HEALTHY HOMES BILL – HB 2842

In 2020, it became even more clear that living in a healthy home is essential. Fifty-four percent of Oregonians live in housing built before 1978. This housing is energy inefficient and in need of repairs. Low-income families are at the highest risk. People living in energy inefficient homes experience sick days and hospital visits caused by mold, cold weather, and an inability to take refuge from bad outdoor air quality. This is even more dangerous during a respiratory pandemic: research shows that people who breathe polluted air are at greater risk of severe cases of COVID-19.

HB 2357 requires that some tax revenue under forest products harvest tax be credited to State Forestry Department Account for deposit in Sound Forestry Practices Subaccount. These tax payer dollars need to be redirected to science-based forest management, not slick commercials covering up environmental harm from corporate timber.