Beyond Toxics 2025 Legislative Commitments
Legislation we are supporting in the 2025 Oregon Legislature
(bill numbers have yet to be assigned)
Toxic Free Schools
We’re coming back to the legislature to make schools safer with a new bill to improve pest management practices. This bill mandates that Oregon schools update their Integrated Pest Management (IPM) plans every five years, include school gardens, and make their IPM plans accessible by publishing the plans on their school district website.
Our approach reduces chemical use by favoring non-chemical methods and a science-based protocol before using any low-impact pesticides. This isn’t just about pest control, it’s about creating sustainable, toxic-free learning environments where students can thrive!
Chief Sponsor: Representative Hudson
Advocates: A coalition of organizations, including Beyond Toxics, Our Children Oregon, Center for Food Safety, PCUN and others
Legislative Concept to Modernize School Integrated Pest Management (IPM) - (PDF)
Photo by Rocky Raco
Pollinator and Wildlife Protection Act
Nearly a decade after introducing legislation to restrict neonicotinoid pesticides, we continue to carry forward the fight to protect Oregon’s pollinators and other sensitive species! We are leading a strong coalition of groups that want to see Oregon become the next state to protect pollinators, birds and fish by making sure only trained, licensed users can purchase and apply these highly systemic pesticides. Our new bill will limit bee-killing neonicotinoid pesticides to licensed users, keeping them off store shelves and out of residential landscapes. This legislation positions Oregon to join 11 other states in safeguarding pollinators, birds, and aquatic life from harmful pesticides!
Chief Sponsors: Representative Hudson and Senator Golden
Advocates: A coalition of organizations, including Beyond Toxics, Environment Oregon, Center for Food Safety, and others
Legislative Concept to Reduce Consumer Uses of Neonicotinoid Pesticides to Protect Pollinators (PDF)
Monitoring Methane Emissions
As climate activists, we know that addressing methane leaks at landfills is crucial to combating climate change. Methane leaks from landfills are a major climate threat, yet private operators have used legal loopholes to omit 50% of landfill surface areas from monitoring, claiming these zones are unsafe for workers. However claiming this exemption may not be necessary because publicly operated landfills only exclude 10% of their surface area from methane monitoring. The new bill closes these gaps. If passed, this bill , will mandate GIS-based advanced technology to monitor all areas and require emissions data to be directly reported to the DEQ. This, ensures more efficient data collection protocols for the DEQ and creates public accountability. This forward-looking legislation is a game-changer for Oregon’s climate action, holding landfill operators accountable and pushing for cleaner air in our communities. Oregon will position itself as a state leading the way for greenhouse gas reductions!
Chief Sponsor: Senator Gelser Blouin
Advocates: A coalition of organizations, including Beyond Toxics, Environment Oregon, Energy Justice Network and others
Coalition Bills
Legislation we are working on in concert with other groups
Planning For Healthy Communities
As co-leaders of the Planning for Healthy Communities Act, we’re working to strengthen Oregon's land use laws by requiring robust health and environmental justice protections near homes, schools, and care facilities to curb negative impacts of industrial developments. By tackling air pollution, urban heat, and traffic risks head-on, this policy ensures that approval of permits to construct industrial facilities doesn’t come by sacrificing community health! This legislation, modeled after our Public Health Overlay Zone in Eugene, was the first development code to prioritize community health in zoning decisions.
Chief Sponsors: Senator Manning, Representative Tran
Status: not yet introduced; session has yet to begin
Hydrogen Oversight and Public Notice
We are joining with other nonprofits to push for state laws that protect communities from corporate practices to impose hydrogen-blending in homes without notification. Hydrogen mixing is neither low-carbon nor safe; it increases pipe vulnerability, exposing people to harmful chemicals in their homes. It’s time to close a critical loophole in Oregon's energy provider regulations! Our new coalition-backed bill requires energy companies to submit project plans for rigorous Public Utility Commission review, demanding transparency and safety over fossil fuel-driven solutions!
Chief Sponsor: Senator-elect Pham
Status: not yet introduced; session has yet to begin
Making hydrogen work for the energy transition - 3 pp. (PDF)
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