Climate Emergency Reports

While the primary focus of the LWVOR Action Committee is on Legislation in Oregon, what is happening at the federal level is likely to affect budgeting and other decisions in our state. These climate/energy-related Trump admin policy and budget related executive orders if implemented would drastically affect global UN COP efforts in all fifty states, including Oregon’s climate-related legislation (policy and budget), state agencies, and community climate action plans/state statutes/ targeted outcomes.

While the primary focus of the LWVOR Action Committee is on Legislation in Oregon, what is happening at the federal level is likely to affect budgeting and other decisions in our state. These climate/energy-related Trump admin policy and budget related executive orders if implemented would drastically affect global UN COP efforts in all fifty states, including Oregon’s climate-related legislation (policy and budget), state agencies, and community climate action plans/state statutes/outcomes.

This year, the Oregon Legislature will be considering a transportation package that will provide ongoing funding for the Oregon Department of Transportation. (ODOT). Emissions from transportation make up over one-third of Oregon's total emissions. This session provides an opportunity for the Legislature to increase access to multi-modal transportation and expand options for all Oregonians to get around without a car. The Environmental Caucus is championing a package that prioritizes transit, safety, and climate accountability.

A few federal court rulings have favorably affected Biden admin IRA funding despite the current administration’s attempt to freeze the minutes. ‘The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and Inflation Reduction Act‘, provides an expanded overview of funding in Oregon.

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.

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.

In order to stay on track, the Legislature must prioritize investments for vital environmental justice, climate and community protection programs (CPP).

Over 26 states have or are in the process of having green/environmental rights constitutional topics or initiatives.

This week we added another Environmental Justice bill: SB 54, 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.

This week we added a new Environmental Justice bill. HB2548 establishes an agriculture workforce labor standards board, League Testimony. We are considering joining a coalition that has recently formed to support a number of 2025 bills affecting many agricultural workers and other immigrants. There may be League alerts on this topic later this session.

At this point in the session, we have submitted a number of policy Climate Emergency testimonies 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 building.

At this point in the session, we have identified a number of League policy and/or budget Climate Emergency priorities, and some of those now have posted League testimony. 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.

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, CUB, Citizens Utility Board Priorities and or OCN, Oregon Conservation Network priorities; the only formal environmental lobby coalition group in the building.

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.

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.

Now over 130 Environmental/Climate Legislative Bills are posted or are soon to be posted to OLIS in early Feb. Some of these bills are just placeholders.

There are now over 120 Environmental/Climate Legislative Bills posted or soon to be posted to OLIS in January and Early Feb.

There are now over 100 Environmental/Climate Legislative Bills posted or soon to be posted to OLIS in January.

There are over 80 Environment / Climate Legislative Concepts/Bills likely to be posted to OLIS in January.

LWVOR published a September ALERT related to an Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (ODEQ) Climate Protection Program Sept 26 rulemaking public hearing. This meeting was scheduled late August to provide for more public comments. OPB: ‘Public will get a little longer to weigh in on Oregon’s program to cut carbon emissions.’

Please consider joining the Climate Emergency team. We have several critical volunteer openings. Natural and Working Lands Agriculture & Food Insecurity: Public Health, Fossil Fuel (FF) Infrastructure, and Regional Solutions/Community Resilience Hubs. The topic of Transportation has been moved to the Natural Resources Legislative Report.

HCR 206 was passed to set 2025 presession deadlines for members and committees to submit requests for drafts of measures to be presession filed to the Office of the Legislative Counsel, for Legislative Counsel to deliver drafts of measures to be presession filed and for requesters to submit those drafts for introduction to the Senate Desk or the House Desk.

The session ended with a compromise as well as reasonable funding, especially in SB 1530 (>$21M) and end of session omnibus SB5701 (>125M) but no update to Greenhouse Gas Emission targets approved in 2007 nor improvement to Climate Change coordination and accountability across agencies.

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.