THE BILL GRAVEYARD

WE HAD SIGNIFICANT WINS THIS SESSION. But, despite our victories, several bills important to the environment died due to successful industry pressure on legislators. But, we also successfully helped kill some awful ones.

GOOD BILLS THAT DIED

HB 2020 Clean Energy Jobs Clean Energy Jobs would have put an economy-wide limit and price on climate pollution from the largest polluters in the state. It would have secured greenhouse gas reductions and generated proceeds that could have been reinvested into communities across Oregon to create clean energy jobs and a thriving economy, especially in communities most impacted by climate change.

HB 2619 Pesticide Reductions Several commonly used pesticides can negatively impact human health, water quality, aquatic species, pollinators, and the biodiversity upon which we all depend. This bill aimed to restrict neonicotinoid use and to ban chlorpyrifos, while also improving the state’s Pesticide Use Reporting System.

SB 723 Coyote Killing Contests SB 723 prohibited any person from organizing, sponsoring, promoting, conducting or participating in contests, competitions, tournaments, or derbies that involved needlessly killing coyotes for prizes or other inducement or for entertainment.

HB 2242 Just Energy Rates If passed, it would have allowed the state’s Public Utility Commission (PUC) to consider differential energy burden and other inequities of affordability in rates. It also created a Low-Income and Environmental Justice Advocate position at the PUC to intervene on Commission proceedings related to utility consumers from low income or environmental justice communities. And, it would have allowed the PUC to provide financial assistance to stakeholders from low-income and environmental justice communities.

HB 2772 Household Hazardous Waste This bill, introduced during multiple sessions, would have established a product stewardship program for household hazardous waste.

HB 2856 Groundwater Studies Aimed to appropriate $9 million for the Water Resources Department to conduct groundwater studies and to gather data to better manage groundwater resources in priority basins.

HB 2883 Polystyrene Our goal with this bill was to ban polystyrene — commonly known as Styrofoam — takeout containers and cups statewide to prevent plastic pollution and protect wildlife.

HB 3094 WRAP We supported creating a Home Weatherization, Retrofit and Affordability Program within the state’s Housing and Community Services Department. WRAP would facilitate and incentivise licensed contractors to weatherize and improve energy efficiency of homes for low and moderate income people and those in rural communities..

BAD BILLS THAT DIED

SB 451 Burning Trash Covanta, a Marion County waste incinerator, sought to use the state’s Renewable Portfolio Standard as a subsidy program to maintain its aging facility. Trash incineration is highly polluting and we opposed it receiving designation as a renewable energy source.

HB 2456 Residential Development on Farmland Notwithstanding the land use planning goals, HB 2456 allowed a county to rezone exclusive farm use lands that are within the “Eastern Oregon Border Economic Development Region” for residential development. Sprawl and wildfire suppression were concerns.

SB 961 Oceanside Development Would have allowed avoidance with statewide Goal 18, the land use planning goal that protects beaches and dunes, by including more shorelands that could’ve been lined with rip-rap (stone used to form a foundation.

HB 2796 Housing on Wetlands Would have allowed housing development on socalled “degraded” wetlands in a time in which we should be protecting wetlands and avoiding putting people in future flood plains.