We are excited to announce 350PDX’s climate justice priorities for the 2024 Oregon legislative session, which runs from February 5 to March 10. These bills cover many different facets of state policy — from housing and land use to climate-aware uses of our state’s finances and increasing climate resilience — while all sharing a core value of furthering climate justice.
Addressing the climate crisis will take nothing less than a radical cultural and economic shift; this requires all of us, at every level, making choices and changing systems to value life over profit. Creating policy changes is one of the largest contributions we can make toward a more just and sustainable future, since our individual actions can only effect tiny change. Getting involved in advocating for better policies is incredibly important work!
Sign up to receive action alerts during the 2024 Oregon legislative session so you know when and how to make your voice heard in the ways it will make the most impact.
Send a message telling your Senators and Representatives to support climate action this legislative session!
It is essential that our Senators and Representatives hear from us often, in as many different ways we can contact them: emails, phone calls, legislative meetings, constituent coffee days, lobby days in Salem, and more. Please join us in telling your Oregon State Senator and Representative to prioritize climate justice in budgeting and bill decisions this legislative session. Your voice as a constituent really matters, so use it!
Learn about 350PDX’s policy priorities and how to talk with legislators at our FEBRUARY ACTION NIGHT!
Wed, Feb 7, 6–8:00PM — 350PDX Office (3639 N Mississippi Ave), learn more and sign up here
Join us for 350PDX Action Night, a monthly in-person gathering at our office. This month, we’ll be showcasing our 2024 Oregon legislative priorities, with guests from partner orgs present to share about them and opportunities to take action. Robin Ye (former chief of staff for Rep. Khanh Pham) and Cherice Bock (350PDX climate policy manager) will lead a brief training in how to meaningfully share our climate justice stories with legislators.
You can also check out our 2024 Oregon State Legislative Priorities page to see the most up-to-date information on bills we’re supporting and how you can help get them passed!
Read on to learn about the priorities we’re uplifting this session:
HB 4083 – THE COAL ACT (CLEAN OREGON ASSETS LEGISLATION)
We are helping lead Divest Oregon’s legislative endeavors this year, supporting Rep. Khanh Pham’s introduction of the COAL Act, which will remove coal from much of Oregon State Treasury’s portfolio. See the press release for more information, including a long list of supportive lawmakers. A hearing on the bill will be held before the House Committee on Emergency Management, General Government, and Veterans next Thursday, Feb. 8, from 1–2:30pm. It can be viewed online, or you can attend in person in Salem to show support.
Sign up for our action alerts to get more info about the hearing once it’s available. Submit written testimony in support of the bill using this toolkit. You can also let your own legislators and the committee hearing the bill know of your support.
CLIMATE BUDGET: Encouraging the Legislature to Include Climate-Related Priorities in Each Year’s Budget
This year, we’re asking for the following climate budget items:
- Healthy Homes: We supported the Healthy Homes bill when it passed in 2021, and now it needs further funding of $15 million to last through 2024. This popular and important program funds energy efficiency and retrofits to homes of low-income Oregonians. This helps make energy bills more affordable, keeps homes at a livable temperature during climate emergencies, and protects against wildfire smoke.
- Worker Relief Fund: Last session, a worker relief fund of $1 million was approved to cover wages for farmworkers on days they can’t work due to climate emergencies and extreme weather. All of this was paid out. The ask this year is to fund it at the level requested, adding $9 million.
- Micro-mobility: Allocating funds to the Department of Environmental Quality to encourage e-bikes and other micro-mobility transport, so people can get around without using fossil fuels.
SB 1593 – FIRE SAFE COMMUNITIES
The State of Oregon is legally required to provide funds to suppress wildland fires, but it has a large funding shortfall in its commitment to community wildfire protection. SB 1593 would establish a workgroup to explore funding mechanisms for a durable long-term source of funding to invest in community resilience to fire, including the option of reinstating the timber severance tax with a focus on large corporate timberland holdings. The results of this workgroup would set the stage for strong legislation in next year’s long session.
AMEND SB 1537 – HOUSING PRODUCTION BILL
While we agree it is important to build more affordable housing and appreciate the incentives for climate-smart building in this bill proposed by Gov. Kotek, we have a number of concerns around this bill’s expansion of urban growth boundaries (UGBs). We advocate for SB 1537 to be amended to encourage housing to be built within existing UGBs, where there is existing infrastructure and better access to services. This requires less driving and encourages more walkable communities.
OTHER BILLS WE’RE SUPPORTING:
- HB 4044 – Toxic Plumes Study: authorizes the DEQ to study risks related to toxic inhalation in an earthquake. This could help in our work to address issues in the Critical Energy Infrastructure hub in Portland, as well as similar locations around the state.
- HB 4132 – Marine Reserves: allocate funding to continue marine reserves, which help maintain ocean health, contributing to a more sustainable climate.
- HB 4148 – Wildlife Omnibus Bill: helps support wildlife by reducing disease and addressing invasive species — much of which are related to influences from climate change that spread species range and disease by increasing pest habitat and active months; funding to create wildlife corridors and crossings.
- SB 1559 – Greenhouse Gas Emissions Rules Updates: replaces goals set for 2010 and 2020 with goals for 2030 and beyond that will keep the planet to 1.5°C of warming (or less), changing from 75% to 95% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions in Oregon by 2050 and net zero standards for the remaining emissions.
We’re looking forward to passing meaningful policy with you this session! Stay tuned for more opportunities to take action this legislative session.
Let’s do this!
Dineen O’Rourke (350PDX Campaign Manager), Brenna Bell (350PDX Forest Climate Manager), and Cherice Bock (350PDX Climate Policy Manager)
P.S. Did you miss our How a Bill Becomes a Law Training? Check out the recording of the training here so you feel informed to participate in this year’s legislative session with us!
