2025 Oregon Legislative Session:

350PDX Priority Bills

In this moment where climate and environmental policies at the national level are in danger of being overturned and defunded, it is more important than ever to have solid, effective, and equitable climate and environmental policies at the state level. 

At 350PDX, our priorities are to stop and reverse the impacts of climate change, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, ensure our communities can recover from climate emergencies we’re already experiencing, create infrastructure to support transitioning to a sustainable future, and ensure that each Oregonian has the ability to participate in climate-friendly choices. We urge Oregon’s lawmakers to support policies that will help people thrive in a healthy environment–now and for decades to come.

Download our one-page information sheet to see all the priority bills and share with others.

Ways & Means:

ACTION: Email the W&M committee

Many of our bills are currently in the Ways & Means Committee (W&M), where decisions are made regarding what will be funded (learn more about them below):

  • SB 688, performance-based regulation of utilities
  • HB 3081, one-stop shop for energy rebates 2.0
  • HB 3170, resilience hubs and networks
  • HB 3193, farmworker disaster relief
  • HB 3172, grants for fire risk retrofits
  • HB 3103, “sustainable” timber harvests (OPPOSE)
  • HB 2949, risk bonds for bulk fuel storage
  • HB 2152, disaster fuel reserves
  • HB 2038, 2410: nuclear bills
  • HB 3062, planning for healthy communities act

Transportation rules and infrastructure that supports a just transition to a sustainable society:

As part of the Move Oregon Forward coalition, 350PDX advocates for a transportation package that centers safety, reduces emissions, and increases accessibility and affordability of public transit.

  • HB 2961: (SUPPORT) Requiring electric vehicle hookups in new construction of multi-family buildings helps build the infrastructure required to meet Oregon’s climate goals, and for middle- and low-income Oregonians to participate in the transition.

Investments that address climate risk: 

Logo with mountains and a river, white on black background. As part of the Divest Oregon coalition, 350PDX supports legislation that safeguards our public employees’ retirement funds. Investments in fossil fuels increase the risk of climate change, which destabilizes the planetary systems conducive to life as well as the economic systems required to receive positive return on investments. We must stop investing in fossil fuels and other climate and economically risky investments.

  • HB 2081: (SUPPORT) The Treasury will manage climate risks and reduce the carbon intensity of the PERS portfolio.

Reduce building emissions and increase individual and community resilience:

350PDX is a member of the Building Resilience coalition, which supports these bills related to building emissions, energy justice and affordability, and community and climate resilience.

  • SB 88: (SUPPORT) Energy affordability “Get the Junk Out of Rates” – With the goal of limiting the power of monopoly, for-profit utilities from continuing to raise rates on consumers, this bill would prohibit an electric or gas company using ratepayer funds to cover expenses associated with advertising, political influence activity.
  • HB 3081: (SUPPORT) One-stop shop for energy rebates 2.0: There’s never been more financial help for Oregonians to upgrade their homes and buildings for better health, lower costs, less pollution, and higher resilience, yet finding and applying for all the incentives can be a challenge. This bill will build on the success of Oregon’s new tool to find and combine incentives for homeowners, landlords, contractors and more.
  • HB 3179: (SUPPORT) The Fair Energy Act empowers state regulators to set energy billing rates at the lowest possible level, so families can better avoid big increases in energy bills. The bill also will move any increases out of winter, when energy usage is highest.
  • HB 3546: (SUPPORT) The POWER Act protects ratepayers from paying more than their share of electricity load growth due to data centers, cryptocurrency shops, and other energy large users.

Fully fund climate budget:

  • HB 3170: (SUPPORT) Community resilience hubs and networks would create a $10 million fund to secure a second round of funding for the successful Community Resilience Hubs grant program.
  • HB 3193: (SUPPORT) Farmworker disaster relief.
  • Rental Home Heat Pump Program (ODOE)
  • Community Heat Pump Program (ODOE)
  • Healthy Homes (OHA)
  • Community Renewable Energy Grant Program (ODOE)
  • Oregon Clean Vehicle Rebate Program/Charge Ahead (DEQ)
  • Medium and Heavy-Duty Vehicles Rebates + Infrastructure Grants (DEQ)
  • Climate Change Worker Relief Fund (DAS)
  • Oregon Solar + Storage Rebate Program (ODOE)

Mitigate risks from fossil fuel infrastructure and emissions

CEI Hub bills:

  • HB 2949: (SUPPORT) DEQ study of the viability of a risk bond requirement for bulk fuel storage facilities in the state.
  • HB 2152: (SUPPORT) Disaster fuel reserves located in strategic places around the state
  • Other bills:
  • SB 685: (SUPPORT) Hydrogen Oversight and Public Notice: if a hydrogen production or hydrogen blending facility is being put in, neighbors must be notified.

Protect forests, trees, and natural and working lands:

  • Fully fund climate smart forest management: 
  • HB 3172: (SUPPORT) Establish a grant program for home and building hardening and retrofits to make them less vulnerable to wildfire damage.
  • HB 3489: (SUPPORT) Reinstate timber severance tax for large timber corporations to pay for wildfires.
  • HB 3103: (OPPOSE) Directs the State Forester to establish “sustainable harvest levels” for harvesting timber on state forestland. This law would make it harder for the Department of Forestry to adapt forest management to changing needs and circumstances. Info sheet

Energy transition that centers justice and environmental protection:

  • SB 688: (SUPPORT) Performance-based regulation of electrical utilities would create incentives and penalties designed to ensure that utilities are aligned with public interest, including reducing emissions, increasing efficiency, serving low-income households, and improve the reliability and resiliency of the electricity grid.
  • HB 3336: (SUPPORT) Grid-Enhancing Technologies (GETs) would make electricity transmission lines more efficient and more sensitive to problems that could cause fires.
  • Nuclear power: OPPOSE bills that would roll back protections restricting nuclear power plants; these rollbacks would endanger waterways and ecosystems: HB 2038, HB 2410.
    — ACTION: Sign this petition from Columbia Riverkeeper opposing these bills.
    —RSVP for the Keep Oregon Nuclear Free Day of Action May 19, with both virtual and in-person (Salem) options