Legislative Record: 2018 – 2020
From 2018 through 2020, SOCAN actively monitored and engaged in state legislation with direct implications for climate and energy policy. These years included pivotal debates, emerging policy frameworks, and the groundwork that shaped the legislative efforts that followed.
This page provides the official bill language, SOCAN’s positions on each measure, and links to annual summaries that highlight how these sessions informed and influenced Oregon’s broader climate policy trajectory. Together, they offer a clear record of our role during this formative period.
2020 Oregon Legislative Session
Climate change petitions have momentum across Oregon
Campaign turns in two times more signatures than needed, easily clearing first hurdle to 2020 ballot
JACKSON COUNTY, Oregon – Oregonians want enforceable clean energy standards and to move to a renewable, clean energy economy; they are showing it with their support for three ballot measure proposals designed to do just that.
- More than 6,000 signatures from across the state, including rural Harney, Wasco, and Jackson Counties, have quickly endorsed IP48, IP49, and IP50, three proposed ballot measures that, if enacted, will move Oregon into a sustainable, clean energy economy.
- This is double the requirement of 1,000 sponsorship signatures per measure needed to qualify for a ballot title, and collected in less than 3 weeks.
This enthusiasm is matched by polling earlier this year showing 70% of Oregonians support setting a 100% clean electricity standard, the essence of the Clean Energy ballot measures (IP 48 and IP 49). Meanwhile, the concept of 100% Clean Economy statewide (IP 50) is supported by 67% of Oregonians. Oregonians support enforcing Oregon’s targets for reducing carbon emissions.
The reduction of carbon and other greenhouse gases has become more pressing than ever. With the air pollution created by climate change induced wildfires, the American Lung Association recently determined that the Rogue Valley has the 17th most polluted air in the country. Alan Journet, founding ballot coalition member and Southern Oregon Climate Action Now (SOCAN) Co-Facilitator stated: “It’s beyond time for us to address climate chaos. Unless we act now, with solutions that benefit rural and disadvantaged communities, our health will be compromised even as our forests, fisheries, and agriculture are destroyed. The legislature let us down in 2019; we cannot risk this happening again and must take action into our own hands.”
Supporters announced they’re moving forward with the ballot measures as insurance against another failure of the state legislature next year to pass a Clean Energy Jobs bill.
Measure supporters say the preferred path to reduce climate pollution is through legislation in 2020 that holds large, corporate polluters accountable for reducing dangerous emissions and provides important funds to help the state manage the effects of climate change and invest in clean energy, rural Oregon, and disadvantaged communities.
“Both legislation and ballot measures will meet our goals of reducing climate pollution for our communities, our economies, and the health of our people,” says Clean Electricity Chief Petitioner Lisa Adatto.
“Because of limits to what ballot measures can do, we aren’t able to make polluters pay in the way legislation does, but we are able to give the state the authority to limit pollution and make sure Oregon is taking responsibility for our share of the problem. 2020 is going to be the year of climate action, one way or another.”
Supporters say they believe lawmakers will stand up to the powerful polluter lobby and pass legislation, but they are not taking any chances. The ballot measure campaign is moving ahead full steam, riding the public wave of support for climate action that is sweeping across Oregon.
Next steps:
Now that sponsorship signatures for the measures are submitted, they are officially filed, signatures will be verified, and the Oregon Attorney General will draft a ballot title. Upon final approval of the title, the campaigns can begin gathering the 112,000 signatures necessary to qualify for the 2020 ballot.
To get involved in the campaign, go to OregoniansforCleanAir.org, or contact rocpac.org For complete ballot language and updates on Rogue Valley ballot measure activities, visit: https://socan.eco/ballotmeasures/
The 100% Ready for Clean Air measures are:
- 100% Clean Economy ballot measure (Initiative Petition 50)- updates and enforces the voluntary climate pollution reduction targets already in Oregon law. It will require our state to reduce greenhouse gas pollution 50% below 1990 levels by 2035 and achieve zero climate pollution by 2050. This is consistent with what the best available science indicates we must achieve.
- 100% Clean Electricity ballot measure (Initiative Petition 48)- requires all electricity used in Oregon to be from 100% clean renewable sources by 2045, a target consistent with our west coast neighbors Washington, Nevada and California. Today, more than 48% of Oregon’s electricity comes from coal and other fossil fuels, creating unhealthy and dangerous pollution. Clean electricity will be the backbone of a clean economy.
Additional notes:
Two versions of the 100% Clean Electricity measure have been filed. Both will transition Oregon’s electricity to 100% clean renewable sources by 2045. The second (IP 49) also updates the law to require that electric utilities more aggressively invest in electric car charging and clean building technologies, like electric heating. The petitioners will decide which version(s) to take to the ballot later in the process.
2019 Oregon Legislative Session
1- Legislative Days at the Capitol in Salem (Monday November 18th, 2019)
We have been absent from the Capitol building for several months. Meanwhile, Timber Unity, Industry, and our well-oiled opponents and their lobbyists have been inundating legislators in the Capitol with their ongoing campaign of lies and misinformation. On Monday (18th) we will try to recapture that sense of energy and enthusiasm for climate action that we demonstrated in the 2019 session.
To this end, we will be driving to Salem to (a) be seen in large numbers wandering the Halls in the Capitol, (b) visiting our legislators to indicate that we are still here and urging action, and (c) delivering letters from rural Oregon to those legislators demonstrating rural concern for action It would be helpful if those going to Salem were to carry letters to their legislators (from themselves and anyone else they can tap to write a letter that:
- 1) identify why they were inspired by HB2020,
- 2) explain why they, as rural Oregonians, care,
- 3) Underline that this is unfinished business, and
- 4) urge a strong bill in the 2020 session.
These can also be mailed / e-mailed: Find your state legislators: https://www.oregonlegislature.gov/FindYourLegislator/leg-districts.html
The plan is to leave the region about 8:00 – 8:30 to be in Salem by around noon. We are trying to schedule legislator visits between 12:30 and 2:00 so we can head back soon after that – to return by 5:30 – 6:00. If you plan to make the trip, please contact Alan (541-301-4107, alan@socan.eco) so we can keep you updated on plans and the schedule of meetings. If you would like to join a car-pool, let Alan know so this can be arranged.
SOCAN will buy carbon offsets for those joining the car-pool to counter GHG emissions resulting from the trip. A flexible one-on-one orientation to the day’s activity and legislator messaging has been scheduled for whenever we arrive – at the Salem (Marion County) Democratic Party HQ: 245 High St NE, Salem, OR 97301 any time between 8am – 4pm.
Please wear your orange SOCAN, grey MCP, or the white Clean Energy Jobs T-Shirt since our goal is to be conspicuous by our presence.
2- Urgent Action Requested – Help us take a stand against corporate polluters!
Would you like to close loopholes in Oregon law that currently allow cancer-causing chemicals like mercury, arsenic and lead to be released into our air, water, and soil? Sign The Toxics Reduction and Right to Know Measure (IP 56) right now!
The Toxics Reduction and Right to Know Measure will give Oregon voters a voice in the 2020 election to close toxic pollution loopholes and allow total transparency of toxic pollution. Here’s what it does:
Toxic pollution is making people sick and contributing to unnecessary deaths. Toxic pollution causes cancer. Toxic pollution causes asthma. Toxic pollution causes heart disease. Together we can reduce toxic pollution and lift the gag order that prevents local communities from learning which toxics go into their air, water and soil from industrial and commercial facilities.
The Toxics Reduction and Right to Know Measure has been endorsed by Oregon League of Conservation Voters, Beyond Toxics, Pineros y Campesinos Unidos del Noroeste (PICUN), Oregon Environmental Council, NAACP Eugene/Springfield, Union of Concerned Scientists, and others in the Oregonians for Clean Air coalition (including SOCAN).
We are seeking signature on the first round petition drive to get the Secretary of State to accept the Ballot Measure. The process requires that statewide we gather 1000 signatures submitted to and reaching Renew Oregon by Wednesday (21st).
We’d like you to download the form, sign it, and mail it by Monday at the latest to the address on the form: (Renew Oregon, Attention Sonny Mehta, P.O. Box 5999, Portland OR 97228).
2018 Legislation
The Clean Energy Jobs Bill (CEJ), known as SB1070 as the 2017 session closed, will have a new number when the 2018 session opens. It has 42 sponsors/supporters, 29 in the House and 13 in the Senate. Regrettably these are all Democrats. Though climate science is a non-partisan issue (or should be non-partisan) the Oregon GOP, like its national counterpart, insists on making this partisan by offering every possible excuse for non-support that their members can muster.
Governor Brown is on board for 2018 passage as is House Speaker Tina Kotek and the complete House Leadership team. Unfortunately, only one of the Senate Leadership team is so far on board, which means this chamber, where the bill needs 3 more votes out of 4 Democratic members, could be an obstacle. Persuading some Republicans to acknowledge the urgency of action would be beneficial.
This is not only because Senate President Courtney is more likely to be supportive if there is evidence of bi-partisan support, but also because revenue generating bills constitutionally require a 3/5th majority in each chamber to pass. Although the Legislative Counsel writers feel that the bill is a permitting bill not a revenue-generating bill and thus evades the 3/5th requirement, this opinion could be challenged in court.
The campaign for 2018 also involves efforts to generate support for the Clean Energy Jobs Bill among Businesses, Organizations, Elected local officials, The Agricultural Community, the Faith Community and particularly (of course) among State Representatives. To achieve the latter, we are seeking constituents in Districts represented by non-sponsors (non-supporters?) who will contact reps and urge their support and urge them to identify CEJ as a high priority for 2018.
The SOCAN Government Group is working on these tactics:
- 1) Reaching out to representatives through constituents to encourage signing on to CEJB and assigning it high priority
- 2) Working through the Jackson County Democratic Party to educate the Democratic Party of Oregon (DPO) about the importance and urgency of action.
At the SOCAN/Rogue Climate Clean Energy Jobs Forum on September 7th we established a series of teams working locally on the above elements. Anyone wishing to help promote meaningful greenhouse gas emissions (climate pollution) reduction legislation in Oregon is encouraged to contact Alan Journet
Updated Clean Energy Jobs Bill The complete current bill as amended at the end of the 2017 session
Clean Energy Jobs Bill 2017 Summary September 2017 A two-page summary of the latest version developed by Alan Journet
Democratic Party Strategy
We are also working with the Democratic Party of Oregon and County Central Committees to and make it a high priority for that session to pass a resolution supporting the Clean Energy Jobs Bill in 2018 and encourage representatives to support it. The following resolution has been passed by the Jackson County Democratic Party Central Committee and is being considered by other such committees across the state. An abbreviated version will be presented at the state level in November.
JCDPCC Resolution A pdf file
JCDPCC Resolution A word file
History:
The combination of optimism generated by the Paris Agreement regarding global warming goals, and pessimism generated by the November election, have led to the greater realization that for the U.S. to achieve meaningful reductions in emissions, the states must take the lead. The pressure, therefore, is on states such as Oregon where there is a political ‘climate’ that conceivably could enact meaningful GHG emissions reduction legislation. However, we cannot possible achieve comprehensive greenhouse gas emissions (climate pollution) reduction without YOUR help.
SB 557 passed out of the Senate Environment and Natural Resources on Wednesday April 12, 2017 and was recommended by that committee to move to the Senate Rules committee. As a formality, all Senate bills must go to the Senate President’s desk after they leave their first committee, to be ‘referred’ by the President. Usually bills pass along without any conflict, but President Courtney decided to hold SB 557. We weren’t sure why.
Unfortunately, the Senate President’s office then sent SB 557 to the Senate Business and Transportation committee. This killed the bill. The bill sponsor Senator Beyer sits on that committee, but there’s nothing he could do since it arrived too late to be scheduled for meaningful action.
BUT – there was also a House bill under consideration (HB 2135). This was 2016’s Healthy Climate Bill. We knew the Senate would be tough, and Senate President Courtney has never been a friend of the environment. However, House Energy and Environment Committee Chair Helm agreed to amend HB 2135 so it mirrors SB 557. Local Representative Pam Marsh – our champion – sits on this committee.
HB 2135 was recommended Do Pass by the House E & E committee om April 17 and forwarded to the House Rules committee where it ultimately dies as the session ended.
As the Session drew to a close, Representative Helm and Senator Dembrow resurrected HB2135 with amendments as SB1070, which received a reading in the Senate before closure. This bill has 33 sponsors (see 2018, above).
Confronting Climate Change is the testimony submitted on behalf of SOCAN by Alan Journet. Subsequently a series of Tuesday evening joint informational work sessions (5:30 pm) were held to explore the various bills and hear testimony on them.