2023 Mid-Session Update from the Oregon Legislature

We’re about halfway through this year’s session of the Oregon Legislature and a lot has happened! CUB is happy to share that the majority of our priority bills for this year are alive and well. This year, there are some big bills on the table that will help Oregon utility customers.

Unfortunately, big business lobbyists are working very hard to oppose many consumer protections. NW Natural and the gas industry have already helped kill the Utility Consumer Protection bill that CUB co-authored. We’re sad about this loss for Oregon utility customers but still proud of the important conversations this bill started.

We will keep pushing for strong new laws that work to make Oregon utilities affordable, accessible, reliable, and clean! Read on for the full update on what’s happened so far this legislative session.

Many CUB Priorities Move Out of Committee

Building Resilience Package
Buildings are the second largest and longest-lasting source of climate pollution in Oregon. More efficient buildings can significantly lower energy bills while making our homes more comfortable. These bills came from the findings of the Rebuilding task force (of which CUB was a member!) that met between the 2022 and 2023 Legislative Sessions. This task force had broad input and robust discussions. All bills have passed out of the Senate Committee on Energy and Environment for a vote on the Senate floor.

• Healthy Heating and Cooling for All (SB 868) will align our energy efficiency programs with our state climate goals, accelerate heat pump deployment, and ramp up other energy efficiency efforts like weatherizing and retrofitting existing homes.
• Build Smart from the Start (SB 869) will update Oregon’s base building code so that all new buildings are constructed to be more efficient and resilient from the start.
• Building Performance Standards (SB 870) will improve the energy efficiency of large, energy-intensive commercial buildings through the adoption of a Building Performance Standard.
• Smart State Buildings (SB 871) will help to reduce barriers for public buildings to be made more efficient and healthier.

SB 542: Right to Repair
Repairing items you already own is less expensive and better for the environment. This bill expands your ability to repair consumer electronic equipment by requiring manufacturers to allow access to parts, tools, and repair manuals so you can fix what you already own.

This bill passed out of the Senate Committee on Energy and Environment. It had one amendment to exempt video game systems and grant a one-year grace period for newly released electronics. It will soon be scheduled for a vote on the Senate floor.

HB 3201: Investments in Broadband Internet
Oregon needs better broadband internet for rural communities which requires more infrastructure throughout the state. This bill will help Oregon maximize its access to millions of federal broadband investment funds by amending outdated and limiting language in the broadband statutes. It also gives the Oregon Broadband Office and the Oregon Broadband Advisory Council the ability to keep our Broadband Fund requirements modernized.

This bill has gotten a lot of pushback from the cable and telecommunications industries. It has passed out of the House and sent to the Senate Committee on Veterans, Emergency Management, Federal and World Affairs. It has not been scheduled for a hearing yet.

HB 2534: Statewide Oregon Energy Strategy
Over the past few years, Oregon has adopted many measures to meet climate goals. With this work happening in so many different agencies, fossil fuel utilities are starting to use this siloed work to avoid accountability. This bill will increase transparency and unify climate efforts across the state. This coordination will allow us to ensure affordable bills while we work towards meeting climate regulations.

The House version of this bill has passed out of House Committee for Energy and Environment and was referred to Ways and Means but has not been scheduled for a hearing yet.

Gas Lobbying and Misinformation Killed the Utility Consumer Protection Act

HB 3152: Utility Customer Protection Act (Dead)
CUB co-authored this bill with Climate Solutions, working closely with Representative Pam Marsh. This bill would have reduced financial risk for households while we move to a clean energy future. The Utility Consumer Protection bill would have moved costs of fossil fuel expansion away from customers. It also sought to ensure that utility regulation aligns with climate regulation.

This bill was heavily attacked by the gas industry, making it more about optics and politics than the truth. Contrary to NW Natural’s and its energy front group’s (NW Energy for Choice) opposition narrative, it did not ban natural gas. This bill would have prohibited customers from paying to hook up new homes to natural gas, but nothing stopped NW Natural’s shareholders from making that investment. Unfortunately, the gas industry got out and hit that gas ban narrative hard.

HB 3152 had hearings in the House Committee on Climate, Energy, and the Environment but did not get a work session to vote on the bill in time.
While we were unsuccessful in passing this bill, we had good conversations about the costs of subsidizing natural gas in a decarbonizing world. That fight is not over.

Upcoming Legislative Session Deadlines

May 5 – Last day for bills to be scheduled for a vote in the second chamber committee
May 19 – Last day for bills to be voted out of committees and to the floor for a vote
June 25 – Last day of 2023 Legislative Session

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