Beyond Toxics 2025 Legislative Commitments
Our 2025 Priority Legislation
Stop Forever Chemicals from Harming Oregonians - HB 3512
PFAS (Per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances) or ‘forever chemicals’ are engineered to repel grease, oil, and water. These same properties allow them to accumulate in the body and the environment, where they cause harm. Added PFAS lurk in cookware, stain-resistant treatments, outdoor gear, cosmetics, food packaging, toys and dental floss.
HB 3512 phases out added PFAS in specific products to reduce harmful exposures, protect human health, and align Oregon with other states addressing these persistent and toxic chemicals.
Bill Title: PFAS Phase Out Bill.
Summary: Phases out added PFAS in specific products to reduce harmful exposures, protect human health, and align Oregon with other states addressing these persistent and toxic chemicals.
Chief Sponsor: Representative Neron, Senator Patterson, Representative Anderson
Regular Sponsor: Representatives Chaichi, Gamba, Hudson, McDonald
Status: Scheduled for a hearing Thursday, March 13 at 8 a.m. in House Climate, Energy, and Environment Committee.
OEC PFAS Fact Sheet (PDF)
Pollinator and Wildlife Protection - HB 2679
Pollinator and Wildlife Protection safeguards Oregon's pollinators, birds, and aquatic species by restricting the use of harmful neonicotinoid pesticides. This bill ensures these highly toxic chemicals are limited to trained, licensed users, keeping them off store shelves and out of residential landscapes. By protecting bees vital to food production and other wildlife to sustain biodiversity, this legislation represents an opportunity to address environmental and food justice priorities. Twelve other states have already passed laws to restrict neonicotinoids.
Bill Title: Relating to neonicotinoid pesticides; prescribing an effective date.
Summary: Directs the State Department of Agriculture to classify certain pesticides containing neonicotinoids as restricted-use.
Chief Sponsors: Representative Hudson, Senator Golden, Representative Neron
Regular Sponsors: Representatives Andersen, Fragala, Gamba, Lively, Senators Patterson, Pham, Taylor
Status: Currently under consideration in the House Committee On Climate, Energy, and Environment
Advocates: A coalition of organizations, including Beyond Toxics, Environment Oregon, Center for Food Safety, and others.
Pollinator and Wildlife Protection Act (HB 2679) Summary (PDF)
Toxic Free Schools - HB 2684
This policy will make Oregon schools safer by improving pest management practices and creating toxic-free learning environments. By prioritizing non-chemical methods and science-based protocols, this bill reduces the use of harmful chemicals, protecting students and staff from pesticide exposure. It requires schools to update their Integrated Pest Management (IPM) plans every five years, include school gardens in their plans, and publish these plans on district websites for transparency. This initiative is a critical step toward promoting environmental justice statewide, ensuring all children have access to a safe and healthy educational environment.
Bill Title: Relating to integrated pest management.
Summary: Requires that a school integrated pest management plan and low-impact pesticide list be reviewed at least once every five years and made available to the public on a website.
Chief Sponsor: Representative Hudson
Regular Sponsors: Representatives Gamba, Nosse
Status: Currently under consideration in the House Committee On Education with subsequent referral to Ways and Means
Advocates: A coalition of organizations, including Beyond Toxics, Our Children Oregon, Center for Food Safety, PCUN and others.
Monitoring Methane Emissions - SB 726
This policy strengthens Oregon’s fight against climate change by closing loopholes in landfill methane monitoring requirements. It mandates advanced GIS-based technology to monitor all landfill areas, including previously exempt zones, and improves methods of emissions reporting to the Department of Environmental Quality. By holding landfill operators accountable to identify and mitigate methane leak violations, this bill advances environmental justice by prioritizing cleaner air and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
Bill Title: Relating to landfill emissions monitoring; prescribing an effective date.
Summary: Requires the owner or operator of a municipal solid waste landfill to conduct surface emissions monitoring and report data as specified in the Act.
Chief Sponsors: Senators Gelser Blouin, Taylor, Manning Jr.
Regular Sponsors: Senator Patterson, Representatives Andersen, Fragala, Gamba, McDonald
Status: Currently under consideration in the Senate Committee On Energy and Environment
Advocates: A coalition of organizations, including Beyond Toxics, Environment Oregon, Energy Justice Network and others.
Planning For Healthy Communities - HB 3062
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.
Bill Title: Relating to industrial development impact on sensitive uses of land; declaring an emergency.
Summary: Establishes robust health and environmental protections near homes, schools, and care facilities to curb the impacts of industrial developments.
Chief Sponsors: Senator Manning Jr., Representative Tran
Regular Sponsors: Representatives Hartman, Pham H., Senators Patterson, Pham
Status: Currently under consideration in the House Committee On Emergency Management, General Government, and Veterans
Hydrogen Oversight and Public Notice - SB 685
This bill, modeled largely on Washington, addresses unregulated hydrogen blending with natural gas that is currently impacting Southeast Portland residential homes and small businesses. This bill will establish minimum standards for public notice and authorize PUC oversight of safety, health, and alignment with our climate goals. Ideally we are prioritizing hard-to-decarbonize sectors with green hydrogen, not prolonging reliance on fossil gas for home use.
Bill Title: Relating to hydrogen; declaring an emergency.
Summary: Ensures transparency and safety in hydrogen-methane blending projects intended for residences through rigorous Public Utility Review.
Chief Sponsors: Senators Pham, Golden
Regular Sponsors: Senators Campos, Gorsek, Manning Jr., Taylor; Representatives Chotzen, Gamba, Nosse
Status: Currently under consideration in the Senate Committee On Energy and Environment
Making hydrogen work for the energy transition - 3 pp. (PDF)
RESOURCES
Using OLIS (Oregon Legislative Information System) to Get Involved in the Legislative Process (PDF) - Information provided by Oregon's Environmental Caucus
From the Oregon Legislature
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