Beyond Toxics 2021 Legislative Commitments
Learn about the bills we supported in 2021
Passed Bills
Equity and Climate in Land Use - HB 2488-A
Our statewide land use planning goals were written and adopted nearly 50 years ago, and lack standards for meaningful and equitable public participation, for achieving environmental justice, and for addressing the impacts of climate change. HB 2488, Equity and Climate in Land Use, addresses these gaps in our land use system – putting Oregon on a path towards land use decisions that plan for a just and climate-resilient future.
Bill Title: Equity and Climate in Land Use
Summary: Requires Land Conservation and Development Commission to make changes to statewide land use planning goals by December 31, 2026, to address climate justice by addressing climate change adaptation and mitigation and environmental justice for disadvantaged communities.
Chief Sponsors: Representative Power, Helm; Senators Golden and Dembrow
Regular Sponsors: Representatives Holvey, Wilde; Senators Frederick and Prozanski
Status: Passed!
Environmental Justice for Oregon - SCR 17
As Oregon takes on the monumental challenge of addressing the climate crisis, we need to ensure that we do not repeat the mistakes of the past, and that BIPOC and other historically underserved communities are centered and meaningfully consulted every step of the way.
Bill Title: Environmental Justice for Oregon: A Joint Resolution
Summary: This joint resolution establishes principles, builds a framework of shared values, and lays the path forward for future policies and practices based on the right to ethical, balanced, healthy and responsible uses of land and renewable resources for future generations.
Chief Sponsors: Senator Dembrow, Representative Power
Regular Sponsors: Senator Manning, Senator Frederick, Senator Golden, Representative Helm, Representative Schouten, Representative Lively, Representative Reardon, Representative Wilde
Status: Passed!
Pesticide Use Reform - HB 2409-A
This bill creates an opt-out policy in homeowner associations giving people more say-so in preventing unwanted pesticide sprays where they live and play. Passing HB 2409 highlights the important conversation about alternatives to harmful pesticides in our home and natural environments.
Bill Title: Relating to pesticide application within planned communities.
Summary: HB 2409-A, introduced by Rep. Neron, prohibits homeowners associations from requiring application of pesticide on owner’s property. This bill helps protect pregnant women, infants and children, elders, and pets from inadvertent pesticide exposure on lawns and walkways near homes within Homeowners Associations.
Chief Sponsors: Representatives Neron, Hudson
Regular Sponsors: Representatives Grayber, Wilde; Senators Gelser, Riley
Status: Passed!
Clean Energy for All - HB 2021
Amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, wildfires, and widespread lost income, there’s never been a more important time for energy policy that helps us all recover and build back–especially those who have been hit hardest by these crises. Clean energy can create opportunities in every community across Oregon. New projects can create good jobs and local economic and resiliency benefits. The potential for clean energy projects has not been fully realized or felt equally across the state.
Bill Title: Relating to clean energy; and prescribing an effective date.
Summary: Create good, well-paying, local jobs in the renewable energy sector that incentivize local projects that are good for communities and reduce pollution by achieving 100% clean energy as soon as possible.
Sponsors: Representatives Power, Marsh, Pham
Status: Passed!
Air Quality and Polluter Compliance - HB 3372-A
This bill expands the authority of the Department of Environmental Quality to require information from pollution permit applicants reasonably sufficient for the department to evaluate the applicant’s history of compliance with environmental quality laws during the 10-year period prior to the application date. This authority includes determining if an applicant has a demonstrated practice of taking actions found to be intentional, frequent and reckless in regards to toxic releases to residential and natural environments. In Oregon there are well-known examples of hazardous, repeat polluters such as NW Metals in Portland and J.H. Baxter in Eugene.
Bill Title: Relating to environmental quality; and prescribing an effective date.
Summary: Authorizes Department of Environmental Quality to require certain information related to history of compliance with environmental quality laws from applicant for an air quality or asbestos abatement license or permit. Authorizes department to refuse to issue or renew permits to applicants that are or include chronic violators.
Chief Sponsors: Representative Kotek
Regular Sponsors: Representatives Grayber, Dexter, Campos, Holvey, Nosse, Power
Status: Passed!
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.
Bill Title: Relating to healthy homes.
Summary: The Healthy Homes Bill (HB 2842) would create a Healthy Homes program to invest in life-changing home energy upgrades and support critical home improvements for low-income families.
Chief Sponsors: Representatives Marsh, Power, Pham
Regular Sponsors: Representatives Marsh, Power, Pham
Status: Passed!
Oregon Energy Affordability Act - HB 2475
During the pandemic, Oregonians struggle to make ends meet and spend more time at home. Energy burden, the share of someone’s income that goes toward energy bills, is increasing as people use more energy and sources of income dry up. People are falling behind on their bills, making tough budget decisions, and need relief. At the same time, utilities need tools to help manage mounting past-due bills. The legislature must act to allow for flexible rate structures that relieve energy burden and protect all ratepayers long-term from widespread cost increases.
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.
Bill Title: Relating to public utilities.
Summary: Decrease utility costs for families already struggling in the economic recession by establishing a Low-Income Utility Rate Class.
Sponsors: Representatives Power, Pham
Status: Passed!
Bills That Did Not Pass
OFRI Funding - HB 2357
If passed, HB 2357 would end government funding the Oregon Forest Research Industry (OFRI), which is an industry PR organization. OFRI has used taxpayer dollars for decades to promote industrial timber clear-cuts in the media and as school curriculum to convince the public that clearcuts are good for Oregon.
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.
Bill Title: Relating to forest management.
Summary: Eliminates funding for Oregon Forest Resources Institute Fund (OFRI) and directs equivalent moneys to a newly established Sound Forestry Practices Sub-account of State Forestry Department Account. Requires that revenue from levy of additional privilege tax under forest products harvest tax be credited to Sound Forestry Practices Subaccount. Directs use of moneys in account. Board of Forestry sets future rates.
Sponsors: Representatives Salinas, Holvey, Golden, Pham, Wilde
Status: Did not pass out of committee.
Organic Food Production - SB 404
Bill Title: Relating to organic food production.
Summary: Instructs Oregon State University Extension Service to establish certain new positions related to organic production and maintain certain existing position related to organic production.
Chief Sponsors: Senator Prozanski
Regular Sponsors: Senator Golden
Status: Did not pass out of committee.
Rename Environmental Justice Task Force as Environmental Justice Council - SB 286
Bill Title: Relating to environmental justice; prescribing an effective date.
Summary: Renames Environmental Justice Task Force as Environmental Justice Council.
Sponsors: Printed pursuant to Senate Interim Rule 213.28 by order of the President of the Senate in conformance with presession filing rules, indicating neither advocacy nor opposition on the part of the President.
Status: Did not pass out of committee.
