Bills We Support in the 2021 Legislative Session
The legislation we strongly support in the 2021 Oregon Legislative session includes:
BILL NUMBER: HB 2021
BILL TITLE: 100% Clean Energy For All
SPONSORS: Representatives Power, Marsh, Pham
DESCRIPTION: Create good, well-paying, local jobs in the renewable energy sector that incentivize local projects that are good for communities and reduce pollution by achieving 100% clean energy as soon as possible.
WHY IS THIS IMPORTANT?
Amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, wildfires, and widespread lost income, there’s never been a more important time for energy policy that helps us all recover and build back–especially those who have been hit hardest by these crises. Clean energy can create opportunities in every community across Oregon. New projects can create good jobs and local economic and resiliency benefits. The potential for clean energy projects has not been fully realized or felt equally across the state.
TAKE ACTION TODAY!
You can submit testimony on behalf of HB 2021:
Go to: LINK and click the button next to House Bill 2021. Then, follow the instructions for submitting testimony either as copy/pasted text or as a PDF file. The deadline for submitting testimony online is 24 hours after the public hearing for HB 2021 begins.
Tune in to watch the public hearing:
Go to:
There will be a button shaped like a play button or movie camera next to the date of the committee meeting — this is how you can view the livestream of the hearing.
See 100% Clean Energy for All – Sample Testimony Template & Talking Points for House Bill 2021 | See also this this one-page summary for ideas you can use to compose your testimony
For more information: https://cleanenergyoregon.org/
or contact: Ana Molina: amolina@beyondtoxics.org
BILL NUMBER: HB 2357
BILL TITLE: OFRI Funding
SPONSORS: Representatives Salinas, Holvey, Golden, Pham, Wilde
DESCRIPTION: Eliminates funding for Oregon Forest Resources Institute Fund (OFRI) and directs equivalent moneys to a newly established Sound Forestry Practices Sub-account of State Forestry Department Account. Requires that revenue from levy of additional privilege tax under forest products harvest tax be credited to Sound Forestry Practices Subaccount. Directs use of moneys in account. Board of Forestry sets future rates.
WHY IS THIS IMPORTANT?
If passed, HB 2357 would end government funding the Oregon Forest Research Industry (OFRI), which is an industry PR organization. OFRI has used taxpayer dollars for decades to promote industrial timber clear-cuts in the media and as school curriculum to convince the public that clearcuts are good for Oregon.
HB 2357 requires that some tax revenue under forest products harvest tax be credited to State Forestry Department Account for deposit in Sound Forestry Practices Subaccount. These tax payer dollars need to be redirected to science-based forest management, not slick commercials covering up environmental harm from corporate timber.
BILL NUMBER: SB-335-2
BILL TITLE: Relating to the State Board of Forestry; prescribing an effective date.
Chief Sponsor: Senator Golden
Regular Sponsors: Senator Jama, Manning Jr.
DESCRIPTION: SB 335 requires the State Forestry Department to study and make recommendations to interim committee of Legislative Assembly regarding operation of State Board of Forestry.
WHY IS THIS IMPORTANT?
SB-335-2 proposes three changes to current statute:
1) Strengthens conflict of interest language for Board of Forestry (BoF) appointments
Current statute (ORS 526.009 (4)) provides that “No more than three members of the board may derive any significant portion of their income from persons or organizations that are subject to regulation under ORS 527.610 to 527.770, 527.990 (1) and 527.992.” As a practical matter, that language is taken to entitle the timber industry to three of the seven BoF seats.
SB-335-2 revises that language such that up to two BoF members can derive “significant income” (which is specifically defined to enhance the statute’s clarity) from forest operations or timber products. One seat is unrestricted and the second is provided for an owner of woodlands of 5000 acres or less. These seats are permitted, not mandated.
Bottom line: A central principle of good governance is that public policy decisions should be made as free as possible from individual professional and financial interests. When three of the seven seats governing a regulatory agency are filled by employees or shareholders of the regulated industry, that standard is not met, especially when thousands of knowledgeable and qualified Oregonians are available to serve who do not work for that regulated industry.
2) Dissolves the Regional Forest Practices Advisory Committees
At least two-thirds of the members of these three advisory committees must by statute (ORS 527.650) be “private landowners, private timber owners or authorized representatives of such landowners or timber owners who regularly engage in operations.” Staffed extensively by ODF personnel, the committees provide input on possible impacts on timber industry operations of new rules or policies that are under consideration. No advisory committee exists within ODF to represent other stakeholders in Oregon forest policy—groups focused on water resources, wildlife habitat, climate, recreation, tourism, etc.
SB-335-2 dissolves these standing committees and provides that the BoF “may establish a work group to research, assess or provide recommendations on any issue or question, as necessary to achieve the purposes described in ORS 527.630.” This gives the BoF flexibility to access input from any stakeholder group it chooses, whenever it chooses.
Bottom line: Input from the timber industry on prospective ODF rules and policies is essential. There are multiple channels for providing that input, whether solicited by the BoF or ODF staff, or initiated by the industry itself. Embedding standing committees for just one of the several relevant stakeholder groups is a structural impediment to balanced and unbiased policy decisions and rulemaking. Additionally, considerable personnel resource currently used to staff these committees can be redirected to other ODF needs.
3) Transfers authority to hire or discharge the State Forester from the BoF to the Governor
SB-335-2 gives the Governor authority to hire or discharge the ODF Director, known as the State Forester. This is intended to align ODF with sound organizational practices generally.
Bottom line: Over time, forest practices have become one of the most contentious and politicized issues in the domain of state government. The dramatic challenges of catastrophic recent wildfire seasons have intensified that dynamic. The Governor is the state’s highest elected official, selected by and accountable to all Oregonians, as well as its Chief Executive Officer, responsible for the quality and performance of executive branch agencies, including ODF. It is neither reasonable nor organizationally effective to hold the Governor to that responsibility if he or she lacks authority over the agency’s director.
MORE on SB 335-2 (PDF)
For more information, contact Senator Jeff Golden: (503) 986-1703.
BILL NUMBER: SB 404
BILL TITLE: Relating to organic food production.
Chief Sponsor: Senator Prozanski
Regular Sponsor: Senator Golden
DESCRIPTION: SUMMARY: Instructs Oregon State University Extension Service to establish certain new positions related to organic production and maintain certain existing position related to organic production.
Sample Testimony from Beyond Toxics staff (PDF)
BILL NUMBER: HB 2409
BILL TITLE: Relating to pesticide application within planned communities.
SPONSORS: Representatives Grayber, Wilde, Senator Gelser, Riley
DESCRIPTION: Introduced by Rep. Neron, prohibits homeowners associations from requiring application of pesticide on owner’s property. If passed, this bill will help protect pregnant women, infants and children, elders and pets from inadvertent pesticide exposure on lawns and walkways near homes.
WHY IS THIS IMPORTANT?
This bill creates an opt-out policy in homeowner associations giving people more say-so in preventing unwanted pesticide sprays where they live and play. Passing HB 2409 will start the important conversation about alternatives to harmful pesticides in our home and natural environments.
Beyond Toxics is working with Representative Courtney Neron (D-District 26) to reduce exposures to herbicides in residential communities.
BILL NUMBER: HB 2842
BILL TITLE: Healthy Homes Bill.
SPONSORS:
Chief Sponsors: Representatives Marsh, Power, Pham
Regular Sponsors: Representatives Campos, Kropf, Nosse, Wilde, Williams, Zika
DESCRIPTION: The Healthy Homes Bill (HB 2842) would create a Healthy Homes program to invest in life-changing home energy upgrades and support critical home improvements for low-income families.
WHY IS THIS IMPORTANT?
In 2020, it became even more clear that living in a healthy home is essential. Fifty-four percent of Oregonians live in housing built before 1978. This housing is energy inefficient and in need of repairs. Low-income families are at the highest risk. People living in energy inefficient homes experience sick days and hospital visits caused by mold, cold weather, and an inability to take refuge from bad outdoor air quality. This is even more dangerous during a respiratory pandemic: research shows that people who breathe polluted air are at greater risk of severe cases of COVID-19.
BILL NUMBER: HB 2475
BILL TITLE: The Oregon Energy Affordability Act
SPONSORS: Representative Power, Pham
DESCRIPTION: Decrease utility costs for families already struggling in the economic recession by establishing a Low-Income Utility Rate Class.
WHY IS THIS IMPORTANT?
During the pandemic, Oregonians struggle to make ends meet and spend more time at home. Energy burden, the share of someone’s income that goes toward energy bills, is increasing as people use more energy and sources of income dry up. People are falling behind on their bills, making tough budget decisions, and need relief. At the same time, utilities need tools to help manage mounting past-due bills. The legislature must act to allow for flexible rate structures that relieve energy burden and protect all ratepayers long-term from widespread cost increases.
BILL NUMBER: SB 286
(at the request of Governor Kate Brown for Office of the Governor)
BILL TITLE: Relating to environmental justice; prescribing an effective date.
SPONSORS:
Printed pursuant to Senate Interim Rule 213.28 by order of the President of the Senate in conformance with presession filing rules, indicating neither advocacy nor opposition on the part of the President.
DESCRIPTION: Renames Environmental Justice Task Force as Environmental Justice Council.
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