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Climate Emergency

Legislative Report - Week of 2/17

Climate Emergency Team

 

Coordinator: Claudia Keith​

  • Efficient and Resilient Buildings: Bill Glassmire

  • OHA & Environmental Justice: Nancy Rosenberger

  • Environmental Rights Amendment: Claudia Keith

  • Natural Climate Solution - Forestry: Josie Koehne

  • Emergency Management: Rebecca Gladstone 

  • Transportation: Claudia Keith

  • Ways and Means - Budgets, Lawsuits, Green/Public Banking, Divestment/ESG: Claudia Keith

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Climate Emergency Team: Thanks to Laura Rogers and Nikki Mandell LWV Portland members for taking on the CEI portfolio. 

 

Coordinator: Claudia Keith


  • Efficient and Resilient Buildings: Bill Glassmire

  • OHA & Environmental Justice: Nancy Rosenberger

  • Environmental Rights Amendment: Claudia Keith

  • Natural Climate Solution - Forestry: Josie Koehne

  • Emergency Management: Rebecca Gladstone 

  • Critical Energy Infrastructure CEI: Laura Roger & Nikki Mandell

  • Transportation: Claudia Keith

  • Ways & Means - Budgets, Lawsuits, Green/Public Banking, Divestment/ESG: Claudia Keith


Taking Gov. Tina Kotek’s temperature on Oregon’s climate change response | OPB. “Oregon Gov. Kotek calls herself a “climate champion,” a moniker her supporters also used during her campaign for governor....”


Funding Issues: The League is very concerned with the new Trump administration freezing energy/climate funds related to the Biden admin IRA and infrastructure acts. ‘With Oregon’s 2 largest federal climate grants on hold—for now—state agencies are left at a standstill’ – OPB. There are also concerns with federal social policy related funding including education and healthcare funding. 


‘Trump’s Funding Freeze Raises a New Question: Is the Government’s Word Good? ‘| The New York Times.” As the Trump administration continues to withhold billions of dollars for climate and clean energy spending — despite two federal judges ordering the money released — concerns are growing that the United States government could skip out on its legal commitments...”


Environmental Justice: In addition, Environmental Justice federal programs are at risk. ‘After Trump Administration Closes DOJ’s Office of Environmental Justice, Advocates Worry About Future Enforcement’|  Inside Climate News, “Set up in 2022, the office teamed up with federal prosecutors to coordinate work in vulnerable communities. The Trump administration shut the office and placed its staff on leave earlier this month.” ‘Pam Bondi scraps Joe Biden-era environmental justice enforcement policy ‘ | The Hill.


At this point in the session, we have identified a few League policy and/or budget Climate Emergency priorities, and some of those now have League testimony. This year most of our priorities are included in the bipartisan 2025 Legislative Environmental Caucus Priorities and or CUB Citizens Utility Board Priorities.


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 


HB 2966, Establishes the State Public Financing Task Force (see 2023 HB2763, vetoed by the governor) Representative Gamba, Senator Golden, Frederick, Representative Andersen, Evans, House Commerce and Consumer Protection (H CCP), League Testimony, PH 1/28/25


HB 3170, Community Resilience Hubs and networks: DHS, Sponsors, Rep. Marsh, Sen Pham and Rep Tan. League testimony House Climate, Energy, and Environment (H CEE) 2/4/25


Other Priorities 



Data Center Energy Issue: ‘It may be time to take a new look at electricity demand ‘ • Oregon Capital Chronicle. “This year’s Oregon legislative session is likely to see measures intended to block these tech companies’ power demands from boosting at least residential rates even higher. Two placeholder bills on studying utilities have been filed, Senate Bill 128 and House Bill 3158, and Rep. Pam Marsh, D-Ashland, is working on another one.“  (see SB 553 (LC 1547) mentioned below) 


Transportation package that prioritizes climate, equity, and wildlife: This package would build on the historic gains of HB 2017 (which included investments in public transit, safe routes to School, and vehicle electrification), to shift the focus to multimodal, safety, and climate-forward investments. This promises to create a system that saves money over time and builds a more resilient, equitable, and healthy future for all Oregonians. (see OCN Press Rel)


Energy Affordability and Utility Accountability Package* (HB 3081, SB 88, LC 1547): Oregonians are struggling to keep up with skyrocketing utility bills in the face of ever-worsening climate impacts. HB 3081 would create an active navigator to help Oregonians access energy efficiency incentives all in one place. SB 88 limits the ability of utility companies to charge ratepayers for lobbying, litigation costs, fines, marketing, industry fees, and political spending. SB 553 LC 1547 ensures that large energy users (i.e. data centers) do not unfairly burden Oregon households. (*see OCN Press Rel)


Oregon Climate Action Commission


At 2/14 OCAC/ODOE meeting, staff presented a comprehensive (36-page) memo on the status of climate-related bills this session, headed by budget bills (with links to agency bill presentations to date). Does not include fiscals, you must link to agency budget presentations for funding details. 


Climate Lawsuits/Our Children’s Trust (OCT) 


Recent OCT Press Releases: Feb 2025


California Federal Court’s Dismissal of Youth Equal Protection Climate Case Represents Judicial Abdication in the Face of a Crisis

Youth Plaintiffs Make Case for Constitutional Climate Lawsuit Before Virginia Supreme Court 


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


Basically, there are several active federal lawsuits, Feb 2025 update) “FEATURED CASE: Federal Court Dismissed Preemption and Extraterritoriality Challenges to California Climate Disclosure Laws.” Another source: Columbia University Law - Sabin Climate DB lists 83 lawsuits, mentioning Oregon.


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