Action Alerts
TAKE ACTION! Get involved to help us pass our 2025 Legislative Commitments!
Bills that need your support:
Toxic Free Schools - HB 2684
Toxic Free Schools - HB 2684
IMPORTANT: a hearing has been scheduled for Wednesday, April 16 at 8 a.m.! This is another opportunity to submit testimony!
Background
Beyond Toxics worked with then State Senator Suzanne Bonamici to pass the School IPM Law in 2009. After egregious pesticide poisonings were found to be taking place at schools, this law was created to protect children from pesticide exposures in schools. The bill required schools to have an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) plan and an IPM coordinator to implement the plan, and was the strongest in the nation at the time.
In 2023, we supported SB 426, to direct the Department of Education to support schools in creating and implementing IPM plans to improve transparency around chemical use on school grounds. Ultimately, this legislation aimed to protect children, who are most vulnerable to health impacts from toxic chemicals, on school playgrounds, in the cafeteria, in classrooms and on sports fields. The 2023 bill failed to advance during that session. In 2025 Representative Hudson is championing HB 2684, Toxic Free Schools.
Submit testimony! You can show your support by providing testimony, either orally through in-person or virtual meeting attendance, or by writing. Both are powerful ways to make your voice heard!
Click here to register to testify in support of this bill.
Click here to learn how to testify in writing.
Click here to learn how to testify in person or virtually.
Spread the word and make it personal! Inform parents, teachers, and school administrators about the importance of strong IPM policies. Tell legislators you care! Do you have a child living with a chronic illness? Are you a teacher who wants to stay informed of when pesticides are applied at your school? A neighbor who takes kids and pets to the school playground or fields on the weekends?
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Reduces exposure to toxic pesticides by promoting safer alternatives in schools.
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Encourages nonchemical pest control methods, prioritizing prevention over pesticide use.
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Enhances public oversight of pesticide use in school environments, ensuring safer learning spaces.
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Requires school Integrated Pest Management (IPM) plans to be reviewed, updated, and readopted at least once every five years.
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Mandates that schools make their IPM plans publicly available on their websites.
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Adds school gardens to the definition of school campuses.
Subject: Support for HB 2684 – Strengthening School Integrated Pest Management Plans
Dear Chair and Members of the Committee,
My name is [Your Name], and I am writing in strong support of House Bill 2684 because it is essential for protecting Oregon students and school staff from unnecessary pesticide exposure while promoting safer pest management practices in schools.
Protect Children's Health in Schools: Children are especially vulnerable to pesticide exposure due to their developing immune and nervous systems. HB 2684 ensures that school districts review, update if needed, and readopt plans every 5 years. Reviewing and re-adopting School IPM plans is an essential process for school districts to ensure their plans are up to date with modern science that agencies use to amend pesticide laws.
Promote Accountability and Responsible Policy Updates: Requiring regular updates to school IPM plans ensures that outdated and ineffective practices are replaced with the latest research-backed strategies. This bill helps school districts maintain best practices in pest management while protecting students, teachers, and school staff from exposure to harmful chemicals.
Increase Transparency and Public Access to IPM Plans: Currently, many parents and educators are unaware of the pesticides used in their schools. HB 2684 requires school districts to make their Integrated Pest Management (IPM) plans and low-impact pesticide lists available online, ensuring families and school staff have easy access to critical safety information.
Add School Gardens to the school’s IPM plan. School gardens are important learning spaces and food growing spaces. Children love being in school gardens! Many pesticides used in schools can harm pollinators that are attracted to school gardens. The law needs to be updated to make sure school gardens are protected from pesticide drift and deposition.
I urge you to support HB 2684 to protect students, school staff, and our environment by ensuring stronger, more transparent, and science-based pest management practices in Oregon schools.
Sincerely,
[Your Name]
[Your City]
Landfill Methane Emissions Monitoring - SB 726
Landfill Methane Emissions Monitoring - SB 726
IMPORTANT: SB 726 is up for a floor vote! Stay tuned for more updates coming soon!
Background:
Landfills are the third-largest source of human-generated methane, a greenhouse gas 80 times more potent than carbon dioxide. 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, Beyond Toxics' analysis shows that 33% of landfill surface area is excluded from any monitoring! When looking at privately operated landfills alone, the number jumps to 50%. The EPA has also recently issued an alert stating landfills are not complying with the law! This means methane leaks are happening and not being reported or mitigated to limit emissions.
This bill requires 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. SB 726 would also improve transparency by requiring reports to be shared in spatial data formats, a very common way to display data digitally.
SB 726 Fact Sheet (PDF)
Submit testimony! You can show your support by providing testimony, either orally through in-person or virtual meeting attendance, or by writing. Both are powerful ways to make your voice heard!
Click here to register to testify in support of this bill.
Click here to learn how to testify in writing.
Click here to learn how to testify in person or virtually.
Spread the word and make it personal!
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Methane is a Potent Climate Pollutant: Methane has more than 80 times the warming potential of carbon dioxide over a 20-year period, making it a major driver of climate change. Reducing methane emissions is crucial for slowing global warming in the short term.
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Landfills are a Major Methane Source: Landfills are the third-largest source of human-caused methane pollution. Oregon’s landfills release significant amounts of methane, yet current monitoring methods leave large portions of landfill surfaces unchecked, allowing emissions to go undetected and unregulated.
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Improved Monitoring is Essential: SB 726 ensures comprehensive methane tracking at landfills by requiring modern technologies such as drones and satellite imaging. These advanced tools will provide better detection, quicker response times, and more effective mitigation of methane leaks, ultimately reducing emissions and reinforcing Oregon’s commitment to climate resilience.
Testimony in Support of SB 726 - Landfill Methane Emissions monitoring
Dear Chair and Members of the Oregon Senate Committee on Energy and Environment,
My name is [YOUR NAME], and I’m writing in strong support of SB 726, which would help improve methane monitoring emissions at Oregon’s landfills. As an Oregon resident and advocate for environmental health and climate resilience, I believe this bill is critical to ensuring we accurately track and mitigate dangerous methane leaks that threaten both public health and our environment.
Landfills are among the largest sources of methane emissions in Oregon! Methane is a strong greenhouse gas, even more potent than carbon dioxide over time. Thus, its threat to our climate is immediate and severe. Currently, landfill operators are required to monitor methane emissions quarterly. However, many privately owned landfill surfaces are excluded from this requirement. This gap in monitoring means that methane leaks can go undetected in our state, leading to unchecked emissions that accelerate climate change and worsen air pollution.
SB 726 can close this gap! This monitoring bill will require the use of drones and modern technology to detect methane plumes across the state. This can help our state develop more comprehensive, efficient, and accurate emissions tracking systems across entire landfill sites. Improved monitoring can help our state agencies make informed, data-backed decisions moving forward.
Additionally, methane also carries significant health risks. Landfills release methane and other toxic air pollutants that harm people’s respiratory health, especially those who live near landfills.
Oregon had an opportunity to lead in climate smart policies that implement modern solutions that help reduce greenhouse gas emissions and promote healthier communities! I believe SB 726 is a very practical step toward a cleaner, more climate-resilient future! I urge you to pass this bill to ensure that Oregon landfill operators have what they need to properly ensure that methane emissions are properly monitored and mitigated!
Thank you for your time and consideration.
Sincerely,
[YOUR NAME]
[YOUR AFFILIATION - IF APPLICABLE]
How to Submit Written Testimony
Want to make your voice heard, but don't want to or are unable to testify orally? Submitting written testimony on OLIS is quick and easy!
Step 1: Go to the Oregon Legislative Information System (OLIS) database and search for your bill using the search bar at the top right. Be sure to use the bill number. For example, if you are searching for Toxic Free Schools, then you'd search "HB 2684."
Step 2: Once you are on the bill page, look to the options at the top of the page. On the righthand side, click "Submit Testimony." This option will only be available when a hearing has been scheduled.
Note: You will also see a "Register to Testify" option. That is for in-person and virtual testimony only! If you are submitting written testimony, you don't have to register.
Step 3: Now that you are at the "Written Testimony Submission Form," all you need to do is fill out your required information and add your testimony! Because you accessed this form through the bill's page on OLIS, the committee and meeting date will already be filled out.
You will also need to provide your name, email, organization or city of residence, and your position on the measure. Usually, we ask that you mark your position as "Support" when submitting testimony.
Lastly, you will need to add your testimony. It's a good idea to have it prepared ahead of time so you can just add it and submit. You can either add it directly into a text box, or upload it as a PDF. If you're unsure what to say, check out our sample testimonies listed under each bill on this page.
Timing: Submitting written testimony affords some time flexibility. You can submit directly on OLIS up to 48 hours after the hearing begins.
For example, a hearing begins at 3:00 P.M. on the 20th. You have until 3:00 P.M. on the 22nd to submit your testimony through OLIS. After that, you must email it to your representative directly.
How to Testify In-Person or Virtually
Step 1: Go to the Oregon Legislative Information System (OLIS) database and search for your bill using the search bar at the top right. Be sure to use the bill number. For example, if you are searching for Toxic Free Schools, then you'd search "HB 2684."
Step 2: In the options at the top of the page, look towards the right until you find "Register to Testify." Click it to pull up the "Public Testimony Registration Form." This will only work if there is a meeting currently scheduled.
Step 3: Once you've gotten the form pulled up, you need to fill it out. Begin by selecting the meeting date; there should only be meetings for the bill you're supporting. You will also need to provide your name, city of residence, phone number, email address, location when you testify, and position on the measure. Please mark your support!
Note: "Location When You Testify" is where you choose whether you're testifying virtually or in person!
Step 4: Click "Submit Registration to Testify" at the bottom right of the form. Now you're registered!
Step 5: Attend the meeting! If you registered to testify virtually, you will receive an email with all the information you need.
If you're testifying in person, you will need to go to the Oregon State Capitol at 900 Court St NE, Salem, OR 97301. Be sure to arrive early enough to park and find your way in the building! Enter through the State Street entrance and talk to the information desk to get checked in and find the meeting room.
If you're unsure what to say or have never testified before, take a moment to review the talking points and sample testimony we have provided for your bill above on this page!
Timing: Registration for virtual and in-person testimony ends 30 minutes before the meeting begins.
Action Alerts FAQs
Step 1: Find the Bill
Go to the Oregon Legislative Information System (OLIS) and type in the bill number using the "Bill" search at the top right. Click here to access OLIS.
Step 2: Register to Testify In-Person or Virtually
On the bill’s page, scroll to the “Scheduled Events” section.
Find the public hearing date and click “Register to Testify” (registration typically opens 24 hours before the hearing).
Fill out the form and select whether you will testify in-person or virtually (via Zoom/Teams). (Can add registration link here)
After registering, you’ll receive a confirmation email with details and, if virtual, a Zoom link. Note:The registration period closes 30 minutes before the meeting begins.
You can also register to testify by calling 1-833-588-4500.
Step 3: Prepare for Your Testimony
Keep your testimony to 2-3 minutes (committee chairs may set time limits).
Make your key points clear and concise.
If testifying virtually, test your internet connection and microphone before the hearing.
Step 4: Attend the Hearing
In-person: Arrive early at the Capitol and check in with committee staff.
Virtual: Click the virtual meeting link from your confirmation email and follow instructions to join when called.
Pro Tip: Even if you can’t attend, submitting written testimony is still a powerful way to make your voice heard!
Yes you can! If you are unable to attend in person, you can still register to testify and join with a virtual link instead. When you fill out the registration form, you will be able to choose whether you want to attend virtually or in person.
Yes you can! To submit written testimony, first go to the bill’s page and scroll to the “Scheduled Events” section.
Find the public hearing date and click “Submit Testimony” (this option is usually available when a public hearing is scheduled).
Fill out the form with your name and email address. Add your organization affiliation (if applicable).
Type your testimony in the box or upload your PDF document.
Click “Submit” to complete your testimony.
If you missed the hearing but want to submit written testimony, your testimony can still be submitted within a 48-hour window after the hearing begins.
If you are unable to submit your testimony during that window, have no fear! You can still email it directly to your legislator or committee members.
To attend a hearing in person, go to the Oregon State Capitol at 900 Court St NE, Salem, OR 97301. Be sure to arrive early to allow for time to park and to get checked in!
When you enter the Capitol building, use the doors in the center of the building on State Street. There is no entry from Court Street.
Once you're inside, head for the information desk for directions.
To find your legislators, simply use the Oregon Legislature's Find Your Legislator tool. All you need to do is type in your address! Once you have entered your address, your legislators and their contact information will appear.
To find a hearing on OLIS, type the bill number into the search bar by clicking "Bills" at the top right.
SB means Senate Bill and HB means House Bill. This tells you whether a bill was first introduced in either the Senate or the House.
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
Read more about all our legislative priorities for 2025!
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