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The State League pays monthly for a Pro Zoom account, which lets us host meetings of up to 100 participants with no limit on meeting time. State Zoom account is available on a first come, first served basis. Default meeting time is one hour - please contact us at lwvor@lwvor.org if you need more time.

September 25, 2024 The League of Women Voters (LWVOR) is committed to ensuring that every Oregonian can vote with confidence, knowing that the system is secure and reliable. Recently, the Oregon Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) discovered a rare administrative error in which 1,259 non-citizens were mistakenly flagged for voter registration due to incorrect data entry. It’s important to stress that Oregon’s voting system is built with safeguards to identify and correct such errors. The Secretary of State’s office has already taken swift action by notifying affected individuals and ensuring that only those who can provide proof of citizenship will receive ballots. Further, the DMV has implemented additional measures to prevent future occurrences. To put this into perspective, these 1,259 cases represent just 0.04% of Oregon’s 3 million registered voters. While human error can happen, the systems in place are designed to detect and address issues, ensuring the integrity of our elections remains intact. Oregonians can rest assured that our voting process is safe, secure, and continually improving to protect every eligible voter’s right to participate. Voters are encouraged to verify their registration and election rules at VOTE411.org .

DATE:  September 20, 2024 TO: All League Members FROM: Lisa Bentson, President, LWVOR               Jean Pierce, Chair, Action Committee  Claudia Keith, Coordinator, Climate Emergency Portfolio  Time is running out to restore Oregon's Climate Protection Program (CPP)! You can help hold polluters accountable and tackle climate change.  Take action with us. Submit public comments to the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) by 4PM, next Friday, 9/27 .  DEQ has also invited the public to deliver testimony on the CPP on Thursday, 9/26 from 3:20-5:20 PM. Zoom link. The Climate Protection Program will cut fossil fuel emissions by 90% by 2050, and invest upwards of $150 million annually in clean energy projects in Oregon communities. Use our coalition letter to tell DEQ to restore the CPP without delay! The CPP was derailed last year after the oil and gas industry sued to overturn the program. With just a few days left to comment, it's essential to ACT NOW! Tell DEQ to restore an ambitious Climate Protection Program that:  Delivers climate justice by maintaining a strong Community Climate Investment program Follows the science by upholding a science-based emissions cap and requiring immediate compliance Holds industrial polluters accountable to mandatory declining emissions reductions LWVOR is deeply committed to addressing climate issues in Oregon. Whether it's the need for cleaner air, the protection of our natural resources, advancing environmental justice for Oregonians hardest hit by climate related disasters, or the creation of sustainable jobs, your voice matters. You can read the latest LWVOR testimony on the CPP here . Please note that League members are invited to submit testimony as individuals, not as representatives of the League. The League of Women Voters of Oregon is a member of the Coalition for Climate & Economic Justice.

Dear Friend, We are in the countdown for a momentous election and our determination to empower voters and defend democracy with trusted and nonpartisan information remains as strong as ever.   Let’s work with local and state Leagues and all of our community and national partners to update and increase voter registration across the state! Our goal is solid civic engagement of voices being heard at the ballot box, in every race, not just the one at the top of the ballot.  Let’s see how high voter turnout can be in Oregon. We’re glad you’re here!  Contents: The Young Vote Film Elections Are League Business Civics Are League Business Oregon SoS 2024 Civic Engagement Toolkit LWVOR Recall Study Moves Forward Communications and Electoral Systems History of Campaign Finance Reform Upcoming Opportunity: “Democracy in Action” How the League Helps Oregon Voters Election Threat/Intimidation Response Plan Development Update Oregon Student Mock Election (OSME) Update Opportunities Await! Add Your Voice to the LWVOR Board The Young Vote Film  Above: LWVOR Youth Council members participated in The Young Vote film screening in Portland earlier this year. We are excited to share a new resource with all of you: The Young Vote  film highlights the political awakening of a generation shaped by distrust in government and events like the Parkland shooting, exploring the challenges they face in voting and offering solutions like gerrymandering reform and ways to increase youth participation and preserve democracy. LWVOR has obtained a license to share the film with League members at no cost. Find the video file and discussion guide here .  Please contact us at media@lwvor.org  if you have any questions or issues accessing the files. Elections Are League Business A change at the top of the ticket in the presidential race turns out to be big news. But what does it mean for the League of Women Voters?   We have more opportunity to take advantage of the attention this draws to the November ballot as there are many important races that will be decided in the November 5th election.  We also know voter turnout is greatest when there's a presidential election at the top of the ballot.  We want to invite voters to find us online, in their mailbox, and in their community for access to information they need to cast an informed vote. Every League member and friend can help.  Here are resources for you, your friends, and family. Please help get the word out! Vote411 Vote411.org  is the League's national platform for everyone’s personalized voter guide.  The ballot can be overwhelming.  Voters enter their home address — no matter their physical location — and see who is on their ballot.  They will see a job description for each race.  There is voting information with important deadlines.  Voters hear directly from candidates who answer questions in their own words.  League volunteers reach out to all candidates running for positions in Oregon, though not all respond.  While not all states cover every race, each state has trusted and nonpartisan information on VOTE411 to get an overview for informed voting.  If you have friends and family elsewhere, let them know!   Candidate Forums When people think of the League of Women Voters, many think of candidate forums and registering voters.  Here in Oregon, at both the state and local level, League volunteers are hosting candidate forums.    Many local forums for congressional and legislative seats are also in the works.  Check your local League website to find out what's going on.  You will be amazed at the many opportunities for voters to connect with the candidates who seek to represent them. State Ballot Measure Overview Five statewide ballot measures will appear on the November ballot: Highlights 115: Oregon has the only state legislature that cannot impeach state executive officials. The state legislature  voted to send an amendment to voters that would authorize the impeachment process during the 2023 legislative session. 116: The legislature voted to send a constitutional amendment to the ballot to establish an Independent Public Service Compensation Commission to determine certain public officials' salaries. 117: Oregon will be one of five states to decide on a ranked-choice voting  ballot measure this year after the state legislature voted to refer a law authorizing its use to the ballot. Two initiatives qualified for the ballot:118 - An initiative  to increase the state's corporate tax rate and distribute that revenue to residents.119 - An initiative  to require cannabis businesses to remain neutral when labor organizations communicate with employees about collective bargaining rights. From an advocacy angle, LWVOR is recommending a YES vote on Measure 117 and a NO vote on Measure 118.  We are remaining neutral on the other three ballot measures because the League does not have relevant positions for them.  Our recommendations regarding the initiatives are based on state and national positions the League adopted after study and member consensus and rest on member understanding.  At the same time, the League has a duty to serve voters and provide them with the information they need to cast an informed ballot.  How do we navigate this dual role?  First and foremost, it's important to know which effort is at play. LWV of the United States has provided guidance.  Check here for specific information . In its Voter Services role, LWVOR is working to prepare ballot measure summary toolkits of the initiatives and Ballot Measure Speakers will be available to book for speaking to community groups. Go to your county elections website for local measures. Social Media Social media is a great way to educate the public about elections and tools for becoming an informed voter.  Please follow LWVOR social media, as well as other Leagues, including your local League and the national League. This helps promote our voter resources and is a lot of fun! Voter Registration Many local Leagues are tabling at events in their communities.  More than voter registration, tabling provides an opportunity to reach out directly to voters and offer tools and resources for an informed electorate.  Please check your local League's website to learn more about events and how you can help.  Voters can be referred to resources that include https://www.vote411.org , lwvor.org/your-government , sos.oregon.gov/voting-elections .  LWVUS Statement What about the change at the top of the Democratic Party's ticket? Yes — it means increased attention to the election.  The League is nonpartisan, so how things play out with respect to candidates is not in our wheelhouse.  Election rules and free and fair elections are.  Please take a look at the LWVUS statement below.  You will see reference there to the National Task Force on Election Crises.  LWVUS is a member.  You may want to bookmark this site to stay informed of developments.  You can also keep informed by checking the LWVUS' blog post  on the topic. President Biden Withdraws from Reelection | League of Women Voters ( lwv.org ) Civics Are League Business Many thanks to League member Sandy Nipper for sharing the following guidance from Oregon Department of Education Social Science Specialist, Amit Kobrowski. School districts use the State Social Science Standards to design the classroom curriculum.  In June, the State Board of Education (ODE) adopted new standards. The high school civics standards begin on page 70 in the document linked here . For the upcoming school year, many school districts may continue to use a previous version of the standards linked here .      OREGON SOCIAL SCIENCE LEGISLATION SB 1050 Professional Learning Related to Teaching Inclusive Social Science Standards In the 2023 legislative session, The Oregon Legislature adopted Senate Bill 1050 requiring ODE to provide professional learning for the implementation of inclusive social science standards. The Senate Bill 1050 overview  provides additional information about this legislation. SB 513 High School Civics Credit Requirement In the 2021 legislative session, the Oregon Legislature adopted Senate Bill 513  requiring students to earn 0.5 civics course credit to fulfill graduation requirements, beginning with the class of 2026 (current 8th-grade students). This new law ensures that all students in Oregon graduate with the civic knowledge to be empowered, engaged, and informed members of a democratic society. The civics credit guidance document  outlines the new requirements of the .5 credit for a high school transcript. How Civics Credits Can be Earned The total number of high school credits (24) and social science credits (3) remains unchanged, but at least 0.5 of the three social science credits must now include civics.  U.S. civics and/or government courses that incorporate all high school civics and government standards  will meet the requirements of the proposed new rule. Some schools may already offer a civics course aligned with Oregon's high school civics standards, while others may need to review their social science offerings to create a course that meets this requirement. Schools without a qualifying civics course will need to develop a course to meet this new civics graduation requirement. SB 702 Strengthening Civics Instruction During the 2021 Legislative session, the Oregon State Legislature passed Senate Bill 702, directing the State Board of Education to review the social science standards  related to civics instruction. More information about SB 702 Legislation Resources Recommended Supplemental Texts - Ethnic Studies Grade Level Guidance for Holocaust/Genocide Objectives Honoring Tribal Legacies Western Hemisphere Resources, rev. 3-2019 Teaching the Civil Rights Movement Center for Digital Storytelling The Oregon Encyclopedia  The Oregon Encyclopedia is an authoritative and free resource on all things Oregon, from the expected to the unexpected. Learn more about the people, places, events, and institutions that define the history and culture of Oregon. Honoring Tribal Legacies Resources National Council for the Social Studies  Social studies educators teach students the content knowledge, intellectual skills, and civic values necessary for fulfilling the duties of citizenship in a participatory democracy. The mission of National Council for the Social Studies is to provide leadership, service, and support for all social studies educators. Oregon Historical Society Oregon SoS 2024 Civic Engagement Toolkit Ahead of the May primary election, Oregon Secretary of State LaVonne Griffin-Valade released a civic engagement toolkit, aimed at helping organizations do voter registration and voter turnout work in the 2024 elections and an updated version of the toolkit  was released this week that’s ready to use for the November General Election. The tools included in the 2024 toolkit are official, non-partisan, research-backed, and free to use with or without attribution to the SoS office. Download the 2024 Civic Engagement Toolkit here . LWVOR Recall Study Moves Forward The LWVOR Board on July 15 approved the state study, Assessing the Recall Process in Oregon. In the coming months, League members across the state will have a chance to read the study and discuss the issues and questions it raises in a consensus process, which may lead to a revised LWVOR position on recall elections. Work on the 51-page study started with a proposal from the LWV Lane County, followed by LWVOR Board referral at the May 2023 LWVOR Convention to delegates who approved the project. Over the last year, a four-person study team has conducted interviews and research, organized ideas and materials, and shared writing and review duties. Study team members are Alice LaViolette, League of Marion and Polk Counties; and LWVLC members Rhonda Livesay, Linda Lynch, and Keli Osborn.  Others contributing to the study have included League members who joined the study team in conducting interviews with a dozen local elections officials and experts. These League members are Chris Cobey, LWV Portland; Carol Cushman, LWV Portland; Joyce Durban, LWV Deschutes County; Kathleen Hersh, LWV Washington County; Ruth Kistler, LWV Lincoln County; Josie Koehne, LWV Washington County; Jane Mulholland, LWV Lincoln County; Katie Riley, LWV Washington County; Amy Vandegrift, LWV Marion/Polk Counties, and Jane VanKuren, LWV Washington County. Editing team members are Merle Bottge, LWV Lane County; Abigail Hertzler, LWVOR staff; Rebecca Gladstone, LWVLC member and LWVOR Advocacy Co-Chair; Barbara Klein, LWV Rogue Valley; and Sarah Andrews, LWVOR staff. The study explores state requirements for the recall of elected officials, Oregon history, comparison of Oregon’s recall process to other states, potential impacts on voter education and turnout, and more. Don’t be daunted ahead of time by the study’s length! It’s a reader-friendly document, professionally designed by LWVOR staff.  (The table of contents occupies two pages, with another 16 pages for appendices, compilation of resources, and credits…along with graphics from historical archives and several pages of charts.) By the way, here’s how the national League defines consensus: The process used to arrive at positions on issues. The collective opinion of a substantial number of League members, representative of the membership as a whole, after objective study of an issue. We hope you’ll watch for the study and find ways to participate in the next phase of this work. This will include unit meetings and other opportunities for discussion/input.  As one of our interview subjects, Lane County Clerk Dena Dawson, said in an interview: “We need more public education about the recall process.”  Communications and Electoral Systems: Ranked Choice Voting and STAR Barbara Klein, LWVOR 1st VP Communications Rarely do we manage to “kill two birds with one stone.” But if you don’t favor killing birds, consider this article as an effort in repurposing (a time-management trick I relish). My dual purpose here is to connect with statewide League members in my new role of Communications chair, as well as the action committee portfolio holder for Electoral Systems.   Many of you are aware that our Oregon 2024 general election will include a ballot measure adopting Ranked Choice Voting (RCV) elections for much of our statewide government.  LWVOR supports that measure based on our Election Methods position, which can be found in the resource section below.  Fewer of you may be aware that another electoral system was on the Eugene ballot this 2024 primary season.  That system is often abbreviated as STAR (Score then Automatic Runoff).  While it did not succeed (losing by 67% of the vote), it may be helpful for League members to understand it and how the LWVOR approaches it.   After various statewide studies on electoral methods, we realize that most systems are better than our typical plurality (‘pick-one’ or ‘most votes wins’) elections.  Technically, these conventional elections are known as FPTP – or First Past the Post.  STAR allows more ballot options and expression for voters than FPTP.   Nevertheless, the League prefers RCV when possible or available, over STAR.  I will explain why below.  In great part, this approach, and concerns, are based on our LWVOR 2023 update.   Taking a personal privilege, I would like to explain my own opinion of when we might prefer STAR.  If you are functioning in a group of like-minded individuals who have no real opposition to one another (such as setting goals for the LWV or decisions made by a small business), STAR could be reasonable and perhaps easier to administer when counting by hand.  The same could be said for Approval Voting, which our position explicitly rejects.  Still, due to the four apprehensions listed below, we would not prefer STAR for governmental elections (often referred to as “elections of consequence”). Our Concerns over STAR Voting The concerns below are based on the principles and preferences of the LWVOR after numerous studies on electoral systems.  Not all election scientists, politicians, or activists may share our views.  Many do. I hope to put these 4 points in simple wording so that League members can evaluate STAR (especially in comparison to RCV) to answer questions from their communities.  The bottom line is that RCV meets more of the preferred criteria from both our state and national position than does STAR.  Just a quick reminder – “ the League speaks with one voice .”  For anyone new to League, that phrase means that ‘lower’ levels of our organization cannot work against positions of higher levels.  (Local leagues cannot take a stand against a state position, and likewise, state Leagues cannot oppose national positions.).  We follow this rule to make certain we don’t confuse the public about our standing or advocacy.   While STAR champions often say that STAR is a form of Ranked Choice Voting (RCV), it is actually “ Range or Score Voting, followed by a Top Two Vote. ”  This more closely describes its operations.   STAR does not guarantee a majority winner, as RCV does in the last round  of counting.   There is NO consistent definition between voters regarding the value of each STAR vote.  (With rankings, the first spot is the first spot, the second, the second etc. This is not so clear with STAR.  You and I may share the exact same opinion of a candidate, and yet I give her 3 stars while you give her 4 stars.)  Definition of STARS between voters is not consistent .  This muddles the clarity of voters’ intentions in the overall election results.   In the last round, many ballots may be disqualified because the voter gave the remaining candidates the same ‘score’ (or number of STARS).  Proponents say the voter had “ no preference. ”  We reject that idea and believe people will not realize this is the process. It disenfranchises many voters.  In part because of the point above, STAR is a system that may need, or may use, strategy when voting.  (For instance, I may know I should not  score candidates with the same number of STARS so that my ballot is not eliminated in the final count; you may not know this. Thus, I have an advantage.)  With RCV you simply vote your favorites in order of preference.  There is no practical use in trying to be strategic.    For any members who wish to learn more about these systems, please refer to our studies listed below in the resources.  However, for those who simply wanted to understand the reason that LWVOR would support RCV instead of STAR, a system originating in Oregon, I hope this offered a general background.   -- Resources: You can read the full position (amended 2016) at mid-page here: https://fab67f44-53c0-4d55-8f3f-38f29e9a1504.filesusr.com/ugd/54a310_254f05d580514121b5651b134fa695c6.pdf   Restudy update from 2023:  https://www.lwvor.org/studies-1/election-methods-study-update-2023    The Executive Summary from the original study of 2008 can be read here: Microsoft Word - ExecutiveSummaryFinal ( filesusr.com ) History of Campaign Finance Reform By Norman Turrill 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! Previous 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, 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. Find this article and future updates related to campaign finance reform on the LWVOR website here .  Upcoming Opportunity: “Democracy in Action” The Upstanders Mural in Boston, MA, a project spearheaded by Facing History. By Elizabeth Kirby, DEIJ Chair Upcoming Opportunity: This opportunity is primarily focused for classroom educators but is also open for educators of all kinds. Facing History & Ourselves  is a registered 501c3 organization with a mission that focuses on using the lessons of history to challenge teachers and their students to stand up to bigotry and hate. They have an upcoming FREE series for educators:   "Democracy in Action: Teaching about the 2024 Election and Educating for Civic Participation" This is a multi-part series of lessons that starts in late August and ends in September. Participants can sign up for all lessons or choose the ones they feel to be most relevant to their work. Sign up and more information can be found by clicking on the series title above. "Democracy in Action: Teaching about the 2024 Election and Educating for Civic Participation" How the League Helps Oregon Voters By Abigail Bok, Marianne Germond, Peggy Bengry, Voter Service Leadership Team  You’re probably aware of the work done by your local League, but what about the League of Women Voters of Oregon? LWVOR also offers a wide array of resources for Oregonians making up their minds about how to vote at the state level. Here’s a glimpse into what will be available in October. Ballot Measures  Ballot measure reports with pros & cons. A statewide committee led by Peggy Bengry ( p.bengry@lwvor.org ) researches every statewide ballot measure and prepares a detailed analysis of the background, costs, and consequences of a yes or no vote, plus arguments from supporters and opponents. WHEN: Scheduled to be released to local leagues September 19. WHERE: The reports are posted on the state League website ( lwvor.org ) and on Vote411.org ; local Leagues can post them on their websites as well; and they’re incorporated into a Speaker’s Kit that’s sent to all local Leagues. VOLUNTEER  with your local League to make ballot measure presentations to other groups; hand them out at forums and meetings. Local Leagues can also write ballot measure reports on county and local measures to post in Vote411.org and on your website. Contact Peggy Bengry for templates, guidelines and timeline. Vote411.org A team of volunteers (led by Abigail Bok, vote411lead@lwvor.org ) compiles a database for every election listing every race and candidate in the state. All candidates are invited to post answers to a few questions and then add links to their own campaign sites, a photo, and more. How it works: Visitors to the site enter their street address and can see everything on their ballot plus all the info about races and measures the League has compiled. We add links to forums and interviews and more. WHEN: Candidates are responding now; Vote411 goes live September 30. WHERE:  Vote411.org VOLUNTEER  to promote Vote411: it’s as easy as posting on social media (the League provides images and messaging, contact the Digital Director, Sarah Andrews, at s.andrews@lwvor.org for tips and resources); or simply talking to friends, family, and social groups. The state office ( a.hertzler@lwvor.org ) and your local League have cards, posters, and more that you can hand out or post on bulletin boards. In addition to promoting the website, you can also help your local League by calling candidates to urge them to post on Vote411. Your local Voter Service chair will have phone numbers and scripts.  Voters’ Guide The League’s print Voters’ Guide draws candidates’ responses from Vote411 and adds League-researched in-depth information about statewide ballot measures.  The Guide also gives voters information on how to vote, important dates, and how to contact their local elections office. Local Leagues use it as a handout at forums; they distribute to many places including libraries, Elections Offices, and senior centers; and for outreach into Spanish-speaking communities. The Voters’ Guide editor, Marianne Germond ( votersguideeditor@lwvor.org ), also coordinates with the State Library to produce audio and Braille versions of the guide.  WHEN: Local Leagues will need to place their orders by September 13 and can expect delivery roughly between October 4 and October 9. WHERE: Ask your local League who is receiving the copies. There will also be online PDF versions of the guides (English and Spanish) on the LWVOR website that can be linked to and printed. VOLUNTEER to help distribute copies of the Voters’ Guide, or help look up addresses of places to leave copies—coffee shops, bookstores, any place people gather. Help spread the word about the Guide among friends, family, and social groups. Election Threat/Intimidation Response Plan By Elizebeth Kirby, DEIJ Chair With an uptick in violence, threats, and intimidation tactics being used to suppress voters across the nation, it’s more important than ever to develop a plan of action to support both our members and our local communities against these threats to our democracy. Although Oregon’s mail-in ballot system provides less opportunity for intimidation at the polls, there has been an increase in folks being intimidated at ballot drop boxes across the state. Election workers are also facing unprecedented levels of threats and many offices across the state have increased security and developed action plans to respond to violence or intimidation.  Developing these types of action plans allow us to rapidly respond by empowering our communities to speak up and report election interference. It also provides an opportunity to protect those in our community that may be targeted by those seeking to disrupt democracy. LWVUS has provided a resource guide  that outlines how to develop a rapid response team for your local league. The Oregon Secretary of State, Elections Division has a webpage  devoted to reporting election law violations.  The Election Protection Hotline is also a valuable resource. This hotline can be used to report: Issues or questions that impact individual voters, such as questions regarding ID requirements, incorrect information regarding polling place or eligibility, or what to do now that a voter has cast a provisional ballot, should be directed to the Election Protection Hotlines. Isolated incidents of voter intimidation should also be directed to the Election Protection Hotlines. This hotline is available in a wide variety of languages: English: 1-866-OUR-VOTE (866-687-8683)  En Español: 1-888-VE-Y-VOTA (888-839-8682) Asian multilingual assistance: 1-888-API-VOTE (888-274-8683)  Arabic: 1-844-YALLA-US (844-925-5287)  Development Update  By Jackie Clary and Freddi Weishahn, LWVOR Development Co-Chairs The Carol and Velma Saling Foundation, a most generous, sustaining contributor to our mission, awarded LWVOR $57,000 on August 6, 2024. We are honored and sincerely grateful to the Saling Foundation for continuing to be a major influence in our ability to increase outreach for our voter education programs, continue to produce trusted nonpartisan publications and strengthen publicity for the many services we provide to diverse communities across Oregon. The Autzen Foundation, which supports charitable work for a wide array of organizations that make Oregon a better place, awarded LWVOR $5,000 on August 13, 2024, to fund our Youth Council activities. We sincerely thank the Autzen Foundation for recognizing the importance of our Youth Council and their work to bring more youth across Oregon into our participatory democracy. This award will enable our dedicated youth to continue to Get-Out-The-Vote and hold more workshops, including another Civic Education Summit. They have also been given a national spotlight by the LWVUS, which is working with LWVOR Youth Council member Lucy Robb to form a national LWVUS Youth Council. Kudos to our youth! Oregon Student Mock Election (OSME) Update  By Mimi Alkire, OSME Chair Even though we haven't officially begun the push to get teachers registering their students for the 2024 General Mock Election, we are always open for business! At the time of this writing (8/20/24) we have five schools registered with nearly 2,000 students estimated to be voting. As soon as the Secretary of State's office has the ballot information, we will be selecting three races for which the students will vote. They will for sure get to vote for President of the United States, a state-wide office, and a ballot measure. Local races can also be included by request. Questions should be directed to MockElection@lwvor.org  or Mimi.Alkire@gmail.com . The dates and deadlines that are important for this election are: TODAY! –                            Registration is open now! Just click HERE    Wednesday, October 16 – Oregon ballot mailing begins October 15-25 –             Student Mock Election Voting Window Friday, November 1 –         OSME results released to the public Tuesday, November 5 –     Oregon General Election Day Opportunities Await! Add Your Voice to the LWVOR Board Be part of the mission and have a good time too! Six Director positions available on the LWVOR Board for the 2025-2027 term. If you are interested, know someone who might be interested, have questions, want more information, please email nominating@lwvor.org .

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Back to Legislative Report Natural Resources Legislative Report - Week of 4/24 Natural Resources Team Coordinator: Peggy Lynch • Budgets/Revenue: Peggy Lynch • Coastal Issues: Christine Moffitt/Peggy Lynch • Columbia River Treaty: Philip Thor • Dept. of Land Conservation & Development & Housing: Peggy Lynch • Dept. of Geology and Mineral Industries: Peggy Lynch • Dept. of State Lands: Peggy Lynch • Elliott State Research Forest: Peggy Lynch • Emergency Management: Lily Yao • Forestry: Josie Koehne • Northwest Energy Coalition: Robin Tokmakian • Oregon Health Authority (OHA) Drinking Water Committee: Sandra Bishop • Water: Peggy Lynch • Wildfire: Carolyn Mayers Jump to a topic: Air Quality Budget/Revenue Climate Coastal Issues Elliott State Research Forest Land Use/Housing Northwest Energy Coalition Radioactive Waste Recycling Toxics Water Wildfire Natural Resources By Peggy Lynch, Natural Resources Coordinator, and Team Unless policy bills have headed to Ways and Means, we are watching them move to the second chamber. A few will see additional amendments, but most will simply have quick hearings, work sessions, and then will go to the second chamber for a vote. However, the Senate is still reading all bills and some Senators are using a number of delay tactics so the passage of bills out of the Senate chamber is very slow. The next policy bill deadline is May 5 to schedule a Work Session and May 19 for the bill to move out of committee to the second chamber. Air Quality LWVOR joined with others in support of HB 3229 . The bill would modify federal air quality (Title V) operating permit program fees. The bill sits in Ways and Means without recommendation. Budgets/Revenue The budget for the Land Use Board of Appeals ( HB 5028 ) was approved by W&Ms Natural Resources and moved to Full W&Ms. The League provided testimony in support on March 6. The Office of the Governor’s Budget ( HB 5022 ) was heard on April 24. The Governor’s Chief of Staff presented the Governor’s requests and vision for the Office. She is asking for 2 more staff and is committed to considering putting into her 2025 budget the “loaned” staff from other agencies now in her office. A surprise was that, instead of 9 total Regional Solutions staff, she said they were looking at 5. The current Regional Solutions Program is divided into 11 regions. Although there will continue to be 11 regions, Coordinators will need to share regions. The Chief of Staff also provided a reorganization chart (See pages 12 and 13 of the Governor’s presentation . The Governor is going to focus on her three priorities: Housing, Behavioral Health and Education. She meets regularly with the 15 largest state agency Directors. Her Deputy Chief of Staff Chris Warner is responsible for the various policy experts. A federal grant request from DEQ on climate for $3 million—a non-competitive grant meant to begin work to gain access to other federal funds in 2024—was approved by the Subcommittee. Rep. Levy noted how important it would be for the agency to have robust, inclusive public involvement in this program. The Oregon State Marine Board Subcommittee approved budget ( SB 5521 ) moved to Full W&Ms. The League provided testimony in support on Feb. 27 and was pleased to see a focus on abandoned and derelict vessels. We are hopeful to see that same focus continue when the Dept. of State Lands budget is approved. On April 27 they considered the budget for the Dept. of Land Conservation and Development. ( HB 5027 ). The League provided comments on Feb. 14. Although we support funding for this agency, there were significant missing elements in the Governor’s budget that we advocated for inclusion. The LFO recommendation has been posted. Only the Governor’s budget (with expectation of additional staff housed in other legislation), but none of the Agency Request POPs were approved. We will report next week on the Subcommittee decision. The League provided testimony again on HB 5025 , the omnibus higher education budget, this time in support of the Oregon Consensus/Oregon Solutions programs at Portland State University. The Oregon Conservation Network (OCN) provided a letter to Legislative and W&Ms Leadership to express the budget wishes of the 42 OCN organizations. The League was a part of that effort. There was no Full Ways and Means meeting in the Capitol on April 28. And we learned that the W&Ms Natural Resources Subcommittee will not meet on May 1 and 2. The last of the Ways and Means roadshows will be held Wed. May 3, 5-7 p.m. You can sign up to provide testimony virtually or attend in Salem. Plan on no more than 2 minutes each! We await the May 17 Revenue Forecast, the guide for the final balanced budgets for 2023-25. Climate By Claudia Keith and Team See the Climate Emergency section for overlaps with this Natural Resources Report. We encourage you to read both sections. Coastal Issues By Christine Moffitt/Peggy Lynch The Joint Transportation Committee saw a change in leadership. Due to a serious health event, Sen. Gorsek was replaced by Sen. Frederick as the Senate Co-Chair and Senate President Rob Wagner assigned himself to the committee. We are awaiting a new proposed amendment for HB 3382 but are hopeful that time will run out without one. We truly believe that this bill is a serious threat to our coastal planning and could reduce or remove the opportunity for coastal NOAA grants in the future. We need your voices to tell your legislators to Just Say NO! DLCD and the Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians were awarded $2.1 million in Bipartisan Infrastructure Funding for Coastal Resilience. This is an example of the link between our land use planning program, the Coastal Zone Management Act and federal grant funding. A DLCD Coastal Grants webpage highlights the new Coastal Zone Management Habitat Protection and Restoration Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funding program being administered by OCMP/DLCD. The next solicitation for projects will be in May 2023. (It is grant funding like this that could be at risk if HB 3382 passes as written!) Dept. of State Lands HB 2238 , a bill that originally was filed to provide permission for robust rulemaking to increase fees for the removal/fill program is back! The bill was amended in the House to remove the fee increase and instead allows the Dept. of State Lands to get rid of personal property collected during clean up of DSL-owned property after 30 days. A new amendment has been filed to bring back the original purpose of the bill. The League continues to support . Elliott State Research Forest (ESRF) By Peggy Lynch Another Prospective Board meeting is scheduled for May 2 via Zoom from 10:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Join the meeting online . Here is the agenda . Their website provides information. The League continues to remind the Board of our continuing concern related to financial viability and hopes the Board can resolve that issue. We will continue to monitor these Prospective Board meetings. The Prospective ESRF Authority Board met in a retreat on April 17 and 18 to try to resolve a number of challenging issues. The retreat agenda indicates they had substantial conversations around how to respond to the Habitat Conservation Plan work and how to fund the research forest if they cannot harvest as much timber as originally considered. They are seeking more funding from the federal government as they also discover ways to use the former Shutter Creek Correctional facility as part of their ESRF work. SB 161 had a public hearing on April 25 in the House with a new proposed amendment, increasing a deadline to Dec. 31, 2023. The bill adjusts some other timelines as provided by the Dept. of State Lands’ April 25 testimony . Land Use/Housing By Peggy Lynch On April 20, Oregon’s Land Conservation and Development Commission (LCDC) adopted temporary rule amendments for the Climate-Friendly and Equitable Communities (CFEC) program. The temporary rules are available on the rulemaking web page and would take effect in May, to stay in effect for 180 days. The commission also initiated a rulemaking process to integrate the temporary rule changes, along with other clarifications and corrections, into permanent rules developed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the land use and transportation sector and increase equitable outcomes. These rules apply to eight metropolitan areas in Oregon - Albany, Bend, Corvallis, Eugene/Springfield, Grants Pass, Medford/Ashland, Portland Metro, Salem/Keizer. The commission and department staff are making these changes to aid local implementation. Local governments and community members can find a list of the temporary rule changes on the Climate-Friendly and Equitable Communities program page . No new news on SB 1087 , filed on behalf of a farm in Lane County where they want to add a “café” (with seating for 250-300 people) on their Exclusive Farm Use (EFU)-zoned property. The League opposes this overreach of our land use program. A public hearing was held in House Housing and Homelessness on SB 1013 . The League has worked with the sponsor and Sen. Hayden to assure that, should a recreational vehicle be allowed on a rural property, issues of sewage and clean drinking water would be addressed by the counties. A -2 amendment is being offered to change that counties “may” adopt this law vs. “shall”. HB 3442 A , a bill that will allow coastal communities to develop in hazard areas under certain conditions, was heard in Senate Housing and Development on April 24. The amended bill responded to the League concerns in the original bill. We noticed an interesting bill, HB 3416 A , that lists a number of projects around rural Oregon to be funded by Business Oregon. The bill awaits a verdict in Ways and Means. HB 3414 with the -4 amendment would create a new Housing Accountability and Production Office in DLCD and also includes a Section 2 related to processing variances under certain circumstances. Variances are used to address exceptions to a code’s “clear and objective standards”. It is unclear how this provision will change a community’s control over residential development. The bill was moved without recommendation as to passage, referred to House Rules. SB 70A would allow housing on acreage in Malheur County. The League provided testimony in opposition on Feb. 8. On April 3, the bill was moved without recommendation as to passage to Senate Rules. LWVOR still opposes. See also the Housing Report in the Social Policy section of this Legislative Report. Northwest Energy Coalition By Robin Tokmakian Our League representative worked on a resolution regarding gas utility decarbonization. LWVOR signed on to support the resolution. Radioactive Waste By Shirley Weathers The April 24, 2023 meeting of the Rulemaking Advisory Committee (RAC) on Radioactive Waste generated a lot of discussion and set the stage for two-part procedural consideration of recommended rules for OAR 345-050 designed to implement SB 246 (2021) with which the RAC is charged. After several RAC meetings, ODOE staff had provided draft rules for RAC members’ input. Within the draft, there were two Parts. Prior to the comment deadline, the member representing Waste Management Corporation requested the April 24 meeting to present a proposal for a significantly different approach to Part II of the draft rules. Waste Management and other members participating in the development of the alternate proposal—Oregon Business and Industry was one named—have stated their hope for RAC consensus for their approach. During the meeting, members and ODOE staff raised a number of questions about the proposal, making it clear that much more discussion is needed. Some issues will require legal analysis. It was tentatively decided that the two Parts will proceed on separate tracks. Part I: Staff will incorporate member input received thus far into another draft for RAC member input. That segment will then be finalized by mid- June in time to be presented as a recommendation to the July Energy Facilities Siting Committee meeting. A public comment period will follow. Part II: Discussions and other activities related to the Waste Management proposal will proceed and likely will include more meetings. The League will seek more information about the nature of the legal analysis and participate in subsequent meetings. The meeting recording and PDF of the WMI presentation will be posted on the ODOE Rulemaking page for this RAC. Reduce/Recycle By Kathy Moyd/Greg Martin On April 25, the Senate voted 26-3 to refer SB 542 A (Right to Repair) to the Rules Committee. There it will sit until more amendments are made or until there are enough votes to pass it in the full Senate. The League provided testimony in support on Feb. 14. On April 26, the House passed SB 543 A by 40-18, and passed SB 545 A by 38-18, sending both bills to the Governor. SB 543 A, an OCN priority bill, prohibits a food vendor from using polystyrene foam containers in sales of prepared food, and prohibits the sale or distribution of polystyrene foam containers, packaging peanuts, and food ware containers with intentionally added polyfluoroalkyl substances. LWVOR provided supporting testimony in the Senate committee hearing. SB 545 A directs OHA to adopt rules allowing restaurants to allow consumers to fill their own containers with food. LWVOR also testified in favor of this bill in committee. Toxics By Paula Grisafi HB 3043 A was expected to have a public hearing this week in Senate Energy and Environment, but it has been unscheduled. SB 546A (toxic free cosmetics) was sent to W&Ms although there was NO fiscal for the 2023-25 session because, although the measure takes effect January 1, 2024, all substantive portions of the bill are not operative until January 1, 2027. SB 426 A (toxic free schools) was sent to W&Ms without fiscal impact clarity. The bill’s advocates are working to assure that the fiscal impact statement is not over inflated by agency staff. Water By Peggy Lynch A major water bill, HB 3124 , was moved to House Rules without recommendation as to passage. The bill is a $250 million Drought Relief and Water Scarcity package and includes some of the other bills we’ve seen this session. The League provided comments on the bill, including a list of our priorities, using our participation in the HB 5006 Work Group as our guide. A League priority is HB 3163A , a bill that renews the Place-Based Planning program with a Fund to help groups participate in this program. It was sent to W&Mw. The League participated in a Work Group last year to help develop sideboards on the program, with testimony in support. We all need to pay attention to the potential for harmful algal blooms. “When in doubt, stay out.” Visit the Harmful Algae Bloom website or call the Oregon Public Health Division toll-free information line at 877-290-6767 to learn if an advisory has been issued or lifted for a specific water body. We have an on-going drought in many parts of Oregon and League members may want to check the U.S. Drought Monitor , a map that is updated every Thursday. Oregon’s climatologist and a variety of other Oregon scientific sources provide input into the drought map. Governor Kotek has signed drought declarations under ORS 536 for the counties of Crook, Jefferson, Grant, Deschutes, Wasco and Harney counties. In addition, many counties in eastern and southern Oregon have received Secretarial Disaster Designations from the US Department of Agriculture due to drought conditions. Wildfire State Forester Cal Mukumoto has decided not to renew the state’s wildfire insurance policy for 2023-24. The state would have to incur costs over $78 million before accessing the $25 million policy. Oregon has had the policy for 51 years—the only state to have such a policy. And, over time, it has been worthwhile. But the price of the policy vs. the threshold to access the payout no longer makes good business sense. LWVOR hopes that the investment in wildfire preparedness will help reduce wildfire costs over time. The League provided testimony in support of funding for the Oregon Conservation Corps in HB 5025 , the omnibus Higher Education Coordinating Commission budget bill. The Senate Committee on Natural Resources heard HB 2522 A on April 26. The bill would create a committee to review and make recommendations related to rural fire districts and areas in Oregon where communities exist without structural fire protection. With so many of our rural areas dependent on volunteer firefighters and new small enclaves of housing in remote areas, this bill seems a good first step to seeking resolution of these issues. SB 80 A , the omnibus Wildfire Programs bill, is in Ways and Means as is SB 509A , which aims to scale out neighborhood collaboratives in order to help whole neighborhoods reduce risk VOLUNTEERS NEEDED: What is your passion related to Natural Resources? You can help. Volunteers are needed. The 2023 legislative session is halfway over. Natural Resource Agency Boards and Commissions meet regularly year-round and need monitoring. If any area of natural resources is of interest to you, please contact Peggy Lynch, Natural Resources Coordinator, at peggylynchor@gmail.com . Training will be offered.

Back to Legislative Report Climate Emergency Legislative Report - Week of 3/20 Climate Emergency Team Coordinator: Claudia Keith Climate Change Budget: Claudia Keith Climate Curriculum: Anne Nesse Climate Lawsuits: Claudia Keith and Nivi Giani Environmental Rights Amendment: Claudia Keith Natural and Working Lands Forestry: Josie Koehne Ways and Means Funding/Budget: Claudia Keith Jump to a topic: Climate Emergency Priorities Other CE Bills Interstate 5 Bridge Project Oregon Economic Analysis Oregon Treasury Climate Related Lawsuits: Oregon and… Climate Emergency Priorities By Claudia Keith, Climate Emergency Coordinator Good news, all CE priorities have Work Sessions scheduled or have already moved forward from their policy committee. Find in previous LR reports additional background on each CE priority. 1. Natural and Working Lands : SB 530 LWVOR Alert : Work Session 3/27. The fiscal has not been posted. An amendment may get posted to simplify multiple-agency policy implementation. The League continues to be an active coalition member. 2. Resilient Buildings (RB): LWVOR Alert . Work sessions are 3/28 and 3/30. The League is an active RB coalition partner. Link to League testimonies: SB 868 , 869 , 870 and 871 . The fiscals have not yet been posted. I understand that the HOMES part of the federal IRA hasn’t released guidance yet, this makes it difficult for the legislature to know what to count on and what matching might be needed. 3. Environmental Justice (EJ) 2023 Leg bills: The League joined the Worker Advocate Coalition on 2/13 and SB 593 is one of two bills the League will follow and support. The ‘Right to Refuse dangerous work’ SB 907 , League testimony . Public Hearing (#2) and Work Session is 3/28 . There are issues with this bill that need to be addressed, in an expected amendment. 4. Oregon Climate Action Commission (currently Oregon Global Warming Commission): Roadmap , SB 522 , 3/23. -2 amendment was posted 3/22. 5. Other Governor Climate / Carbon Policy Topics: See 20-04 Executive Order topics . This area includes other GHG emission mitigation/reductions (DEQ) and new clean renewable energy (DOE), OHA public health, and ODOT (Dept of Transportation) policy and funding bills. 6. CE related total 2023-2025 biennium budget: The governor’s budget * was published Jan 31; Kotek’s budget priorities . A main funding problem concerns how the favorable ending current period balance, estimated to be >$765M, can be used. It will take a 3/5 vote to pass this proposed change. We provided testimony on the Oregon Dept. of Energy (ODOE) budget ( HB 5016 ), requesting additional agency requests that were not included in the Governor’s budget. Another major issue, the upcoming mid-May Forecast will provide required budget balancing guidelines. Other CE Bills By Claudia Keith HB 2763 : Creates a State public bank Task Force. Like RB task force the 23 member Task Force is required to recommend no later than Jan 2024. “ The report must include a recommendation for a governing structure for a public bank.” This topic will likely have a bill in the 2024 session. HB 3016 community green (tree canopy) infrastructure, Rep Pham K, Senator Dembrow, Rep Gamba. Work Session was 3/15 . Legislative Summary description . Fiscal is not clear for agency FTE adds, maybe ~$900K, nor source of grant funds. House Bill 2816 , Recent amendments posted “… scheduled for a committee (work session) vote on March 27, would require every (major) carbon emitter to follow the same rules as major utilities. (data centers) A 2021 law set ambitious timelines for utilities, including the state’s two biggest electrical providers, Portland General Electric and Pacific Power, to lower their carbon emissions and switch to non-carbon-emitting power sources by 2040.” Oregon could tighten climate regulations for data centers , cryptocurrency farms | Oregon Capital Chronicle. No fiscal posted. Climate Solutions testimony . HB 2713 - 1 , PH 3/29 and work session 4/3. Local Regulation of Fossil Fuels: home rule cities and counties have constitutional authority to prohibit or limit use of fossil fuels in new buildings or installation of fossil fuel infrastructure. Permits cities and counties, whether home rule or not, to prohibit or limit use of fossil fuels in new buildings or installation of fossil fuel infrastructure. No fiscal posted. House CE&E Meeting By Greg Martin The committee moved HB 3418-1 to the floor with a do-pass recommendation, with referral to Joint Tax Expenditures. The bill would extend the sunset date of the Solar and Storage Rebate Program from 1/2/2024 to 1/2/2029. ODOE would have to waive the requirement that construction begin within 12 months of an award if construction was delayed because of supply chain or workforce disruptions or shortages due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Fiscal impact is estimated at $547K for 2023-25, $703K for 2025-27. ODOE received a GF appropriation of $15 million in 2021-23 and anticipates that all funds will be obligated by the end of the biennium. If additional funding were provided to carry the program forward, ODOE would change three existing limited-duration administrative positions into permanent positions. Senate E&E By Greg Martin The committee sent these bills to the floor with a do-pass recommendation: SB 145 (w/ referral to Joint Tax Exp.), extends until 7/1/2032 the sunset date for the property tax exemption for the High Desert Biomass Coop, which burns "hog fuel" to produce hot water and steam for delivery in Burns. No fiscal impact (or comments, please). The committee also heard testimony for Sen. Hayden's SB 1015 , which would allow accelerated depreciation (over two years) of “carbon reducing upgrades” that could include replacement of older heavy-duty diesel trucks, manufacturing and building upgrades, adoption of clean vehicles for fleet use. Would apply to tax years beginning on or after 1/1/2020. No fiscal impact statement was available but committee members seemed favorable. Interstate 5 (I5) Bridge Project By Liz Stewart Final design is undecided. Stakeholders have been identified and engaged. Draft Environmental Impact Statement to be released early this fall, with a 45-60 day comment period once released. Final environmental impact decision anticipated in 2024 Finance plan will be released in March and updated annually Section 106 impacts (historical, cultural, archeological): An online public open house is planned for April related to Section 106 impacts. The Equity and Mobility Advisory Committee (EMAC) has worked to help identify strategies to improve outcomes and access to travel choices for all demographics. Their most recent meeting, March 20, covered the design process. To find background on the project or get involved, sign up for email on IBR project website . Meetings & Events | I-5 Bridge Replacement Program Interstatebridge.org IBR has several public groups formed to give input on the project. Find out about participation at public meetings here and here . Oregon Economic Analysis By Claudia Keith The Oregon Economic and Revenue Forecast was released Feb 22. The next forecast is due May 17. JW&M recommended budget will use the May forecast to balance the budget. The Oregon Office of Economic Analysis has continued to ignore the recommended SEC Climate Risk disclosure rule. The Need For Climate Risk Disclosures: A Case Study Of Physical Risk Of Two REITS, EQR And ARE | Forbes. Federal and state policies impacting ESG reporting could be issued in 2023 | U.S. Green Building Council. SEC Chair Responds to Questions on Potential Lawsuit on Climate Disclosure , Fast Paced Rulemaking | Reuters. Gensler says SEC climate disclosure rule will focus on consistency | Pensions & Investments. Key insights for asset owners developing investor climate action plans | Ceres. See supportive SEC disclosure LWVOR-initiated LWVUS Testimony , June 2022. Oregon Treasury By Claudia Keith It is unclear how Oregon Treasury/Treasurer Tobias will assist with addressing the $27B Federal funds, contingent on formation of an Oregon Green Bank. Up To $27B Available for NPO Clean Energy Activities . | TNPT. Treasurer Tobias Read Releases First -Ever Oregon Financial Wellness Scorecard| OST. J an 2023 Pers Statement Climate Related Lawsuits: Oregon and… By Claudia Keith Numerous lawsuits are challenging Oregon’s DEQ CPP regulations. Here is one example of how to track them. Basically, there are a number of active state and federal lawsuits , (March 2023 update) some of which could assist in meeting Oregon's Net Zero GHG Emissions before 2050 targets and other lawsuits, which challenge current Oregon DEQ CPP policy, which would limit the use of fossil fuels, including diesel, natural gas, and propane over time. Another source: Columbia University Law - Sabin Climate DB lists 62 lawsuits with OREGON mentioned. Climate lawsuits: Oregon and PNW News Oregon’s $4 Billion Economic Opportunity From Ambitious Climate Policy | Forbes. Ashland youth push city to ban fossil fuel infrastructure in new buildings | Jefferson Public Radio. Oregon could tighten climate regulations for data centers, cryptocurrency farms – Oregon Capital Chronicle. Portland Inno - Tech industry, E. Oregon lawmakers warn of economic toll if data center emissions bill passes | BizJR. Energy Facility Siting Council to Meet March 24, 2023 — ODOE. National and Global News A ‘Rocking Chair Rebellion’: Seniors Call On Banks to Dump Big Oi l - The New York Times. Why India Walks a Tightrope Between US and Russia ( cheap oil…) - The Washington Post. Shaheen to admin: Get me the Black Sea strategy | Politico. The climate debate over the Willow oil project , explained - The Washington Post. States debate whether to restrict —or invite—crypto mining – GCN. FACT SHEET: One Year of Supporting Ukraine | The White House. Commentary: Biden weighs in on the battle for the soul of Wall Street. Here’s how the president’s first veto will shape the way Americans’ money is managed | Fortune. Modi’s Climate Change Goal at Risk as India Renewable Energy Push Hits Hurdles – Bloomberg. Russia Wants a Fossil Fuel Relationship . China Has Cold Feet | Time. Climate protesters call on banks to divest from fossil fuels : NPR. Weekly Planet | The Atlantic Journal Volunteers Needed By Claudia Keith Request to Local Leagues; please let us know your climate, resilience, or sustainability advocacy actions. Please consider joining the CE portfolio team; we lack volunteers in these critical policy and law areas: Natural and Working lands, specifically 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 Oregon Treasury: ESG investing/Fossil Fuel divestment We collaborate with Natural Resource Action members on many Climate Change mitigation and adaptation policy topics. Volunteers are needed: The 2023 legislative session began Jan 17. If any area of Climate Emergency interests you, please contact Claudia Keith , CE Coordinator. Orientation to Legislative and State Agency advocacy processes is available.