CUB’s 2019 Legislative Priorities: We’ll Need Your Help
Posted on February 12, 2019 by Janice Thompson
Tags, Energy, Telecommunications
CUB’s legislative priorities in Salem for the 2019 session include both energy and information communications technology issues. The following topics represent our proactive, 2019 legislative agenda (though other issues may surface throughout the legislative session, particularly bills that CUB opposes.) Sign up here to get regular (but not unduly frequent) email updates on these important bills and how you can help!
Energy
Our top energy priority is passage of HB 2020 that establishes the Oregon Climate Action Plan, or “Oregon CAP”. HB 2020 builds on previous “Clean Energy Jobs” bills from the 2017 and 2018 legislative sessions, as well as interim research and discussions after the 2018 session ended last March. CUB’s executive director, Bob Jenks, testified on February 8 with an emphasis on HB 2020’s utility sector provisions. For more background information on carbon reduction policy distinctions among our state’s large electricity and natural gas utilities, read this February 8 blog about Bob’s testimony.
Protecting low-income Oregonians and historically underserved groups by ensuring their inclusion in Oregon’s energy future is essential to any carbon reduction policy. Find more background on this topic in this blog from early January, which also discusses CUB’s role in an interim work group on low income utility program needs and opportunities.
CUB supports HB 2242 which enables energy utility rate structures and programs to alleviate low-income energy burden, facilitates greater participation before the Oregon Public Utility Commission by organizations representing low-income and environmental justice interests, and creates a low-income and environmental advocacy office within the Commission. Find our testimony on this energy equity bill here.
Data Transparency, Privacy Protection, and Broadband Access
In this arena, CUB’s top legislative priority is HB 2866, Oregon’s Data Transparency and Privacy Protection Act (DATPA). Do you have growing concerns with the extent to which companies, including but certainly not limited to your internet service provider, collect, analyze, trade, and sell your personal information? Are you similarly concerned that many of these same companies can and often do exploit your audiovisual and geolocation behavioral data? CUB believes Oregonians have a “right to know” and need additional privacy protections. Learn about DATPA here.
CUB also supports HBs 2184 and 2173, two bills that would improve access to broadband and other critical telecommunication services particularly in underserved, rural Oregon communities. Learn more about these bills here.
Last, but by no means least, CUB supports HB 2688, Oregon’s “right to repair” (R2R) bill. This piece of legislation argues that when a consumer purchases a product such as a new tablet or phone, or any other digital device, the consumer truly owns it and is, therefore, entitled to the same proprietary repair information as the device manufacturer. Learn more about HB 2688 and R2R in this blog.
CUB can’t advance these important policies without your help. Please sign on to our email list - we won’t overload your inbox, but we’ll send regular updates and action alerts with the information you need to voice your concerns about these important bills, as well as other CUB news and updates about future policy campaigns. Thanks for helping us help you stay informed about issues that affect you and other utility consumers across Oregon!
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02/13/19 | 0 Comments | CUB’s 2019 Legislative Priorities: We’ll Need Your Help