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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 package 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 Summary (SMS). $1M+ fiscal







• HB 2949: Testimony; 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 3450A  Testimony, work session held, 4/8  passed adopted amendment -1.  fiscal >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 2966A: 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) Senate 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 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, 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 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 3365B: Senate vote 6/12 passed,  climate change instruction /curriculum in public schools, 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 , 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. 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