Requires each electric company to develop an inclusive utility investment program to provide financing for customers' energy efficiency upgrades or renewable energy projects. Requires an inclusive utility investment program to provide savings reflected in the reduction in a customer's electricity or energy utility costs. Allows the Public Utility Commission to establish minimum financial savings standards and adopt and provide electric companies with performance incentives.
Prohibits an electric company from recovering from retail electricity consumers certain litigation or settlement costs or expenses if a court or jury finds that a wildfire resulted from the negligence or a higher degree of fault on the part of the electric company. Requires an electric company that has been found to be liable for damages in a civil action arising out of allegations that the conduct of the electric company caused or substantially contributed to a wildfire to establish and maintain a qualified escrow fund for the benefit of those persons to whom the electric company is found to be liable. Provides that an electric company that is found to be liable for damages in a civil action arising out of allegations that the conduct of the electric company caused or substantially contributed to a wildfire shall also be liable for any federal income tax liability that a plaintiff or class member owes or pays on amounts the plaintiff or class member receives in relation to the civil action. [ Provides jurisdiction to the Supreme Court to hear and determine all appeals from the circuit court in any civil action arising out of allegations that the conduct of the electric company caused or substantially contributed to a wildfire. ] Establishes the Wildfire Recovery Fund , to become operative January 1, 2027 . Directs that 60 percent of the punitive damages awarded in a civil action arising out of allegations that the conduct of the electric company caused or substantially contributed to a wildfire be deposited in the Wildfire Recovery Fund. Reserves the first $50 million deposited in the fund to be payable to the Criminal Injuries Compensation Account. Applies to wildfires ignited on or after January 1, 2020, and before January 1, 2025. Declares an emergency, effective on passage.
HB 4112 increases funding for Oregon's outdoor school program by $6 million, raising the biennial allocation from $48 million to $54 million for the 2025-2027 budget period. This funding supports outdoor education programs that provide hands-on environmental learning experiences for students, directly benefiting schools and educational organizations participating in the program. The bill also declares an emergency to allow immediate implementation upon passage, though the emergency declaration does not alter the funding amount or program structure.
Exempts an energy facility from needing a site certificate from the Energy Facility Siting Council if the energy facility produces power from a renewable energy source, qualifies for certain federal renewable energy tax credits and is placed in service on or before December 31, 2030, or a date allowed by exception and a local land use application for the facility is submitted [ construction begins ] on or before December 31, 2028. Takes effect on the 91st day following adjournment sine die.
Expands eligibility for cities and Metro to amend their urban growth boundaries under a temporary program. Provides an alternative pathway within the temporary program by which the City of Woodburn may amend its urban growth boundary. Authorizes the Land Conservation and Development Commission to issue grants to implement the commission's duties. Declares an emergency, effective on passage.
Requires producers of batteries or battery-containing products to join a battery producer responsibility organization and implement a battery producer responsibility program for the collection and recycling of batteries. Directs the Department of Environmental Quality to administer and enforce requirements of the Act. Establishes the Battery Producer Responsibility Fund. Imposes civil penalties for violations of the Act.
Limits greenhouse gas emission reductions, for purposes of low carbon fuel standards, to 10 percent below 2010 levels. Prohibits local governments from prohibiting or limiting the storage capacity of fossil fuel terminals. Takes effect on the 91st day following adjournment sine die.
Requires the Department of Land Conservation and Development to study housing development opportunities conditioned upon land conservation. Directs the department to submit findings to the interim committees of the Legislative Assembly related to land use no later than September 15, 2027. Sunsets on January 2, 2028.
Directs the Department of State Lands, in consultation with the State Department of Fish and Wildlife, to develop a salmon credit pilot program to encourage the voluntary restoration of salmonid habitat in the Coquille and Coos watershed basins. Establishes the Salmon Credit Trust Fund. Directs the Department of State Lands and the State Department of Fish and Wildlife to consult with the United States Army Corps of Engineers to seek federal approval for a bank instrument and authorization of activities that occur in navigable waters of the United States. Becomes operative on the date that the federal authorization and bank instrument are approved. Provides that the Department of State Lands may not approve a salmon credit project on or after January 1 of the sixth year following federal approval. Takes effect on the 91st day following adjournment sine die.
Directs the State Forester to determine the available state forestland, establish sustainable harvest levels for harvesting timber on state forestland and manage available state forestland. Allows certain persons to seek a court order if the State Forester fails to establish sustainable harvest levels or manage available state forestland. Declares an emergency, effective on passage.
