ANNOUNCING THE 2025 JOINT WAYS & MEANS COMMITTEE TRAVELING ROADSHOW

Gresham March 22

Astoria March 28

Warm Springs

LaGrande

Salem 

Klamath Falls

April 25 (Fri) | 5pm-7pm

Klamath Community College

Building 4 Commons

7390 South 6th St.

Many important bills need funding. There is never enough money to fund them all as the Joint Ways and Means Committee must submit a balance 2-year budget. Plan to testify at the hearing closest to you to support funding for issues important to you. Click on the location link to register ahead of time for a chance to testify. 

You can also submit written testimony here urging Ways and Means Committee members to fund and move forward one or more of the bills below that COIN has endorsed and that are currently in the Ways and Means Committee or to NOT fund one or more of the bills below that COIN is opposing.  

Page last updated: 4:00 PM on Friday April 25

Use the links below to jump to each CEE topic:

Climate, Pollution, General Environment

Water Resources

Energy

Wildlife

Coastal Ecosystems

Forests and Wildfire

Using  this page: HOW TO MAKE YOUR VOICE HEARD

It takes only a few minutes to write a short letter or note to support or to oppose a bill. 

Here is a 'how to': 

1. Scroll down (or jump to a topic) to find a bill you're interested in that has an ACTION ALERT. 

2. Use the various links provided to learn more about the bill. 

3. Click on the Bill Number to open up the official bill summary. 

4. Click “Submit Testimony” on menu bar near the top.

5. Fill in your name, email, and city.

6. At “Position on Measure,” select SUPPORT or OPPOSE or NEUTRAL

7. At “Submit text or upload a PDF,” select “Text Testimony.”

8. Paste your testimony text into the box below “Submit text testimony below.”

9. Click “Submit Testimony.”

Thanks to Kevin Walsh for this step-by-step guide to submitting testimony.

We hope to have a video demonstrating this process available soon.

SJR 28 - The Right to a Healthy Environment    COIN ENDORSES this bill.

Senate Joint Resolution 28 is the product of the Oregon Coalition for an Environmental Rights Amendment (OCERA), a grassroots effort to amend the Oregon constitution to affirm that all Oregonians have a fundamental, enforceable right to  a healthy environment.  COIN is a founding member of OCERA, and members of COIN’s Climate, Energy and Environment Team have been active members from the beginning, so we will most likely be endorsing this bill as we go through our endorsement process. Over 30 grassroots organizations and hundreds of individuals are also active coalition members. The chief sponsors of SJR 28 are Senators Golden, Manning, and Prozanski, and Representatives Gamba, Anderson, and Tran. In addition, 7 Senators and 8 Representatives have joined as co-sponsors.  Here's a more thorough explanation of the resolution and why we need it. You can also learn more about this effort on OCERA's website. 

• COIN worksheet for SJR 28.

• COIN testimony in support of SJR 28

• SOCAN Testimony in support of SJR 28 from Alan Journet 

• OCERA SJR 28 Talking Points

• Why the need for a constitutional amendment?

SJR 28 has been assigned to the Rules Committee.

This bill had a hearing on 3/26. View the session here.  

SB 1187 / SB 682 - Oregon Climate Superfund Act or Make Polluters Pay Act -   COIN ENDORSES this bill, but it will not move forward this year.

UPDATE!  SB 1187 has replaced SB 682 as the Climate Super Fund / Make Polluters Pay Act. It was assigned a hearing and work session by the deadline (March 21) while SB 682 was not (so it's apparently dead).  It appears that SB 1187 changes the responsibility for assessing cost of GHG emissions from the State Treasurer to the Department of Land Conservation and Development (DLCD). The DEQ would be charged with issuing cost recovery demand notices. 

The Oregon Climate Superfund Act, also known as the Make Polluters Pay Act will hold fossil fuel companies responsible for some of the immense costs of pollution from greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions they are responsible for. These companies will be required to use a portion of the their staggering profits to pay for repair and mitigation of damages caused by GHG emissions and to support appropriate climate resilience efforts. State agencies will create resilience plans addressing specific impacts on Oregon’s natural and human-built infrastructure. Payments into the fund will be assessed in proportion to a company’s share of GHG emissions over a historical period. 

The bill is modeled after legislation already adopted in Vermont and New York. Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota and California are in the process of developing similar legislation, and more states are expected to follow suit.

COIN is a member of the Make Polluters Pay Coalition that is responsible for educating and advocating for the passage of this bill. 

• COIN Worksheet for SB1187 / SB682

• Oregon Climate Superfund one-page flyer

• Sample SB 1187 Testimony Toolkit

• Stateline 3.31.25 article States Want to Make Oil Companies Pay

HB 1187 is currently in the Senate Committee on Energy and Environment. 

Read testimony from Alan Journet, Southern Oregon Climate Action Now, in support of SB 1187

Read testimony of Craig Lacy, The Vocal Seniority, Indivisible Bend

A public hearing for SB 1187 was held on Monday April 7. Watch the public hearing here. 

A second public hearing was held Wednesday April 9. Watch that hearing here.

UPDATE: We are extremely disappointed that Chair Sollman refused to move this bill out of committee, as she announced during the public hearing. Unfortunately, it looks like this much-needed legislation will not move forward this year. 

HB 3362  4% Tire Tax COIN ENDORSES this bill.

HB 3362 would impose a 4% excise tax on new tire sales. 75% of the tax funds would go to the Tire Pollution and Rail Transit Fund established under this bill and 25% would go to the Wildlife-Vehicle Collision Reduction Fund also  established under this bill. The Tire Pollution and Rail Transit Fund is charged with mitigating pollution from tires and funding rail transit. The Wildlife-Vehicle Collision Reduction Fund would fund wildlife crossing and projects that reduce collisions between wildlife and vehicles. 

Tire dust is a major component of hard surface runoff and is a source of toxic chemicals, heavy metals, and microplastics. 6PPD-quinone in tire dust has proven to be deadly to coho salmon as they return to spawn. One of the goals of the fund created by this bill will target reduction of this pollution.

HB 3362 Worksheet

Currently in the Joint Committee on Transportation

This bill had a public hearing on Mar 3. You can watch it here. 

HB 2961 - Increases current requirements for EV charging capability for new buildings.    COIN ENDORSES this bill.

The current law (since 2021) requires that 30% of parking spaces in certain newly constructed buildings (specifically, commercial buildings, multi-family buildings with 5 or more units and mixed-use buildings consisting of commercial space and 5 or more dwelling units) be EV-ready with conduit and panel, and adequate electric service to power 20% of spaces. 

This bill increases the requirement to either a) 50% of parking spaces with EV-ready service OR  b) maintaining the current 20% AND including a charger in 5% of those spaces (but no less than 1 space). (Currently, no chargers are required for the EV-ready spaces). Put simply, either more EV-ready spaces are required during construction, or chargers are required at 5% of the currently required spaces.  

The point is to encourage the transition to EV use for people who live in apartments and mixed-use buildings, who don’t have other means of providing their own charging stations. 

Here is the  COIN Worksheet.

Two public hearings have been held on this bill. Watch the Jan 30 hearing at 29:27 minutes. Read testimony submitted. Watch the Feb 4 hearing here. You can watch the 3/27 work session here. 

A second work session was held on April 8, and the bill was reported out with the -7 amendment with a do pass recommendation by a vote of 7-5.  The -7 amendment, proposed by Rep. Gamba, limits the bill to a metropolitan jurisdiction in Clackamas, Washington, or Multnomah  counties.  -7 would change the percentage required from 50 to 20% of the parking spaces required in new construction, residential or mixed use, with 10 or more residential units, that must be EV-ready and also would require at least 5% of spaces to have Level 2 or Level 3 EV charging stations.  The amendment severely weakens the bill, but it is still a small step forward toward providing apartment dwellers the infrastructure needed for charging EVs. Watch the April 8 work session here. 

UPDATE: This bill went to the House floor for a vote which was delayed twice, and now has been put on hold as the bill was referred instead to the House Committee On Rules. Contact committee members and urge them to keep this bill moving forward. 

SB 551 A - "Beyond the Bag" bill       COIN ENDORSES this bill. 

This bill would further reduce the use of plastic bags and other disposable plastic items provided by grocers, restaurants and other food retailers, and hotels and other lodging businesses. It expands on the restrictions of Oregon’s 2019 law limiting use of single use plastic bags. SB551 would also bar food service places from offering plastic cutlery or condiments in plastic packaging generally unless they are requested.  SB551 would prohibit hotels and other lodging places from automatically providing toiletries like shampoo or lotion in disposable plastic containers. That regulation would kick in for establishments with 50 or more rooms beginning in 2027. It would apply to all forms of lodging — including short-term rentals — beginning in 2028. 

•  COIN Worksheet for SB 551 

• Read COIN's testimony in support here.

• OPB article from 2/14/25  

• OPB article from 3/12/25

• Environment America article from 2/13/25

• Testimony from numerous environmental groups

• Testimony of Alan Journet, Southern Oregon Climate Action Network

Originally assigned to the Senate Energy and Environment Committee.

SUCCESS!  SB 551-3 PASSED THE SENATE ON MAR 11 BY A VOTE OF 22-8!  You can watch the actual Senate session here, plus Feb 12 public hearing here and the Feb 26 work session here where the current -3 amendment to clarify SB 551 was proposed.  

SB 551 A is now assigned to the House Committee on Climate, Energy, and Environment. 

A public hearing was held for this bill on 4/17. You can watch the proceedings here.  

ACTION ALERT! A work session and possible committee vote is scheduled for Tuesday April 29 at 8:00 AM. Contact Committee members and urge them to vote YES on this SB 551 to reduce plastic waste and pollution. You can watch the work session here. 

SB 992 - Modernization of the Bottle Bill    COIN ENDORSES this bill. 

This bill initially was simply a "study bill," requiring the Oregon Liquor and Cannabis Commission to study the modernization of Oregon’s legendary "Bottle Bill" and submit recommendations by September, 2026.  However, It had a hearing and a -1 amendment  was added, which authorizes alternative collection sites, allowing for non-profits to set up collection sites, but only in cities of 500,000 or more. (We'd prefer for that limitation to be removed!) Right now the only redemption centers are those set up by the bottler's association and they often make it really difficult to return bottles. This should help consumers get their deposits back and help keep litter off the streets.  

Originally assigned to the Senate Energy and Environment Committee.

A public hearing for SB 992 was held Monday Feb 17. Watch the session here. This bill had a work session Wednesday April 2. You can watch the session here.  

MOVEMENT ALERT: A second work session was held on April 7 where the -3 amendment was adopted and the bill was reported out with a unanimous do pass. You can watch that session here. The -3 amendment expands the availability of bottle return sites in cities with a population greater than 500,000 thru Alternative Redemption Centers and authorizes convenience zones and satellite sites for such Centers, specifies the requirements for redemption including the number of bottles that can be returned per day per person, sets hours and other requirements for dealers within the zones. 

SUCCESS! The full Senate passed this bill with a vote of 28-1 Thursday April 17.  The bill has now moved to the House and has been assigned to the House Committee On Climate, Energy, and Environment.

SB 869  Expanded Bottle Return Schedule      COIN ENDORSES this bill, but it will not move forward this year.

"A dealer must accept the return of beverage containers during the hours of 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. while the dealer is otherwise open for business. A dealer may refuse to accept the return of beverage containers during all other hours.”  A “dealer” means every person who engages in the sale of beverages in beverage containers to a consumer, or means a full-service redemption center.

The bill sets minimum hours for accepting bottles, if the dealer is otherwise open for business (like a grocery store). The issue is that it’s too hard for people to return bottles, and the fund from the deposits is building up as a result. 

Currently in the Senate Energy and Environment Committee.

The public hearing and possible work session scheduled for April 9 was cancelled. You can watch the Committee's April 9 session here. 

HB 3170 - Community Resilience Hubs    COIN ENDORSES this bill. 

Provides additional funding for Community Resilience Hubs. During the 2023 Legislation COIN endorsed and lobbied for HB 2990 - Community Resilience Hubs. It ended up being folded into the omnibus HB 3409 Climate Package at the end of the session which passed.  But it was not funded sufficiently at the time. The current bill, HB3170, adds additional funding to provide grants for communities to develop resilience hubs. 

• One-pager from chief sponsor, Rep Pam Marsh

• Testimony submitted by Southern Oregon Climate Action Network

A public hearing was held on Feb 4. View the recording here. The testimony was overwhelmingly in support of this bill. 

MOVEMENT ALERT: A work session was held on Mar 4 and the committee gave it a DO PASS recommendation by a vote of 7-0 with 5 members absent. Watch the session here.  The bill now moves to Joint Ways and Means Committee. 

ACTION ALERT: You can contact members of the Committee and urge them to fund this important legislation. Or, if you attend the last Ways and Means Road Show event in Klamath Falls, tell them we need to pass this bill.  

HB 2062 - Battery Producer Responsibility Program     COIN ENDORSES this bill.

This bill prohibits producers of batteries or battery-containing products from selling, offering for sale, or distributing batteries or battery-containing products in Oregon unless they participate in a battery producer responsibility organization (PRO) that successfully implements a battery producer responsibility program.

At least three states and the US Capital—California, Vermont, Washington State, and Washington, DC—have battery EPR programs in place to collect certain types of batteries, ranging in size, type (rechargeable or not), and chemical makeup (for example, alkaline, carbon-zinc, lithium metal, or lithium-ion). Once the batteries are collected by producers, they are sent to recycling facilities; currently, there are only four recyclers in the U.S. that can recycle batteries.

Originally assigned to the House Committee on Climate, Energy, and Environment. 

A public hearing for HB 2062 was held Tuesday Feb 18. Watch the session here. Read the testimony here. 

This bill had a work session on 4/3 (watch the session here) 

MOVEMENT ALERT: A second work session was held on April 8, and the bill was reported out with amendment -1 with a do pass by a vote of 11-1. You can watch that session here. The bill is now in the Joint Committee on Ways and Means. 

SB 726 A - Surface Emissions Monitoring at Landfills   COIN ENDORSES this bill.

In Oregon, landfill operators are required to conduct surface emissions monitoring across the landfill every quarter and submit these reports to the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality. However, analysis shows that 33% of landfill surface area is excluded from any monitoring! SB 726 will fix this, by requiring landfill operators to deploy commercially available drones and advanced monitoring technologies to detect methane plumes across landfills. Drones and flyover monitoring using planes or satellites would allow larger areas of the landfill to be easily monitored for leaks. This bill would also improve transparency by requiring reports to be shared in spatial data formats, a very common way to display data digitally.  Originally assigned to the Senate Energy and Environment committee.

• Here’s the COIN worksheet for SB 726. 

This bill had a public hearing on Feb 24. You can watch the recording here and read testimony submitted by COIN member Dan Meek. It also had a work session on 4/2. The committee voted 4-1 with a Do Pass recommendation. You can watch the session here.

SUCCESS!  The Senate voted 17-10 to pass this bill on 4/10. This bill is now in the House and assigned to the House Climate, Energy, and Environment Committee. 

ACTION ALERT! SB 726 is now getting a hearing in the House on Thursday May 1 at 8:00 AM. You can register to testify or submit written testimony here and you can watch the proceedings here. 

SB 680 -  Prohibits Publishing False Environmental Marketing Claims.   COIN ENDORSES this bill.

This bill would prohibit a person from publishing or causing to be published an environmental marketing claim, net zero claim or reputational advertising that is materially false, misleading, deceptive or fraudulent. It punishes a violation of the Act as an unlawful trade practice under the Unlawful Trade Practices Act and subjects the violator to statutory damages of $200 if a plaintiff can prove exposure to the claim or advertising and that the plaintiff purchased a product or service from the person based on the claim or advertising. We like this bill except for the low limit on liability to $200. No one is going to bring a lawsuit if the damages are capped at $200, so we recommend an amendment for a higher limit on damages. 

Portland Mercury 3.7.25 article Prohibiting Greenwashing

Currently in the Senate Judiciary Committee

This bill had a public hearing on Feb 26. You can watch the recording here. Check out testimony by COIN members Alan Journet and Dan Meek. 

HB 3365 A  Climate Change / Sustainability Education  COIN endorses this bill.

Directs the State Board of Education to include an interdisciplinary approach to sustainability and climate change across all subjects for which academic content standards are established. In other words, the idea of climate change can be used to teach lessons in math or social studies, not just science. We believe this is important, so that tomorrow's adults understand the reality of climate change. Perhaps if the topic is less politicized and better understood by the next generation, they will be more successful in living more sustainably than the current generation has been.  

• COIN Worksheet for HB 3365

Originally assigned to the House Education Committee

This bill had a public hearing on Mar 12. You can watch the recording here. Here's the COIN testimony in support of this bill and here's additional testimony from COIN member Alan Journet.  

MOVEMENT ALERT! This bill was reported out with a do pass recommendation with the -4 amendment by a vote of 5-3 during an April 9 work session. You can watch the session here. The -4 amendment provides the State Board of Education must ensure that core subjects include "sufficient instruction on the causes and effects of climate change and strategies" for mitigation, adaption, and strengthening of community resilience. 

SUCCESS!  The House voted 32-23 to pass this bill on 4/17. This bill is now in the Senate Committee on Education.  You can contact committee members and urge them to keep this bill moving forward. 

HB 2945 - Zero emissions school buses    COIN ENDORSES this bill.

The bill directs the Department of Environmental Quality to adopt rules to require the purchase of new zero-emission school buses in certain areas. Requires the purchase of new zero-emission school buses if the price is equal to a comparable school bus that is not zero-emission, and with a focus on transporting students in disproportionately impacted communities.  It also requires that the DEQ provide technical and financial assistance to school bus fleet owners and establishes a fund to help districts buy zero-emission buses (no amount provided).

Requires DEQ to adopt rules to require that, of the new school buses purchased by a school bus fleet owner:

• By 2030, at least 50 percent must be zero-emission school buses; and

• By 2035, at least 90 percent must be zero-emission school buses.

COIN recognizes that some districts may have hardships meeting these requirements due to financial issues, extreme temperatures that electric buses might not function as well as I.C.E. buses in, and other issues. But we believe this is important enough, that the rule-making process will take these issues into consideration, and that the timeline represents realistic goals. 

• COIN testimony in support of HB 2945

• HB 2945 Testimony Guide

• Sierra Club Oregon Chapter HB 2945 Testimony

Currently in the Joint Committee On Transportation. 

HB 2945 had a public hearing on 4/15. Watch the proceedings here. 

SB 550 - Expands "Right to Repair" Law  COIN endorses this bill.

In 2024, the Oregon Legislature enacted SB 1596 (and COIN endorsed it), which requires a manufacturer to make available, to an owner or independent repair provider, on fair and reasonable terms any documentation, tool, part, or other device used to diagnose, maintain, repair, or update certain electronic devices, if it is made available to an authorized service provider. SB 550 would expand the requirement to include electric wheelchairs and complex rehabilitation technology.

Currently, Oregonians living with physical, mental, and developmental disabilities, including seniors and children, are forced to wait weeks or months for even small CRT repairs. Being confined to bed due to a lack of necessary medical technology creates more health problems and limits a person’s ability to care for their own needs.

This bill already passed the Senate by a vote of 27-1. It is now in the House Committee On Commerce and Consumer Protection. 

ACTION ALERT!  A public hearing was held on SB 550 on Thursday April 24 at 1:00 PM. You can still submit written testimony until April 26 at 1 PM here and you can watch the proceedings here. 

SB 715  Cascadia High Speed Rail Task Force   COIN endorses this bill.

This bill outlines membership, mission, and duties for the Cascadia High Speed Rail Task Force, including recommending legislation to legislative committees related to transportation. the  -1 amendment appropriates $10 million from the General Fund to Metro to carry out the duties of the task force, such as engineering reports, etc.  We believe high speed rail is a solution for reducing traffic, reducing GHG emissions, and increasing safety of travel. This task force is a crucial first step.  Currently in the Joint Committee On Transportation.

A public hearing was held on 3/18. You can watch that session here. A work session scheduled for Tuesday 4/8 was canceled. 

HB 2067 A Rebate for Battery-Powered Leaf Blowers 
COIN is neutral on this bill but has some recommendations to make it worthy of endorsement:

This bill requires the Oregon Department of Energy (ODOE) to establish a program for providing rebates to commercial contractors, landscape construction professionals, and landscape contracting businesses for the purchase of battery-powered leaf blowers, operative on January 1, 2026. The rebate amounts would be equal to 50 percent of the price paid for a battery-powered leaf blower and any new batteries or new battery chargers necessary for the person to use the battery-powered leaf blower for ordinary business reasons.

We are all for battery-powered leaf blowers.... and battery-powered chain saws and weed whackers and lawn mowers, too! This bill looks like a hastily-conceived subsidy for commercial landscapers. If we want to get rid of gas-powered lawn tools, the state should just ban them by a certain date. Or... offer the same rebate to anyone who buys electric landscaping equipment. Originally assigned to the House Committee on Climate, Energy, and Environment. 

• Letter expressing our opinion to committee members from COIN member Alan Journet

A public hearing was held on 3/18. You can view the recorded hearing here. 

MOVEMENT ALERT: This bill had a work session on 4/3 and the committee voted 10-2 to pass it, needless to say, without our recommendations. 😐 You can watch the work session here. The bill is now in the Joint Committee on Ways and Means. 

HB 3119 - Delays the Advanced Clean Trucks Act COIN OPPOSES this bill.  

Prohibits the Department of Environmental Quality from implementing or enforcing the Advanced Clean Trucks regulations before January 1, 2027. This bill is assigned to the House Committee on Climate, Energy, and Environment. This bill to delay the ACT is setting the stage to kill the ACT program. The effort is part of a multistate coordinated effort to roll back clean air protections in a moment we cannot rely on a federal backstop. 

• OLCV Article Take a stand for clean air! 

  • • "There’s no way around this fact: diesel pollution has devastating impacts, and Oregon communities are already suffering. Diesel pollution specifically contains 40 cancer-causing compounds, contributes to 176 premature deaths annually, and costs our state $2 billion in health impacts each year. One of the fastest ways to cut this deadly pollution is by implementing our state’s long-established clean truck rules, yet oil and gas companies have launched their attack on these policies."

• Here is the COIN Worksheet  for HB 3119.

• KATU Article provides additional commentary.

A public hearing for HB3119 was held Jan 30. Watch the hearing here.  This work session for this bill on April 8 was cancelled.  

ACTION ALERT! The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality is asking for public comment on the proposed permanent rule amendments to Oregon’s Clean Truck Rules. Anyone can submit comments and questions. More information on this rulemaking, including the draft rules, can be found on the Clean Truck Rules 2025 Rulemaking web page. DEQ has extended the deadline for submitting public comment to 4 p.m. PDT Wednesday, May 7, 2025. 

SB 360 - Exemption for Pesticide Application   COIN OPPOSES this bill.  

This bill would create a pesticide licensing exemption for certain employees using a battery-powered device to apply pesticides.  We oppose this bill because it shouldn't matter what method, mechanism, or type of energy is used to disperse regulated pesticides.  The person handling the pesticides should still be required to follow all relevant rules to prevent pesticide pollution. This bill would just create a loophole for getting around pesticide application rules. 

• Letter from COIN to Committee Members in opposition to SB 360

A public hearing was held for this bill on 3/17. You can view the hearing here. 

The bill had a work session on Wednesday March 26 at 3:00 PM.  The Senate Committee On Energy and Environment voted 4-1 to move this bill forward.  You can watch the work session here.  

MOVEMENT ALERT 😡 The full senate voted to approve this bill on 4/3 by a vote of 25-3. Only three Dems voted against it - Golden, Pham, and Manning. The bill is now in the House Committee On Agriculture, Land Use, Natural Resources, and Water.

   SB 1129 A - Amends Laws Relating to Urban Reserves   COIN OPPOSES this bill. 

This bill would allow developers to buy up farm and forest land and convert it to urban reserves. We agree agree with Former Circuit Court Judge Paul Lipscomb who testified: "SB 1129 is a dangerous bill...Currently, local governments already have adequate discretion to decide which available lands are best suited for urban reserves which could later be incorporated into their urban growth boundaries. Cities and counties are already authorized to identify exclusive farm use zoned properties for expansion into their urban growth boundaries if their existing urban properties are truly no longer able to accommodate future growth. But that power exists only when it is actually necessary, not just when it might be convenient or popular."   The bill creates a huge loophole that would short-circuit Oregon’s successful land use planning process and negatively impact Oregon’s farm and forestland. The bill is currently in the Senate Committee On Housing and Development. 

• COIN testimony opposing HB 1129

• 1000 Friends of Oregon testimony opposing HB 1129

This bill had a public hearing on 3/24. You can watch the recorded hearing here. The work session for this bill was held on  Monday April 7. The Committee adopted the -1 amendment and passed the bill unanimously. The link for watching the work session is here. The -1 amendment allows local governments to give a lower priority to lands added to the urban reserve that are within an "exception area" or "nonresource lands already containing planned developments or subdivisions compared to other nonresource lands or lands within an exception area". Local governments can also give a lower priority to the inclusion of lands where providing urban services is not reasonable or cost effective "due to topographical or other physical constraints". 

UNFORTUNATE MOVEMENT 😠  The Senate voted 29-0 to pass this bill on 4/17. This bill is now in the House awaiting assignment. 

ACTION ALERT! There is a public hearing on this bill on Monday April 28 at 1:00 PM in the House Committee on Housing and Homelessness. You can register to testify or submit written testimony opposing this bill here. You have until April 30 at 1 PM to submit written testimony.  

HB 3499 - Restricts Urban Renewal Plans  COIN OPPOSES this bill. 

HB 3499 would require the approval or amendment of an urban renewal plan by the electors of that municipality. We believe this would hamper the ability of local governments to use an effective tool to build more housing, in addition to promoting economic development.

Urban renewal, or tax increment financing (TIF), is a flexible revenue option to focus investments, revitalize specific areas, build-out or repair needed infrastructure, and more. It is also a tool that local governments can use to obtain funding from other sources, such as state or federal funds, that the local government can use to amplify local investments.

Adopting an urban renewal area (URA) already requires a public process and the consent of the largest taxing districts in the affected area. Those local governments that would like to have a public vote on URAs can already do so through local ordinances or charters. A state requirement for a vote is not necessary, and would establish a significant barrier for local governments needing to make investments to support housing development.

• COIN testimony opposing HB3499

• 1000 Friends of Oregon testimony opposing HB3499

This bill is currently in the House Committee On Rules. It had a public hearing on 4/16. You can view the recorded hearing here. 

HB 2332  Prohibits DEQ from requiring permits for air curtain incinerators   COIN OPPOSES this bill. 

An air curtain incinerator (ACI) is a box-like structure that is used to burn wood waste. A curtain of high-velocity air, powered by a diesel fan, is forced into the box over burning debris to enable it to combust more material than would be if it were burned in the open. DEQ issues location-specific permits for ACIs.  They do reduce significantly reduce smoke and particulate pollution, though they don't reduce CO2 emissions from burning.  While we recognize that removing the Title V permitting process might mean more of ACIs would be purchased and used, the bottom line for us is that without state oversight, any regulations about burning would default to federal agencies and under the current administration, federal environmental regulations are unlikely to be enforced.  

• Here is the testimony in opposition from 350 PDX.   

After a public hearing and work session, this bill has already passed the House 50-0. A public hearing was held on 4/16 in the Senate Committee On Energy and Environment. You can view the recorded session here. 

ACTION ALERT! HB 2332 is scheduled for a possible work session and committee vote on Monday April 28 at 3:00 PM. You can watch the session here. 

HB 2738 - Prohibits Leaded Fuel at Race Tracks   
COIN ENDORSESD this bill but it didn't get a work session scheduled by the 3/21 deadline so it's likely dead for 2025.

This bill prohibits the use of leaded fuel at race tracks in cities with a population of 500,000 or greater as of January 1, 2026.  That means Portland Int'l Raceway.  Many residents of the Kenton neighborhood have testified in favor of this.  Note that NASCAR banned leaded fuel in 2007. If the iconic racetrack, Daytona Beach can operate with unleaded fuel, so can Portland.

Currently in the House Committee on Climate, Energy, and Environment. 

A public hearing for HB 2738 was held Tuesday Feb 18. Watch the session here. Read the testimony here. 

HB 3477  Improves Oregon's GHG Emissions Goals   
COIN ENDORSED this bill but it didn't get a work session scheduled by the 3/21 deadline so it's likely dead for 2025.

This bill modifies Oregon's greenhouse gas emission reduction goals (calling for more reduction). However, nothing in this bill creates any additional regulatory authority.  So it changes the goals without providing the means to achieve the goals. Despite the wonderful goals, Oregon is not reducing greenhouse gases.  However, we support this bill as a start, and we encourage the legislature to include some mechanism to ensure we achieve these goals. 

The bill is currently in the House Committee On Climate, Energy, and Environment.

HB 3477 had a public hearing on Mar 11. You can watch it here. Read COIN's testimony in support of this bill, plus testimony from COIN member Alan Journet. 

SB 78 - Limits Scale of Replacement Homes on Farmland  COIN endorses this bill, but it will not move forward this year.

Calls for replacement dwelling reform on forest and farmland. Replacement dwellings can’t exceed floor area of original dwelling by more than 10% or floor area greater than 2500 sq. ft.  Limits the scale of replacement dwellings to reduce speculative impacts on agricultural and forestland and limit the current unchecked conversion of our limited resource land for luxury homesite development.  

• SB 78 Worksheet 

• SB 78 Explanation of Replacement Dwellings Issues

Currently in the Senate Committee on Natural Resources and Wildfire

This bill had a public hearing on Mar 6. You can watch the recording here.

SB 77 - Prohibits Elite Development on Farmland 
COIN ENDORSED this bill but it didn't get a work session scheduled by the 3/21 deadline so it's likely dead for 2025.

Describes allowable home occupation on lands zoned for forest or farm use. Clarifies the definition of “home occupation” as being owner occupied and describes work that may be done and limits number of employees. 

• SB 77 Worksheet 

• SB 77 Explanation of Home Occupations Issues  

Currently in the Senate Committee on Natural Resources and Wildfire

 
This bill had a public hearing on Mar 6. You can watch the recording here.

SB 80 - Prohibition on large new or expanding factory farms in Oregon Groundwater Management Area.  COIN ENDORSES this bill. Dead for this session.

Large factory farms or Confined Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs) are linked to dangerous levels of nitrate in groundwater and surface waters in areas where they are located; large factory farms are also linked to devastating public health impacts such as cancers, blue baby, and respiratory illnesses. They undermine local economies, in particular small sustainable family farms and subject millions of animals to abject cruelty.  

Oregon's 11 mega dairies alone produced 4 billion pounds of waste in 2022,  ⅔ of what Oregon’s human population produced. The manure lagoons where waste is stored seeps into the groundwater and is basically dumped or applied on nearby fields as “fertilizer”, causing runoff into surface water like streams, rivers, lakes. This means nitrates and phosphorus in the groundwater and surface water; it fuels algae blooms which kill fish and cause dead zones. ON top of that, factory farms’ air emissions are not regulated, meaning methane, ammonia, hydrogen sulfide, nitrous oxide, and harmful particulate matter, GHG, are emitted into the air unchecked.

Voluntary measures to control factory farm growth in groundwater management areas have not worked. Now there is a growing public health, economic, and environmental crisis in communities in GWMAs. It is an environmental justice issue.  COIN is a supporting member of Stand Up to Factory Farms SUFF; find more info here. 

SB 80 is currently in the Committee on Natural Resources and Wildfire. Urge the Committee to pass SB 80. Also, find and write your own legislators in support of SB 80 or better yet, make an appointment to meet with them to discuss their vote on SB 80. 

• SB 80 Worksheet 

• SUFF Webinar Notes and Support SB 80! for more info and talking points

• OPB article

• Read COIN Testimony in Support of SB 80.

COIN members attended the Lobby Day Thursday Feb 27 in Salem!  About 30 volunteers in all joined the event and talked with nearly all legislators or their staff about SB 80. 

UPDATE: SB 80 had a public hearing on 4/3.  Unfortunately, even though the testimony was overwhelmingly in support of this bill, Senator Golden said that this bill would not be moving forward this session. Instead, he said, they will try to work with the current rules to do more testing and remediation.....   This is a big disappointment for us on behalf of the people whose groundwater has been poisoned by factory farms and poor agricultural practices for decades!  

THREE GOOD WATER RIGHTS TRANSFER BILLS and TWO BAD BILLS. 

SB 427 - Protection of Stream Flows    COIN has ENDORSED this bill.

Oregon water law has a flaw that allows for the transfer of water rights without consideration as to what harm that transfer would have on stream flows and water quality. Many of our water laws were crafted in a time where there was little regard for environmental consequences. SB 427 is a very modest attempt to correct one loophole in those laws. It would help safeguard our streams when water transfers were considered and not allow any further degradation of our streams. 

Drought risk in our state, especially Eastern Oregon, is causing water shortage and lower stream flows. This is expected to continue. This legislation will insure we don’t add to those problems unnecessarily. We need to do all we can to protect the stream flows we have.

• COIN Worksheet

• Read COIN's testimony in support here.

• Oregon Water Partnership SB 427 Fact Sheet

Started in the Senate Committee On Natural Resources and Wildfire.

A public hearing was held on Feb 25. Watch the hearing here.

MOVEMENT ALERT! This bill was passed unanimously without recommendation by the Committee in an April 8 work session. You can watch the session here. The bill has been referred to the Rules Committee.

SB 1153  Water Rights Transfers Must Consider Effect on Listed Species and Water Quality     COIN has ENDORSED this bill.

Directs the Water Resources Department to consider whether certain water right transfers will result in a loss of in-stream habitat for sensitive, threatened or endangered aquatic species in stream reaches not protected by an existing water right or contribute to water quality impairment in water quality limited streams. 

• Here’s the COIN worksheet for SB 1153

• COIN Testimony in Support of HB 1153 by Patricia Kramer

Started in the Senate Committee On Natural Resources and Wildfire.

This bill had a public hearing scheduled for Tuesday March 25.  You can watch the hearing here. 

MOVEMENT ALERT! This bill was passed unanimously without recommendation in an April 8 work session. You can watch the session here. The bill has been referred to  the Rules Committee.

HB 3343 - Updating Devices to Measure/Monitor Water    COIN has ENDORSED this bill. Likely dead for this session.

Directs Oregon Water Resources Dept. to implement a water measure cost share program to fund and issue grants for up to 75 percent of the moneys needed to install, replace or substantially repair streamflow gauges, measuring devices, headgates with measuring devices or other water measurement infrastructure.    

The current situation in Oregon is that equipment for measuring and monitoring streamflow and water usage is inadequate. As many parts of our state face increasing drought conditions and water resources become more scarce, the importance of accurate data will be critical in ensuring that our water resources are protected for the immediate and distant future. 

• HB 3343 COIN Testimony

The bill is currently in the House Committee On Agriculture, Land Use, Natural Resources, and Water. 

The public hearing scheduled for 4/7 was cancelled.

HB 3501 - Water Rights Transfers without Environmental Protections   COIN OPPOSES this bill. 

This bill would prohibit the consideration of whether the proposed change will impair or be detrimental to the public in the evaluation of the following water right changes and transfer applications. It also makes the following changes to the application process for change of use, place of use, or point of diversion:

• Requires the Water Resources Director to approve or deny the proposed change within 120 after receiving a complete application unless an extension is requested by the applicant.

• Establishes a $10,000 fee for protest submissions by anyone other than the applicant or a landowner or holder of an instream water right within the same hydrologic basin as the water right in question.

• Limits the scope of the contested case hearing to determining whether the transfer would harm an existing water right. 

We think this bill is designed to protect the needs of irrigators over all other potential needs for water. Under current drought conditions, this just isn't reasonable or  sustainable.  The bill started in the House Committee On Agriculture, Land Use, Natural Resources, and Water.  Note that COIN is endorsing two bills related to water rights, SB 427 and SB 1153, both described above. 

HB 3501 had a public hearing on Mar 10. You can watch the hearing here. Read COIN's testimony in opposition plus individual testimony from COIN members Cheryl Conway, Debi Ferrer, Stacey Holeman, and Craig Lacey.

MOVEMENT ALERT! This bill was passed without recommendation by a vote of 6-3 at a work session on 4/7, with a referral to the Rules Committee. You can watch the session here. 

HB 3484 - Last Minute Stuff: Taxpayers Pay for Water Rights Applications    COIN OPPOSES this bill on procedural grounds as well as content. 

This bill required a  "study of rules related to water". A public hearing was held Monday 4/7 at 8:00 AM. At the last minute, the -9 amendment was filed Friday 4/4, after 6 PM. This gives zero business minutes notification before a potential vote. COIN adamantly opposes this amendment on procedural grounds. 

The amendment increasing funding for Oregon Water Resources Department (OWRD) by about $1.7 million to administer and process water rights applications.  COIN also opposes this amendment because it shifts more of the costs of water rights applications to taxpayers and away from those making water rights applications.

The bill started in the House Committee On Agriculture, Land Use, Natural Resources, and Water. 

A public hearing was held on this bill on  Monday April 7 at 8:00 AM. You can watch the public hearing here. 

MOVEMENT ALERT: This bill was reported out of Committee at an April 9 work session with a -9 amendment with a Do Pass recommendation by a vote of 9-0. The amendment provides funding for water rights transaction processing and adjudications. This bill is now in the Joint Ways and Means Committee. 

HB 3544 - Water Rights "Study" Bill with Proposed "Stuffing" Amendments  COIN OPPOSES this bill. 

This innocuous study bill is poised to be significantly amended to become a bill COIN opposes.  Like HB 3501 above, we think this bill is designed to protect the needs of irrigators over all other potential needs for water. HB 3544-2 would make it more difficult for non-applicants representing public interests to file, prepare and present their cases, which would be harmful to the public interest in management of Oregon’s water resources.

• HB 3544-2 proposes sweeping changes to a complex system that has evolved over many years to balance efficiency and due process rights, with significant potential for unintended consequences.

• HB 3544-2 would not solve the problem it is intended to address – i.e., the “backlog” of contested cases at WRD.

• Among the changes is requiring anyone who wants to protest a proposed water right has to pay a $950 protest fee.

Here is the COIN testimony opposing this bill. 

Originally assigned to the House Committee On Agriculture, Land Use, Natural Resources, and Water.

This bill had a public hearing Wednesday April 2. Watch the session here.

MOVEMENT ALERT! This bill was reported out with a -5 amendment at an April 9 work session with a Do Pass recommendation by a vote of 9-0. The -5 amendment does address some of the concerns relating to who can file a protest, more fairness in the adjudication including how exceptions to the litigation time frame can be granted, and the amount of the protest fees. You can watch the session here.  This bill is now in the Joint Ways and Means Committee. 

SB 1154  Modification of Groundwater Contamination Provisions    COIN is now WATCHING this bill.

Modifies provisions of law related to declarations of ground water quality concern areas and ground water management areas.  Is a coordinated approach to protecting ground water and those who must rely on it. Started in the Senate Committee On Natural Resources and Wildfire

• Oregon Physicians for Social Responsibility testimony in support.

• Read COIN testimony in support of SB 1154.

MOVEMENT ALERT!  Following a public hearing  and  during a work session on April 8, the Committee voted unanimously to pass the bill without recommendation and has moved to the Senate Rules Committee. The problem is that the Committee adopted a -1 amendment that weakens the bill. The amendment makes it more difficult to declare a ground water quality concern area and limits the interagency team's authority and accountability. It's not clear the bill would have much impact on improving water quality in concern areas or groundwater management areas.  View the proceedings here. 

HB 3114 - Chewaucan River Watershed Management    COIN ENDORSES this bill.

HB 3114 is focused on providing support for a collaborative process designed to improve management of water to benefit the Lake Abert ecosystem What You'll Find at Lake Abert - Oregon Natural Desert Association. The bill provides funding for and instructs Portland State University and Oregon State University to continue facilitating a process( Partnership for Lake Abert and the Chewaucan (PLACe) – Oregon Consensus) for all parties to deliberate on water management in the Chewaucan River watershed, including Lake Abert. It also directs the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife and the Water Resources Department to undertake activities to support the collaborative conversation underway, and to understand the status of the watershed’s natural resources by requiring the 2 departments to collect and analyze data and information relative to this watershed. 

The issue is important to biodiversity conservationists, birders, Saline Lake advocates, and citizens who generally support functional ecosystems for the health of the planet. This local stalemate has become a national issue for conservationists, so Oregon conservationists began holding the Governor’s Office feet to the fire. 

• COIN Worksheet for HB 3114

• COIN testimony in support of HB 3114

This bill started in the House Committee On Agriculture, Land Use, Natural Resources, and Water.

MOVEMENT ALERT!  HB 3114 had a public hearing Wednesday, Mar. 19 at 8:00AM.  View the session here. At the Mar 26 work session, the committee voted 9-0 to pass HB 3114 with the -4 amendment You can watch the session here. 

Now in the Joint Committee On Ways and Means

SB 5543 – Funding for the Oregon Water Resource Dept.   COIN ENDORSES this bill.

This bill provides a variety of funding provisions for the Oregon Water Resource Department, some good , some bad. Good: Maintains OWRD’s current funding levels to provide services.  Package 107 would provide funding to modernize the IT systems. Package 111 would ensure the agency website is up to date and more accessible. Bad: The department does not have enough funding to properly collect data and manage the resource. Package 090 would reduce funding for data collection and services . We are opposed to this provision. 

• COIN Worksheet for SB 5543

The bill is currently in the Joint Committee On Ways and Means Subcommittee On Natural Resources.  

The bill has had two informational sessions and you can watch the recordings here for Feb 18 and here for Feb 19. There was also a public hearing on Feb 20 and you can watch that here.  Testimony was mostly in support of SB 5543. 

HB 3814 A - Water Quality Standard Exemption for Seafood Processors   COIN OPPOSES this bill.

This bill would prohibits the Environmental Quality Commission and Department of Environmental Quality from requiring seafood processors to meet water quality or purity standards for bacteria in effluent discharges associated with fecal sources. We can't understand why this would even be considered!  The -1 amendment looks like an attempted compromise, but it's not much better, allowing water quality standards for seafood processors a mixing zone before quality is measured. In other words, instead of measuring the effluent from the plant, the effluent is measured somewhere downstream, after it has been diluted by streamflow. It's a BIG NO for us and for our environment. 

Started in the House Committee on Climate, Energy, and Environment. 

The -3 amendment would allow a mixing zone but it must "not adversely affect public health. The department’s determination must be based on a review of information that clearly demonstrates that the mixing zone would not adversely affect public health. "

• COIN testimony opposing HB 3814

This bill had a public hearing on 3/20 (watch the recorded hearing here). The committee voted 11-1 to move HB 3814 with the -3 amendment and a Do pass recommendation on April 1. Unfortunately, this is not an April Fool's joke. Watch the work session here. COIN thanks Rep. Gamba for his opposition on this vote.

CHAMBER PASSAGE:  The House voted 51-0 (with 9 absent) to pass this bill. Now in the Senate Committee On Natural Resources and Wildfire.

MOVEMENT ALERT: This bill had a public hearing on 4/22. You can watch the proceedings here. It also had a work session on 4/24 and the committee voted 5-0 to adopt a -5 amendment and move it out of committee with a Do Pass recommendation. Next it will likely go to the Senate floor for a vote. 

SB 747 - Reporting Fertilizer Use on Ag Land  
COIN ENDORSESD this bill but it didn't get a work session scheduled by the 3/21 deadline so it's likely dead for 2025.

Requires those who own 200+ irrigated agricultural land to report the type and quantity of fertilizer applied to fields to help monitor over-application of fertilizer that contaminates surface and groundwater with nitrates. 

• Here is the COIN Worksheet.

The bill is the Senate Committee on Natural Resources and  Wildfire. 

A hearing was held on Feb 4.  Watch the hearing here.  You can read testimony here. 

See links below to COIN testimony, worksheets and one-pagers on each bill for more info. 

After an April 8 work session, all of the bills except HB 2151 have now been reported out of the House Committee on  Emergency Management, General Government, and Veterans. HB 2151 remains in Committee.

• Testimony submitted by Alan Journet on behalf of Southern Oregon Climate Action Now (SOCAN) for all four bills.

• Testimony submitted by Pauletter Wittwer and Debi Ferrer on behalf of COIN for all four bills.

ACTION ALERT!  Please contact your state Rep and Senator with a short, but pointed message: 

The dangers of the CEI Hub will not go away without purposeful state action. We need to move forward on this now, before disaster strikes. Please urge leadership to assign the CEI Hub bills -- HB 3450, HB 2949, HB 2152 -- to a Ways & Means sub-committee. 

HB 3450 - CEI Hub Transition Plan   COIN ENDORSES this bill.
It directs the Department of Energy (DOE) to work with all stakeholders to develop an energy storage transition plan for the Critical Energy Infrastructure Hub (CEI Hub). The CEI Hub includes generally all bulk oils or liquid fuel terminals located on the west bank of the Willamette River in Portland. An energy storage transition plan must contain short, medium, and long-term goals for the CEI Hub that ensures the energy resilience of Oregon's energy sector and allow the state to guide its energy future.  

• COIN Worksheet for HB 3450

• HB 3450 one-pager

A public hearing for HB 3450 was held Feb 27. You can watch the hearing here.

MOVEMENT ALERT! The bill was reported out with amendment -1 with a Do Pass recommendation by a vote of 4-3 at the April 8 work session. Watch the session here.
Now in the Joint Committee On Ways and Means.

HB 2949 - Risk Bond Requirements for bulk fuel storage facilities     COIN ENDORSES this bill.
This bill originally required a study into requiring a risk bond to make sure the facility has funds for clean up in the event of a disaster. However, the -5 amendment that was adopted strengthens this bill and makes it a regulatory bill, rather than just a study bill.  The amendment allows DEQ to fine, suspend or close down operations for non-compliance, and gives local governments and community members a combined 2/3 representation on the rule-making advisory committee  We like this even better than the original bill.  

• COIN Worksheet for HB 2949

• Coalition's HB 2949 Amendment Request

• HB 2949 one-pager

A public hearing for HB 2949 was held Mar 6. You can watch the hearing here.

MOVEMENT ALERT! The bill was reported out with a Do Pass recommendation by a vote of 7-0 at the April 8 work session. Watch the session here.  Now in the Joint Committee On Ways and Means.

HB 2152 - Disaster Fuel Reserves   COIN ENDORSES this bill.
This bill calls on ODOE to develop and implement a plan to increase geographic distribution of disaster response fuels by region; prioritize list of locations for expanded or new fuel storage, consider negative community and environmental impacts, and consider potential for declining reliance on fossil fuels.  

• COIN Worksheet for HB 2152

• HB 2152 one-pager

A public hearing was held on Feb 27 for HB 2152. You can watch the hearing here.

MOVEMENT ALERT!  The bill was reported out with a Do Pass recommendation by a vote of 4-3 at the April 8 work session. The -1 amendment expands the list of required stakeholders to be consulted to include federally recognized tribes and labor.  Watch the session here. Now in the Joint Committee On Ways and Means.

HB 2151 - Risk Mitigation Fund    COIN ENDORSES this bill, but it will not move forward this year.
This bill would allow additional ways that moneys in the previously approved Seismic Risk Mitigation Fund can be spent.  COIN Worksheet for HB 2151

A public hearing was held on Feb 27 for HB 2151. You can watch the hearing here.
A second public hearing was held on Mar 6 for HB 2151. You can watch the hearing here.

HB 3081  One-Stop-Shop Energy Incentives COIN ENDORSES this bill.

Requires the State Department of Energy to coordinate with other organizations, conduct outreach, establish a statewide navigation and support system and provide information in multiple languages, as part of the department's single resource for providing information and assistance related to available energy efficiency incentives and programs. This bill enhances the one-stop-shop for the public to learn about energy incentives.

• COIN HB 3081 Worksheet

The bill was initially assigned to the House Committee On Climate, Energy, and Environment.

There was a public hearing Tuesday Mar 4 at 8:00 AM. Watch the session here. 

MOVEMENT ALERT! A work session was held on this bill on April 8, and it was reported out with the -1 amendment with a do pass by a vote of 12-0. You can watch the session here.  Now in the Joint Committee On Ways and Means.

HB 2200 / SB 681 - The Pause Act is a continuing effort to reduce state investments in fossil fuels.
COIN ENDORSES both bills.

The PAUSE Act, a bill, introduced by Oregon State Treasurer Elizabeth Steiner, directs the Oregon Investment Council (OIC) and the State Treasurer to reduce the carbon intensity of state investments and address investment risks related to climate change. The Act would place a 5 year moratorium on the State Treasurer from making any new or renewed private market fund or PERS investments in fossil fuels, subject to fiduciary duties. 

HB 2200 is currently in the House Committee on Emergency Management, General Government, and Veterans.  SB681 is in the Senate Committee on Finance and Revenue.

COIN has joined the many groups in coalition with Divest Oregon in support of the Pause Act.

• Here is a fact sheet on the PAUSE Act from Divest Oregon.

• Divest Oregon Detailed Briefing Video

• Divest Oregon Short Video 

• HB 2200/SB 681 Worksheet 

• Prioritizing Climate Goals OPB discusses HB 2200

• Treasurer Steiner Calls for Passage of the PAUSE Act   UPDATE: Advocate 3.21.25  Steiner pushes HB 2200 instead

• COIN testimony in support of SB 681

• Personal Testimony from COIN member Rebecca Orf

A public hearing for HB 2200 was held on Jan 28. Watch the recording here. A second public hearing was held for HB 2200 for Thursday March 13 at 1:00 PM for testimony on the -1 amendment. You can watch the hearing here. 

SB 681 had a public hearing on Wednesday March 19. You can watch the hearing here. Our friends at Divest Oregon tell us that, unfortunately, SB 681 probably won't go any farther this session, so we'll be working to make sure HB 2200 is as strong as it can be. 

MOVEMENT ALERT! A work session was held on April 8, and HB 2200 was reported out with the -1 amendment. There is no moratorium on investments in fossil fuels. But the -1 amendment is clear that consistent with their fiduciary and contractual obligations, the Oregon Investment Council and Treasurer must pursue the goal of reducing the carbon intensity of the Public Employees Retirement Fund (PERS), analyze and manage the risks of climate change to the Fund, analyze how the integration of climate change analysis will help overall portfolio return objectives. The amended bill requires progress reports to the legislature and also holds the OIC and  Treasurer harmless for any claims and damages that may result. You can watch the session here. 

The prior referral to the Joint Committee on Ways and Means was rescinded and the bill moves to the floor for a vote by the House. 

HB 3179 - The FAIR Energy Act      COIN ENDORSES this bill. 

Directs the Public Utility Commission to consider the cumulative economic impact of a proposed rate or schedule of rates on a public utility's ratepayers if the proposed rate or schedule of rates will result in an increase of the public utility's revenue in this state by 2.5 percent or more. The FAIR Energy Act will better protect Oregon households from rising energy bills. 

• COIN Worksheet for HB 3179

• Fair Energy one-page flyer

• CUB Fair Energy Blog

• Testimony guide for individuals

• Testimony guide for organizations

• Oregon Capital Chronicle article 2-21-25

Started in the House Committee On Commerce and Consumer Protection

The first hearing was held on Feb 20. Watch that session here. A second public hearing for HB 3179 was held on Feb 25.  Watch the recording here.  

MOVEMENT ALERT: The Fair Energy Act had a work session on 4/3. The committee voted 8-1 to move the bill without recommendation as to passage to the Rules Committee. You can watch the session here. 

SB 92 - Community Solar Projects    COIN ENDORSES THIS BILL, but it will not move forward this year. 

The bill increases opportunities for community solar projects to interconnect with electric companies subject to regulation by the Oregon Public Utility Commission. It sets a cap on total generating capacity of all community solar projects to 4.5% of the utility's system peak in 2026 and increases that by 2% per year up to 14.5% in 2031. Currently the cap is lower, so this is an improvement.  Among other things, this bill will also decrease delays in community solar project completion, increase flexibility allowed for projects, and incentivize battery storage for community resilience. 

• COIN Worksheet

• Testimony submitted by Southern Oregon Climate Action Network

The bill is currently in the Senate Committee On Energy and Environment. 

A public hearing was held Wednesday Feb 26. You can watch the hearing here.  A work session was held on April 7 and a 2nd work session was held on April 9. You can watch the session here.

HB 3546 A - The Power Act      COIN ENDORSES this bill with recommendations.

The Power Act aims to hold large energy users, such as data centers, cryptocurrency, and other big tech companies, responsible for paying for their own energy needs. New data centers and other massive energy users are placing a strain on the region’s power system, driving up the costs for everyone, and create additional pressures for the expansion of environmentally damaging fossil fuel and nuclear power plants, as well as new hazardous “natural gas” pipelines. It will require the Oregon Public Utility Commission to create new policies for Oregon’s investor-owned utilities (IOU’s) that require them to identify the costs that these massive energy users are adding to the system – and make them pay their fair share.  It will also require these large users (consuming 20 MW or more) to sign contracts for at least 10 years to enhance the likelihood a that the expensive infrastructure upgrades are worthwhile. 

While we appreciate the intentions of this bill, it's our understanding that there is nothing in this bill that PUC cannot do already, but PUC hasn’t taken this step, the legislature is stepping in. A potentially big disadvantage of this bill is it doesn’t guarantee the data centers would pay higher transmission or distribution rates. 

• COIN Worksheet for HB 3546

• The Power Act one-pager

• OPB 3.6.25 HB 3546 article

• COIN testimony in support of HB 3546

HB 3546 is currently in the House Committee On Climate, Energy, and Environment. 

HB 3546 was given a public hearing Thursday Mar. 6. You can watch the hearing here.

MOVEMENT ALERT! A work session was held on this bill on April 8, and the bill was reported out with the -3 amendment with a do pass by a vote of 11-1. The -3 amendment proposed by Rep. Marsh requires that retail energy customers that are large energy users have their own tariff schedule and requires reports to be submitted about trends in load requirements and other issues relating to retail customers that use large amounts of electricity. You can watch the session here.  

SUCCESS! The House passed HB 3546 with a 41-16 vote Tuesday April 22. The Power Act moved to the Senate and is now in the Senate Committee on Energy and Environment.

HB 3628   Creates Oregon Electric Transmission Authority  COIN ENDORSES this bill, but it will not move forward this year.

Among other things, this bill would establish the Oregon Electric Transmission Authority (OETA) as an independent public corporation, to support the expansion of electric transmission capacity in this state by financing, developing, constructing, upgrading, owning and operating electric transmission infrastructure. Currently (no pun intended), electricity transmission planning applicable to Oregon is done mostly by the Bonneville Power Administration and the privately-owned utilities (PGE and PP&L). All of them have transmission lines in Oregon and elsewhere, although BPA has by far the most. The OETA would apparently build transmission lines thought to be needed, where BPA and the privately-owned utilities are not doing so.  We think it's a good idea for an Oregon public entity to have control over expanding this infrastructure, especially with the BPA under Trump's control. 

• COIN Worksheet for HB 3628

• HB 3628 Fact Sheet

Currently in the House Committee On Climate, Energy, and Environment.

A public hearing was held on Feb 25. You can watch the recording here and read testimony by COIN member Alan Journet and OLCV. 

HB 3336 - Grid Enhancement Technologies      COIN ENDORSES this bill.

This bill requires Oregon’s investor-owned utilities (IOUs) to evaluate the costs of using “grid enhancement technologies” (GETs) as alternatives to traditional approaches for expanding power grid capacity - developing new transmission lines. It also requires the IOUs to file with the Oregon PUC a plan to use GETs when they are the more cost-effective and efficient option. It does not mandate that the utilities adopt GETs; it simply requires that they do a full evaluation and use them when it turns out they are the best and cheapest option. GETs are hardware and software solutions that can be deployed to the existing grid that make it “smarter” and increase capacity, flexibility, and resiliency. The most common GETs are dynamic line ratings (DLRs), advanced power flow controls, and topology optimization. Additional GETs are emerging.  The combination of devices provides near real-time data on how the grid is performing, helps reroute power to underutilized circuits, and supports changing grid topologies—all of which provide grid operators and planners with a tool to effectively manage the grid and effectively integrate more renewables into it. 

New transmission lines will be required too, but it takes many years to get new transmission lines built. In contrast, GETs can often help increase the capacity, resiliency, and safety of the existing grid in a faster and cheaper way. Europe is way ahead of the US on GET development and deployment. Many utilities in the US are “dragging their feet”.

• Here’s the Worksheet for HB 3336 

Initially assigned to the House Committee On Climate, Energy, and Environment.

This bill had a public hearing on 2/25. You can watch it here. The committee voted 10-2 to move HB 3336 with a Do pass recommendation April 1.  You can watch the session here.  

SUCCESS!  The House voted 41-13 to pass this bill. The bill is now in the Senate and is assigned to the Senate Committee On Energy and Environment.

SB 1102 - Toughens Existing Greenhouse Gas Emission Reduction Requirements  COIN ENDORSES this bill, but it will not move forward this year.

Requires the State Department of Energy to "study" energy. The proposed -2 amend significantly changes SB 1102.

-2 Authorizes Public Utility Commission, effective January 1, 2026, to impose a penalty in an amount determined to deter noncompliance on any electric company that fails to show compliance or does not demonstrate continual improvement to reduce greenhouse gas emissions associated with electricity sold. 

• Establishes an additional benchmark requirement for retail electricity providers to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 50 percent below baseline emissions by 2028. 

• Requires clean energy plan to include historical data for at least the three most recent years on greenhouse gas emissions by fuel source. 

• Establishes that demonstrating continual progress is shown by procuring sufficient non-emitting energy resources to meet clean energy targets; and having no more than 20 percent variance in emissions in any given year from the straight line progression in emissions reductions as determined using the September 25, 2021, level as the baseline emissions level and continuing through each of the required time periods.

Supported by Oregon Solar + Storage Industries Association (OSSIA). 

The bill is currently in the Senate Committee On Energy and Environment. 

A public hearing was held on April 2. View the proceedings here. 

SB 685 A  Requires Notification for Hydrogen Blending into Residential Natural Gas Lines    COIN ENDORSES this bill.

This bill would require natural gas utilities to provide minimal public notice to customers when hydrogen blending is introduced into residential natural gas heating pipes. The base bill required pre-approval by customers; however, the -1 amendment removed the pre-approval feature and requires only advance public notice. Specifically, the bill requires that the natural gas utility company provide: 1) notification to the PUC prior to blending, with information on safety, 2) advance notice to affected customers and 3) notification of local fire and health departments for purposes of potential emergency preparedness.

• Here is the worksheet on this bill. 

This bill has had two public hearings. You can watch them here:  Feb 10 hearing   Feb 12 hearing
You can read testimony in support of this bill by COIN members  Alan Journet and  Dan Meek. 

MOVEMENT ALERT! This bill was reported out with a do pass recommendation by a vote of 4-1 with a -4 amendment in an April 9 work session. You can watch the session here.

SUCCESS!  The Senate voted 20-9 to pass this bill. The bill is now assigned to the House Committee On Climate, Energy, and Environment.

SB 88  Protects Ratepayers from Utility Rate Increases Due to Certain Expenses.   COIN ENDORSES this bill.

This bill would prohibit an electric or gas company (utility) from recovering costs or expenses incurred by a utility from ratepayers that are associated with 

• payments to a trade association that uses any portion of payments to advertise or support a political influence activity, contributions to political candidates or parties, etc. 

• charitable giving or advertising;

• compensation to a person to influence a decision by a federal, state or local government official;  

• litigation over an existing or proposed federal, state or local legislation, regulation or ordinance, as well as penalties or fines, and the utility's cost of putting on rate cases, including expert witnesses;

• travel, lodging, entertainment or food and beverage for a board member or officer, aircraft owned, leased or chartered for a board member or officer, compensation above 50 percent of the annual total compensation or expense reimbursement for board member;

• investor relations, and several other types of expenses, including preparation of the report required by Act. 

We like this bill, but it could be better. It could disallow charging ratepayers for CEO salaries that now top $6 million per year each.  

• COIN SB 88 Worksheet

• OPB 3.4.25 article on SB 88

The bill started in the Senate Committee On Energy and Environment. 

Originally in the Senate Committee On Energy and Environment.

A public hearing was held for this bill on Mar 3. You can watch the recording here.  Check out testimony submitted in support of this bill by COIN members, Dan Meek, Alan Journet, and Craig Lacey. 

MOVEMENT ALERT!  This bill was voted out of committee 5-0 without recommendation as to passage, with request to rescind referral to Judiciary and is now in the Senate Committee On Rules.  You can watch the session here.  Contact committee members and urge them to pass this bill out of committee and keep it moving forward, to protect ratepayers from rate hikes for unnecessary non-service related expenditures by utility companies.

HB 3747 - Tax Credit for Battery Storage and Photovoltaic Systems   COIN ENDORSES this bill.

HB 3747 establishes a refundable income tax credit for the purchase of battery energy storage systems and solar photovoltaic electric systems. The bill would make the income tax credit refundable so if those who don’t have state income tax liability can still get money back. This makes it a rebate for those folks.

• COIN testimony in support of HB 3747      

This bill had a public hearing on Mar 20. You can view the recorded hearing here. 

MOVEMENT ALERT: This bill had a work session on 4/3. The committee voted 11-1 with a Do Pass recommendation. Next it moves to the House Committee On Revenue. Watch the work session here. 

SB 1160 - Updating Cost-Benefit Analysis for Renewable Energy     COIN ENDORSES this bill.

"The Department of Energy shall conduct a study to carry out a cost-benefit analysis on deploying renewable energy projects in this state. In collecting data for the study and drafting the report, DOE shall balance the public interest in information and the proprietary interests of owners and operators of renewable energy projects and utility service providers."  The Oregon Solar and Storage Industries Association, a coalition, is supporting this bill because the utilities are using very old, outdated cost analyses that show solar/wind are more expensive. The industry would like a new cost analysis. 

The bill started in the Senate Committee On Energy and Environment.

A public hearing was held Wednesday Feb 26. You can watch the hearing here.

MOVEMENT ALERT: This bill had a work session 4/2. The committee voted 5-0 with a Do Pass recommendation and referred the bill to the Joint Ways and Means Committee. You can watch the session here.

SB 1178   Increasing Small Scale Renewable Energy Facilities    COIN ENDORSES this bill, but it will not move forward this year.

This bill establishes that the existing requirement that 10 percent of the electricity sold in this state by each electric company that makes sales to 25,000 or more retail electricity consumers to be generated by small-scale renewable energy facilities or certain biomass facilities must be owned by a person that is not an electric company. Requires electric companies to make best efforts to continually increase the annual percentage of electricity sold that is generated by small-scale renewable energy facilities until 2030.  This bill also clarifies the language of the existing statute, which literally does not require that any utility meet the 10% requirement. It specifies that the 10% requirement cannot be met by facilities owned by an electric company (which means privately-owned utility). We don't like the inclusion of biomass facilities in this bill, but according to the bill sponsors, biomass facilities are already considered in Oregon law to be "renewable" though they are NOT climate-friendly. However, given that the intent of this bill is to diversify and decentralize our clean energy production, COIN is supporting it. The bill is currently in the Senate Committee On Energy and Environment.

• COIN testimony in support of SB 1178

A public hearing was held on 3/24. You can view the recorded hearing here.  

SB 886  Prioritizes Applications for Renewable Energy Facilities    COIN ENDORSES this bill.

Directs the Department of Transportation or county authorities to prioritize applications for renewable energy facilities and lines, facilities or systems for transmitting electricity from renewable energy facilities when reviewing or granting applications to place, build or construct on the right of way of a state highway or county road. This bill will help speed up the process of bringing more renewable energy online.  Currently in the Joint Committee On Transportation.

• Dan Meek SB 886 Testimony

The public hearing scheduled for Tuesday April 1 at 5:00 PM has been canceled. 

Nuclear Energy bills - COIN OPPOSES all of these bills. 

Several bills were introduced this session that would repeal or establish exemptions for the use of nuclear power, particularly small module nuclear reactors to power new data centers, AI development, and cryptocurrency.  The good news is that most of them did not make it out of committee by the March 21 deadline and so they are dead for 2025.  

However, four nuclear bills have been scheduled for work sessions and possible votes in committee.  Here are two Action Alerts related to these four bills. You can read about the bills below the action alerts.  

GOOD NEWS!  SB 215 and SB 216 were both been scheduled for possible work sessions on Wednesday April 9 at 3:00 PM. As of Tuesday evening, they were taken off the agenda with no explanation. Perhaps an explanation was given at the work session which can be viewed here. 

 SB 215 - Repeals the 1980 Ballot Measure Law that required a federally licensed permanent disposal facility for nuclear waste and voter approval of any nuclear power plant certification. This bill would then refer the repeal to voters to approve or reject in the next general election on November 3, 2026. In the Senate Committee On Energy and Environment.

• COIN testimony in opposition to SB 215

• Testimony in opposition from Oregon Physicians for Social Responsibility

SB 216 Repeals the 1980 Ballot Measure Law outright without referral to voters. In the Senate Committee On Energy and Environment.

• COIN testimony in opposition to SB 216

• Testimony in opposition from the Oregon Progressive Party

HB 2038 Directs the Oregon Department of Energy (ODOE)  to  study the "advantages" of nuclear  energy - but not the disadvantages - and  to give  a  report  on  its  findings to the Legislature. This bill was initially assigned to the House Committee on Climate, Energy, and Environment.

• COIN testimony in opposition to HB 2038

• Testimony submitted in opposition by Southern Oregon Climate Action Network

MOVEMENT ALERT:  At an April 8 work session, the Committee reported out the bill with a do pass recommendation by a vote of 11-1 with a -3 amendment that does include study of the disadvantages of nuclear energy, including comparison with other energy sources, risks to health, feasibility, reliability, ability to store and dispose nuclear energy safely and the costs, and other challenges. In developing the study, the department is directed to work with the tribes. Rep. Neron was the only Democrat to vote no. The work session can be viewed here.  COIN still opposes this bill as a study is not necessary. This information is already available in many other studies. The bill is now in the Joint Committee on Ways and Means. 

HB 2410 A Allows the Energy Facility Siting Council to issue a site certificate for a small modular reactor energy facility demonstration project in Umatilla County with the approval of Umatilla County voters but not all Oregon voters as required by the 1980 Ballot Measure Law. It is simply a clever exemption to the 1980 Ballot Measure Law. Also, a site certificate for such a project could be for an unknown number of small modular nuclear reactors that could operate independent from the grid. Private parties interested in the development of data centers, AI development, and cryptocurrency would likely provide substantial investment in SMNRs. This bill was initially assigned to the House Committee on Climate, Energy, and Environment.

MOVEMENT ALERT: This bill was reported out at an April 8 work session with the -2 amendment with a do pass recommendation by a vote of 8-4. The -2 amendment requires the Energy Facility Siting Council to consult with the tribes. The amendment also states the EFSC is not required to pursue agreements with the US Dept. of Energy or Nuclear Regulatory Commission for waste disposal. The work session can be viewed here. This bill is now in the Joint Committee on Ways and Means. 

• COIN testimony in opposition to HB 2410

• Testimony submitted in opposition on behalf of Southern Oregon Climate Action Network

ACTION ALERT! Contact Democrats on the Joint Ways and Means Committee and urge them to NOT fund or move this bill forward.  Click HERE for a sample script that you can copy and paste and edit, along with a list of the committee members' email addresses which can be copied and pasted into your email address bar.  

Additional Resources:

• Nuclear Bills Worksheet 

• Will AI Energy Needs Bring Back Nuclear? Cal Matters news article discusses the recent push for more nuclear reactors

• Stop Nuclear WorkGroup Feb. 13 Zoom Recording 

• Stop Nuclear WorkGroup Feb. 13 Slides

The following nuclear bills did not get assigned work sessions by the March 21 deadline and so most likely are considered dead for 2025.

HB 3565 Allows the siting and operation of a small modular reactor energy facility without requiring that there be a licensed repository for the disposal of high-level radioactive waste or that the proposed site certificate for the small modular reactor energy facility be submitted to the electors of this state for their approval or rejection. In other words, this essentially overrides the 1980 Ballot Measure Law as well. 

SB 635 Directs Oregon State University, original developer of NuScale's Small Modular Nuclear Reactor (SMNR) design,  to conduct a feasibility study on nuclear energy generation in Oregon. The bill does not identify who actually pays for the study and requires OSU to submit its report to the Legislature. Note that this is NOT an impartial study as OSU has an inherent conflict of interest as the original developer and proponent of the NuScale's Small Modular Nuclear Reactor (SMNR) design. OSU owns an interest in NuScale. 

HB 2426 Repeals the 1980 Ballot Measure Law that required a federally licensed permanent disposal facility for nuclear waste and voter approval of any nuclear power plant certification.

SB 994,   SB 995,   SB 996,   SB 997,   HB 3565  - Several more GOP pro-nuclear energy bills, all variations on the same theme as those described above, all seeking to overturn at least part of the 1980 Ballot Measure 7 passed by voters to ban nuclear power in Oregon unless there is a federally licensed repository for the radioactive waste and unless the voters approve it through another ballot measure. 

SB 688  Performance-Based Regulations for Electric Utilities  
COIN endorses this bill as originally proposed but OPPOSES the -5 amendment.

SB 688 directs the Public Utility Commission (PUC) to adopt, not later than January 2, 2027, a framework for carrying out performance-based regulation of electric utilities.  COIN endorsed this idea, but then the sponsors introduced the -5 amendment, which makes the entire exercise voluntary on the part of the PUC. The PUC could do this under existing law but has not. The point of the bill was to make performance-based regulations mandatory, so the bill has no point with the -5 amendment.  

MOVEMENT ALERT!  The Senate Committee On Energy and Environment held a work session on 3/24 and with a 4-1 vote sent the bill forward on a Do Pass with a -5 amendment.  

The bill is now in the Joint Committee On Ways and Means.

SB 927 - Tax credit for transmission services  COIN opposes this bill as originally proposed but recommends an amendment.

This bill would create an income or corporate excise tax credit for the amount paid by an owner of an eligible generation facility for transmission services. Eligible facilities are supposedly only wind or solar power plants or a facility that "provides energy storage." However, as currently written, the tax credit could be claimed by a fossil-fuel or nuclear power plant, if the plant includes any energy storage capacity. Note that the amount of the tax credit could be huge, covering 600 MW of nameplate capacity per facility.  We believe this bill needs to be amended to make it clear that it applies only to wind or solar power plants or energy storage facilities that do not also include fossil-fuel or nuclear generation. 

This bill is currently in the Senate Committee On Finance and Revenue. 

A public hearing was held on Wednesday April 23. You can watch the proceedings here.

SB 1143 - Thermal Energy Pilot Program for Natural Gas Companies    COIN OPPOSES this bill.

This misguided bill directs the Public Utility Commission to establish a pilot program that allows each natural gas company to develop a utility-scale thermal energy network pilot project to provide heating and cooling services to customers. A thermal energy network is like a district heating system. But requiring the PUC to authorize the gas utilities to implement a "utility-scale thermal energy network" just means that the utility gets to charge the cost of it to all ratepayers. There is nothing stopping a gas utility or any other business from building such networks on their own, without ratepayer subsidies and without helping the utility gain a monopoly on such services.

• COIN Testimony opposing SB 1143

Started in the Senate Committee On Energy and Environment.

This bill had a public hearing on 3/19 (watch it here) and 

MOVEMENT ALERT! A work session was held on 4/7. The bill was reported out with a do pass recommendation by a vote of 4-1 with the -3 amendment that establishes labor requirements for the pilot projects. Only  Sen. Robinson voted no. You can watch the session here.  The bill is now in the Joint Committee On Ways and Means.

SB 47 A - Eliminates "Obsolete" Public Entities  COIN is WATCHING this bill.

SB 47 supposedly eliminates obsolete public entities.  Among those it eliminates is Oregon Community Power, which is a statewide publicly-owned utility legal structure that the Oregon Legislature created in 2003 to buy PGE from Enron.  That sale did not happen. The SMS states:  "OCP is a publicly owned utility with a mission to provide reliable, low-cost electricity to consumers. It is regulated by the Public Utility Commission and is governed by a board of seven directors, appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Senate." This existing hard-won structure should not be destroyed as it offers future opportunities for a statewide publicly-owned utility to acquire assets and begin operating. For example, it could be used to buy the PacifiCorp system, if that utility goes bankrupt or otherwise wants out of Oregon.

To be eliminated:

• TASK FORCE ON RESOLUTION OF ADVERSE HEALTH CARE INCIDENTS

• POISON PREVENTION TASK FORCE

• JOBS PLUS ADVISORY BOARD

• EMPLOYEE SUGGESTION AWARDS COMMISSION

• FAMILY SERVICES REVIEW COMMISSION

• MENTAL HEALTH ADVISORY BOARD AND DISABILITY ISSUES ADVISORY COMMITTEE

Started in the Senate Committee On Rules. 

Read Dan Meek's testimony on behalf of COIN in opposition to SB 47.

A public hearing for SB 47 was held Feb 17. Watch the session here.   During the Apr 1 work session, the committee adopted the -2 amendment to remove all mention of OCP from the bill and moved SB 47 forward with a 5-0 vote.  We have, for now changed our opposition of this bill to "watching." as our major concern has been removed. You can watch the work session here. 

MOVEMENT ALERT! The senate voted 27-0 to pass this bill, with 3 senators excused. The bill is now in the House and assigned to the House Rules Committee.

SB 1034  Changes policy for Energy Facility Siting Council  COIN ENDORSES this bill.

This bill would allow the Energy Facility Siting Council (EFSC) to approve siting of an energy facility that is not in compliance with local government land use plans and regulations, if doing so is recommended by a Special Advisory Group. EFSC itself appoints the group under existing law: "The council may establish such special advisory groups as are considered necessary. Such advisory groups shall include membership as determined by the council to represent interests and disciplines as needed to carry out the responsibility assigned to such advisory groups, which shall report findings, recommendations and decisions to the council."  This bill prevents local regulations from usurping statewide EFSC regulations. Started in the Senate Committee On Energy and Environment.

Dan Meek SB 1034 Testimony

This bill had a public hearing on 3/31. You can watch the hearing here.  

MOVEMENT ALERT: At an April 9 work session, the bill was reported out with a do pass recommendation by a vote of 5-0 with a referral to the Senate Rules Committee. You can watch the work session here.  

SB 634 - Hydroelectricity and Renewable Portfolio Standards   COIN OPPOSES this bill.

It didn't get a work session scheduled by the 3/21 deadline so it's likely dead for 2025.

SB 634 Specifies that electricity generated by a hydroelectric facility or other equipment that generates electricity through use of hydroelectric energy may be used to comply with a renewable portfolio standard. Currently, hydroelectric facilities built before 1995 are NOT considered to be renewable resources for the purpose of meeting goals. This bill would allow their inclusion. By including older, environmentally harmful hydroelectric facilities as a qualifying technology, SB 634 would enshrine the damaging effects of those facilities into law, dilute the value of the Renewable Energy Credits which are the foundation of the existing renewable electricity laws, and disincentivize the construction and acquisition of future renewable resources. Utilities could deem vast quantities of old hydropower as "renewable," thus satisfying the requirements by doing nothing.  It's a scientifically unsound bill and we urge our legislators to let it die in committee. 

This bill had a public hearing in the Senate Committee On Energy and Environment  on 3/17 but has not yet been scheduled for a work session.  You can view the hearing here. Since this bill did not get assigned a work session by the March 21 deadline it most likely is considered dead for 2025.

HB 2656 - Prohibits Limits on Solar Net Metering     
COIN ENDORSESD this bill but it didn't get a work session scheduled by the 3/21 deadline so it's likely dead for 2025.

Prohibits the Public Utility Commission, municipal electric utilities, electric cooperatives and people's utility districts from setting a maximum amount of cumulative generating capacity for solar net metering systems that is allowed to be interconnected.  This is primarily aimed at prohibiting utilities from limiting use of rooftop solar cells.

COIN Worksheet

Currently in the House Committee on Climate, Energy, and Environment. 

A public hearing for HB 2656 was held Tuesday Feb 18. Watch the session here. Read the testimony here. 

SB 497 - Prohibits Energy Efficient Construction Codes   
COIN OPPOSED this bill but it didn't get a work session scheduled by the 3/21 deadline so it's likely dead for 2025.

Prohibits a municipality from adopting energy efficient construction standards or methods from the Reach or similar Code of standards and methods that are higher or more stringent than statewide standards and methods in effect under the Dept. of Consumer and Business Services. The bill is currently in the Senate Committee on Labor and Business. 

• COIN Worksheet for SB 497

SB 969 -  Energy Facility Siting on Federal Land   
COIN OPPOSED this bill but it didn't get a work session scheduled by the 3/21 deadline so it's likely dead for 2025.

This bill would prohibit the Oregon Energy Facility Siting Council from exercising jurisdiction over renewable energy facilities or transmission line on federal lands. We see no reason for Oregon to abandon its jurisdiction over such projects, particularly since the Trump administration has recently scrapped federal NEPA regulations — rules that since 1977 have told federal agencies how to analyze the effects of building roads and energy facilities.  While we support renewable energy, we recognize that improper siting can have negative environmental impacts. Some oversight is needed at the state level. 

• COIN Worksheet for SB 969

Currently in the Senate Committee On Energy and Environment   

SB 969 had a hearing on Feb 26. You can watch it here.  You can read testimony from COIN member Dan Meek here and from Columbia Riverkeepers here. 

HB 3247  Restrictions on the Retirement of Power Facilities
COIN OPPOSED this bill but it didn't get a work session scheduled by the 3/21 deadline so it's likely dead for 2025.

Requires an electric company to first acquire a replacement resource of reliable or dispatchable electricity prior to retiring an electric power generating facility that provides reliable or dispatchable electricity.   Under this bill, it would be hard to close old fossil-fuel power generating facilities without first building new fossil-fuel power generating facilities to replace them.

See Dan Meek's Opposition Testimony

Currently in the House Committee On Climate, Energy, and Environment.

This bill had a public hearing on Feb 26. You can watch it here.  Read testimony opposing this bill from COIN members Alan Journet and Dan Meek. 

HB 2980 - Protecting urban wildlife and supporting wildlife rehabilitation centers

COIN ENDORSES this bill.

This bill establishes a Wildlife Stewardship Program that would include an educational campaign to message living with wildlife in urban and suburban areas, minimizing human-wildlife conflict and emphasizing wildlife should stay wild. The program would include biologists involved in outreach and training to local governments, community groups, schools, law enforcement, animal control and such. The program would also support wildlife rehabilitators and administer a grant program for them. COIN Worksheet for HB 2980.

A public hearing for HB2980 was held Feb 4. Watch the session here.

MOVEMENT ALERT: During a work session on Feb 18, the House Committee on Climate, Energy, and Environment voted unanimously to pass the bill. HB 2980 is now in the Joint Committee on Ways and Means, Subcommittee on Natural Resources. Watch the Feb 18 session here.

HB 2977 - 1% for Wildlife     COIN ENDORSES this bill.

The “1% for wildlife” bill, creates more funding for habitat conservation to address the animal extinction crisis. It would raise the state’s transient lodging tax from 1.5% to 2.5% to create a stable source of funding habitat conservation and prevent extinction of many imperiled species. Oregon Wild has pointed out, “In Oregon, 294 species face a high risk of extinction, and 11 key habitats are in danger. Restoring beaver habitats (as an example) can help, but can only do so much. Funding is needed to hire biologists and other scientists, monitor species on the ground, restore habitats” and more. 

• Here is more info. 

• Here is the COIN Worksheet.

• Read COIN's testimony in support.

Started in the House Committee On Agriculture, Land Use, Natural Resources, and Water 

A public hearing for HB 2977 was held on Feb 24. Watch the session here.  

MOVEMENT ALERT! The House Committee voted 6-3 on Mar 24 to move this bill without recommendation for passage. You can watch the work session here. 

The bill has been referred to the House Committee On Revenue.

HB 2679 - Protects Pollinators and Wildlife   COIN ENDORSES this bill. 

This bill would protect bees and other wildlife pollinators by putting limits on the use of neonicotinoid pesticides on residential landscapes.  

• Here is the COIN Worksheet.  

• Read COIN's testimony in support here.

This bill is currently in the  House Committee On Climate, Energy, and Environment.

A public hearing was held for HB 2679 on Mar 4. You can watch the hearing here. 

HB 3143 - Landowners Living With Beavers Grant Program    COIN ENDORSES this bill. 

This bill is essentially the same bill we endorsed in 2024 that didn't make it through the session. Beavers are an important keystone species throughout Oregon, but they can cause damage to property and crops and have thus been the target of extermination efforts for decades. This is a proposal for a $1.5 million grant program fund that incentivizes private landowners to engage and implement non-lethal coexistence strategies. It will be administered through the Oregon Conservation and Recreation Fund under ODFW as flexible block grants up to $50K until the fund runs out. The program will allow for some funds to be allocated for technical assistance. Eligible entities to apply for grants include watershed councils, soil and water conservation districts, and nonprofits.

• COIN Worksheet for HB 3143

• Testimony from The Wetlands Conservancy

• Oregon Natural Desert Association Testimony in support of HB 3143

• Additional information from Rep. Marsh

• OPB 3.23.25 article Beavers Reintroduced to SW Oregon to Restore Wetlands

MOVEMENT ALERT: This bill had a public hearing on Feb 5. Virtually all of the testimony was in support of this bill. At the work session on Feb 10, it passed out of committee with a vote of 8-0 (with one absence). It's now in the Joint Ways and Means Committee.

ACTION ALERT: COIN members can urge committee members to fund this bill and keep it moving forward. It didn't make it through last year. Let's help get it across the finish line this year. 

HB 3932 A   Protections for Beavers  COIN ENDORSES this bill. 

HB 3932 would close beaver hunting and trapping in waterways that flow through or are adjacent to public lands in order to allow beavers to do what they do: improve water quality and restore habitat. The activities of beavers help slow water flow, restore impacted water tables and underground aquifers, enhance streamside shade, riparian areas, and wetlands that  buffer and filter toxins, and create wildlife and fish habitat at the same time. This is not an “anti-hunting” bill, but rather would allow beavers to help us improve water quality and watershed health.  The bill is currently in the House Committee On Climate, Energy, and Environment.

• Here is the COIN worksheet for this bill.  

• From Cascadia Wildlands - Tell the Oregon Legislature to Pass  HB 3932

• Commentary - Oregon Capital Chronicle

This bill had a public hearing on Tuesday March 25 at 8:00 AM. You can watch the 3/25 hearing here. 

MOVEMENT ALERT!  At an April 8 work session the bill was reported out of Committee with a Do Pass recommendation by a vote of 7-4 and 1 excused, with a -2 amendment offered by Rep. Pam Marsh.  You can watch the work session here.  The -2 amendment does not direct the Dept of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) to adopt rules to protect beavers in waterways that flow through public lands. Instead, the amended bill prohibits the taking of a beaver in a stream, river, or watershed that flows through or adjoins public land or is on public land within 200 feet of a high water mark of a river or stream. The amendment clarifies the bill does not supersede tribal rights or agreements and does not apply to private land or waterways flowing through private land.

SUCCESS!  This bill passed the House by a vote of 35-18 with only Republicans voting against it. Now in the Senate Committee On Natural Resources and Wildfire. 

HB 2984 - Oregon Conservation & Recreation Fund   COIN ENDORSES this bill. 

HB  2984 appropriates $1.5 million to ODFW for deposit in the Oregon Conservation and Recreation Fund (OCRF) for projects that "relate to water" and protect, maintain or enhance fish and wildlife resources. OCRF is overseen by an advisory committee and serves as a grant fund for projects that further the Oregon Conservation Strategy. In 2022, the legislature appropriated $5 million to OCRF as part of the drought resilience package; the OCRF has been effective in spending down those funds on meaningful projects and this bill will help maintain that momentum. 

• COIN Worksheet for HB 2984

• HB 2984 COIN Letter to Joint Ways and Means Committee

MOVEMENT ALERT! A public hearing was held on Feb 5 and a work session was held on Feb 12 when the House Committee On Agriculture, Land Use, Natural Resources, and Water voted unanimously to pass this bill. Now it's in the Joint Committee On Ways and Means. 

ACTION ALERT: If you want to help keep this bill moving forward, you can email committee members and urge them to fully fund this bill. 

HB  2978 A -  Reducing Vehicle-Wildlife Collisions    COIN ENDORSES THIS BILL.

HB 2978 A will improve collaboration between Department of Transportation (ODOT) and Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) in reducing vehicle-wildlife collisions including improvements in the Wildlife Corridor Action Plan.  It will require more collaboration between ODOT and ODFW in implementing wildlife corridors, particularly near public roadways. The goal is to reduce vehicle-wildlife collisions and minimize impacts on wildlife corridor connectivity in highway road projects. It is a  policy bill that will hopefully pave the way for wildlife crossing funding to be included in SB 5541, ODOT's budget bill.

• COIN worksheet for HB 2978 A

• Read COIN's testimony in support.

This bill has bounced around in the House a bit,  but a second work session was held on 3/24 in the House Committee On Agriculture, Land Use, Natural Resources, and Water and the committee voted 9-0 for a Do Pass recommendation. 

SUCCESS! This bill was passed by the House on 3/31 by a strong bipartisan vote of 53-3. The bill now moves to the Senate Committee On Natural Resources and Wildfire

This bill had a public hearing on 4/15. You can watch the proceedings here.  

MOVEMENT ALERT! A work session was held on 4/17 and the committee voted 5-0 to move this bill forward with a Do Pass recommendation.  You can watch the proceedings here.   Next it will go to the full Senate for a vote on Monday April 28.  Contact your state senator and urge them to vote YES on HB 2978. 

HB 2342 - Incremental Increases of ODFW License and Tag Fees   COIN ENDORSES this bill. 

This bill would implement an incremental increase for license and tag fees issued by Oregon Dept. of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW). The last increase in license and tag fees was 6 years ago. The more money for the “game” species conservation, the less they will take from funds for wildlife “non-game” species conservation. 

• COIN Worksheet.

• Read COIN's testimony submitted in support. 

• Currently in House Committee On Agriculture, Land Use, Natural Resources, and Water 

A public hearing was held on Feb 24. Watch the hearing here. 

MOVEMENT ALERT!  At the Mar 24 work session, the committee voted 9-0 to move HB 2342 forward with a Do pass recommendation. You can watch the work session here. 

Referred to the Joint Committee On Ways and Means. 

HB 3871  Animal Welfare Trust and Fund to support low cost spay/neuter and other veterinary care    COIN ENDORSES this bill. 

HB 3871 would establish a 9 member Animal Welfare Trust that would include at least 1 veterinarian, 2 Oregon residents, and representatives from tribes, animal impound shelters, and animal rescue and animal support organizations. The bill also requires the Treasury to establish an Animal Welfare Fund from which the Trust shall provide grants to agencies, animal rescue entities, community service providers and veterinary clinics to pay for services for animals belonging from low-income households or underserved communities. The Trust would establish the criteria and process for providing such grants and must also pursue grants and otherwise raise funds for the Fund. 

Veterinary care has become exclusive and out of reach for many folks, due in part to a shortage of veterinary professionals. This has meant some people are not able to get their pets adequate care or are surrendering them to shelters in higher numbers than we would see if they could find affordable veterinary care. Low cost spay/neuter, in particular, has been proven to help reduce the number of cats and dogs that end up in shelters or simply homeless. Many communities are overrun by cats, for example, that have been abandoned or are the result of a pet that was not spayed/neutered; these cats become an invasive species that kill birds and upend ecosystems and biodiversity.

• Read COIN's Worksheet. 

The bill had a public hearing on March 17, 2025 in the House Committee on Agriculture, Land Use, Natural Resources, and Water.

MOVEMENT ALERT: The Committee members adopted the -1 amendment and moved HB 3871 forward with an 8-0 vote (1 excused). 

Referred to the Joint Committee On Ways and Means. 

SB 222 A - Endangered or Threatened Predator Removal      
COIN ENDORSES  this bill with the -1 amendment

The original bill established a program to kill "species that prey on salmon," including species on the Endangered or Threatened Species Lists.  It prohibits the state from altering salmon release sites or the operation of salmon enhancement projects in order to protect the predator species.  It directs the state to apply to federal agencies for waivers or permits necessary to attack the Endangered or Threatened species. 

However, the  -1 amendment, which was adopted, limits the predators removed to just small mouthed-bass, a non-native species. Based on this amendment, we have changed our opposition of the bill to an endorsement. 

Started in the Senate Energy and Environment Committee

A public hearing for SB 222 was held Feb 19. Watch the session here.  Read the testimony here. 

MOVEMENT ALERT! A work session was held on 3/19 and the committee adopted the -1 amendment which limits the predators removed to just small mouthed-bass. The committee voted 5-0 with a Do Pass recommendation. Watch the proceedings here. The bill is now in the Joint Ways and Means Committee.  

SB 512 A - Rock Creek Hatchery   COIN OPPOSES this bill. 

This bill directs the State Fish and Wildlife Commission to operate a summer steelhead fish hatchery at the Rock Creek Hatchery and release the hatchery fish into the North Umpqua River. It requests $2 million from the General Fund to the State Fish and Wildlife Commission. In 2020, the Rock Creek Fish Hatchery was burned in a regional wildfire. In 2022, ODFW terminated the 64-year-old Rock Creek hatchery program in an effort to restore wild summer steelhead populations. ODFW and multiple conservation and fish organizations do NOT recommend rebuilding a hatchery here, but recommend instead to focus on habitat restoration to help reduce high water temperatures in order to restore wild fish populations.  We agree!  Started in the Senate Committee On Natural Resources and Wildfire.

• Here is the worksheet for more details. 

• COIN testimony opposing this bill

MOVEMENT ALERT: This bill had public hearing and work session on 3/ 27 at 1:00 PM. The -2 amendment was approved, which turns this into a "study" bill, and it passed out of committee 5-0 with a Do Pass recommendation. Watch the session here. We are disappointed that the committee passed this bill, even though it was downgraded to a study bill.  The frivolity of yet another study to tell us what we already know from decades of data which the proponents of this bill refuse to accept is a waste of taxpayer dollars. 

ACTION ALERT: Contact members of the Joint Committee On Ways and Means and urge them NOT to fund this bill.  

SB 777 A - Increases Compensation Amount under Oregon's Wolf Predation Loss Compensation Program. COIN OPPOSES this bill.  

This is another Republican-led bill to undermine Oregon's Wolf Predation Loss Compensation Program (WPLCP) by increasing by 7 times the current fair market value standard for compensation for loss of domestic animals.  The WPLCP has received broad support over the years for its efforts to reduce conflicts with wolves. Farmers and ranchers are currently compensated at fair market value for any cows, sheep, and the like, or guardian dog losses due to wolf predation. However, SB 777 sets a new standard at 7 times the current amount of compensation. The need for the state to pay 7 times the fair market value for lost animals is unclear. This bill seems to do nothing to advance wildlife coexistence measures in Oregon. Originally assigned to the Senate Committee On Natural Resources and Wildfire.

• Here is the COIN Worksheet.

• Here is a letter to the Committee Chair, Sen. Jeff Golden, setting out the concerns about SB 777 by the Klamath Siskiyou Wildlands Center.

• Read COIN's testimony in opposition here.

A public hearing was held Thursday Feb 27. You can watch the hearing here. A second public hearing was held on Mar 11. You can watch the hearing here. 

MOVEMENT ALERT: A work session was held on 3/18 and the committee voted 5-0 to pass this bill with the -5 amendment, which reduced the maximum compensation to five times the market value for some animals, and it adds that the "compensation is provided only if owners have demonstrated implementation of best management practices to deter wolves, including reasonable use of nonlethal methods when practicable." It's not clear what this means particularly as Oregon League of Conservation Voters points out: 

This "bill could actually decrease the investment in reducing  wolf livestock conflict. Moreover, over $1.3 million dollars of the anti-poaching budget and the proposed new FTE wolf coexistence biologist were cut from the ODFW budget. It does not make sense to fail to invest in conflict reduction and anti-poaching while applying a multiplier to the flawed wolf compensation program. We can’t afford to jeopardize the program and endanger the recovery of Oregon’s wolves, which is exactly what would happen if SB 777-5 passes". 

Watch the proceedings here.  

CHAMBER PASSAGE: On 3/25, the full Senate voted 28-1 to pass this bill. 

Now in the House Committee On Agriculture, Land Use, Natural Resources, and Water 

ACTION ALERT: A public hearing is scheduled for Wednesday April 30 at 8 AM. Register to testify here. You can submit written testimony until May 2 at 8 AM here.  And you can watch the proceedings here. 

We'll continue to oppose this bill in the House. 

Read here an op ed about why this bill should not pass.

SB 333 and HB 2403 - Creation of Special Districts for Predator Control    COIN OPPOSES these bills.
SB 333 didn't get a work session scheduled by the 3/21 deadline so it's likely dead for 2025. 

Both of these bills authorize the creation of special taxing districts to raise money for control of wildlife considered a danger to farm animals and or problematic to other agriculture. The species include coyotes, bears, cougars, gray wolves, and “fur-bearing mammals” such as beavers, bobcats, otters and foxes. The Act would let landowners, per County, form a “district” to pay the costs to their County, of staving off damage to their land caused by predators, by both nonlethal and lethal means. 

Passing this bill would fly in the face of democratic processes. The makeup of the proposed County boards is biased towards the control of predators or furbearers. There are no board members with non-landowner affiliations. Wildlife belongs to the people regardless of land ownership. Citizens of Oregon who have an interest in wildlife are left out of the process; we would have zero input. ODFW has the responsibility of managing our wildlife.  The State must retain the responsibilities to sustain all endemic wildlife species in Oregon, including predators and furbearers.  ODFW must retain it.

• COIN Worksheet for both bills

• COIN testimony opposing HB 2403

• Capital Press article 4.21.25 HB2403 Still Alive in 2025 Legislature

HB 2403 started in the House Committee On Agriculture, Land Use, Natural Resources, and Water and SB 333 is currently in the Senate Committee On Natural Resources and Wildfire. 

MOVEMENT ALERT!  HB 2403 had a public hearing on 3/24. You can watch the hearing here.  A work session was held on 4/9 and the committee voted 7-2 with a Do Pass recommendation. You can watch the work session here. The bill has now been referred to the House Revenue Committee. 

Hunting Cougars with Dogs - COIN OPPOSES these two bills.
Neither bill had a work session scheduled by the 3/21 deadline so they are both likely dead for 2025.

SB 769 would exempt a county from the existing ban under ORS Section 498.164 on hunting cougars with dogs, a cruel practice, if voters in the county approve the practice. There is already an exception under this law for cougars that cause damage.  

• COIN Worksheet for SB 769. 

SB 412 would direct the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife to make special cougar tags available that would allow the use of dogs to hunt or pursue cougars.  

• COIN Worksheet for SB 412. 

SB 776  Predator Control in Drought Areas 
COIN OPPOSED this bill but it didn't get a work session scheduled by the 3/21 deadline so it's likely dead for 2025. 

SB 776 instructs the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) to identify certain "drought" areas as wildlife management units or herd ranges and undertake predator control in the wildlife management units or herd ranges until certain criteria are met. Those criteria require the killing of unspecified predators as the primary method of increasing some big game species herds as much as 60% in areas having some of the worst habitat conditions due to many other factors affecting wildlife populations in addition to drought. ODFW already implements conservation measures as identified in Section 2 of SB 776, through their species and habitat management plans, making this bill redundant to current ongoing activities. Some of the species this bill references killing are in decline themselves.

• COIN Worksheet for SB 776

Currently in the Senate Committee On Natural Resources and Wildfire.

SB 511 – Salmon Credit Pilot Program  
COIN OPPOSED this bill but it didn't get a work session scheduled by the 3/21 deadline so it's likely dead for 2025. 

This bill is being touted as similar to a carbon credit program. It directs the Department of State Lands, in consultation with the State Department of Fish and Wildlife, to develop a salmon credit pilot program to encourage the voluntary restoration of salmonid habitat in the Coquille and Coos watershed basins. The key here is "voluntary." If a developer wants to develop on, for example, a wetland with important salmon habitat, this program would allow them to find another piece of property elsewhere on which to conduct some mitigation project, with no requirement that the habitat on the mitigated property be equal in any way to the habitat that was lost. Apples and oranges. We're not fooled. This bill is a gift to developers. 

This bill is currently in the Senate Committee On Natural Resources and Wildfire.

A public hearing was held on Feb 6 and the bill hasn't seen any action since then. You can view the recording here. Here's some great testimony from Trout Unlimited that spells out this bills shortcomings.

SB 331  Maintain Hatchery and Wild Fish as a Single Population.
COIN OPPOSED this bill but it didn't get a work session scheduled by the 3/21 deadline so it's likely dead for 2025. 

This is another bad bill for fish. It directs the State Department of Fish and Wildlife to manage indigenous stocks of salmon and steelhead in a watershed, whether naturally produced or hatchery produced, as a single, integrated native fish population.  Even though hatchery-produced fish are NOT native. It's a puzzler to us, especially since the science on mixing hatchery fish with natives has been so abundantly clear for decades - It's really bad for the native fish.  

This bill is currently in the Senate Committee On Natural Resources and Wildfire.

No hearings  have been scheduled for this bill - hopefully it will die a quiet death in committee. 

HB 3580 A - Eelgrass Study   COIN ENDORSES this bill. 

This Act establishes the Task Force on Eelgrass Resources, provides duties of the task force, and directs the task force to submit a report to the Legislative Assembly no later than September 15, 2027. Declares an emergency, effective on passage. Coastal communities are increasingly impacted by rising seas and extreme weather. This bill creates a taskforce to set conservation and restoration targets for this important carbon-sequestering species. Decreasing eelgrass could present threats to coastal climate resilience. 

• COIN Worksheet for HB 3580

• COIN Testimony for HB 3580

• Testimony from SOCAN

This bill started in the House Committee On Agriculture, Land Use, Natural Resources, and Water. 

A public hearing was held on Mar 5. Watch the session here. 

MOVEMENT ALERT! The Committee unanimously approved the bill with the -2 amendment that removed the provision that would have allowed the Task Force on Eelgrass Resources to recommend withdrawing critical eelgrass habitat areas from leasing. You can watch the work session here. The bill is now in the Joint Committee on Ways and Means. 

HB 3786 A - Blue Economy/Vibrant Coastal Communities   COIN ENDORSES this bill. 

This bill appropriates $3 million in funds to the Oregon Ocean Science Fund for the purpose of disbursing competitive grants for:

• Research to understand and address changing ocean chemistry and warmer ocean water that holds less oxygen, which threatens Oregon's economy and ecosystems; 

• Sandy beach and dune ecosystem research to inform management of coastal erosion strategies; and

• Nearshore data collection to understand changing ocean conditions and its effects on species and ecosystems

Here's more info from Oregon Ocean Science Trust. The bill started in the House Committee on Agriculture, Land Use, Natural Resources, and Water.

• HB 3786 Worksheet

• COIN Testimony in support of HB 3786

This bill had a public hearing on Mar 17. You can view the hearing here. 

MOVEMENT ALERT!  The committee voted 9-0 to pass this bill out of committee. You can watch the work session here. The bill is now in the Joint Committee on Ways and Means.

HB 3587 A  Rocky Habitat COIN ENDORSES this bill. 

HB 3587 directs the Department of Land Conservation and Development to develop site plans for coastal rocky habitats. (Haystack Rock and other large offshore rock formations, along with the species that frequent them, are examples of coastal rocky habitats.) This is required to be done in coordination with other relevant state agencies and to assist community-based partners in implementing these plans.  

HB 3587 Worksheet  

The bill started in the House Committee on Agriculture, Land Use, Natural Resources, and Water.

This bill had a public hearing on Mar 5. You can view the hearing here. 

MOVEMENT ALERT!  The committee voted 9-0 to pass this bill out of committee. You can watch the work session here. The bill is now in the Joint Committee on Ways and Means.

HB 2965-5 - Restrictions on Net Pen Aquaculture 
COIN ENDORSED this bill but it didn't get a work session scheduled by the 3/21 deadline so it's likely dead for 2025. 

This bill would restrict use of net pens or cages that confine finfish in marine or estuarine waters.  Net pens or cages are already banned or severely restricted in CA, WA, and AK. A typical industrial fish farm results in 1 million pounds of waste each year.  Fish feed, waste, chemicals, and such are discharged into marine and estuarine waters, causing pollution.  There have been massive fish escapes that have released millions of farmed fish into our these waters, causing havoc in wild fish ecosystems and disease in wild fish populations. 

This bill will not prevent the growth of aquaculture in Oregon; it will help protect our oceans and estuarine waters and aquatic ecosystems from unnecessary damage. 

• COIN Worksheet on HB 2965-5

• Read testimony submitted by COIN in support of HB 2965-5. 

• Prohibiting Net Pen Aquaculture OPB 2/26/25 article

HB 2557 - Bans Octopus Farming in Oregon    COIN ENDORSES this bill, but it will not move forward this year.

This bill will make it illegal to raise octopus as food for humans or take part in the sale of octopus that was raised as food for humans. Washington and California already have such bans so this would make the ban continuous along the continental US west coast. Unfortunately, octopus farming is an emerging global practice, one that raises significant ethical issues due to the intelligence of octopuses, as well as significant environmental issues which would threaten Oregon's unique coastal aquatic ecosystems. 

• COIN Worksheet for HB 2557

• Testimony from The Humane Society of the United States

HB 2557 is currently in the House Committee On Agriculture, Land Use, Natural Resources, and Water. 

A public hearing was held on Feb 3 where the bill received overwhelming support. You can view the session here and read the testimony here.

Read COIN's Letter to the Committee in Support of HB 2557.

The work session scheduled for April 9 for this bill appears to have been cancelled. You can watch the Committee's work session for April 9 here. 

SB 587 - Wildfire Compensation Tax Exemption for Businesses    COIN ENDORSES this bill. 

SB 1205  Wildfire Compensation Tax Exemption for Individuals    COIN ENDORSES this bill. 

For purposes of the Oregon income tax and corporate excise tax, these bills would make money received in resolution of a civil action arising from wildfire non-taxable income. It also would allow plaintiffs to deduct their legal fees from their income. However, these tax-exemptions would only apply if the Governor has declared a wildfire emergency for the fire that caused the damage.

Victims of catastrophic wildfires in Oregon have problems in obtaining full compensation for harm to individuals and their property due to wildfire. Having to claim that compensation as "windfall" income would result in unacceptable loss via an exorbitant jump in taxes. These bills will leave more of the money in the hands of those who have suffered loss.

Both bills are currently in the Senate Committee On Finance and Revenue 

• COIN testimony in support of SB 587

• COIN testimony in support of SB 1205

A public hearing for SB 587 was held Monday April 7. View the proceedings here.
A public hearing for SB 1205 was held Monday April 14. You can view this hearing here. 

SB 926 A  Prohibits utilities from recovering wildfire costs from customers if utilities are delaying lawsuits.   COIN ENDORSES this bill. 

Prohibits electric companies from recovering from its customers costs or expenses that:

• Are associated with fines or penalties based on allegations of utility negligence or misconduct that resulted in a wildfire.

• Are associated with a judgment or settlement of a civil action based on allegations of utility negligence or misconduct that resulted in a wildfire.

The adopted -3 amendment expands the scope of wildfire costs that an electric company may not recover from ratepayers to include wildfire litigation costs and costs to repair or replace infrastructure damaged through the electric company’s own fault.  A main purpose of this bill is to impose some consequences on PacifiCorp, and the state’s two other investor-owned utilities, for delaying settlements and prolonging litigation if they are found to have recklessly or negligently caused a wildfire. Some people have been waiting nearly five years for compensation for losses stemming from utility-caused wildfires.  

• Oregon Capital Chronicle 4-16-25: Proposal to impose penalties on private utilities delaying wildfire lawsuits quietly moves forward

This bill had a public hearing on 3/5 (watch it here) and a work session on 4/8 where it passed out of committee 4-2 with a Do Pass recommendation. You can watch the work session here.  

SUCCESS!  The bill passed the Senate on April 23 by a vote of 22-6 with Sen. Gorsek excused. Sens. Girod and Thatcher declared potential conflicts of interest. Sens. Sollman and Lieber are 2 of the Dems who voted no on this bill; their explanations are here. The bill now moves to the House Committee On Judiciary.

SB 1177 - Redirects kicker for this year only to for wildfire prevention projects.  COIN ENDORSES this bill. 

This bill would use this year's "kicker" to create a Treasury-managed fund, and use the annual interest on the fund for wildfire prevention and suppression projects for years to come. While we recognize that this bill probably would not meet the requirements for the kicker laid out in the Oregon Constitution, we think it would be one of the better solutions otherwise. Taxpayers will have to pay for wildfires one way or another and this might be the least "painful" way for them to do so, of the proposals we've seen so far.  

Passed by lawmakers in 1979 and approved by voters in 1980, the kicker returns money to Oregonians when the state's revenue is at least 2% higher than forecasted. 

Several bills this session (and in past sessions) have attempted to reform the kicker law in order to help fund needed services, but all have so far been unsuccessful. We think, if a legal exception to this law could be made, that giving it up for one year to significantly fund future wildfire prevention and mitigation, would be worthwhile. Here's one interpretation that makes sense:

• COIN worksheet for SB 1177

• Oregon Center for Public Policy argument in support of SB 1177

This bill is currently in the Senate Committee On Finance and Revenue. 

The bill had a public hearing on 4/7. You can view the hearing here. 

HB 3489 - Timber Severance Tax  COIN ENDORSES this bill. 

 Establishes a progressive Timber Severance Tax which rises according to the number of board feet harvested with discounts for those who are certified by the Forest Stewardship Council to manage their forests sustainably. Funds are awarded aa follows 40% to the counties where the harvest has occurred, 40% to the Wildfire Management Fund, 10% to the State Forestry Department, 5% to the Forest Research and Experiment Account and 5% to the Watershed Conservation Grant Fund.

• COIN HB 3489 Worksheet

See these two testimonials for clear, reasonable arguments in favor of this bill.

• SOCAN Testimony for HB 3489

• OLWV Testimony for HB 3489

Currently in the House Committee On Revenue.

ACTION ALERT! A public hearing was held on 4/24. You can still submit written testimony here until 3:00 PM Saturday Apr 26. View the recording of the hearing here. 

HB 3103 - Establishes sustainable harvest levels for timber on state lands. COIN OPPOSES this bill. 

This bill would require the Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) to establish a harvest level by rule that prioritizes timber harvest over other values. Currently, management of state forests requires a balance of multiple values, including habitat, clean water, fish and wildlife, and recreation. The bill undermines all other plans, policies or directives made by the Board of Forestry, including the State Forest Habitat Conservation Plan and the Climate Change and Carbon Plan.  Also, HB 3103 would establish a new right to sue the ODF over state forest timber harvest plans and obtain court orders to compel more clearcuts on public land.

The -5 amendment was added to the bill prior to the 3/31 work session where the bill passed out of committee. The amendment preserves the state’s ability to implement other environmental regulations, like the Habitat Conservation Plan. This apparently appeased some on the committee, but most of the bill's opponents, including COIN, still oppose the bill. Even with the -5 amendment, the bill mandates and prioritizes the determination of a sustainable harvest level and requires the state to manage state forests to meet that level. Determinations of that level, if not satisfactory, can easily be litigated by timber companies at great cost to the state. Any changes needed or desired in that harvest level will also be litigated and there is little room for discretion in making changes.    

• COIN's Worksheet

• COIN Testimony opposing HB 3103

Currently in House Committee On Agriculture, Land Use, Natural Resources, and Water 

A public hearing was held on HB 3103 Monday, Mar 3.  View the recording of the hearing here. 

MOVEMENT ALERT!  The committee voted 9-0 to pass this bill out of committee. You can watch the work session here. The bill now goes to the Joint Committee on Ways and Means.

OPB on why this bill is disastrous for Oregon's state forests.
OPB  article  about the -5 amendment and the 3/31  work session. 

HB 3666 - Utilities and Wildfire Liability   COIN OPPOSES this bill.

HB 3666 requires electric public utilities to apply for a wildfire safety certification. It allows consumer-owned utilities to apply for the certification, too. The Public Utility Commission (PUC) will then issue a certification if the applicant has and implements a “wildfire protection plan” or “wildfire mitigation plan” and meets certain requirements. This certification, however, would potentially immunize utilities from liability for wildfires they cause. The PUC can grant applications for wildfire safety certifications based on utility’s plans, but the certificate is good for a year and there’s no provision for requiring them to carry out their plan. We think it’s a scam to protect utilities from responsibility. 

• COIN Worksheet for HB 3666

• Oregon Capital Chronicle 2.27.25 article about HB 3666

• Capitol Chronicle 3.31.25 article: Pacificorp involved in bills in Oregon, western states limiting utility wildfire liability damages. 

• E&E News by Politico  4.1.25 article:  Warren Buffet's empire is shaping wildfire laws to shield utilities 

The bill started in the House Judiciary Committee.  

There's a -1  and now a -3 amendment which are basically the same; bill sponsor Rep Pam Marsh claims would the amendment will fix the concern over liability, but we don't believe it does and neither does the Oregon Trial Lawyers Association. See this article in the Oregon Capital Chronicle about "the fix."  And read COIN's testimony in opposition here.

A public hearing was held for HB 3666 on Mar 18.  You can watch the hearing here. 

MOVEMENT ALERT!  This bill had a work session on 4/3. You can watch the session here.  Another work session was held on Monday April 7. The bill was reported out with no recommendation. Watch that session here.  The bill is now in the Rules Committee.

SJR 11 - Diverting Unknown % of Lottery Funds to a Wildfire Fund    COIN OPPOSED this bill

Refers to voters an amendment to the Oregon Constitution to dedicate an unspecified percentage of lottery funds to a "wildfire fund created by the Legislative Assembly." Here is the text:

"SECTION 4g. Effective July 1, 2026, ______ percent of the net proceeds from the State Lottery shall be deposited, from the fund created by the Legislative Assembly under paragraph (d) of subsection (4) of section 4 of this Article, in a wildfire fund created by the Legislative Assembly. The Legislative Assembly may appropriate other moneys or revenue to the wildfire fund. The moneys in the wildfire fund may be used for purposes related to the prevention, suppression or management of wildfires in Oregon."

Yes, the blank is still in the text. There are no proposed amendments to date. COIN opposes this bill on procedural grounds. Additionally, other important issues like health care, housing, and climate mitigation do not have constitutionally guaranteed funds. Perhaps no public service should be dependent on gambling. 

Currently in the Senate Committee On Finance and Revenue 

A public hearing was held Monday April 7. View the proceedings here. 

HB 3917  Catastrophic Wildfire Fund COIN OPPOSES this bill, and it will not move forward this year.

HB 3917, filed very recently, would create a “catastrophic wildfire fund” with the Oregon Public Utility Commission (OPUC) to reimburse people who lose homes or businesses to utility-caused wildfires. However, those receiving money from the fund must agree not to sue utility companies for any damage. No claimant can recover more than 80% of the experienced property damage and noneconomic damages of $100,000, unless there was serious bodily injury or death. If the fund is depleted, an “independent administrator” appointed by the OPUC can offer claimants a reduced payment. If the claimant accepts the reduced payment, they are barred from suing the utility. No one who receives a payment can sue the utility for compensation, "regardless of whether the fund compensated the full or partial amount of the claim for loss."

Each privately-owned utility (PGE, PP&L, Idaho Power) decides how much to put into the fund, but the fund cannot exceed $800 million from all utilities. A utility gets to recover from ratepayers 50% of the amounts put into the fund, but this shall not increase rates by more than 3%.

The OPUC shall initiate an investigation to review the utility’s actions and conduct prior to the ignition of the catastrophic wildfire to evaluate and determine whether the actions of the public utility were prudent. Anyone claiming it was not prudent has to prove that by "providing clear and convincing evidence” that some part of the public utility’s overall systems, processes or programs failed to “proactively manage wildfire risk." If OPUC determines that a utility’s actions and conduct that caused the catastrophic wildfire were imprudent, OPUC can order the utility to reimburse the fund, in whole or in part, for claims paid from the fund as a result of the catastrophic wildfire, although that reimbursement is limited. 

HB 3917 was the result of meetings primarily between legislators and public utility companies. It is a companion bill to HB 3666, which COIN opposes, as do attorneys for wildfire survivors, ratepayer advocates, and the Oregon Trial Lawyers Association. It is designed to limit the liability of public utilities for catastrophic wildfires caused by them. Ratepayers can be required to subsidize damages caused by public utility companies’ negligence, unless an independent investigator determines the company acted negligently. Unless someone can prove by “clear and convincing” evidence (a higher bar than a “negligence” claim) that a public utility’s actions were imprudent, the company cannot be ordered in whole or in part to reimburse the fund for claims paid. 

• HB 3917 Worksheet

• COIN Testimony in opposition to HB 3917

• Capitol Chronicle 3.31.25 article pacificorp-involved-in-bills-in-oregon-western-states-limiting-utility-wildfire-liability-damages

Currently in the House Judiciary Committee

The public hearing and work session scheduled for this bill on April 8 was cancelled. The Committee announced the bill would not be moving forward this session. You can watch that discussion here. 

SB 404 - State Forest Conveyance and Valuation Changes 
COIN OPPOSED this bill but it didn't get a work session scheduled by the 3/21 deadline so it's likely dead for 2025. 

Directs the State Board of Forestry to convey certain state forest lands to a county that requests conveyance upon determining it (the county) would secure the greatest permanent value of the lands to the county (which likely means logging). This bill is in the Senate Committee on Natural Resources and Wildfire. 

• COIN Worksheet for SB 404.

SB 678 - Undoes wildfire protections adopted in 2021 in SB 762. 
COIN OPPOSED this bill but it didn't get a work session scheduled by the 3/21 deadline so it's likely dead for 2025. 

This disastrous bill would repeal the entirety of the 2021 Senate Bill 762, the package of wildfire actions and funding priorities passed in response to the devastating wildfires of 2020 that killed nine people and became the most expensive natural disaster in state history. SB 678 would undo all the wildfire protection provisions of that 2021 package, including requiring electric utilities to create wildfire protection plans, requiring state agencies to develop new defensible space and building code requirements to protect homes and communities, and creating programs to mitigate the impact of wildfire smoke on public health. 

While we believe this bill is very unlikely to go anywhere this session, it would be so destructive that we want to be on the record opposing it. It's in the Senate Committee on Natural Resources and Wildfire. You can write to committee members to let them know what a terrible bill it is, and hopefully they will not even give it a hearing.  (They didn't!)   

• COIN Worksheet for SB 678