2022 Oregon Legislative Wrap-up
Climate Action
SB 1518A Reach Codes Bill. Establishes Task Force on Resilient Efficient Buildings and specifies task force membership.
Started as proposal of specific Reach Code details buy builder resistance led to back-up to Task Force. Rep. Pam Marsh will co-chair the Task Force
SOCAN & ROCPAC Support, SOCAN & ROCPAC Testimony
Passed…..Local Support: Golden, Marsh,
Local Nays: Linthicum, Breese Iverson, Morgan, Reschke, Brock Smith, Wallan
SB1519 Grants property tax exemption for proportion of community solar project that is owned by residential customers or leased by residential subscribers.
Granted property tax exemption for proportion of community solar project that is owned by residential customers or leased by residential subscribers.
SOCAN & ROCPAC Support, SOCAN Testimony
Passed…..Local Support: Golden, Marsh
Local Nays: Morgan, Wallan
HB4057 Adds “spray sprinkler bodies” to minimum energy efficiency standards.
In an age when water availability is one of the first and most important casualties of climate change, it only makes good sense to impose efficiency standards on water sprinklers.
SOCAN & ROCPAC Support, SOCAN & ROCPAC Testimony
Passed……Local Support: Marsh, Golden
Local Nays: Morgan, Reschke, Wallan, Linthicum
HB4059 Fixes last year’s HB2021 on Labor standards.
This proposal merely corrects minor errors concerning labor standards in last session’s HB2021
SOCAN & ROCPAC Support, SOCAN Testimony
Passed….Local Support: Marsh, Golden
Local Nays: Breese Iverson, Reschke, Stark, Wallan
HB4061 Authorizes Water Resources Director to petition for warrant authorizing entry onto private land for inspection.
County water master (employee of the Oregon Water Resources Department) monitors water rights and water use but has no authority to enter private property uninvited to inspect. This is a huge problem in the Southern Oregon hemp / cannabis arena. Bill allows watermaster to seek a warrant to enter property.
SOCAN & ROCPAC Support, SOCAN Testimony
Passed No Opposition
HB4139 Transportation greenhouse gas replacement in materials.
Construction materials used in roads and bridges contribute substantially to emissions. It seems reasonable to seek alternative ways of making such materials that result in lower emissions.
SOCAN & ROCPAC Support, SOCAN Testimony
Passed……Local Support: Marsh, Golden,
Local Opposition: Morgan, Wallan, Linthicum
HB4090 Concerning diesel-powered vehicles
HB4141 Establishes timeline for restrictions on sales of petroleum diesel for use in motor vehicles.
DIED in Committee
Financial / Tax Issues
SB 1526 Establishes limits on campaign contributions that may be accepted by candidates and political committees.
SOCAN & ROCPAC Support, SOCAN Testimony
SB1561 Prohibits candidates for state office from accepting contributions in excess of amounts specified and from sources not specified
SOCAN & ROCPAC Support, SOCAN & ROCPAC Testimony
DIED in Committee
HB4055 Extends privilege taxes on merchantable forest products harvested on forestlands.
Extends privilege taxes on merchantable forest products harvested on forestlands. The Privilege tax is a small (minuscule) harvest tax for the privilege of harvesting timber. The 90 cents per thousand board feet (over 25,000) are assigned to funding research.
SOCAN & ROCPAC Support, SOCAN Testimony
Passed….Local Support Marsh, Wallan, Golden
Local Nays: Breese Iverson, Morgan, Brock Smith, Stark, Linthicum
HB4115 Directs Oregon Investment Council to publish annually complete list of assets held in investment funds. (Investment Transparency Act)
Did not require divestment from fossil fuel corporations but requires that Oregon Investment Council become transparent in informing Oregonians of where our tax funds are invested.
SOCAN & ROCPAC Support; SOCAN & ROCPAC Testimony
Passed House….. Local Support: Marsh, Golden
Local Nays: Breese Iverson, Morgan, Reschke, Brock Smith, Stark, Wallan
DIED on Senate President’s Desk
Budget
Decarbonizing buildings and transportation
$15M to clear the electric vehicle (EV) rebate backlog
$5M for EV charging for medium- and heavy-duty vehicles
$25M for low-income heat pump installation
$5M for low-income solar and storage
Protecting people from environmental harms
$5M Healthy Homes program additional funding
Resilient natural and working lands
$25M for water management to address drought resilience
$5M Agricultural Heritage Fund (preserve working farms)
$1M pollinator protection
$7M for wildlife road crossings
Natural Resources and Working Lands
SB1501 – Directs State Board of Forestry to adopt single rule package on or before November 30, 2022, to implement Private Forest Accord Report.
Grew out of accord established between timber and conservation groups
Avoids a protracted an expensive ballot and counter-ballot campaign. Increases riparian (streamside) forest protection. Takes a first step towards recognition of the value of beaver. Initiates a process that will regulate pesticides use. Directs Board of Forestry to develop Habitat Management Plans
SOCAN & ROCPAC Supported SOCAN Testimony
Passed…. Local Support: Golden, Marsh, Wallan
Local Opposition: Linthicum, Breese Iverson, Morgan, Reschke, Brock Smith, Stark,
SB1534 Established state policy to increase carbon sequestration in natural and working lands and waters.
Arose from the OGWC Natural and Working Lands proposal . Required certain agencies to monitor progress implementing state carbon sequestration policy. Report findings to Oregon Global Warming Commission.
SOCAN & ROCPAC Priority, Independent testimony, ROCPAC testimony
DIED in Ways & Means
SB1546 Established Elliott State Research Forest consisting of lands formerly constituting Elliott State Forest.
Creates Elliott State Research Forest Authority to administer Elliott State Research Forest. Provides that authority shall be governed by board of directors; Voting members are appointed by State Land Board.
SOCAN & ROCPAC Supported; SOCAN Testimony
Passed…..Local support: Golden & Marsh
Local opposition: Linthicum, Morgan, Reschke, Wallan
HB4055 Extends privilege taxes on merchantable forest products harvested on forestlands.
See Financial / Tax Issues above
SB1533 Makes federally recognized Indian tribes in Oregon eligible for certain grants related to clean air shelters and smoke filtration systems.
Cleans up Senator Golden’s SB762 from the 2021 Legislative Session. Clarifies and funds ongoing wildfire mitigation and recovery.
SOCAN & ROCPAC Support; SOCAN & ROCPAC testimony
Passed…..Local Support: Golden, Marsh;
Local Opposition: Breese Iverson, Morgan, Wallan
Social & Environmental Justice
SB1537 Modified requirements for housing cost impact statement required for adoption of certain rules.
Common tactic to prevent rules from becoming effective is to require cost assessment
SOCAN & ROCPAC Opposed; SOCAN testimony
DIED in committee
HB4002 Prohibits employers from permitting or requiring agricultural workers to work in excess of maximum allowable hours unless workers are compensated for overtime hours worked.
Ag workers among most harmed by climate, many of whom live in Southern Oregon. Proposal would go some way to protecting such workers.
SOCAN & ROCPAC Supported; SOCAN & ROCPAC testimony
Passed…..Local support: Marsh, Golden,
Local Opposition: Breese Iverson, Morgan, Reschke, Brock Smith, Stark, Wallan
HB4058 Directed Oregon Health Authority to create program to acquire and distribute air conditioners and air purifiers on emergency basis to individuals eligible for medical assistance.
Representative Marsh’s proposal that sought to assist those in specific need to obtain efficient air coolers. Focuses on electric heat pumps
SOCAN & ROCPAC Supported; SOCAN Testimony
DIED in Ways & Means
HB4077 Renamed Environmental Justice Task Force as Environmental Justice Council.
Addressed environmental justice more permanently by renaming E.J. Task Force as E.J. Council.
SOCAN & ROCPAC Supported; SOCAN Testimony
Passed…..Local support: Marsh, Golden,
Local Opposition: Breese Iverson, Morgan, Reschke, Stark, Wallan, Linthicum
HCR 203 Declares legislative intent to address risk to workers due to climate change impacts and climate hazards.
SOCAN & ROCPAC Supported;
DIED at Speaker’s Desk
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