What Happend this Year?
2026 Oregon Legislative Session Recap
Alan Journet, March 8th 2026
As I draft this report the 2026 Legislative Session has wrapped up. Despite the appearance that, like the 2025 session, it has been a disappointing experience for those of us concerned about climate and environmental issues, SOCAN volunteers were ever-present in offering comments. During this short session, we offered some 50 written testimonies to legislative committees, committee members, senators and representatives and the Governor along with half a dozen oral comments.
The top priority for our support was SB1541, Make Polluters Pay, a bill that died in the 2025 session. Although the bill passed out of its first committee this time, it died in the Joint Committee on Ways and Means because leadership would not accord it a hearing in sub-committee. The bill would have required climate polluters to contribute to an Oregon fund designed to support cleaning up the mess generated in Oregon by the 30 years of climate change between 1994 and the end of 2024. Apparently, legislative leaders think Oregonians should continue to foot the bill for the irresponsible business model fossil fuel corporations follow.
One bill that we supported passed. HB4134 increases the transient lodging (hotel/motel) tax by 1.25% to fund wildlife protection and rehabilitation.
Meanwhile, SB1597 which required that nuclear electricity generators disclose to consumers the cost of dealing with their waste passed the Senate but made no progress in the House prior to Sine dei.
Many bills we supported failed to survive. These included bills
- improving Transportation programs,
- enhancing the provision of clean energy to the utilities,
- promoting an investment program by utilities in homeowner energy upgrades,
- designed to modify Oregon’s absurd kicker law, a boondoggle that returns massive refunds to wealthy Oregonians when in effect and paltry amounts to low-income Oregonians.
Meanwhile, some bills we opposed actually passed:
- A legislative leadership bill (HB4018) undermining the campaign finance reform bill passed and signed into law in 2024 passed this session. This bill was stimulated by the Secretary of State claiming he could not meet the timeline demands of the previous reform bill, but it also included adjustments to funding limits sufficient to undermine the 2024 bill. It was rammed through by leadership in a totally undemocratic fashion. It
- Bills expanding urban growth boundaries into the wildland urban interface.
- A bill granting tax incentives to those wishing to build data centers in Oregon at a time when the Oregon Treasury is strapped for funds to support critical programs though with a one-year moratorium,
Finally, we had some success in seeing the failure of some bills we opposed:
- A nuclear study bill designed to promote Small Modular Nuclear Reactors for data centers,
- A bill designed to promote the logging of Oregon’s publicly owned forests,
- A bill designed to reduce the ability of DEQ to minimize climate pollution from fossil fuel use.
Of the two bills written to address problems presented by the Critical Energy Infrastructure Hub (CEIH) in Portland that is likely to be demolished in the event of serious seismic activity, the bill failed that promoted relocating the tanks while that requiring owners to fund risk bonds that indemnify Oregonians damaged by the consequences of a seismic event passed.
Though the overall outcome may be disappointing, by maintaining our attention on the legislative process, we are able to confront legislators with aspects of issues they may otherwise have overlooked; we will, however, never know if and where our input is effective. In collaboration with climate activists across the state, we are committed to continuing this educational endeavor as future sessions unfold. Please consider joining us by contacting Alan (alan@socan.eco).
Status as of Bills Tracked: February 18th
| Senate Committee On Energy and Environment | |
| SB 1525 – Blue Economy Task Force OLIS Link to Submit Comment Hearing Date: SOCAN Position: Support SOCAN Public Comment *Referred to Ways and Means* | SB 1525 creates a temporary Blue Economy Task Force to study Oregon’s “blue economy”—economic activity tied to oceans, coasts, and marine resources—and to recommend ways the state can support sustainable growth in these sectors. The task force must submit a report to the Legislature by September 15, 2027. |
| SB 1588 – Inclusive Utility Investment Programs OLIS Link to Submit Comment Hearing Date: 2/16/2026 3:00 PM SOCAN Position: Support SOCAN Public Comment | SB 1588 requires each investor-owned electric company to create an Inclusive Utility Investment Program that finances customer-side projects—like energy efficiency upgrades and renewable energy—at a customer’s home or business with no upfront payment required. |
| SB 1597 – Disclosure of “Waste Storage” Costs for Electricity Generation OLIS Link to Submit Comment Hearing Date: SOCAN Position: Support SOCAN Public Comment | SB 1597 is a transparency bill. It requires: Electric utilities (investor-owned utilities, PUDs, municipal utilities, and co-ops) to disclose to customers the costs of storing waste produced by an energy facility in generating electricity when those costs are being recovered in the utility’s rates. |
| Senate Committee On Natural Resources and Wildfire | |
| SB 1541 – Make Polluters Pay OLIS Link to Submit Comment Hearing Date: SOCAN Position: Support SOCAN Public Comment *Referred to Ways and Means* | SB 1541 would create a statewide Climate Superfund Cost Recovery Program to calculate Oregon’s costs from climate change tied to historic greenhouse gas emissions from fossil fuels and seek cost-recovery payments from large fossil-fuel entities deemed “responsible parties.” The recovered money would fund climate resilience projects across Oregon, with set-asides for wildfire-related work and environmental justice communities. |
| Senate Committee On Rules | |
| SJR 201 – Fix the Kicker OLIS Link to Submit Comment Hearing Date: 02/18/2026 8:00 AM SOCAN Position: Support | SJR 201 proposes a constitutional amendment changing how Oregon’s personal income tax “kicker” works when state revenues greatly exceed forecasts. Under current law, most excess General Fund revenue (outside corporate taxes) is returned entirely to personal income taxpayers. |
| Senate Committee On Judiciary | |
| SB 1553 – Utility Wildfire Liability OLIS Link to Submit Comment Hearing Date: SOCAN Position: Support SOCAN Public Comment | Stronger prevention incentives: By restricting ratepayer-funded recovery of litigation/settlement costs after a negligence finding, the bill may increase financial incentives for utilities to invest in wildfire risk reduction (vegetation management, grid hardening, shutoff protocols, etc.). |
| House Committee On Agriculture, Land Use, Natural Resources, and Water | |
| HB 4004 – Special Forestland Tax Assessment OLIS Link to Submit Comment Hearing Date: 02/18/2026 3:00 PM SOCAN Position: Support SOCAN Public Comment | HB 4004 would relieve forestland owners from paying additional “rollback” taxes when their land is removed from special forestland tax assessment because insects or disease prevent timely reforestation. |
| House Committee On Transportation | |
| HB 4126 – Recommendation for Oregon’s Road Usage Charge Rate OLIS Link to Submit Comment Hearing Date: 2/16/2026 8:00 AM SOCAN Position: Support SOCAN Public Comment *Referred to Ways and Means* | HB 4126 requires the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) to submit a biennial report to the Legislature recommending a per-mile road usage charge (RUC) rate that would raise enough revenue to sustainably maintain Oregon’s public highways. |
| House Committee On Revenue | |
| HB 4008 – Public Transportation Funding OLIS Link to Submit Comment Hearing Date: SOCAN Position: Support SOCAN Public Comment *Referred to Ways and Means* | Establishes the Transit Funding Task Force and directs the task force to report to an interim committee of the Legislative Assembly related to transportation no later than December 15, 2026. |
| House Committee On Climate, Energy, and Environment | |
| HB 4029 – Solar License Accountability Bill OLIS Link to Submit Comment Hearing Date: 02/23/2026 3:00 PM SOCAN Position: Support SOCAN Public Comment | HB 4029 is a consumer-protection and contractor-licensing bill for residential solar. It would require solar sales agents and solar energy contractors to: Hold (and use) the appropriate state electrical/renewables licenses for the work performed (and ensure anyone doing installation/repair/maintenance under the contract is properly licensed). |
| HB 4031 – EFSC Certification Process OLIS Link to Submit Comment Hearing Date: 02/23/2026 3:00 PM SOCAN Position: Support SOCAN Public Comment | HB 4031 would create a new exemption from Oregon’s Energy Facility Siting Council (EFSC) site certificate requirement for certain renewable electricity projects. HB 4031’s environmental effects flow from process changes (who reviews/conditions projects) and deployment speed (how quickly renewables can be built). |
| HB 4046 – Yet Another Nuclear Energy Study OLIS Link to Submit Comment Hearing Date: SOCAN Position: Oppose SOCAN Public Comment *Referred to Ways and Means* | HB 4046 directs the Oregon Department of Energy (ODOE)—if funding is available—to conduct a nuclear energy study (including “advanced nuclear reactors,” such as small and micro reactors) and deliver a report to legislative energy committees by February 15, 2027. |
| HB 4102 – DEQ “Expedited/Enhanced” Regulatory Process Agreements OLIS Link to Submit Comment Hearing Date: 02/23/2026 3:00 PM SOCAN Public Comment | HB 4102 changes how the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) can enter into “expedited or enhanced regulatory process” agreements—arrangements where a regulated entity pays DEQ so DEQ can speed up or improve permit reviews (for example by hiring extra staff or contracting with a third party). |
| HB 4144 – Recycling Batteries Bill OLIS Link to Submit Comment Hearing Date: SOCAN Public Comment *Referred to Ways and Means* | HB 4144 creates a statewide battery producer responsibility program (an “EPR” system) that makes battery producers pay for and run convenient collection and recycling of many common batteries sold in Oregon. |
| HJM 201- Extend Federal Tax Relief for Wildfire Victims OLIS Link to Submit Comment Hearing Date: SOCAN Public Comment | It urges Congress (and the President) to pass federal legislation that would permanently extend federal tax relief for wildfire victims, specifically the federal tax treatment that served as “companion relief” to Oregon’s SB 1520 (2024). |
| Joint Committee On Ways and Means | |
| HB 4032 – Emergency Fuel Storage Study OLIS Link to Submit Comment Hearing Date: SOCAN Position: Support SOCAN Public Comment *Referred to Ways and Means* | HB 4032 directs the Oregon Department of Energy (ODOE) to study and prioritize potential emergency fuel storage sites across the state. The study authority sunsets on January 2, 2029. |
| HB 4105 – Cut Down State Forests Bill OLIS Link to Submit Comment Hearing Date: SOCAN Position: Oppose SOCAN Public Comment *Referred to Ways and Means* | The bill’s directive to manage available state forestland “to produce” the harvest level could increase pressure to meet timber volume targets. Could elevate timber volume targets as a primary operational driver, potentially narrowing flexibility for climate and biodiversity-oriented management where not strictly required by existing law. |
| House Committee On Housing and Homelessness | |
| HB 4035 – UGB Growth OLIS Link to Submit Comment Hearing Date: SOCAN Public Comment | In effect, the bill broadens who can use the temporary UGB amendment pathway and increases the amount and type of land that can be added under that pathway, while also giving LCDC clearer authority to fund implementation work through grants. |
| HB 4082 – UGB Increase for Housing OLIS Link to Submit Comment Hearing Date: SOCAN Public Comment | HB 4082 expands Oregon’s temporary urban growth boundary (UGB) addition program to allow cities (and Metro) to add one additional site to the UGB specifically for: Manufactured dwelling parks, or Housing for older persons that is affordable to households earning no more than 120% of area median income (AMI). |
| House Committee On Revenue | |
| HB 4100 – Financial Responsibility for Bulk Fuel Terminals OLIS Link to Submit Comment Hearing Date: SOCAN Position: Support SOCAN Public Comment *Referred to Ways and Means* | HB 4100 requires owners or operators of bulk oil and liquid fuel terminals in Oregon to prove they have enough financial resources to pay for cleanup, damages, and other costs if there is an oil or fuel spill. To do this, terminals must obtain a certificate of financial responsibility from the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ). |
| House Committee On Housing and Homelessness | |
| HB 4134 – Transient Lodging Tax Increase to Fund Wildlife Recovery OLIS Link to Submit Comment Hearing Date: 2/16/2026 3:00 PM SOCAN Position: Support SOCAN Public Comment | HB 4082 expands Oregon’s temporary urban growth boundary (UGB) addition program to allow cities (and Metro) to add one additional site to the UGB specifically for: Manufactured dwelling parks, or Housing for older persons that is affordable to households earning no more than 120% of area median income (AMI). |
| Senate Bills that are Likely Deceased: | |
| SB 1526 – Clean Energy Financing OLIS Link to Submit Comment Hearing Date: SOCAN Public Comment | SB 1526 directs the Oregon Department of Energy to seek at least $2 million in grant funding (primarily from the State Agency Program Fund) to pay for “pre-startup” work to create a new nonprofit financing entity. If enough grant funding is secured, ODOE must recruit and convene a founding board to form the nonprofit. |
| SB 1584 – Salmon Credit Pilot Program OLIS Link to Submit Comment Hearing Date: SOCAN Public Comment | SB 1584 directs the Oregon Department of State Lands (DSL), working with the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW), to create a pilot “salmon credit” program in the Coquille and Coos watershed basins. |
| SJR 202 – Anti-Walkout Bill OLIS Link to Submit Comment Hearing Date: SOCAN Public Comment | SJR 202 asks Oregon voters to approve a constitutional amendment that would automatically add days to the length of a legislative session when either the Oregon Senate or House cannot conduct business because it fails to achieve a quorum after attempting to do so. |
| SB 1582 – Distributed Power Plant Programs for Grid Transmission OLIS Link to Submit Comment SOCAN Position: Support SOCAN Public Comment | SB 1582 requires every investor-owned electric company regulated under ORS chapter 757 to create a “distributed power plant” (DPP) program—a way for customers (directly or via third-party aggregators) to get paid for using behind-the-meter devices like batteries, smart load controls, and EVs to provide grid services (e.g., peak load reduction, voltage support, emergency services). |
| SB 1564 – Woodburn Urban Growth Boundary Expansion OLIS Link to Submit Comment SOCAN Position: Oppose SOCAN Public Comment | SB 1564 directly expands the City of Woodburn’s urban growth boundary (UGB) by adding a defined area of land (described by roads, the existing UGB edge, and a Marion County tax lot boundary). |
| SB 1542 – ODOT Funding OLIS Link to Submit Comment SOCAN Position: Support SOCAN Public Comment | Senate Bill 1542 doesn’t mandate specific transportation projects, but it fundamentally changes how Oregon chooses them—making it much harder to prioritize highway expansion ahead of repair, safety, and climate goals. |
| House Bills that are Likely Deceased: | |
| HB 4023 – Mass Transit District Financing OLIS Link to Submit Comment SOCAN Public Comment | HB 4023 would limit how certain mass transit districts can finance themselves unless voters approve the financing method. Specifically, for mass transit districts that were initiated by resolution under ORS 267.107, the bill would: |
| HB 4056 – Forestry Patrol Offset OLIS Link to Submit Comment SOCAN Public Comment | HB 4056 appropriates $9,000,000 from the General Fund to the State Forestry Department for the 2025–27 biennium (ending June 30, 2027) to offset potential increases in landowner forest patrol assessments—the charges landowners pay for fire protection services provided by the department. |
| HB 4080 – Balcony Solar Bill OLIS Link to Submit Comment SOCAN Public Comment | HB 4080 would legalize and protect the use of small, portable “plug-in” solar devices for Oregon electricity customers and residents. |
| HB 4129 – Keep Dirty Energy Bill OLIS Link to Submit Comment SOCAN Public Comment | HB 4129 does one main thing: Caps Oregon’s low carbon fuel standard (Clean Fuels Program) ambition by limiting greenhouse gas (GHG) reductions under the standards to no more than 10% below 2010 levels. |
| HB 4113 – DLCD Study of “Housing Credits” Tied to Land Conservation OLIS Link to Submit Comment SOCAN Public Comment | In effect, the bill broadens who can use the temporary UGB amendment pathway and increases the amount and type of land that can be added under that pathway, while also giving LCDC clearer authority to fund implementation work through grants. |
| HB 4009 – Vehicle Miles Traveled & EV Rebates OLIS Link to Submit Comment SOCAN Position: Support SOCAN Public Comment | Allow drivers to choose an annual flat fee instead of per-mile charges (the bill text shows a placeholder “$ ” for the flat fee amount at the operative date—suggesting the amount is not yet set in the introduced version). |
| HB 4125 – Better Budget Forecasting OLIS Link to Submit Comment SOCAN Position: Support SOCAN Public Comment SOCAN Public Comment | HB 4125 changes how Oregon prepares official revenue estimates that are used for budgeting and for calculating the state’s surplus revenue (“kicker”). The bill requires the state to use more conservative, standardized forecasting methods based on nationally recognized models and long-term historical data. |
| HB 4073 – Emission Regulation OLIS Link to Submit Comment SOCAN Position: Oppose SOCAN Public Comment | Rather than redress the imbalance in RAC membership whereby potentially regulated entities enjoy more than their fair share of representation, while expertise and organizations representing climate, conservation, environmental, and social justice are under-represented, HB4073 makes the imbalance worse by demanding over-representation from the target entities. |