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Climate Emergency

Legislative Report - Week of 4/28

Climate Emergency Team

 

Coordinator: Claudia Keith​

  • Efficient and Resilient Buildings: Bill Glassmire

  • Environmental Justice: Nancy Rosenberger

  • Environmental Rights Amendment: Claudia Keith

  • Natural Climate Solution - Forestry: Josie Koehne

  • CEI - Critical Energy Infrastructure : Nikki Mandell and Laura Rogers

  • Community Resilince & Emergency Management: Rebecca Gladstone 

  • Transportation: Claudia Keith

  • Joint Ways and Means - Budgets, Lawsuits, Green/Public Banking,

  • Divestment/ESG: Claudia Keith

  • Find additional Climate Change Advocacy volunteers in Natural Resources

Please see Climate Emergency Overview here.

Jump to a topic:




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.


Joint Ways and Means CE Funding Topics

Transportation Package 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 (🡪 See NR LR for additional details) 


Energy Affordability  and Utility Accountability 


The League joined a coalition sign-on letter this past week requesting funding to support building resilience. The goal is to use affordable measures to  protect people from extreme weather.


One Stop Shop 2.0/Energy Efficiency Navigation 


(HB 3081): 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.


Get the Junk Out of Rates 


(SB 88): This bill would stop utilities from charging certain expenses like lobbying, advertising, association fees to customers.  Protecting Oregonians with Energy Responsibility (POWER Act) (HB 3546): This bill ensures Oregon households are not unfairly burdened by large energy users with grid and transmission costs.


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)


Environmental Justice Bills


HB2548: establishes an agriculture workforce labor standards board, League Testimony. Work Session was held 4/9 passed 4/3, with no amendments, no recommendation and referred to House Rules. 

It is unclear why this bill is inactive.


Climate Priorities with League Testimony with League Endorsement and Still Alive

By Claudia Keith


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 Update



See CEI Hub Seismic Risk Analysis (The study, Impacts of Fuel Releases from the CEI Hub, is intended to characterize and quantify the anticipated damages from the CEI Hub in the event of the Cascadia Subduction Zone (CSZ) Earthquake.) CEI energy storage transition plan
,  The Bigger Picture: ASCE's ( American Society of Civil Engineers, founded in 1852 ), Oregon C- grade Infrastructure Report Card.


Environmental Rights Constitutional Amendment


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


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


Climate Treasury Investment Bills


  • SB 681:  May be still active: Treasury: Fossil Fuel investment moratorium, in Sen F&R, PH 3/19. testimony. Sen Golden.





  • HB 2200  -1 , work session was 4/8, bill was requested by previous Treasury Sec Tobias and supported by Treasurer Steiner, related to ESG investing, identified as the compromise bill. League chose not to  comment, could move to the floor, no JWM required.
 (still in H EMGGV, still awaiting transfer to desk)


  • HB 2966A: Establishes the State Public Financing / public bank Task Force, Work Session 3/6/2025 passed to Joint Ways and Means (JWM),fiscal: $1.3M ,  League Testimony, Rep Gamba, Senator,Golden, Frederick, Rep Andersen, Evans
.



Historically, since 2009 Public banking policy topic has been included in many Leg sessions, (go here and then use Control F to search for ‘bank’. ) 22 bills mentioning Public and Bank have died in committee over the past 16 years. 



Natural and Working Lands


  • 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.





Other Climate Bills


  • HB 2566A: Stand-alone Energy resilience Projects, Work Session was 3/20, moved to JWM, Rep Gamba was the only nay. At the request of Governor Tina Kotek (H CEE), DOE presentation









  • HB 3365A: climate change instruction /curriculum in public schools, 4/21 moved to Sen Ed, 4/17 passed House 32/23, work session was 4/9, moved to floor with adopted amendment -4. House Cm Educ, PH was 3/12, League Testimony ,  NO Fiscal noted, Chief Sponsors: Rep Fragala, Rep McDonald, 

  • SB 688A: -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 , League testimony, Sen. Golden, Sen. Pham, 







  • SB 827A: Solar and Storage Rebate, SEE Work session 2/17, Gov. Kotek & DOE, Senate voted 21-7, moves to House 3/4

 first reading.
 referred to H CEE 3/10

, PH 4/22 

, work session 5/1.

  • HB 3546A, -3 the POWER Act, in Sen E&E , House vote was 4/21. The bill requires the Public Utility Commission (PUC) to create a new rate class for the largest energy users in the state. (data centers and other high-volume users). These regulations would only apply to customers in the for-profit utility's service areas of PGE, Pacific Power, and Idaho Power. NO Fiscal, on its way to the floor. The League has approved being listed on a coalition sign on advocacy letter.    







  • HB 3189 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. H CEE,  PH 3/11



  • HB 3653 in Sen E&E, PH 4/28, House vote 51 - 9. Allows authorized state agencies to enter into energy performance contracts without requiring a competitive procurement if the authorized state agency follows rules that the Attorney General adopts, negotiates a performance guarantee, and enters into the contract with a qualified energy service company that the ODOE prequalifies and approves.
.



Priority Bills that died in policy committee


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


  • HB 3477: Update to Greenhouse Gas Emission Reduction Goals. League testimony . 

  • SB 54:. The bill required landlords to provide cooling for residential units. 

  • SB 1187 new Climate cost recovery Liability interagency bill, 

  • SB 680: Climate Science/Greenwashing, Sen. Golden and Manning



Climate Emergency JWM Budget Concerns

By Claudia Keith


This list may still be reflective of the current CE prioritized investments for 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)





(See Natural Resources Legislative Reports for budget league testimonies including climate topics in over 14 agencies.)



Highlights of House and Senate Chamber Votes


April 21: Senate E&E 


Held a work session on HB 2567 A, which passed the House unanimously in March. The bill would modify the Heat Pump Deployment Program's eligibility criteria, funding distribution, and rebate structures. It would change “Environmental Justice” community to “disadvantaged”   community; remove the 15% cap on administrative and marketing expenses and allow ODOE to set the cap by rule; allow ODOE to provide an additional incentive amount of up to $1,000 for contractors who install rental heat pumps in rural or frontier communities (incentives limited to no more than 5% of available funds); and extend the sunset date to 2032. It would provide no additional funding for the rebate program. Senate E&E adopted an -A3 amendment to the House engrossed bill, stating that if ODOE awards a grant to an eligible entity and additional funds become available for the program, ODOE may award additional grant moneys to the eligible entity using the existing performance agreement between the entity and ODOE. The committee voted unanimously to move the bill as amended to the Senate floor with a do pass recommendation.



April 22: House Chamber 


House voted 41-16, to pass HB 3546 A, a priority bill on the OCN hot list that directs the PUC to provide for a classification of service for large energy use facilities such as data centers. PUC would have to require investor-owned utilities to enter into a 10-year contract with those users to pay a minimum amount or percentage for the term of the contract, which could include a charge for excess demand. Rates for this customer class would have to be proportional to the costs of serving them, including for transmission, distribution, and capacity. IOUs would have to mitigate the risks to other customer classes of paying for the utility’s increased load requirements. The bill would apply only to large users that apply for service on or after the effective date of the act, or to existing users that make significant investments or incur costs after the effective date that could result in increased costs or risks to the IOU's other retail electricity consumers.


April 22 Senate


By a vote of 20-9, the Senate passed SB 685 A, a bill of support on the OCN hot list. It would require a natural gas utility to provide notice to affected customers and the PUC if the utility plans to increase the amount of hydrogen that is blended with natural gas so that the ratio of H2 to natural gas exceeds 2.5%. At least 60 days before beginning to blend H2, the utility would have to notify each affected customer and file notice with PUC explaining the reason for the increased amount of H2. The utility would have to maintain information about the blending program on its website and enable customers to communicate with the utility about it. The Senate engrossed bill is scaled back from the introduced bill, which would have prohibited a utility from developing or carrying out a project involving H2 production or use without first obtaining PUC approval.


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 Updates (April 10, 2025)


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


Oregon Treasury: Oregon Divest/ Environmental, Social, and Governance Updates


2025 Climate Risk Review:

No Place to Hide - May 2025


Published by Divest Oregon:

Executive Summary and Praise for Report

(see SB 681) 


Addressing the Risk of Climate Change:

A Comparison of US Pension Funds' Net Zero Plans – Jan 2025



VOLUNTEERS NEEDED:  What is your passion related to Climate Emergency ?  You can help. Volunteers 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

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