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Back to All Legislative Reports Governance Internships Legislative Report - Week of 2/20 Governance Team Coordinator: Becky Gladstone and Chris Cobey Artificial Intelligence: Lindsey Washburn Campaign Finance Reform: Norman Turrill Conflicts of Interest/Legislative Ethics: Chris Cobey CEI - Critical Energy Infrastructure : Nikki Mandell and Laura Rogers Cybersecurity Privacy, Election Issues, Electronic Portal Advisory Board: Becky Gladstone Election Systems: Barbara Klein Emergency Preparedness: Cate Arnold Immigration, Refugee, and Asylum: Claudia Keith Redistricting: Norman Turrill, Chris Cobey State Audit Working Group: Sheila Golden Voting Rights of Incarcerated People: Marge Easley Cybersecurity and Public Records By Rebecca Gladstone Numerous promising bills mentioned in hearings will probably pop up for first public hearings shortly. Watch the legislative calendar for bill processing deadlines . Reporting will continue for bills with our filed testimony. I’ll add other bills and also testify to amendments as they warrant further attention. Some 28 bills referred here for relevant League testimony will probably fail to move this session. HB 2049 : The League supports this cybersecurity omnibus committee bill, returning from last session. Governments seeking help, the private sector offering it, and academia, K-20 to work, are together here. This bill can modernize our IT, boost our current and long-term workforce, and improve public awareness. A fourth informational hearing was held for invited speakers, adding time for public testimony. This bill’s concept passed unanimously out of committee last session and no testimony in opposition has been filed yet this session. See our testimony and the collaborative support letter LWVOR endorsed . SB 417 : Senate Judiciary Chair, Sen. Lieber, agreed to our request for a Task Force to work on this public records fee bill. It has been held for input and we will meet on Feb. 27 to work on it. Rights of Incarcerated People By Marge Easley The bill that gives adults in custody the right to vote appears to be on the move. A work session on SB 579 has been scheduled for March 2 in Senate Judiciary. We will keep you updated on its progress. VOLUNTEERS NEEDED. Worthy causes go unaddressed for lack of League volunteers. If you see a need and can offer your expertise, please contact our staff at lwvor@lwvor.org .

/ Youth / Youth Resources / Youth Resources Grants, Scholarships, and Internships Grants and Scholarships Youth Scholarships - Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) United States Senate Youth Program - State of Oregon Internships Youth Council Internship - League of Women Voters of Maine National Environmental Youth Advisory Council (NEYAC) Other Resources The Flip Museum Oregon Kid Governor Oregon Civics Bee

Back to All Legislative Reports Governance Internships Legislative Report - Week of 2/17 Governance Team Coordinator: Becky Gladstone and Chris Cobey Artificial Intelligence: Lindsey Washburn Campaign Finance Reform: Norman Turrill Conflicts of Interest/Legislative Ethics: Chris Cobey CEI - Critical Energy Infrastructure : Nikki Mandell and Laura Rogers Cybersecurity Privacy, Election Issues, Electronic Portal Advisory Board: Becky Gladstone Election Systems: Barbara Klein Emergency Preparedness: Cate Arnold Immigration, Refugee, and Asylum: Claudia Keith Redistricting: Norman Turrill, Chris Cobey State Audit Working Group: Sheila Golden Voting Rights of Incarcerated People: Marge Easley Jump to a topic: Campaign Finance Reform Social Policy, Immigration, Hate Crimes Government Ethics Campaign Finance Reform The Portland City Auditor wants to ask the Legislature to nullify (preempt) the campaign finance reform Charter Amendment approved by 87.4% of Portland voters in 2018. This would undermine the express desires of Portland voters and open the doors to a deluge of big money flowing into Portland elections. It is unclear if the Auditor will convince city representatives to lobby for this idea in the Legislature. Social Policy, Immigration, Hate Crimes By Becky Gladstone Numerous bills followed here have not been scheduled for hearings. Their committees are still introducing members to their issues. Weather cancellations included Joint Information Management and Technology IT modernization planning. Here are recent bill updates: HB 2341 , ( League testimony in support), passed unanimously in a work session. The bill would add veterans’ email addresses to shared information in providing services. HB 5017 ; League testimony was presented and heard in support of this Oregon State Library budget bill. HB 2570 is scheduled for a work session 19 Feb. League testimony was submitted and presented in support of this privacy bill to make new [non]disclosure law to keep PII (personally identifiable information) confidential for employees working with OSHA investigations or inspections. SB 473 creates a new crime of threatening a public official. League testimony in support was written and presented. Sen Prozanski, Sen Judiciary Chair, suggested forming a work group for this complex issue. We are researching these: HB 2710 , to put victims of child abduction onto the list of those able to join the Address. Confidentiality Program. A public hearing was cancelled due to weather. HB 3012 , relates to 16 or 17 year-olds voting in school district elections, and it has not been scheduled for a hearing. HB 3384 , a County Clerks’ bill to alter the election calendar to allow not processing petitions during election season, has not moved since a Feb 3 public hearing. We are watching for amendments and intend to support it. SB 18 would increase penalties for election law violations. A public hearing was almost scheduled, but was withdrawn for this complex bill, with amendments already underway. Government Ethics By Chris Cobey HB 2727 further limits what lobbying a legislator can do after leaving office. It was heard in House Rules Feb. 10. The League supported this bill with testimony . HB 3130 would allow unpaid school district board members to not file statements of economic interest (SEIs) with the Government Ethics Commission. It was heard in House Rules Feb. 10. The League opposed this bill with testimony , since conflicts of interest do not depend on the size of a school district or if a public official is paid or not.

Campaign Finance In Oregon An Oregon History of Campaign Finance Reform and the League of Women Voters Recent Campaign Finance History In 2020, the League supported the Legislature’s referred constitutional amendment Measure 107 to voters to allow campaign finance limits. Voters passed it overwhelmingly by over 78%. However, three Legislative sessions passed without implementing a Measure 107 statute. Legislators could not agree on anything that limited their own campaigns; they all are experts on financing their own campaigns and all have a huge conflict of interest. In 2022, the Honest Elections group , including the LWVOR, Common Cause and other good government groups, participated in intense negotiations with unions and Our Oregon, lasting for many months. An agreement was reached on an initiative text; however, the unions backed out of the deal at the last minute. Honest Elections redrafted the proposal together with national experts from the Campaign Legal Center, Common Cause and the League. They then filed initiative petition (IP) 9 in July, 2022, after a long drafting process where IP 8 (a constitutional amendment to stop campaign finance laws impairment), IP 23 (including Democracy Vouchers) and IP 24 (including public matching of small donations) were also filed. Honest Elections settled on IP 9 as the proposal most likely to make the ballot and be adopted by voters. After an eight month ballot title certification process all the way to the Oregon Supreme Court, while Our Oregon did its best to delay the process, the Secretary of State finally approved IP 9 for circulation in May, 2023. The campaign quickly hired petitioners, organized volunteers including the League, and eventually collected some 100,000 signatures. LWVOR policy says that the League only supports ballot measures after ballot qualification, unless it was involved in measure drafting and organizing. Then Our Oregon, sensing IP 9’s potential success, redrafted the originally agreed Honest Elections initiative text (with huge loopholes for unions and other organizations). Our Oregon filed IP 42 , got a ballot title in less than 5 months, hired circulators, and began collecting signatures in January, 2024. At this point, it was clear to some legislators entering the short legislative session, that an expensive ballot battle was brewing between IP 9 and IP 42. Very quickly and historically , some union and business lobbyists got together and drafted a legislative bill. Dexter Johnson, lead Legislative Counsel, quickly drafted an LC bill. The House Rules Committee, Chaired by Rep. Julie Fahey and Vice Chair Rep. Jeffrey Helfrich, stuffed the LC bill as an amendment into HB 4024 , an unused placeholder bill. Two hearings and a work session were quickly held within a few days. The League initially opposed the bill in its -3 amendment form. Intense negotiations ensued behind the scenes between Honest Elections, some legislators, and business and union lobbyists, with the League being supportive but not directly involved. Some 40 changes were made to the 49-page bill before Honest Elections agreed that it was “ good enough ”. Part of the agreement was withdrawal of both IP 9 and IP 42. HB 4024 initially included a referral to November ballots, also removed from the final bill. The House Rules Committee quickly passed HB 4024 to the House floor, rules were suspended, and it passed 52 to 5. The very next day, the Senate Rules Committee quickly and concurrently held a hearing and work session, passing HB 4024 to the Senate floor. The Senate suspended rules, passed the bill 22 to 6, all on the last day of session . The Governor said she would sign it. It is clear that much more work needs to be done to implement HB 4024. Funding must be allocated to the Secretary of State and administrative rules must be written and adopted before the January 2027 effective date. ORESTAR must be reprogrammed for a “dashboard”,advertising disclosure, and “drill down” to see original campaign contribution funding sources. The 2025 long legislative session will undoubtedly want to consider amendments, both good and bad. This work could continue for years, if not decades. Stay tuned! Earlier Campaign Finance History Campaign contribution limits were adopted in 1908 by initiative . Those limits remained in effect until the 1970s when the Legislature repealed them in favor of campaign spending limits, a fad at the time. In 1976, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down campaign spending limits in the famous Buckley v. Valeo court case because they violated the First Amendment. However, the SCOTUS justified contribution limits because of the state’s interest in preventing “corruption and the appearance of corruption spawned by the real or imagined coercive influence of large financial contributions on candidates' positions and on their actions if elected to office." In 1994 Oregon voters again adopted campaign contribution limits by initiative with Measure 9 . They were only in effect for the 1996 election until the Oregon Supreme Court struck them down in 1997 on the basis of free speech in the Oregon Constitution, VanNatta v. Keisling . In 1998, voters approved Measure 62 , a constitutional amendment requiring campaign finance and ad financing disclosures, and allowing the Legislature to regulate signature gathering. The Legislature later prohibited paying petition circulators per signature, among other regulations. In 2000, the League helped draft initiative Measure 6 and supported it with a Voters’ Pamphlet statement., t, to provide public funding to candidates who limited campaign spending and private contributions. It failed on the ballot. Oregon voters again passed contribution limits with initiative Measure 47 in 2006. The companion initiative, constitutional amendment Measure 46 , however, did not pass, so the Measure 47 limits never went into effect. The League did not help draft these measures and later opposed them because Measure 46 required a three-fourths (3/4) legislative vote to amend previously enacted campaign finance laws, or to pass new laws. Measure 47 also required low contributions limits, perhaps unconstitutionally. Later in 2020, when the Oregon Supreme Court rescinded its repeal of campaign contribution limits, the Oregon Attorney General and Secretary of State refused without explanation to allow Measure 47 to go into effect, even though it was still in Oregon Revised Statute. In the early 2020s, the Honest Elections group , including the LWVOR, Common Cause and several other good government groups, succeeded in getting contribution limits adopted for Portland and Multnomah County, with public funding for Portland candidates, with a small donor matching fund.

Barbara Keirnes-Young HR

Back to All Legislative Reports Social Policy Legislative Report - Week of 6/12 Social Policy Team Coordinator: Jean Pierce • After School and Summer Care: Katie Riley • Behavioral Health: Trish Garner • Criminal Justice/Juvenile Justice: Marge Easley / Sharron Noon • Education: Jean Pierce / Stephanie Engle • Equal Rights for All Ballot Measure: Jean Pierce Kyra Aguon • Gender-Related Concerns, Reproductive Health, Age Discrimination: Trish Garner • Gun Safety & Gun Issues, Rights for Incarcerated People: Marge Easley • Hate and Bias Crimes: Claudia Keith/ Becky Gladstone /rhyen enger • Health Care: Christa Danielsen • Housing: Debbie Aiona and Nancy Donovan Jump to topic: Housing Gun Safety Immigration, Refugee, and Other Basic Rights Housing By Nancy Donovan and Debbie Aiona On June 6, the Legislative Fiscal Office and the Joint W&Ms issued their recommended budget to the Transportation and Economic Development Subcommittee on SB 5511 , the Housing and Community Services Department (OHCS) budget: Legislative Fiscal Office's analysis . The Subcommittee recommends a total OHCS budget of $2,558,608,558 with the addition of 441 positions, a 28.5% increase from the 2023-25 current service level. The suggested budget includes: $111.2 million in General Funds to continue OHCS’s shelter and rehousing services that was funded in HB 5019 in response to the Governor’s emergency declaration on homelessness. $24.1 million in General Funds to provide operating support to existing shelters. $55 million for rental assistance, and $6 million for services to tenants. $10 million in General Funds for down payment homeownership assistance. $2.5 million for decommissioning and replacing manufactured housing. $9.7 million in General Funds to capitalize OHCS’s predevelopment loan program and revamp the process to approve affordable housing finance applications from developers to shorten the time between project approval and construction, while helping smaller developers and projects. $136.8 million in Federal Funds expenditure related to wildfire recovery efforts, supported by a $422 million federal grant. Housing advocates are concerned that this recommended budget bill does not fully support the Governor’s end-of-session investments of an estimated $1 billion in bonding for new affordable housing developments to move the state towards reaching the goal of producing 36,000 in new housing units per year. Their priorities include: New rental and homeownership: $770 million in Local Innovation and Fast Track (LIFT) bonds to Oregonians transitioning out of homelessness, seeking to buy their first home, or just needing an affordable place to live. This is especially true in rural areas that lack housing affordable to workers who provide critical services like education, public safety, and firefighting. HB 5005 and HB 5006 Market Cost Offset Fund: to increase housing production in support of the Governor’s request of up to $40 million in LIFT bonding to recapitalize the Market Cost Offset Fund (MCOF) for projects that have faced cost overruns due to market volatility. Permanent Supportive Housing: $130 million to LIFT for new construction, rental assistance, and wrap-around service delivery designed to reduce chronic homelessness. HB 5005 and HB 5006 Preservation of expiring regulated housing: $100 million in Lottery Funds to save and reinvest in some 163 apartment projects with 7,735 units that are at risk of losing affordability due to the expiration of 30-year affordability restrictions. The people who live in these homes are seniors, people experiencing disabilities, and families just starting out. HB 5030 New homes for homeownership: $100 million in LIFT and the General Fund to affordable homeownership developers who need a combination of LIFT bonds and general fund resources to build homes in all parts of the state. General fund dollars paired with LIFT will ensure that mission-driven developers can build hundreds of homes for first-time buyers, directly addressing the persistent racial homeownership gap. Acquisition and rehab of manufactured housing parks: $35 million in Lottery funds. HB 2983 Gun Safety By Marge Easley As part of the compromise agreement for the Republican’s return to the Senate chamber, the three-part gun safety bill, HB 2005 B , was considerably altered at a Senate Rules work session on June 15. The -B12 amendment was adopted, which includes only the ban on unserialized firearms (“ghost guns”) and removes the provisions raising the minimum age of firearm purchase to 21 and the ability of cities to establish gun-free zones. The bill is now in the Senate for passage. The compromise agreement also included the stipulation that a workgroup will be established to study policy solutions to gun violence and suicide prevention and $10 million will be invested in the Community Violence Prevention program. Immigration, Refugee and Other Basic Rights By Claudia Keith SB 610 A : Now in JW&Ms. Establishes Food for All Oregonians ( regardless of documentation status) Program within Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Fiscal , Staff Measure Summary . The fiscal may show up in the end of session budget balancing bill. Recent News: ‘Dozens of advocacy groups disappointed food assistance bill fails’ – Oregon Capital Chronicle HB 2905 : Expands the list of individuals whose histories, contributions and perspectives are required to be included in social studies academic content standards and in related textbooks and instructional materials. At Senate Desk awaiting Third Reading.

Barbara was born and grew up in the northeast. Step by step, living in many states, she’s made her way around the nation to land in southern Oregon. After becoming interested in election systems in 1999, she joined the League and has continued that work. This included co-chairing the passage of the 2020 LWVUS Voter Representation/Electoral Systems position. Her latest League role is as LWVOR VP. She is also Action Chair for LWV Rogue Valley, and serves on the LWVOR action committee. Formerly, she was a long-serving VP and then state president of LWV Arizona, as well as co-president of LWV Metro Phoenix. She has served on numerous study committees, including one for National, and was a member of both LWV United States task forces on National Popular Vote and Redistricting. Currently, she is a volunteer with OLLI at SOU, a core team member of several groups working to promote proportional representation and often organizes and speaks on voting topics. Previously, she was the chairperson of FairVote AZ. Barbara’s education and professional career are varied. She taught music and special ed, was trained as a music therapist, was a “qualified mental health professional” in NY state where she worked as a probation officer. Her masters was in health care and hospital administration and her doctorate in chiropractic medicine. Barbara is a published author and currently writes a blog entitled AgingWithPizzazz.com and runs the fitness app, PizzazzEE-25.com Barbara Klein 1st Vice President and Communications Chair Barbara was born and grew up in the northeast. Step by step, living in many states, she’s made her way around the nation to land in southern Oregon. After becoming interested in election systems in 1999, she joined the League and has continued that work. This included co-chairing the passage of the 2020 LWVUS Voter Representation/Electoral Systems position. Her latest League role is as LWVOR VP. She is also Action Chair for LWV Rogue Valley, and serves on the LWVOR action committee. Formerly, she was a long-serving VP and then state president of LWV Arizona, as well as co-president of LWV Metro Phoenix. She has served on numerous study committees, including one for National, and was a member of both LWV United States task forces on National Popular Vote and Redistricting. Currently, she is a volunteer with OLLI at SOU, a core team member of several groups working to promote proportional representation and often organizes and speaks on voting topics. Previously, she was the chairperson of FairVote AZ. Barbara’s education and professional career are varied. She taught music and special ed, was trained as a music therapist, was a “qualified mental health professional” in NY state where she worked as a probation officer. Her masters was in health care and hospital administration and her doctorate in chiropractic medicine. Barbara is a published author and currently writes a blog entitled AgingWithPizzazz.com and runs the fitness app, PizzazzEE-25.com

Back to All Legislative Reports Climate Emergency Legislative Report - Week of 6/16 Climate Emergency Team Coordinator: Claudia Keith Coordinator: Claudia Keith Efficient and Resilient Buildings: vacant Energy Policy: Claudia Keith Environmental Justice: vacant Natural Climate Solution Forestry: Josie Koehne Agriculture: vacant Community Resilience & Emergency Management: see Governance LR: Rebecca Gladstone Transportation: see NR LR 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: Federal Oregon Joint Ways and Means CE Funding Topics Oregon Treasury Other Climate Bills Climate Lawsuits/Our Children’s Trust Highlights of House and Senate Policy Committee Chamber Votes There are 13 days until the end of session and a number of bills and agency funding priorities are still waiting to move. The League expects some funding for existing state agency Climate related programs will be in the end of session reconciliation bill. Transportation Legislation HB 2025 is a major topic these last few days. ‘Oregon transportation bill gets panned by Republicans – even those who negotiated it ‘- Jefferson Public Radio. ‘ Tax hikes in proposed Oregon transportation packag e would eventually raise more than $2 billion per year, new report says’ - oregonlive.com Special Session? The League is aware of a possible special Sept session that could address a number of significant Federal Admin policy funding issues. Federal The Trump administration has shut down more than 100 climate studies | MIT Technology Review Study Says Clean Energy Rollbacks Will Cost Economy $1.1 Trillion by 2035 - Inside Climate News Department of Justice Gives Trump Go-Ahead to Eliminate National Monuments - Inside Climate News Transportation chief seeks to weaken fuel economy standards , calls Biden-era rule 'illegal' | Consumer | centraloregondaily.com EPA to propose rolling back climate rule for power plants Wednesday - POLITICO Science policy this week : Jun 9, 2025 - AIP.ORG (American Institute of Physics AIP.ORG ) 
 How the Five Pillars of U.S. Climate Policy are Threatened – Environmental and Energy Law Program | Harvard Oregon Power shutoffs banned during extreme summer heat in Oregon - oregonlive.com Oregon lawmakers weigh increased oversight of state's embattled transportation department • Oregon Capital Chronicle Oregon transportation bill gets panned by Republicans – even those who negotiated it | Jefferson Public Radio Oregon lawmakers propose tax hikes and new taxes to fund 2025 transportation bill - Statesman Journal Oregon Democrats’ transportation funding bill could raise $2B per year, analysis shows - OPB Joint Ways and Means CE Funding Topics By Claudia Keith Energy Affordability and Utility Accountability The League joined a coalition sign-on letter in April requesting funding to support building resilience. The goal is to use affordable measures to protect people from extreme weather. The League supports full funding for all the following 8 JWM budget topics: 1). Transportation ODOT Package HB 2025 is Priorities The League supports OCN and other statewide NGO budget priorities: Increase funding above 2017 levels for public transit
 
 
 
 Increase funding above 2017 levels for a safe, complete multimodal system (i.e. GreatStreets, Safe Routes to School, Oregon Community Paths, and bike/ped both on-street and trails, etc.) 
 
 
 
 Dedicated or increased revenue for light, medium and heavy-duty vehicle incentives, including for charging and purchasing of ZEVs (Please see Natural Resources Legislative Report on Transportation) 2. One Stop Shop 2.0/Energy Efficiency Navigation ( HB 3081A ): In JWM: This bill would create a navigation program at ODOE to help Oregonians access federal, state, local, and utility energy efficiency incentives all in one place 3. Get the Junk Out of Rates ( SB 88 ): still in Senate Rules: Not likely to move . This bill would stop utilities from charging certain expenses like lobbying, advertising, association fees to customers. 4. Protecting Oregonians with Energy Responsibility (POWER Act) ( HB 3546 ): waiting for Governor’s signature. This bill ensures Oregon households are not unfairly burdened by large energy users with grid and transmission costs. 5. Full Funding for Climate Resilience programs Reinvesting the same amount as last biennium in three programs: 
 
 Rental Home Heat Pump Program (ODOE), $30m 
 
 
 
 Community Heat Pump Deployment Program (ODOE), $15m 
 
 
 
 Community Resilience Hubs (OREM), $10m ( House Bill 3170 ) 
 
 
 
 6. Environmental Justice Bills. (disadvantaged communities) HB 3170 : Community Resilience Hubs and networks : Fiscal $10M Work Session 3/4, passed to JWM, DHS, Sponsors, Rep. Marsh, Sen Pham and Rep Tan. League testimony 
 
 
 
 HB2548 : still in Rules, new 5/23 amendment and new SMS now. An agriculture workforce labor standards study, HR PH was 5/29. New -7 amendment changing the bill to a study with $616K fiscal. WS 6/16 possibly w néw amendments. League Testimony . 7 . Natural and Working Lands HB 3489 Timber Severance Tax. House Committee on Revenue. League Testimony for original bill and for -1 Amendment . 
 
 
 
 
 
 HB 5039 financial administration of the Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board; JWM NR SC, League testimony 


 
 
 
 HB 3103A – work session was 3/31. Moved to JWM, Overweight Timber Harvest , League Testimony , new adopted -5 amendment . 
 
 
 
 
 8. Critical Energy Infrastructure (CEI) Emergency Management Package Update HB 2152 : Testimony ; work session held 4/8 , passed, moved to Joint Ways and Means (JWM) -2 amendments , Staff Measure Summar y (SMS). $1M+ fiscal 
 
 
 
 
 
 HB 2949 : T estimony ; work session held 4/8 , passed to JWM w -5 amendment new SMS. Fiscal is not available, will be completed if the bill gets a hearing in JWM NR SC. 
 
 
 
 
 
 HB 3450 A Testimony , work session held, 4/8 passed adopted amendment -1 . fisca l >1M$. referred to JWM 4/11 
 
 
 
 
 
 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.] See Climate Emergency April 28: CEI emergency management package update. The Bigger Picture: ASCE's ( American Society of Civil Engineers , founded in 1852), Oregon received a C- grade Infrastructure Report Card . Oregon Treasury: Oregon Divest/ Environmental, Social, and Governance Updates By Claudia Keith Oregon Divest / ESG: Environmental, Social, and Governance Updates HB 2081A : Senate vote moved to 6/16, Senate Finance and Revenue WS was 6/2. NO fiscal listed. Directs the Oregon Investment Council and the State Treasurer to take certain actions to manage the risks of climate change to the Public Employees Retirement Fund. Passed House along party lines. WS Senate Finance & Rev was 5/28. Oregon Public Financing / BANK 

 HB 2966 A: Establishes the State Public Financing / public bank Task Force, Work Session was 3/6/2025 passed to Joint Ways and Means (JWM), fiscal: .94M League Testimony Other Climate Legislation Environmental Rights Constitutional Amendment Likely dead, at this point in the session, it is doubtful SJR 28 has enough support to move out of Sen Rules. SJR 28 proposed -1 amendment , Environmental Rights Constitutional amendment (ERA) S enate Joint Resolution - with referral to the 2026 ballot, public hearing was 3/26 . The League provided support with comments testimony . The OCERA coalition appears to be planning a ballot initiative campaign. ‘ Supporters of Oregon Green Amendment rally at the Oregon State Capitol ‘ | Salem Statesman Journal. Other Climate Bills Study of Nuclear Energy ( HB 2038 ) in JWM: This measure proposes that the Oregon Department of Energy study nuclear energy and waste disposal. SB 827A : Solar and Storage Rebate , SEE Work session 2/17, Gov. Kotek & DOE, Senate voted 21-7, moved to House 3/4, House passed, 5/20. Governor signed 5/28 
 
 HB 3546 Enrolled , POWER Act , House Speaker and Senate president signed 6/9. passed 6/3 House concurred 6/5. new GIS The bill requires the Pub lic 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, The League has approved being listed on a coalition sign on advocacy letter . HB 3963 Offshore Wind: in Senate Rules, 6/17 Public Hearing. House passed June 5. Extends the deadline from Sept 1, 2025, to Jan 1, 2027, for the DLCD to draft and submit a report to the Legislative Assembly on the department's activities to develop an Offshore Wind Roadmap and its assessment of enforceable state policies related to offshore wind energy development off the Oregon coast. 
 
 HB 2566 A : 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 B: Senate vote 6/12 passed, climate change instruction /curriculum in public schools, League Testimony , NO Fiscal noted , Chief Sponsors: Rep Fragala, Rep McDonald 


 
 
 SB 688 A: -5 , Public Utility Commission performance-based regulation of electric utilities, PH 3/12,& 3/19, work session was 3/24, updated $ 974K fiscal , moved to JWM , Sub Cmt Natural Resources. League testimony , Sen. Golden, Sen. Pham 
 
 HB 3189 in JWM . Oregon lawmakers introduce legislation to rein in utility bills | KPTV , Citizens Utility Board CUB presentation here . 
 
 
 
 
 SB 1143A : -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. 
 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. 
 HB 3653 Enrolled Gov signed 5/27 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. 
 
 
 HB 2065 A and HB 2066 A : Microgrid Package in JWM 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 , Climate Litigation June 13 Updates Another source: Columbia University Law - Sabin Climate DB lists 85 lawsuits , (active and dismissed) mentioning Oregon. EENews: Alaska youth file appeal in bid to block LNG project They say it would triple the state’s greenhouse gas emissions and violate their right to a livable climate. Press releases from Our Children’s Trust June 14, 2025 Youth Plaintiffs Seek Emergency Court Order to Halt Trump’s Fossil Fuel Executive Orders June 12, 2025 Alaska Youth File Climate Appeal to State Supreme Court; Lawmakers and League of Women Voters Join in Support with Amicus Brief Highlights of House and Senate Policy Committee and Chamber Votes Senate E&E Committee Meeting June 9, 2025 Informational Meeting: Overview of Washington Cap & Invest Program Rep. Joe Fitzgibbon, Majority Leader, Washington State House of Representatives Joel Creswell, CCA program leader, Washington State Department of Ecology WA’s Climate Commitment Act (CCA) passed in 2021 (all Democratic votes), took effect 1/1/2023 and has been a “great success” with functioning carbon markets, significant revenues from auctions, and reductions in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The legislature has amended the statute each session since 2021 to address lessons learned. CCA program mechanics and emission reduction targets are similar to those of Oregon’s CPP. Regulated entities in WA buy emission allowances (called compliance instruments in OR) under a declining emissions cap. Some entities get free allowances, including utilities and energy-intensive trade-exposed (EITE) industries. Air quality protections are built in at the statutory level. The carbon market decides where emission reductions take place—i.e., not necessarily everywhere—but air quality monitoring expands to protect overburdened (EJ) communities from disproportionate impact – if air quality doesn’t improve as carbon emissions fall, remedial regulatory procedures kick in. The CCA covers 75% of the state’s total emissions, excluding small industrial facilities, agriculture, maritime, and aviation. WA holds quarterly auctions of emission allowances, in which prices fluctuate between the state-imposed price floor and ceiling. Average market prices have ranged between ~ $25 to $56 since 2023. To date, the auctions have brought in $2.9 billion. Revenues from sale of utilities’ free allowances are consigned to the utilities to offset rate impacts to customers. Linkage with CA and Quebec markets (formal agreement expected in 2026) is a key statutory requirement. Each jurisdiction will determine how many allowances it will sell but the auctions will be held jointly – there will no longer be state allowances but linked allowances. This is expected to reduce compliance costs, making the required GHG reductions achievable more cost-effectively, and to stabilize prices – as the joint market is six to seven times larger than WA’s market, individual bidders can’t affect the market disproportionally. Oregon’s participation would help all states by expanding the carbon market further. New York and Maryland appear likely to join the linked market, and possibly Colorado and New Mexico in the future Auction revenues go into three main accounts focused on decarbonizing transportation, air quality and health disparities improvement, and clean energy transition. Since 2023, CCA investments have totaled $3.2 billion, of which $1.2 billion for clean transportation and the remainder for building decarbonization, advancing EJ, agriculture sequestration, climate resilience and adaptation, clean energy. 10% of CCA investments must benefit tribes and up to 40% for EJ. Specific funded projects include: $429 million for public transit grants and projects – e.g., youth under age 18 can ride public transit anywhere in the state at no cost $159 million for energy vouchers for low- and moderate-income residential electricity customers $64 million to convert the state’s three largest ferries to hybrid electric $30 million for schools to replace old HVAC systems $15 million for landfill methane capture grants Q&A time: Sen. Golden – how do you deal with very sharp partisan differences about this program? And what about a state’s competitiveness vs. others who don’t have such a program? Rep. Fitzgibbon: We have had good collaboration on program implementation across the aisle. Traditional stakeholder groups have been divided internally on some program provisions. Regarding competitiveness – EITE industries (pulp and paper, steel and aluminum, etc.) get free allowances on a per-unit of production basis, so if they reduce their energy intensity, they can profit by selling their allowances. Sen. Brock Smith: We sequester more carbon in natural and working lands in this state than we produce. How do you define overburdened communities? Republicans didn’t want the CPP to begin with, but now they’re concerned about how their districts will benefit from investments. Has WA had bipartisan agreement on this? Fitzgibbon: More than 80% of CCA investments have been in transportation and capital spending budgets, which tend to be bipartisan. Offset protocols apply to projects in forestry, livestock methane capture, ozone-depleting substances (CFCs, etc.) that can show they sequester additional carbon. Offset credits are essentially equal to allowances but are limited to 8% of compliance obligation. Benefits must accrue only in WA, so for practical purposes, offset projects must be located within the state boundaries. Sen. Robinson: Puts his climate change denial on record again – no proof that carbon is affecting the climate. Was there a scientific discussion of the need for GHG reductions or was it just assumed? Fitzgibbon: We’ve known for 150 years that CO2 traps heat, you can detect this in the atmosphere and oceans. So we didn’t spend a lot of time discussing this. If you want conclusive science, look to EPA’s endangerment finding issued in the 2000s. Robinson challenges him to a “friendly” debate the next time he’s in Salem. Golden wants to watch with popcorn. VOLUNTEERS NEEDED : What is your passion related to Climate Emergency ? You can help. V olunteers are needed. The short legislative session begins in January of 2026. Many State Agency Boards and Commissions meet regularly year-round and need monitoring. If any area of climate or natural resources is of interest to you, please contact Peggy Lynch, Natural Resources Coordinator, or Claudia Keith Climate Emergency at peggylynchor@gmail.com Or climatepolicy@lwvor.org . Training will be offered. Interested in reading additional reports? Please see our Governance , Revenue , Natural Resources , and Social Policy report section

Back to All Legislative Reports Climate Emergency Legislative Report - Week of 2/17 Climate Emergency Team Coordinator: Claudia Keith Coordinator: Claudia Keith Efficient and Resilient Buildings: vacant Energy Policy: Claudia Keith Environmental Justice: vacant Natural Climate Solution Forestry: Josie Koehne Agriculture: vacant Community Resilience & Emergency Management: see Governance LR: Rebecca Gladstone Transportation: see NR LR Joint Ways and Means - Budgets, Lawsuits, Green/Public Banking, Divestment/ESG: Claudia Keith Find additional Climate Change Advocacy volunteers in Natural Resources Jump to a topic: Climate Priorities Other Priorities Oregon Climate Action Commission Climate Lawsuits/Our Children's Trust 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 polic y ‘ | 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 HB 3477 : Update to Greenhouse Gas Emission Reduction Goals. LC 1440. Bringing back SB 1559 (2024) moved to H CEE, Sponsored by Rep GAMBA, Sen Frederick, Golden, Patterson, Pham K, Taylor
 HB 2566 : Stand-alone Energy resilience Projects – H Governor Tina Kotek
, Public Hearing held 2/11/2024, (H CEE), DOE presentation HB 3365 : climate change instruction /curriculum in public schools, Representative Fragala, McDonald , House Education Committee HB 2151 , 2152 , 2949 , 3450 : Critical Energy Infrastructure CEI Emergency Management Package SJR 28 : Environmental Rights Constitutional – Referral, Senate Rules, Amendment Leg Referral - Senator Golden, Representatives Andersen, Gamba, Senators Manning Jr, Prozanski, Representative Tran 
 SB 679 : Climate Liability, Sen. Golden, Senate Energy and Environment (SEE) SB 680 : Climate Science / Greenwashing, Sen. Golden and Manning
, moved to Judiciary, no recommendation, Campos , Frederick, Gorsek , Patterson , Prozanski , Taylor SB 681 : Treasury: Fossil Fuel investment moratorium
, Sen Golden, Senate Finance and Revenue SB 682 : Climate Super Fund, Sen. Golden, Rep. Andersen, Gamba, Sen. Campos, Pham , SEE SB 688 : Public Utility Commission performance-based regulation of electric utilities, Sen. Golden, Sen. Pham, SEE SB 827 : Solar and Storage Rebate, Work session 2/27, Gov. Kotek & DOE, SEE
 Carbon sequestration/storage see DOGAMI , Agency Budget (see Natural Resources Legislative Report) – Geologic Carbon Dioxide Sequestration Interactive Map | U.S. Geological Survey ( usgs.gov ) .
 Natural and Working Lands: ( OCAC NWL Report ) (see below)
 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.

Back to All Legislative Reports Governance Internships Legislative Report - Week of 2/2 Governance Team Coordinator: Becky Gladstone and Chris Cobey Artificial Intelligence: Lindsey Washburn Campaign Finance Reform: Norman Turrill Conflicts of Interest/Legislative Ethics: Chris Cobey CEI - Critical Energy Infrastructure : Nikki Mandell and Laura Rogers Cybersecurity Privacy, Election Issues, Electronic Portal Advisory Board: Becky Gladstone Election Systems: Barbara Klein Emergency Preparedness: Cate Arnold Immigration, Refugee, and Asylum: Claudia Keith Redistricting: Norman Turrill, Chris Cobey State Audit Working Group: Sheila Golden Voting Rights of Incarcerated People: Marge Easley Please see Governance Overview here. Jump to a topic: From Interim Relating to Federal Laws Elections Consumer and Other Protections Ethics Resilience Catch up on interim news and highlights of some of the 40 governance bills we've identified, out of 700 bills so far this session. We’re preparing testimony for seven of them in the session’s first two days so expect more individual reports next week. Many governance bills will be in committees not limited by 10-day advancement time constraints (e.g. Rules, Ways and Means). Either way, short session wrap is March 9 th . Consider signing up to help, lwvor@lwvor.org . Please see LWVOR Legislative Reports and subscribe to our weekly email LR summaries , starting again in February 2026. From Interim Oregon AG action AG Rayfield testified to Interim Senate Rules on many issues. See his response at 34.46 minutes in the hearing video for the next big hurdles for Oregon, and as a country, His highest concern is protecting the integrity of our elections , closely followed by trust in government and in our judicial system, for a strong democracy. Rayfield’s office filed 53 lawsuits in the last year, winning an overwhelming majority, safeguarding $4.6B for Oregon (not including a tariff case). Because FEMA funding suddenly stopped, a winning suit protected $128M funding for 29 BRIC (building resilient infrastructure and communities) projects, predominantly rural. Legal action cost less than $20K, a tremendous return on investment. Another win let $134M flow for the 1 in 6 Oregonians depending on SNAP benefits, costing $25K for litigation. Relating to federal laws and actions The federal judge dismissed the case heard in Eugene on Jan 14 on the 27th. LWVOR filed an amicus brief as a friend of the court. The plaintiffs held Oregon and our Secretary of State in contempt for protecting personal voting information. A sampling of upcoming governance legislation: Withhold OR payments ( HB 4143 ) to the US government if withheld federal funding defies a court order. Civil Actions for cause against federal and out-of-state law enforcement, HB 4114 OR National Guard HB 4091 has a hearing on Tuesday and we expect to testify (not yet prepared), expecting our testimony for HB 3954 A (2025) to be relevant. See the Interim OR National Guard report , including discussion of duty to follow “patently illegal” or “manifestly unlawful” orders, hearing video , ~26 minutes in. From the materials: The “Burden of proof rests with the service member” Orders are disobeyed at the peril of the service member. Does not apply to patently illegal orders. The dictates of a person’s conscience, religion, or personal philosophy cannot justify or excuse the disobedience of an otherwise lawful order. Elections SB 1508 and HB 4018 look like placeholders which the League may cover. HB 4024 Enrolled (2024), updates, a major campaign finance bill ( League Testimony ). SB 1509 allows for switching President and Vice President electors if they do not vote as they pledged. See “Faithless Elector Law”, testimony in defense , here , and states with robust laws . “Faithless electors” SB 1509 allows for “switch of electors of President and Vice President if they do not vote like they pledged”. We anticipate this to be addressed in another bill, too. See “Faithless Elector Law”, testimony in defense , and here , also a list of which states have robust laws . Consumer and Other Protections Consumer Protection , HB 4024 prevents event ticket resale unless a seller has or can get tickets, relates to Sen. Prozanski’s consumer protection SB 430 Enrolled (2025), which started with hidden event ticket fees, then developed into multi-faceted consumer protection, League testimony . Protect Public Officials HB 4017 permits a candidate to use campaign contributions for protection. SB 1530 expands the crime of aggravated harassment to include threats concerning public officials. The League has testified to many bills to protecting government services, especially elections, and those who provide them, expanding to cover more people. Immigration bills will be shared with Social Policy: SB 1594 relates to enforcing federal immigration laws, HB 4001 will study immigration enforcement, and HB 4111 addresses immigration status as not admissible for civil cases. Gun bills, depending on your perspective, address protection. HB 4096 and HB 4145 will both be heard on the first day of session. (See the Social Policy Legislative Report) Ethics By Lindsey Washburn SB1589 - Lobby Reform Requires lobbyists to notify the Oregon Government Ethics Commission regarding certain information about the lobbyist's: representing certain clients, compensation, and new or different position on legislative or administrative action.\ Resilience HB 4044 and HB 4121 emergency preparedness organization. See OEM Resilience Priorities & Report . Interested in reading additional reports? Please see our Climate Emergency , Revenue , Natural Resources , and Social Policy report sections.

/ Advocacy / Legislative Priorities / Legislative Priorities 2026 Legislative Priorities We continue to protect democracy and our representative government. Our priority emphasis is on education, housing, health, safety, community resilience, environmental protection, and safety net services for the most vulnerable. It is important that Oregon generate adequate revenue for essential services. ASSURE ADEQUATE REVENUE from all levels of government to provide essential services while promoting equitable and progressive tax policy. Address changes in federal taxation. Consider new revenue to fund services Oregonians need. PROTECT DEMOCRACY by protecting privacy and voting rights - including automatic registration. Fund and implement secure, efficient election software, supporting ranked choice voting. Protect against mis-, dis-, and mal-information, including from artificial intelligence. Ensure cybersecurity. Defend and support implementation of HB 4024 (2023) on campaign finance. SUPPORT HEALTHCARE/BEHAVIORAL HEALTH. Protect accessibility to all healthcare services during federal support reduction. Preserve healthcare decision rights for patients and providers. Advocate for bills that ensure that every Oregonian has access to cost-effective, clinically appropriate and affordable health care as a fundamental right. SUPPORT HOUSING STRATEGIES that keep people housed by preventing evictions and displacement, providing affordable permanent housing and support services, preserving existing low-income housing and increasing the supply of new units. Maintain shelter beds where needed. Provide state support for infrastructure and pre-development expenses for affordable housing projects. SUPPORT FUNDING FOR EDUCATION. Provide adequate & equitable funding for early childhood, child care, K-12, after-school and summer care, as well as higher education. Advocate for coordination and transparency in funding. SUPPORT NATURAL RESOURCES agencies that address water, land use and wildfire, retaining important staff expertise and data collection. Support policies that protect and enhance Oregon's land, sea and air, especially from threats from new federal government actions. ADDRESS THE CLIMATE EMERGENCY by supporting 2017-2025 Carbon/Climate Executive Orders, net zero greenhouse gas emissions before 2050 while ensuring environmental justice with a just transition for workers and impacted communities. PROMOTE PUBLIC SAFETY and a more equitable and effective criminal justice system through violence prevention/reduction programs, rehabilitation and reentry programs for adults and juveniles in custody, and common-sense gun laws. Find our 2026 Issues for Action here ! Jean Pierce, LWVOR Legislative Action Chair, along with our team of volunteers listed below, are available to provide clarifications on League positions. Contact us at lwvor@lwvor.org . Call our office at (503) 581-5722 or directly contact portfolio chairs in specific areas listed below. LWVOR Action team members are experienced, unpaid volunteers . Our advocates focus on the broad areas of Climate Emergency, Governance and Protecting Democracy, Human Services, Public Safety, Health Care, Housing, Natural Resources, Education, and Revenue. Advocacy Sub-Categories Find our 2026 Legislative Priorities here! Advocacy Leadership Our volunteers continue to monitor and work on all these issues. We mentor and add new volunteers with more issues, too. We encourage you to contact our office at 503-581-5722 or lwvor@lwvor.org and to reach out directly: Advocacy Chair & LWVOR 2nd Vice President: Jean Pierce Access Coordinator: Paula Krane Climate Emergency Coordinator: Claudia Keith Governance Coordinator: Norman Turrill Natural Resources Coordinator: Peggy Lynch Social Policy Coordinator: Jean Pierce Past President: Becky Gladstone Access Ensure the public have access so that they can participate in the process. Paula Krane Climate Emergency Using the best available climate science to ensure future generations’ stable climate systems (return to < 350 C02 PPM and < 1.5 Degree Celsius warming by 2100). LWVOR supports Our Children’s Trust/Crag Environmental Law Center federal lawsuits. We oppose fossil fuel infrastructure expansion. 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 Resilience & 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 Governance Support ethics, efficiency, public records law, and contemporary privacy and technology issues. Our focus on election policies includes laws and administrative rules, campaign finance, redistricting, and alternative voting methods. Campaign Finance Reform: Norman Turrill Cybersecurity Privacy, Election Issues, Electronic Portal Advisory Board: Becky Gladstone Election Systems: Barbara Klein Redistricting: Norman Turrill, Chris Cobey Voting Rights of Incarcerated People: Marge Easley Natural Resources Improve air quality, combat climate change, and support coastal management, clean energy, proper disposal of hazardous materials and solid waste, conservation, land use, parks, clean and abundant water supply for all, wetlands protection and other resource preservation, and Oregon’s 14 natural resource agency budgets. Agriculture/Goal 3 Land Use: Sandra Bishop Coastal Issues: Christine Moffitt, Peggy Lynch Columbia River Treaty: Philip Thor Emergency Management: Rebecca Gladstone, Lily Yao Forestry: Josie Koehne Elliott State Research Forest: Peggy Lynch Northwest Energy Coalition: Robin Tokmakian Oregon Health Authority Drinking Water Advisory Committee: Sandra Bishop Water: Peggy Lynch Wildfire: Carolyn Mayers Ways and Means Natural Resource Budgets/Revenue: Peggy Lynch Social Policy Support housing, adult corrections, judiciary, juvenile justice, public safety, gun safety, violence prevention, health care, mental health, immigration and refugees, foster care, social services, gender-related issues, age discrimination, and reproductive health. LWVOR actively lobbies for anti-poverty programs to help low income and those at-risk move toward financial stability. After-School Care and Children’s Service: Katie Riley; Behavioral Health: Karen Nibler, Stephany Aller Education: Jean Pierce Equal Rights for All: Jean Pierce, Kyra Aguon Gun Safety and Gun Issues, Rights for Incarcerated People: Marge Easley Hate and Bias Crimes: Claudia Keith, Becky Gladstone Higher Education: Jean Pierce Immigration/Refugee/Asylum: Claudia Keith Health Care: Christa Danielsen, M110 Public Safety, Justice Issues: Karen Nibler School-Based Health Centers: Chloe Acosta, Anai Beng Housing: Debbie Aiona, Nancy Donovan Gender-Related Concerns, Reproductive Health, Age Discrimination: Trish Garner

Back to All Legislative Reports Governance Internships Legislative Report - Week of 2/23 Governance Team Coordinator: Becky Gladstone and Chris Cobey Artificial Intelligence: Lindsey Washburn Campaign Finance Reform: Norman Turrill Conflicts of Interest/Legislative Ethics: Chris Cobey CEI - Critical Energy Infrastructure : Nikki Mandell and Laura Rogers Cybersecurity Privacy, Election Issues, Electronic Portal Advisory Board: Becky Gladstone Election Systems: Barbara Klein Emergency Preparedness: Cate Arnold Immigration, Refugee, and Asylum: Claudia Keith Redistricting: Norman Turrill, Chris Cobey State Audit Working Group: Sheila Golden Voting Rights of Incarcerated People: Marge Easley Please see Governance Overview here. Jump to a topic: Governance Artificial Intelligence Campaign Finance Reform Privacy, Protections, and More Elections Governance Rebecca Gladstone The editorial board of the Oregonian featured the League opposition to HB 4018 8, which revokes campaign finance reforms, “ Editorial: A complete betrayal on campaign finance”, Feb 22, 2026. See Campaign Finance below. See the EPAB report and HB 5204 for possible software funding news. The session’s third week again saw a parliamentary delay request to read bills in full. We note that the Senate Conduct Committee will convene, opening with discussing rules. See the Statesman Journal on a Senate floor walkout and delayed vote on SB 1599 . This bill to reschedule the election date for a transportation funding referendum is increasing partisan tension. We could use volunteers to cover Transportation and Revenue. Contact us at lwvor@lwvor.org . Training is provided. Only a couple of the governance bills we tagged have failed to progress. See our reports for details, thank you for reading, and watch your email etc. for likely action alerts, including for federal issues. We saw discouraging governance progress for HB 4018 8, revoking campaign finance reforms, lacking software funding provisions. See the EPAB report and HB 5204 for possible software funding news. Only a couple of the governance bills we tagged have failed to progress. See our reports for details, thank you for reading, and watch your email etc. for likely action alerts, including for federal issues. Artificial Intelligence/Cybersecurity Lindsey Washburn SB 1546 Notice of Artificial Output requires AI companion and platform operators to disclose that users are interacting with artificial output, implement safety protocols to detect and prevent suicidal ideation, and provide special protections for minors. The bill has been referred to House Behavioral Health. HB 4103 Senator Aaron Woods Commission on AI and Chief AI Officer establishes the Senator Aaron Woods Commission on Artificial Intelligence to monitor AI use statewide, report on policy implications, make legislative recommendations, and be supported by a Chief AI Officer hired by the Department of Administrative Services. It passed a February 20 work session unanimously in the Joint Committee On Information Management and Technology , referred to Ways and Means. Campaign Finance Norman Turrill HB 4018 A The League characterizes this campaign finance bill as a complete betrayal . In 2024, extensive 4-way negotiations between the Honest Elections Oregon (HEO) coalition, including the Oregon League, legislative leaders including Speaker Fahey, labor union lobbyists, and business lobbyists, agreed to withdraw campaign finance reform (CFR) Initiative Petition 9, in exchange for passage of HB 4024 , agreeing to work on technical fixes without policy changes. This week, the League sent a members’ action alert, to urge legislators to vote no on HB 4018 8. House Rules passed the gutted and stuffed 8 amendment in a Feb 17 work session, forwarding to Ways and Means. The bill now includes many complex policy changes, essentially removing campaign contribution limits on large special interest organizations, while still limiting individual contributors. It delays HB 4024 election law changes for 4 years, substantially eroding financial disclosure requirements. The amendment was apparently written by labor union and business lobbyists with House leadership, excluding opposition. The governor’s staff has been involved. The rushed work session gave scant time for opposition from Honest Elections Oregon (HEO), League testimony , Common Cause and the Campaign Legal Center , national campaign finance experts. Read Campaign finance reform suffers the risk of ‘a deal that has yet to be real , commentary from Tim Nesbit, a former union leader, in the Oregon Capital Chronical. Look for a Sunday Oregonian editorial. This is likely to be one of the most important bills during the current short legislative session. League members and voters should contact legislative leaders and their legislators ASAP to oppose it. Privacy, Protections, and more… Rebecca Gladstone The EPAB , the state Electronic Portal Advisory Board, held the 2026 first quarterly meeting last week. Discussion included results of a public perception survey . Notably, 86% agree or strongly agree to feeling confident they can find information on state websites. For trust in making transactions, including for data protection, we urged that clear notices be added for website security status. We urged increased visibility for user tracking & Privacy options. See documents, including the agenda. We asked about the SoS RFP for ORESTAR (candidate registration and finance software) replacement. The spokesperson for the state website corporate partner, Tyler Oregon, believed they are participating. HB 4091 this Oregon National Guard activation and authority bill passed from the House floor, largely on partisan lines, no amendments, referred to Sen Vets. See supporting League testimony , relating to last session, see League HB 3954 testimony . HB 4123 A This landlord-tenant privacy bill passed from the House floor, adopting a -1 amendment with fixes to allow sharing contact information to admit maintenance workers, for example. A public hearing and work session are set on Feb 24 th in Sen Housing. League testimony, in support. HB 4143 addresses fund payments between federal and state accounts , with sponsor, Rep Chotzen echoing our characterization of using a “foundational financial tool” [the “right to offset”]. It passed on partisan lines from the House floor, sent to Sen Judiciary for a public hearing on Feb 23, work session on the 25 th . The -1 adds unemployment, medical leave, and overtime to payroll taxes as exclusions. It would sunset in 10 years to evaluate if the tool is no longer needed. See our earlier LR and League testimony , urging to consider options and possibly amendments, given our revenue volatility. SB 1530 would expand aggravated harassment to include threatening public officials , and increase penalties with the companion bill, SB 1516 . It was heard in Senate Judiciary, passing on partisan lines to a Senate floor vote on Feb 23. See League testimony in support. And following these: HB 5204 This bill has not been scheduled but is assigned to Joint W&Ms Capital Construction, to make biennial budget changes, including for SoS software needs. HB 4024 , which prevents event ticket resale unless the seller has or can get tickets , passed unanimously from the second chamber’s Senate Labor and Business. No amendments have been filed. All testimony is in support and the League will file in support also, if need be. See League testimony , in support of Senator Prozanski’s SB 430 Enrolled (2025) consumer protections, foundational for HB 4024. Elections Barbara Klein SB 1509 A-Engrossed ( Uniform Faithful Presidential Electors Act) . This bi-partisan committee sponsored bill is progressing with League support, written and verbal testimony (minute 16:10). The bill to further protect Oregon's voters from being disenfranchised by faithless presidential electors, had a Senate Rules hearing on February 9 th , work session on Feb 11 th , referred to House Rules, Do-Pass with sponsor supported amendments on Feb 17 th . We described the bill in more detail in past weeks, to allow Oregon to join other states with strong laws . SB 1574 ( 1 st Time Voters Act ) allows 17-year-olds to vote in a primary if they will be 18 by the time of the general election has been pulled from agenda, despite referral to Senate Rules hearing planned for Feb 18 th. Unresolved controversy was addressed to the campaign, which had more than 20 organizational sponsors, including the League. The question was whether those 17 years old (to be 18 years old in less than 6 months) should be treated as “secret voters” with names or information redacted from public roles, or whether they should be treated as all other consenting voters for matters of data capture. As these soon-to-be voters would technically still be minors, more research was needed. Some states with similar laws already enacted treat the new voters as minors, other states simply as new voters. Sen Chris Gorsek , the bill sponsor, agreed to meet with our Youth Council members who had hoped to testify verbally. We will continue to follow this. The following members of our League Youth Council submitted testimony: Brooklyn Carr Heuer , Marwa Daher, Olivia Han, and Elizaveta Rott . HJR 201 proposed amending the Oregon Constitution to require that primary elections are ‘open’ to all voters using the same ballot . It was heard in House Rules on Feb 5, 2026 and was not scheduled for a work session, is no longer active. The proposal was a “Top Two” system that our League does not support, despite our strong endorsement of “Open Primaries .” League testimony was Neutral. Interested in reading additional reports? Please see our Climate Emergency , Revenue , Natural Resources , and Social Policy report sections.

Back to All Legislative Reports Climate Emergency Legislative Report - Week of 3/24 Climate Emergency Team Coordinator: Claudia Keith Coordinator: Claudia Keith Efficient and Resilient Buildings: vacant Energy Policy: Claudia Keith Environmental Justice: vacant Natural Climate Solution Forestry: Josie Koehne Agriculture: vacant Community Resilience & Emergency Management: see Governance LR: Rebecca Gladstone Transportation: see NR LR 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: Climate Priority Advocacy Groups Climate Priorities with League Testimony Critical Energy Infrastructure (CEI) Emergency Management Package Climate Treasury Investment Bills Natural and Working Lands Other Priorities Priority Bills That Died In Policy Committee Climate Emergency JWM Budget Concerns Senate E&E Committee House CEE 3/20/25 This week we added another Environmental Justice bill: SB 54 : Work Session 3/31. The bill requires landlords provide cooling for residential units . The League endorsed and added our name to a OJTA Oregon Justice Transition Alliance, sign-on letter . HB2548 : establishes an agriculture workforce labor standards board, League Testimony . Work Session is 4/2. 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 2966 A: Establishes the State Public Financing Task Force, Work Session 3/6/2025 passed to Joint Ways and Means (JWM), Representative Gamba, Senator Golden, Frederick, Representative Andersen, Evans , House Commerce and Consumer Protection (H CCP) 
 League Testimony 
 
 
 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 215 1: Testimony ; Work session 3/27 HB 2152 : Testimony ; work session 3/27 HB 2949 : T estimony ; work session 3/27 HB 3450 : Testimony , work session 3/27, see also CEI Hub Seismic Risk Analysis HB 3450 CEI energy storage transition plan, HEMGGV, League Comments 
 
 work session 3/27. Energy Affordability and Utility Accountability Package 
 HB 3081 ( League testimony ) work session 3/27, creates an active navigator to help access energy efficiency incentives all in one place SB 88 ( League testimony ) work session 3/24, limits the ability of utility companies to charge ratepayers for lobbying, litigation costs, fines, marketing, industry fees, and political spending. 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 SB 681 : Treasury: Fossil Fuel investment moratorium, Senate Finance and Revenue, PH 3/19. testimony. Sen Golden. HB 2200 requested by Treasury Sec Tobias ESG investing, identified as the compromise bill. League – NO Comment, PH was 3/13 and work session 3/27. Natural and Working Lands HB 5039 financial administration of the Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board; JWM NR SC, League testimony 
 
 
 HB 3103-1 – work session 3/31. Overweight Timber Harvest , H ALUNRW, League Oppose Testimony , -1 amendment . Other Priorities HB 2566 : w -3 Stand-alone Energy resilience Projects , Work Session 3/20, moved to JWM, Rep Gamba was the only nay, 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. 
 
 SJR 28 : PH 3/26 Environmental Rights Constitutional – Referral, Senate Rules , Senator Golden, Representatives,Andersen, Gamba, SenatorsManning Jr, Prozanski, Representative Tran . The League has tentative plans to write testimony (comments only) on this bill. SB 1187 new Climate cost recovery Liability interagency bill , PH 4/7, work session 4/9, Sen. Golden, Senate Energy and Environment 
 
(Replaces SB 679 and SB 682 : SB 688 : Public Utility Commission performance-based regulation of electric utilities, PH 3/12,& 3/19, work session 3/24, League testimony , three proposed amendments , Sen. Golden, Sen. Pham, SEE 
 
 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 3/27, 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 4/2, SEE , PUC established a pilot program that allows each NG 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. Climate Solutions : Thermal Energy Networks win win : Carbon sequestration/storage: See DOGAMI Agency Budget (see Natural Resources Legislative Report) – Geologic Carbon Dioxide Sequestration Interactive Map | U.S. Geological Survey ( usgs.gov ) .
 
 
 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 680 : Climate Science/Greenwashing, Sen. Golden and Manning, moved to Judiciary , no recommendation, (SJ) PH was 2/26 Campos, Frederick, Gorsek, Patterson, Prozanski, Taylor 
 
 
 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) 
 Senate E&E Committee On 3/19, the committee heard testimony on SB 1143 , which would direct the PUC to establish a pilot program allowing natural gas utilities to develop pilot projects for a utility-scale thermal energy network (TEN) to provide heating and cooling services for customers. A TEN is a network of pipes and heat pumps using noncombustible fluids to distribute thermal energy among buildings connected to the network, potentially reducing or eliminating green house gas emissions and improving energy efficiency. Within 2 years of the act’s effective date, each utility would have to file a proposal, which the PUC would evaluate according to specified criteria, for developing and operating a TEN and measuring its effectiveness, or an explanation for not doing so. The PUC would have to allow the utilities to recover prudent costs and expenses of the pilot project from all ratepayers. The -1 amendment would require project contractors to ensure that journey workers comprise escalating percentages of workers employed on a project depending on the project initiation date, among other labor provisions. Washington and seven other states have passed similar legislation. Cascade NG and Northwest Natural support the bill, as do Climate Solutions and other environmental groups and labor union reps, with no opposing testimonies. CUB was silent on the record. House CEE 3/20/25 The committee moved two bills to the House floor with a do-pass recommendation and prior referral to Joint W&M: HB 2566-3 would make stand-alone energy resilience projects eligible for grants under ODOE’s Community Renewable Energy Grant program, renamed the Community Renewable and Resilient Energy Investment Fund. The -3 amendment would require ODOE to allocate 20% of program funds for resilience projects, vs. “20% or less” in the introduced bill, to win the support of consumer-owned and municipal utilities and co-ops. The set-aside would not require a resilience project to be based on renewables. Fiscal impact is $186,000 in Other Funds and 0.75 FTE for 2025-27. The fund has a current balance of $60 million, about half reserved for projects that have not yet been distributed. Rep. Gamba voted against moving the bill on the grounds that it would take money away from deserving renewable projects. HB 3172-2 would direct the Department of the State Fire Marshal (DSFM) and DCBS to establish and implement the Wildfire Prepared Structure Program, providing grants to retrofit existing dwellings and rebuild dwellings damaged by wildfires. It would provide an unspecified GF appropriation to DSFM for 2025-27. The committee also heard testimony on the following bills: HB 3823 would create a property tax break for personal property used by a business (other than a utility) to generate or store energy for consumption by the business on its premises. Personal property includes on-site generators and battery units, vs. real property such as rooftop solar panels. Rep. Gomberg said a coming amendment would allow local jurisdictions to opt in rather than making this a mandate and would specify that the exemption applies only to new investments rather than those made in the past. Gomberg is working with AOC on the amendment. He asked the committee to forward the bill to Revenue without recommendation. HB 3747 would create a refundable income tax credit for the purchase of battery energy and solar photovoltaic electric systems. The credit amounts would be $1,000 for a solar photovoltaic system, $2,500 for a battery storage system, $3,500 for a paired system. OSSIA supports, noting that the state's Solar and Storage Rebate Program has run out of funds and the outlook for federal tax credits is highly uncertain. The proposed tax credits would support local jobs in small to medium-sized businesses. Interested in reading additional reports? Please see our Governance , Natural Resources , and Social Policy report sections.

Back to All Legislative Reports Climate Emergency Legislative Report - Week of 5/29 Climate Emergency Team Coordinator: Claudia Keith Coordinator: Claudia Keith Efficient and Resilient Buildings: vacant Energy Policy: Claudia Keith Environmental Justice: vacant Natural Climate Solution Forestry: Josie Koehne Agriculture: vacant Community Resilience & Emergency Management: see Governance LR: Rebecca Gladstone Transportation: see NR LR Joint Ways and Means - Budgets, Lawsuits, Green/Public Banking, Divestment/ESG: Claudia Keith Find additional Climate Change Advocacy volunteers in Natural Resources By Claudia Keith, Climate Emergency Coordinator Some good news from State Senator Michael Dembrow’s May 28th Update from SD 23 . Many LWVOR climate related priority and other bills are listed in the drafted Legislative Climate Funding Package, not yet posted to OLIS. Here’s an excerpt: “ Legislative Counsel is finishing up the drafting of the amendments to these placeholders, which will become the final bills. The amendments should all be posted on OLIS early this week. I expect that they will be assigned to Ways and Means subcommittees and passed to the full Ways and Means Committee by the end of the week. Funding Package #1 : Climate Action The first funding package that I worked on will be HB 3409, which brings together and funds a number of bills related to climate action. The package invests nearly $100 million in crucial climate action this session, though it has the potential to draw down many times that amount in federal funding that has become available. Here are the programs and policies that are included in this package. I’ll provide more explanation and the final funding levels in the future. Here are the bills included in the package: · REBuilding Bills (SB 868, 869, 870, 871, HB 3166) · State Energy Strategy and Resilience Planning (HB 2534 & 3378) · Community Resilience Hubs (HB 2990) · Community Green Infrastructure Act AKA TREES Act (HB 3016) · Woody Biomass for Low-Carbon Fuels (HB 3590) · Environmental Justice and Tribal Navigator (SB 852) · Medium and Heavy-Duty EV Incentives (HB 2714) · Renewable Energy Siting (HB 3181) · Natural Climate Solutions (SB 530) · Climate Action Modernization (SB 522) · Residential Solar Rebate Program Extension (HB 3418) · Residential Heat Pump Program Extension (HB 3056) · Climate Protection Program Fee Bill (HB 3196) · Harmful Algal Blooms (HB 2647) · Community Renewable Energy Grant Program (HB 2021, 2021) In addition, there are a number of Agency Policy Option Packages (POPs) and new climate-related programs included in the Climate Package. Again, though, the future of this package, like all the others, remains up in the air.”

Back to All Legislative Reports Climate Emergency Legislative Report - Week of 2/16 Climate Emergency Team Coordinator: Claudia Keith Coordinator: Claudia Keith Efficient and Resilient Buildings: vacant Energy Policy: Claudia Keith Environmental Justice: vacant Natural Climate Solution Forestry: Josie Koehne Agriculture: vacant Community Resilience & Emergency Management: see Governance LR: Rebecca Gladstone Transportation: see NR LR 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: Climate Priorities Senate Committee on Energy and Environment News Oregon Treasury Climate Lawsuits/Our Children's Trust Many Climate Emergency priority policy and or funding bills the league supports are expected to move to JWM or the floor. The deadline for posting work sessions for most first chamber policy committees was Monday Feb 16, find details below. (note: bills in any joint, rules or revenue committees have no deadlines) Climate Priority Bills The League may have testimony and/or join coalition letters. SB 1541 A Make Polluters Pay (MPP), new SMS , Senate Energy and Environment , PH 2/5 and work session 2/10 , - 2 amendment , moved to Joint Ways and Means (JWM) . LWVOR submitted testimony . Creates the Climate Superfund Cost Recovery Program to assess financial impacts of greenhouse gas emissions and recover costs from responsible entities. Multiple state agencies are involved including, Department of Land Conservation and Development, Department of Environmental Quality, Oregon Health Authority, and Land Conservation and Developmet Commission. The oversight body is Environmental Quality Commission (EQC). The League has joined the Make Polluters Pay Campaign . This climate legislation is a national effort covered today by the New York Times , reporting that a number of other states are in the process of passing and/or implementing. SB 1526 A, new SMS , Fund for Oregon Resilience, Growth, and Energy, work session was 2/9, Senate Energy and Environment (SEE) moved the bill to JWM, League testimony . Creates financing tools, including a revolving loan fund, to provide more affordable, accessible long-term financing for clean energy and resilience infrastructure projects in Oregon. This is modeled on a number of other states’ legislation , some as "green" banking nonprofits. SB 1582 , Community-Based Power: Distributed Power Plants, SEE possible work session 2/16. Distributed power plants (DPPs) bring together customer resources like rooftop solar, battery systems, and smart thermostats to help maximize grid efficiency by using energy sources already connected to the grid to balance grid loads. This bill requires each investor-owned utility to develop a DPP program and file it with the PUC, which would adopt annual procurement targets for DPP grid services, along with annual performance incentives for the utilities to achieve those targets. HB 4046-2 , Nuclear Study Bill, House Climate, Energy, and Environment (HCEE), work session 2/12, moved to JWM unanimously as amended. New SMS , directs the Oregon Department of Energy, subject to the availability of funding, to conduct a study on nuclear energy, including advanced nuclear reactors. The -2 amendment, a substantial rewrite of the original bill negotiated with opponents, seemed to satisfy committee members that the study could be unbiased as to nuclear energy issues. HB 4031 A : new SMS , first reading in Senate 2/16, House passed on 2/12. Exempts a renewable energy facility from needing a site certificate from the Energy Facility Siting Council if the facility qualifies for certain federal renewable energy tax credits and construction is scheduled to begin on or before December 31, 2028. HB 1597 SEE PH 2/4 , possible WKS 2/16. A number of amendments will be considered. Makes a power provider disclose the costs to store the waste made from making any electric power. SMS Senate Energy and Environment 2/11 The meeting started 15 minutes late with Sen. Sollman announcing that the scheduled work sessions for SB 1582 (Virtual Power Plant programs), SB 1588 (Upgrade and Save) and SB 1597 (nuclear waste storage costs) were carried over to Mon. 2/16, the final day for 1st chamber passage. Instead, attendees were treated to an informational meeting on the nuclear energy study bill HB 4046. Other bills we are following: Work sessions: • HB 4029 - Requires a solar energy contractor or person that installs a solar energy system to have a license appropriate for the scope of work the solar energy contractor or person will perform. (Carried over from 2/5) • HB 4144 - Requires producers of batteries or battery-containing products to join a battery producer responsibility organization and implement a battery producer responsibility program for the collection and recycling of batteries. • HB 4080 - Allows a retail electricity consumer to install and use portable solar photovoltaic energy devices with up to a total maximum generating capacity of 1,200 watts. • HJM 201 - Urges Congress to pass legislation to permanently extend federal tax cuts for wildfire victims. Public hearings: • HB 4077 - Authorizes a public utility, upon approval by PUC, to issue bonds and securitize debt for costs and expenses incurred or to be incurred by the public utility associated with a self-insurance or captive insurance program. (Carried over from 2/5) • HB 4046 - Directs ODOE, subject to the availability of funding, to conduct a study on nuclear energy, including advanced nuclear reactors. News Other states follow Oregon’s lead in targeting data centers ’ energy costs | OregonLive Oregon Treasury & Oregon Divest New 2025 Treasury : Climate-Positive Investing : Invested for Oregon Report Tracking Net zero climate positive investment strategies . Oregon pension shows climate progress , private markets drive emissions | Private Equity Stakeholder Project.org Oregon State Treasury should engage or divest from companies fueling a new era of resource conflicts. (Divest Oregon . ORG) Climate Lawsuits/Our Children’s Trust There are a number of active federal lawsuits. Columbia University Law ( CUL) Climate Litigation Jan 30 Updates . Another source: CLU - Sabin Climate DB lists 97 lawsuits , (active and dismissed) mentioning Oregon. VOLUNTEERS NEEDED : What is your passion related to Climate Emergency ? You can help. V olunteers are needed. The short legislative session begins in January of 2026. Many State Agency Boards and Commissions meet regularly year-round and need monitoring. If any area of climate or natural resources is of interest to you, please contact Peggy Lynch, Natural Resources Coordinator, or Claudia Keith Climate Emergency at peggylynchor@gmail.com Or climatepolicy@lwvor.org . Training will be offered. · Natural and Working lands, specifically Agriculture · Transportation and ODOT state agency · Climate Related Lawsuits/Our Children’s TrustDA · Public Health Climate Adaptation (OHA) · Regional Solutions / Infrastructure (with NR team) · State Pr ocurement Practices (DAS: Dept. of Admin. Services) · CE Portfolio State Agency and Commission Budgets · Oregon Treasury: ESG investing/Fossil Fuel divestment Interested in reading additional reports? Please see our Governance , Revenue , Natural Resources , and Social Policy report section

Back to All Legislative Reports Governance Internships Legislative Report - Week of 2/16 Governance Team Coordinator: Becky Gladstone and Chris Cobey Artificial Intelligence: Lindsey Washburn Campaign Finance Reform: Norman Turrill Conflicts of Interest/Legislative Ethics: Chris Cobey CEI - Critical Energy Infrastructure : Nikki Mandell and Laura Rogers Cybersecurity Privacy, Election Issues, Electronic Portal Advisory Board: Becky Gladstone Election Systems: Barbara Klein Emergency Preparedness: Cate Arnold Immigration, Refugee, and Asylum: Claudia Keith Redistricting: Norman Turrill, Chris Cobey State Audit Working Group: Sheila Golden Voting Rights of Incarcerated People: Marge Easley Please see Governance Overview here. Jump to a topic: Overview Elections Artificial Intelligence /Cybersecurity Campaign Finance Privacy and Protections Miscellaneous Overview, second week of session Rebecca Gladstone The session’s second week saw pressure coming to bear in governance. ORESTAR, the Oregon Elections System for Tracking and Reporting, was built in-house in 2007, apparently lacking update mechanisms (all this time!). Replacing ORESTAR from scratch, comparatively estimated at more than $25M, or perhaps patching it, seems inextricably tangled in the earlier session’s campaign finance reforms, requiring software updates. The reforms have not been implemented. We have filed testimony on more than half of the governance bills we’re following. Informational hearings in Joint Committee Information Management Technology are well worth watching, this week for protecting local journalism and data breach policy. We’re hoping to catch a few more immigration bills in the second chamber, expecting amendments. We’re conserving energy and stepping back when bills already have vigorous support, and, nearly daily, we’re discussing possibilities for action alerts. See our reports for details, thank you for reading, and watch your email etc. for likely action alerts, including for federal issues. Thanks are due to our volunteers for their long hours! Elections Barbara Klein SB 1509 ( Uniform Faithful Presidential Electors Act ), a committee sponsored bill to further protect Oregon’s voters from being disenfranchised by faithless presidential electors, had a hearing on February 9th in Senate Rules. The League submitted written and verbal testimony (minute 16:10) was given. A work session was held on February 11th during which time the bill passed out of committee with a “do pass” recommendation on sponsor-supported amendments and with a unanimous vote. The bill was described in more detail in past weeks -it would allow Oregon to join other states with strong laws. SB 1574 ( 1st Time Voters Act ) allows 17-year-olds to vote in a primary if they will be 18 by time of the general election, it’s been referred to Senate Rules and is scheduled for a hearing on Wednesday February 18 th (8:00 am). Four testimonies have been drafted and approved but not yet submitted from Members of the League Youth Council. These will be shared in our next legislative report. LWVOR is one of the 20 organizational sponsors of this bill, sponsored by Sen.ChrisGorsek@oregonlegislature.gov . HJR 201 , a house joint resolution, was heard in the House Committee on Rules on February 5, 2026. It proposes an amendment to the Oregon Constitution to require that primary elections are ‘open’ to all voters using the same ballot. The proposal is for a “Top Two” system that our League does not support, despite our strong endorsement of “Open Primaries.” The League has submitted Neutral testimony. Artificial Intelligence/ Cybersecurity Lindsey Washburn SB 1546 (Notice of Artificial Output): requires AI companion and platform operators to disclose that users are interacting with artificial output, implement safety protocols to detect and prevent suicidal ideation, and provide special protections for minors. The -2 amendment was passed. Campaign Finance Norman Turrill The House Rules Committee, with the collusion of labor union lobbyists and business lobbyists, seems to be attempting to completely betray the deal made in 2024 for withdrawing Initiative Petition 9 on campaign finance reform (CFR) in exchange for passage of HB 4024 and agreeing to work on technical fixes without policy changes. In 2024, the deal was made after extensive 4-way negotiations between Honest Elections Oregon (HEO, with the Oregon League as a constituent organization), legislative leaders including Speaker Fahey, labor union lobbyists, and business lobbyists. The betrayal is in the form of a 92-page -8 amendment to a gut-and-stuff bill, HB 4018 , posted just hours before the committee hearing. The amendment includes many complex policy changes, essentially allowing big special interest organizations to continue dominating campaign finance in Oregon, contrary to voters’ will and interests, while still limiting individual contributors. The amendment also delays HB 4024 election law changes for 4 years and substantially erodes financial disclosure requirements . See League testimony and recommending Sen Golden’s video testimony . This is likely to be one of the most important bills during the current short Legislative session, so League members and voters should contact legislative leaders and their legislators ASAP to oppose the -8 amendment. The work session is 8am, Feb 17. Also last month, the state Elections Division issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) to replace ORESTAR and implement HB 4024 (2024) provisions. The RFP appears to only allow large corporate bids for the project. HEO has asserted that HB 4024 does not require more than minor ORESTAR changes, but the Secretary of State continues to conflate the two projects, requesting $25 million without detailing how it would be used. Late addition: A video testimony from the Civic Software Foundation , stated that they could provide [ORESTAR replacement] software in compliance with HB 4024 for much, much less than $25 million, describing that they built Portland’s Small Donor Elections System software as open source, with scaling up to ORESTAR needs in mind. Privacy and Protections and more… Rebecca Gladstone HB 4091 this Oregon National Guard activation and authority bill passed with two against, not on partisan lines, no amendments, from House Emergency Management and Vets. It was referred to Sen Rules, without a recommendation. See supporting League testimony , and relating to last session, see League HB 3954 testimony . (See other immigration-related bills in Social Policy Legislative Report.) HB 4123 This landlord-tenant privacy bill passed from a House Housing and Homelessness committee work session by a unanimous vote, adopting a -1 amendment with fixes to allow sharing contact information to admit maintenance workers, for example. See League testimony, in support. (See also the Housing Section of the Social Policy Legislative Report.) SB 1530 would expand aggravated harassment to include threatening public officials , and increase penalties with the companion bill, SB 1516 . It was heard in Senate Judiciary, with a work session set for Feb 16. See League testimony in support. And following these: HB 4024 , which prevents event ticket resale unless the seller has or can get tickets. It passed from a work session in House Labor and Business, partially on partisan lines, then from a House floor vote with only two against, one excused. No amendments have been filed. A public hearing and work session have been scheduled for Feb 16 th and 18 th in Senate Labor and Business. All testimony is in support, and the League will file in support also, if need be. See League testimony , in support of Senator Prozanski’s SB 430 Enrolled (2025) consumer protections, foundational for HB 4024. HB 4055 , which we have been following for data breach policy development, was pulled by the JCIMT (committee) for more careful deliberation in a long session. HB 4143 addresses fund payments between federal and state accounts, with sponsor, Rep Chotzen echoing our characterization of using a “foundational financial tool” [the “right to offset”]. See our earlier LR and League testimony , urging to consider options and possibly amendments, given our revenue volatility. It passed on partisan lines from House Rules. The -1adds unemployment, medical leave, and overtime to payroll taxes as exclusions. It would sunset in 10 years, to evaluate if the tool is no longer needed. We could use your help, even with watching hearings from home and sharing thumbnail reports. Let us know, write to lwvor@lwvor.org . Miscellaneous Chris Cobey SJR 201 (kicker reform) Proposes an amendment to the Oregon Constitution to require a portion of surplus revenue that would otherwise be returned to personal income taxpayers to be used for funding public kindergarten through grade 12 education, community colleges and wildfire prevention and suppression, if surplus revenue exceeds a certain threshold. Refers the proposed amendment to the people for their approval or rejection at the next regular general election. Public hrg to be held Feb. 18 in Sen Rev & Fin . HB 4017 (use of campaign funds for security): Provides that amounts received as contributions by a candidate, principal campaign committee of a candidate and principal campaign committee of a holder of public office may be used for specified security-related expenses. Work session held Feb. 12 in House Rules; do pass rec 7-0. Interested in reading additional reports? Please see our Climate Emergency , Revenue , Natural Resources , and Social Policy report sections.

Back to All Legislative Reports Governance Internships Legislative Report - Week of 4/10 Governance Team Coordinator: Becky Gladstone and Chris Cobey Artificial Intelligence: Lindsey Washburn Campaign Finance Reform: Norman Turrill Conflicts of Interest/Legislative Ethics: Chris Cobey CEI - Critical Energy Infrastructure : Nikki Mandell and Laura Rogers Cybersecurity Privacy, Election Issues, Electronic Portal Advisory Board: Becky Gladstone Election Systems: Barbara Klein Emergency Preparedness: Cate Arnold Immigration, Refugee, and Asylum: Claudia Keith Redistricting: Norman Turrill, Chris Cobey State Audit Working Group: Sheila Golden Voting Rights of Incarcerated People: Marge Easley Jump to a topic: Cybersecurity and Public Records Rights of Incarcerated People Redistricting Governance By Norman Turrill, Governance Coordinator, and Team Privacy, Transparency, Public Records, and Cybersecurity By Rebecca Gladstone Bills are appearing fresh here, including some we missed in the first chamber. These are complex issues meriting careful research, some with interestingly split votes: HB 2107 extends automatic voter registration via the OHA, Oregon Health Authority. We were sorry to see an amendment for a pending work session to cut the Powder River facility pilot project from the bill. HB 2129 : This communications transparency bill addresses executive session confidentiality, recording of confidential meetings, communications in the public interest and public records issues that relate to our SB 417 Task Force discussions. It passed from the House with broad support, public hearing rescheduled to Sen. Judiciary for April 20. SB 11 requires virtual public state meetings to record and promptly publicize recordings. This has strong bipartisan support for access and transparency. We will be looking for data retention cybersecurity guardrails. HB 2095 : This traffic-cams-in-cities bill passed from the House 35 to 20, awaiting Senate floor 2 nd reading. HB 3127 A : No hearing is set yet for this “TikTok bill”, referred to Sen. Vets, Emergency Management, Federal and World Affairs. It prohibits installing or downloading certain “covered products” onto state information technology assets. It passed 52 to 4 from the House floor, not on strictly partisan lines. (Reminder, this will not apply to other users.) HB 5035 : We noted 100 filed statements, most very brief, many openly responding to a request for Corporate Division funding support. The League, Common Cause, The Oregon Association of County Clerks, and the Attorney General submitted on other aspects of the bill. See Lobbying email from Oregon Secretary of State’s office raises eyebrows in Salem . We support this SoS budget bill ( our testimony ). SB 510 : This SB 417 funding bill was voted all ayes, with two excused from JW&Ms on April 7, with a Do Pass recommendation. It would improve efficiency, cost estimates and budgeting, and sustainable funding for the PRAC. See our testimony in support . SB 417 : The Task Force appointed at Sen. Rules’ Chair Lieber’s request after the Feb 7 public hearing, continues to meet weekly, hoping to conclude soon to propose an amendment. This phrase is an example from the bill: “(D) Whether waiving or substantially reducing fees would create an articulable and substantial burden on the public body in a manner that outweighs the public interest in disclosure….” We support this detailed PRAC bill to increase efficiency in processing public records requests, considering fee waivers, defining “media”, waiving records request fees when made in the public interest, and considering malicious intent in placing requests; see our testimony . SB 166 passed on a 2/3 not strictly partisan vote from the Senate Floor on April 6 and was referred to House Rules. This bill is not promising for the multiple concerns that we recommended be addressed in our testimony . This three-part bill would codify that actual voting on ballots is not revealed (never has been). It only addresses protecting elections workers, offending substances shall not be thrown at them, and elections should have cybersecurity plans. We recommend further amending, citing extensive references to our earlier relevant testimony. Technical harassment definitions should be expanded, as we note, for example to doxing, with extensive privacy issues, and extended to protect all involved in elections, even voters, from harassment and intimidation, as reported last fall, OPB . We anticipate the value of having these protections in place before the 2024 elections. We link to our other testimony support for elections as critical infrastructure, for cybersecurity, and for protecting our cyber defense plans. SB 1073 passed in a Senate Information Mgmt. and Tech. WS, April 5, was referred to W&Ms with a Do Pass recommendation, adopting the -3 amendment, which we support. Growing data management risks justify this bill to establish a state Chief Privacy Officer (CPO). This office in DAS would coordinate cybersecurity services with data governance and transparency / privacy concerns, would set rules, develop and share educational materials and forums. We again recommend reading our privacy and cybersecurity work. We support the networking for state agency CPOs and others around the state. Rights of Incarcerated People By Marge Easley After passing the Senate, SB 529 had a public hearing in House Judiciary on March 27 and was scheduled for a work session on April 12. The bill modifies legislative findings concerning alternative incarceration programs related to substance abuse. It requires that intensive addiction programs for incarcerated individuals address addiction as a chronic disease and include a range of treatment services. Redistricting There has been no movement on redistricting in the legislature. People Not Politicians has started collecting signatures on IP 14 petitions downloadable from its website. VOLUNTEERS NEEDED. Worthy causes go unaddressed for lack of League volunteers. If you see a need and can offer your expertise, please contact our staff at lwvor@lwvor.org .

Back to All Legislative Reports Climate Emergency Legislative Report - Sine Die 2024 Climate Emergency Team Coordinator: Claudia Keith Coordinator: Claudia Keith Efficient and Resilient Buildings: vacant Energy Policy: Claudia Keith Environmental Justice: vacant Natural Climate Solution Forestry: Josie Koehne Agriculture: vacant Community Resilience & Emergency Management: see Governance LR: Rebecca Gladstone Transportation: see NR LR Joint Ways and Means - Budgets, Lawsuits, Green/Public Banking, Divestment/ESG: Claudia Keith Find additional Climate Change Advocacy volunteers in Natural Resources Jump to a topic: Climate Emergency - Mitigation and Adaptation Climate Litigation and Congressional Climate Resolution Oregon Climate Action Comission Budget Timelines Climate News Volunteers Needed HCR 206 was passed to set 2025 pre-session deadlines for members and committees to submit requests for drafts of measures to be pre-session filed to the Office of the Legislative Counsel, for Legislative Counsel to deliver drafts of measures to be pre-session filed and for requesters to submit those drafts for introduction to the Senate Desk or the House Desk. Unlike the short session, there are no limits on bills to be filed by legislators AND there will be new legislators able to file into the first part of the 2025 session. See the legislative calendar on the Oregon Legislature website . Climate Emergency - Mitigation and Adaptation This month Governor Kotek and Secretary of State are both focused on Climate related policy / priority issues. Gov. Tina Kotek talks climate change in sit-down interview | The Story | April 4, 2024 | kgw.com , Gov. Tina Kotek discusses offshore wind, timber harvest | April 5 | kgw.com , and Oregon DEQ under resourced to face enormity of climate change challenges, audit finds | Oregon Capital Chronicle. Oregon DEQ - Department of Environmental Quality- Ongoing Strategic Planning Can Help DEQ Address Obstacles to Achieving its Goals CE Budget and GHG Emission Targets The 2024 Leg session ended with a compromise as well as reasonable funding, especially in SB 1530 (>$21M) and end-of-session omnibus SB 5701 (>125M) . However, no update to Greenhouse Gas Emission targets approved in 2007 nor improvement to Climate Change coordination and accountability across agencies. SB 1559 GHG Emission update died in policy committee. League Testimony . The League continues to be disappointed that there is no commitment by Legislature leadership to update greenhouse gas emission targets or fund a coordinated /cohesive / accountable effort for climate action across all state-funded entities. This irresponsible politically-driven situation may change in the 2025 session. See OPB: Dead: Stronger greenhouse gas reduction goals. Potentially telling, Speaker Fahey announced her new committee chairs today. The Governor ‘s final 4/17 signing deadline decisions: Governor Kotek Announces Final Veto Decisions, Signing Letters Governor provides signing letters for policy and budget bills . See every 2024 session bill the Governor signed, including accompanying signing letters. Policy Bills Coal Act: HB 4083 Requires Oregon Investment Council and Treasury to divest from Thermal Coal investments. Passed,. League Testimony . Right to Repair: SB 1596 . See discussion in NR Leg Report, League Testimony , passed. HB 4080 Enrolled. Off-Shore Wind: HB 4080 , League Testimony, passed. See discussion in NR Leg Report. HB 4112 Clean Tech Leadership Bill. League Testimony . Funding is $20M. Died in J W&M. HB 4155 Infrastructure funding study bill- Rep Gamba and Sen Golden – in J W&Ms. Died in committee. HB 4102 Enrolled. Funding mechanism for Natural and Working Lands Fund (carbon sequestration) passed, No Fiscal. The bill related to EV rebates died in committee, but DEQ did recently announce funding effective April 2024 . Climate Litigation and Congressional Climate Resolution April 19, 2024: Feds cannot delay youth-led climate change case longer , Oregon judge rules - The judge denied the United States’ attempt to delay a 2015 climate change lawsuit while recommending that the Ninth Circuit also deny the feds’ arguments for dismissal . | Courthouse News. Juliana v Gov: 4/19 Court filing Judge Aiken issued an order denying the government‘s motion for a stay pending the outcome of the Ninth Circuit petition for mandamus. April 2024 Updates to the Climate Case Charts | Columbia University Sabin Center for Climate Change Law, Oregon Cases – 74 as of April 2024 Oregon Climate Action Commission Meeting By Claudia Keith Participants= ~50 at peak See the meeting presentation slides . Climate Pollution Reduction Grant Application Update Colin McConnaha: Oregon’s Climate Equity and Resilience Through Action (CERTA) grant application has gone to the U.S. EPA, competing for a portion of $4.5 billion in federal IRA funding that supplements existing state programs. DEQ worked with five state agencies and many local jurisdictions to identify “shovel-ready” measures (projects) in three target areas—waste and materials, transportation, and buildings. (See slide 8.) The request totals just under $200 million, targeting 6.5 million MTCO2E by 2050. EPA intends to notify applicants this summer about who will get what. Building Sector Climate Action Informational Update Rep. Marsh reviewed recent legislation. Climate action began to move during the 2021 session with enactment of HB 2021 (clean energy targets), HB 2475 (differential rates for low-income ratepayers), HB 2842 (Healthy Homes). At the same time, legislation to allow local “reach” codes to impose stronger standards than the state energy efficiency code failed. Energy efficiency is low-hanging fruit with the biggest potential impact on clean electricity outside of the hydro sector. SB 1518 in 2022 created the Task Force on Resilient Efficient Buildings (REBuild) to identify and evaluate policies related to building codes and decarbonization that will help the state meet its GHG emission reduction goals while maximizing energy efficiency, improving resilience against climate change, improving public health and air quality, reducing household energy burdens, and mitigating impacts from wildfires, heat waves, and other climate change events. The task force brought forward priorities that include strengthening energy-efficient building codes and incentivizing and subsidizing heating and cooling efficiency increases, heat pumps, and air purification systems. The 2023 climate resilience budget package (HB 3630/HB 3409), which Rep. Marsh called the “ODOE full employment package,” provided funding for the state heat pump program and an array of other initiatives related to the above. Moving forward, without giving up on climate change mitigation strategies, she said, “we have no choice but to look at adaptation strategies – how we will keep communities whole as conditions change.” Climate Protection Program (CPP) Rulemaking Informational Update Nicole Singh, DEQ: U.S. Court of Appeals invalidated the entire CPP because of a procedural error in the notification process. Petitioners addressed many other issues that the ruling did not reach. Regulated entities had worked for the past two years to determine how they would comply with the CPP requirements, and DEQ wants to see that continue. 2024 would have been the last year of the first 3-year compliance period. As for public input, DEQ had not seen as broad a representation of new voices in any previous rulemaking. In the 2024 rulemaking, DEQ is seeking to reestablish a program to set limits on fossil fuel emissions from significant sources in Oregon, with enforceable and declining limits on emissions beginning in 2025. Scope of the program should be comparable to that of the original CPP in 2021. DEQ staff don’t intend to propose a major program redesign, but are open to hearing new ideas for program design and implementation. Staff knows that some adjustments will be necessary for a 2025 program start. DEQ will also consider changes that would further strengthen the program by: increasing equitable outcomes further minimizing costs to business and the public maximizing federal funding opportunities realigning Oregon with new state and federal energy/climate policies Agency 2025-2027 Budget Process Timelines and Engagement Opportunities Amy Schlusser: Budget work began earlier than usual this year in an effort to improve agency coordination. Budget requests are due to CFO by Aug. 30, 2024. Slides 20–22 provide links to budget process documents for individual agencies. Agency representatives said they have been instructed to limit their requests to a 1% increase across the board for new programs and initiatives. Discussion: Agenda Priorities for 2024 and 2025 OCAC has canceled its May 21 meeting, retaining meetings scheduled June through November. Chair Macdonald asked agency directors and commissioners what agenda topics they would like. Resilience and equity are overlapping priorities voiced by OHA. Sen. Dembrow suggested a standing agenda item on grant proposals and grant receipt news. DLCD Director Bateman suggested system-wide or “landscape” strategies for integrating energy, water, housing, wildfire and other policies. Climate News Surge in electricity demand spells trouble for PNW, forecasts show | The Seattle Times ProPublica has the story: The Flooding Will Come “No Matter What” The complex, contradictory and heartbreaking process of American climate migration is underway. Reuters - US power forecast , Carbon Brief - EU Migration Climate migration amplifies demographic change and population aging Millions on the Move Climate Emergency - Volunteers Needed Please consider joining the Climate Emergency portfolio team; we lack volunteers in these critical policy areas: • Natural Climate Solutions, specifically Oregon Dept of Agriculture (ODA) • Climate Related Lawsuits/Our Children’s Trust • Public Health Climate Adaptation (OHA) • Regional Solutions / Infrastructure (with NR team) • State Procurement Practices (DAS: Dept. of Admin. Services • CE Portfolio State Agency and Commission Budgets • Climate Migration • Oregon Treasury: ESG investing/Fossil Fuel divestment We collaborate with LWVOR Natural Resource Action Committee members on many Climate Change mitigation and adaptation policy topics. Volunteers are needed: Training for Legislative and State Agency advocacy processes is available. Please contact lwvor@lwvor.org if you have any questions or wish to become involved with Climate Emergency issues.

Back to All Legislative Reports Social Policy Legislative Report - Week of 6/26 Social Policy Team Coordinator: Jean Pierce • After School and Summer Care: Katie Riley • Behavioral Health: Trish Garner • Criminal Justice/Juvenile Justice: Marge Easley / Sharron Noon • Education: Jean Pierce / Stephanie Engle • Equal Rights for All Ballot Measure: Jean Pierce Kyra Aguon • Gender-Related Concerns, Reproductive Health, Age Discrimination: Trish Garner • Gun Safety & Gun Issues, Rights for Incarcerated People: Marge Easley • Hate and Bias Crimes: Claudia Keith/ Becky Gladstone /rhyen enger • Health Care: Christa Danielsen • Housing: Debbie Aiona and Nancy Donovan Jump to topic: Housing Gun Safety Immigration, Refugee, and Other Basic Rights Criminal Justice Healthcare Housing By Nancy Donovan and Debbie Aiona The consequential results of the 2023 Legislative session underscore the urgency of Oregon’s housing and homeless crisis. Near the end of the session, it was clear that legislators were committed to taking substantive steps to address the overwhelming need. They allocated resources to provide shelter for unhoused Oregonians, assist tenants in paying their rent, help lower-income households afford a home purchase, and develop and preserve affordable housing. In the House Policy Bill Passed SB 611 modifies state law related to residential rent increases. This legislation limits maximum allowable rent increases to the lesser of either 10% or 7% plus the September annual 12-month average change in the Consumer Price Index. It also limits rent increases to no more than once a year, except for units rented on a week-by-week basis. Budget Bills Passed HB 5005 limits the maximum amount of bonds and third-party financing agreements that state agencies may issue, and the amount of revenue state agencies may raise from such issuance. The proceeds from issuance of bonds are included as revenues in agency budgets (see below). HB 5006 allocates $600 million of Article XI-Q bonds for OHCS’s Local Innovation and Fast Track (LIFT) Housing and Permanent Supportive Housing programs to acquire, construct, remodel, repair, equip or furnish real property, in which the department will take an operational or ownership interest to provide affordable housing for Oregonians with low- incomes and citizens in historically underserved communities and communities of color, as well as affordable housing that will be combined with supports to tenants and other services for low-income citizens with high needs, including persons with disabilities and persons coming out of chronic homelessness. HB 5030 authorizes the issuance of Lottery Revenue Bonds to OHCS totaling $50 million for affordable housing preservation. Omnibus Budget Passed SB 5506 is the omnibus budget reconciliation bill that implements the remaining adjustments to state agencies’ legislatively adopted budgets for the 2023-25 biennium. It includes $21 million in funding for affordable homeownership development and long-term rent assistance. In the Senate Policy Bills Passed HB 3042 provides protections for residents of housing with expiring affordability restrictions, such as limiting terminations and rent increases for three years after a tenant’s housing is withdrawn from publicly supported housing. The bill is effective on passage. HB 3309 directs OHCS to study and incentivize accessible units in OHCS-funded affordable housing units by providing financial support and increasing the quantity and quality of accessible units. HB 3395 is an Omnibus spending bill that allows affordable housing on lands zoned for commercial uses within urban growth boundaries. Local governments can extend their decision-making to develop residential structures within the urban growth boundary or to reconsider land use decisions to develop residential structures. Local governments also can site certain emergency shelters, conditioned on the latest estimates of the percentage of individuals experiencing homelessness. HB 2761 will allow OHCS to fund only the portion of mixed-use or mixed-income housing developments affordable to households earning at or below 120% of area median income. The bill grants OHCS rulemaking authority regarding the allocation of the affordable housing portion of project’s shared costs. Bills adopted by both the House and Senate HB 3215 authorizes OHCS to support the replacement, reconstruction or rehabilitation of residential units damaged or destroyed by disaster and to support the recovery of the residents. It establishes the Disaster Housing Recovery Fund to provide funding to the department for specified purposes. HB 2071 extends the sunset provisions for various tax credits and allows qualified borrowers to use the loan proceeds in connection with tax credits for affordable housing lenders, to include limited equity cooperatives under certain conditions. It also creates credit against income taxes for selling publicly supported housing to preserve as affordable housing. Applies to tax years beginning on or after January 1, 2024. HB 2080 is an Omnibus property tax bill which authorizes a city or county to approve or terminate a property tax exemption for a multiple-unit housing project. It authorizes a city or county to exempt from property tax the entire structure of multiple-unit housing converted from another use. Extends the low-income rental housing property tax exemption to housing units owned by limited equity cooperative corporations. Authorizes city or county to establish a schedule in which, for 10 years, the percentage of property tax exemption granted to affordable multi-unit rental housing increases directly with the percentage of units rented to households with annual income at or below 120 percent of area median income. HB 3462 requires the Oregon Department of Emergency Management (OEM), Oregon Housing and Community Services (OHCS), or Department of Human Services (DHS) to ensure that temporary housing provided in response to emergencies is safe and in compliance with state and federal nondiscrimination laws. It also allows these agencies to assist community members who are otherwise ineligible to access federal resources due to their immigration status. HB 3151 limits improvements that landlords of manufactured dwelling parks may require of tenants. It expands affordable housing that is developable on nonresidential lands. It also expands the manufactured dwelling park preservation loan program to allow loaned funds to be used to develop new parks. HB 2680 requires residential landlords to refund applicants for screening charges within 30 days, subject to certain conditions. The measure requires landlords to promptly notify an applicant once the screening has taken place, their right to a refund of the screening charge, and recovery of damages if the landlord fails to provide the refund within 30 days. It also increases the damages an eligible applicant may recover to twice the amount of the screening charge plus $250, which is a total increase of $100 from current law. SB 5511 is the Oregon Housing and Community Services budget bill. The total funds budget is $2,558,608,558 and 441 positions. This is a 28.5% increase from the 2023-25 current service level. OHCS’s budget from the General Fund includes the following: · $111.2 million to continue shelter and rehousing services that were funded in HB 5019 in response to the Governor’s emergency declaration on homelessness. · $24.1 million to provide operating support to existing shelters. · $55 million for rental assistance. · $6 million for services to tenants. · $10 million in down payment assistance. · $2.5 million for the decommissioning and replacement of manufactured housing. · $9.7 million capitalizes a predevelopment loan program within the Department, and expenditure limitation and position authority were added to revamp the process the Department will use to approve affordable housing finance applications from developers. · $136.8 million is allocated for wildfire recovery efforts, supported by a $422 million federal grant. Gun Safety By Marge Easley The compromise version of HB 2005 , limited to prohibiting the sale, manufacture, and possession of undetectable and unserialized firearms, frames, and receivers (“ghost guns”), passed the Senate and will soon be signed by the Governor. Violations are punishable as a Class A Misdemeanor for possession and a Class B Felony for the sale and manufacture. According to the Oregon Department of Justice, ghost guns are the weapons of choice for gun traffickers, and recent data from California states that 50% of guns used in crimes are ghost guns. HB 2572 , which defines and places severe restrictions on paramilitary activity in Oregon, will also soon be signed into law. The bill, strongly opposed by the Oregon Firearms Federation, will allow the Oregon Attorney General to bring civil action against those who engage in any of the paramilitary activities listed in the bill. SB 348 , which set out the implementation process for permit-to-purchase under Measure 114, unfortunately died in committee this session. However, the end-of-session Christmas Tree bill did include an allocation of $7.6 million to the Oregon State Police (OSP) to conduct background checks for people who are purchasing firearms. This would presumably be used to deal with the increased OSP workload to set up a new permit-to-purchase system with safety courses for applicants purchasing firearms. Immigration, Refugee and Other Basic Rights By Claudia Keith HB 2905 : Approved: Expands the list of individuals whose histories, contributions and perspectives are required to be included in social studies academic content standards and in related textbooks and instructional materials. House Speaker and Senate President signed this bill June 24. Passed unanimously. SB 610 A : Did not move from JW&Ms. It would have Established Food for All Oregonians (regardless of documentation status) Program within Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Fiscal, Staff Measure Summary. The fiscal may show up in the end-of-session budget balancing bill. Recent News: ‘ Dozens of advocacy groups disappointed food assistance bill fails’ – Oregon Capital Chronicle End of Session Full JWM Budget Reconciliation Bill HB550 A tentative list of Immigration/Refugee + related line items: - $2M OHA Healthcare Interpreter - universal representative fund / Oregon worker relief $8.6M DAS. Section 264 and 265 - Universal rep (legal) and legal services…. $4.8M section 85 & 86 - Language interpretation services $.5M section 76 - Latino Comm Ctr Pdx/Gresh. $4.1M - Immigration legal Services Oregon State Bar $800K - Migrant Bilingual educ team $2.2M - Afghan Refugee $2.5M Supreme Court immigration ruling allows Biden's deportation policy | Washington Post, https://wapo.st/430UGzQ League of Women Voters of the US on social media - June 23, 2023: “This SCOTUS decision rightly leaves in place guidelines that do not target undocumented immigrants for arrest & deportation if they don't threaten public safety. LWV stands with immigrants & partners to support policies to provide a path to citizenship.” Criminal Justice By Marge Easley and Karen Nibler Criminal justice bills that passed during the last week of the session include: · SB 212 maintains confidentiality of communications during peer check-ins at the Oregon Youth Authority or county juvenile facilities. · SB 339 requires sex offender treatment as a probation condition if the offense involved a touching offense. · SB 473 requires the Department of Education to integrate the identification and prevalence of sex trafficking into academic standards. · SB 321 establishes the process for post-conviction relief for those convicted by a nonunanimous jury. · SB 337 creates the Oregon Public Defense Commission under the jurisdiction of the judicial branch. · HB 2372 adds several goals for the Youth Development Council, including prevention of justice system involvement, respect for culturally specific and traditional practices, and prevention of and intervention in gang community violence and involvement. · HB 2635 increases penalties for fentanyl possession. · HB 2719 requires certain defendants to submit to testing for HIV and other communicable diseases. · HB 3275 provides that supervision of certain misdemeanor offenders reverts to the Department of Corrections if a county is unable to provide services. Healthcare By Christa Danielson HB 2395 Allows specified person to distribute and administer short acting opioid antagonists and distribution kits. Will expand the ability of these life saving medications to get to the people who need them. Also known as the Opioid harm reduction bill. Passed both houses. Will go to the Governor’s desk. SB 420 Sets up an area in the Department of Human Services for Navigation and support of those who have had a Brain injury. LWVOR testimony provided . Passed both houses and signed. Will go to Governors desk. SB 1089 (changed from SB 704) Sets up a Governance board for Universal Health Care. The board would create a plan to finance and administer Universal Health Care for Oregonians. LWVOR testimony .

Back to All Legislative Reports Climate Emergency Legislative Report - Week of 2/27 Climate Emergency Team Coordinator: Claudia Keith Coordinator: Claudia Keith Efficient and Resilient Buildings: vacant Energy Policy: Claudia Keith Environmental Justice: vacant Natural Climate Solution Forestry: Josie Koehne Agriculture: vacant Community Resilience & Emergency Management: see Governance LR: Rebecca Gladstone Transportation: see NR LR Joint Ways and Means - Budgets, Lawsuits, Green/Public Banking, Divestment/ESG: Claudia Keith Find additional Climate Change Advocacy volunteers in Natural Resources Carbon Investments Clean Energy Carbon Investments By Anne Nesse Informative hearings were held concerning our State Treasury, and a proposed plan to decrease carbon-intensive investments in favor of a cleaner energy economy. On Thursday, 2/16, LWVOR submitted written testimony on HB 2601 . I delayed posting this, as our virtual testimony was delayed, due to the number of persons testifying, and then delayed due to the winter storms. The committee chair has promised to hear all previously registered virtual testimony. A copy of our written testimony is linked here . Rep. Pham, a Chief Sponsor of the Bill, presented a convincing case for support, recorded here . Her testimony included graphs on the increased performance of non-fossil fuel related stocks, creating increased returns for our State Treasury, and increased PERS benefits. Rep. Pham ended with the statement that current fossil free investments are showing returns on investment 5X greater than more carbon intensive investments. Rep. Golden, and Rep. Gamba testified in support, as well as a coalition of representatives from the organizing group, Divest Oregon, which includes the OEA and 100 other state groups. Only a few testifiers were not in support, or suggested amendments. This bill also brought support from the former New York Controller, Tom Sazillo, testifying on how well New York State was proceeding in its transition towards a fossil free economy, within its investment portfolio. Clean Energy By Kathy Moyd HB 3196 -1 a uthorizes the Environmental Quality Commission to establish by rule a fee to be paid by community climate investment entities. The funds come from the purchase of Community Climate Investments by the covered fuel suppliers. It establishes a Community Climate Investment Oversight Account. The League provided written and verbal Testimony .