt from OCEN network message)




House and Senate Energy Climate Committee Notes


The Senate E&E Committee moved SB 726-3 to the House floor with a do pass recommendation. The bill would direct the EQC to adopt rules requiring the use of advanced methane detection technology for monitoring surface emissions at municipal solid waste landfills. The advanced technology is estimated to cost $20,000 per year for each landfill operated by a local government.

 

The committee voted unanimously to move SB 1160-1 to Joint W&M with a do pass recommendation. It would require ODOE, assisted by the PUC, to study the financial costs and benefits of developing qualifying small power facilities under state and federal law, as well as small-scale renewable energy projects of 20 MW or less, and report to the interim energy committees by Sept. 30, 2026. ODOE expects to contract with a third party to support the study at an estimated GF cost of $250,000.

 

Senate E&E has a dozen Possible Work Sessions scheduled for April 7, along with a public hearing on SB 1102 carried over from the April 2 meeting. The proposed -2 amendment to SB 1102 would authorize the PUC to impose a fine on an electric utility that fails to comply with statutory clean energy targets or to demonstrate continual improvement. It would set a new interim target for greenhouse gas emissions reduction at 50% below the baseline emissions level by 2028. The committee posted a Possible Work Session for this bill on April 9, as well as for the pro-nuclear bills SB 215 and SB 216 and for SB 1187, establishing the Climate Superfund Cost Recovery Program.

 

The House CE&E Committee moved HB 3336 to the House floor with a do pass recommendation. It would require electric utilities to file strategic plans with the PUC for using grid enhancing technologies (GETs, defined in the bill) where doing so is cost-effective, and update the plans every two years. A utility would have to carry out its first filed strategic plan by January 1, 2030. 

 

The committee moved the following bills to Joint W&M:

 

  •  HB 2370 would increase the statutory cap on the fee PUC may charge public utilities from 0.45% to 0.55% of a utility’s gross operating revenues in Oregon in the preceding calendar year. If the PUC were to adopt the full 0.55% rate, Other Funds revenue could increase by $13.6 million in the 2025-27 biennium. The PUC would need legislative approval to implement a fee increase. 

  • HB 2067-2 would require ODOE to establish a rebate program to incentivize commercial contractors, landscape construction professionals, and landscape contractors to buy battery-powered leaf blowers to improve energy efficiency and reduce noise pollution. It would appropriate $2 million GF for deposit into the new Commercial Landscape Equipment Rebate Fund. LFO says it will prepare a more complete fiscal analysis for Joint W&M. 

 

The committee moved HB 3747 to Revenue. It would create a refundable income tax credit for the purchase of battery energy storage systems and solar photovoltaic electric systems. Further fiscal analysis is required.

 

The committee has 28 Work Sessions and Possible Work Sessions scheduled for April 8. No Work Session was scheduled for HB 2064, so it died in committee. The bill would have required the PUC to take certain actions to support the operations of microgrids and community microgrids. HB 3927 also died; it would have required ODOE to study the need to expand electric transmission infrastructure in Oregon. Proposed amendments would have appropriated $1.6 billion to $8 billion over the next five biennia for deposit in the Oregon Electric Transmission Expansion Fund.


House CE&E March 25


HB 3823 Revenue without recommendation. The bill would provide a property tax break for personal property used by a business to generate or store energy for consumption by the business on its premises. Rep. Gamba asked for the record that Revenue clarify whether diesel generators installed at data centers would also be included in the exemption – he believes they are real property and thus would still be taxed -- and whether the exemption would apply to actual battery storage systems.


Chair Lively carried over work sessions on the following bills because expected amendments are not ready yet:

 

HB 3336 – Declares state policy for electric utilities to 

 

a.     Meet the required clean energy targets set forth in ORS 469A.410; 

b.     Develop sufficient resources to meet load growth;

c.     Create efficiencies and resilience in the transmission system; and 

d.     Maintain energy affordability. 

 

Utilities would have to file strategic plans with the PUC for using grid enhancing technologies (defined in the bill) where doing so is cost-effective and to update the plans every two years. A utility would have to carry out its first filed strategic plan by January 1, 2030. 

 

HB 2961 – Increases the percentage of electrical service capacity for EV charging that must be installed in parking garages or other parking areas of new multifamily and mixed-use buildings with privately owned commercial space and five or more residential dwelling units


The committee voted unanimously to move HB 2063-1 to Joint W&M with a do-pass recommendation. It would create the Agrivoltaics Task Force staffed by DLCD. Fiscal impact estimate is $238,978 for 0.75 FTE to manage the project.


The committee held a work session on HB 2961, which would raise the percentage of EV charging capacity that must be installed in parking garages or other parking areas of new multifamily and mixed-use buildings with privately owned commercial space and five or more residential units. The proposed -4 amendment would raise the threshold for installation from 5 residential units to 10, a concession to rural communities. Rep. Osborne strongly opposed the bill, saying it will raise the cost of housing, and pushed the -2 amendment, which would delay the mandate until criteria for new housing construction, housing costs, homelessness, and electricity rates are met for four consecutive years. The committee could not agree on whether to vote on the amendments. Chair Lively said more amendments are not feasible as “we’ve overloaded Lege Council.” He carried over the WS to allow more discussion offline. 


The chair also carried over another half dozen work sessions on bills for which amendments and/or fiscal impact statements were not available. These included HB 3336, requiring electric utilities to file strategic plans with the PUC for using grid enhancing technologies (GETs), which had been carried over previously. 


Summary of Northwest Energy Coalition (NWEC)

By Robin Tokmakian


Oregon Mtg of Apr 1, 2025


  1. Major OR Leg. Bills watched by NWEC


Wildfire related concern from NWEC that there is not a balance between who pays the costs … ie. —- what is “fair share"


 

  • HB 3666 - this bill would create applications of utility wildfire safety certificates for Investor-Owned Utilities (IOUs) and Consumer-Owned Utilities (COUs) under the Public Utility Commission (PUC). 


Ratepayer cost related


  • HB 3546 – POWER Act: bill to ensure data centers and crypto pay their fair share instead of the rest of us subsidizing their energy costs.

  • HB 3792 - increases the amount of the energy assistance charge designated to reduce disconnections. Allows the PUC to review the charge in relation to rate increases over the previous two years and adjust it upwards if they deem it necessary. * HB 3179 & SB688 are “paired” HB 3179 – Fair Energy Act: bill helps keep energy bills low by allowing regulators to set the lowest possible rates and shifting increases away from winter when usage is highest. It also improves transparency and gives utilities flexibility to use low-cost financing to minimize customer impacts. See: https://oregoncub.org/news/blog/new-amendments-to-the-fair-energy-act/3112

 

2. Environmental Rights bill needs more support from Enviro Groups

(one Dem legislator withholding support until he sees more support)


3. Utilities and PUC


Pacific Corp (PAC) is slowly walking various items it needs to get down to comply with HB2021 (Clean energy and climate goals.). Extending coal plants’ lives in Idaho and Utah (from which OR maybe getting electricity). It is writing its Integrated Resource Plan as a 6-state plan and submitting the same plan for all 6 states (OR, WA, ID, CA, UT, and WY). PAC will take longer now to transition to clean energy


 4. Wildfire Webinar sponsored by NWEC  will be recorded..

 Wildfire and Utilities: This webinar will cover the intersection between wildfire and utilities, policymakers, and communities. Increased fire risk is threatening communities as utilities work to mitigate risk and policymakers are deciding how to regulate them. We will explore this intersection, and the role advocates can play in the development of utility regulations, legislation, and wildfire mitigation plans that will do the most to protect Northwest communities.


Registration: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/o2eW2lFPQpOzbJhjCN7oTg#/registration


5. Bonneville BPA


LWV OR/WA/ID/MT   BPA is pushing to approve joining an investor-led “day-ahead energy market”. NWEC is opposed to their choice and supports the alternative market. See This letter from the US Senators of WA and OR


News and Commission Meetings




Interested in reading additional reports? Please see our Governance, Natural Resources, and Social Policy report sections.

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