Sen. David Smith

Removes provisions that allow the Energy Facility Siting Council to find that an energy facility is in compliance with statewide planning goals even when the council determines that the facility does not comply with applicable substantive criteria from the affected local government's land use plan and regulations that the facility must be evaluated against if the council determines that the facility otherwise complies with applicable statewide planning goals.

] Directs the Public Utility Commission to establish a pilot program that allows each natural gas company to develop a utility-scale thermal energy network pilot project to provide heating and cooling services to customers. Requires each natural gas company to file a proposal and plan to develop a pilot project or an explanation for why the natural gas company is not submitting a proposal. Identifies criteria the commission shall take into consideration in evaluating a proposal. Establishes labor standards and reporting requirements for certain thermal energy network projects. Takes effect on the 91st day following adjournment sine die.

Provides that an operator may require a person who engages in a sport, fitness or recreational activity in various ways to release the operator from claims for ordinary negligence. Directs the Oregon Business Development Department, with the assistance of the Department of Consumer and Business Services, to study issues facing the recreation industry and report to a committee of the Legislative Assembly related to the environment no later than September 15, 2026. Appropriates moneys for study. Declares an emergency, effective on passage.

Specifies that electricity generated by a hydroelectric facility or other equipment that generates electricity through use of hydroelectric energy may be used to comply with a renewable portfolio standard. Repeals the requirement that an electric company eliminate coal-fired resources from its allocation of electricity. Declares an emergency, effective on passage.

] Directs the Oregon Health Authority to [ develop and implement a grant program to distribute moneys ] award grants to local workforce development boards to partner with certain entities to [ provide ] establish and implement behavioral health education and training programs for high school students. Requires the local workforce development boards to consult with the authority to establish partnerships with specific entities to administer the programs. Requires the authority to consider recommendations from a statewide organization that represents all local workforce development boards when determining the amount of a grant to award. Sunsets on January 2, 2029. Declares an emergency, effective on passage.

Requires the Public Employees Retirement Board to study age qualifications for retirement. Directs the board to submit findings to the interim committees of the Legislative Assembly related to general government not later than September 15, 2026. Sunsets on January 2, 2027.

Establishes an income tax credit for volunteer firefighters. Applies to tax years beginning on or after January 1, 2026, and before January 1, 2032. Takes effect on the 91st day following adjournment sine die.

Allows the Energy Facility Siting Council to issue a site certificate for a small modular reactor energy facility demonstration project in Umatilla County. Requires the demonstration project to use microgrid enabling technologies such that the project can be isolated from the electric grid and support community energy resilience. Requires the council to consult with each interested federally recognized Indian tribe with tribal lands located in Umatilla County on an application for a site certificate for a demonstration project. Directs the State Department of Energy , in cooperation with certain state agencies, to prepare a report on statutes, rules, requirements or orders that may be applicable to a small modular reactor energy facility demonstration project, and statutes and rules that may need to be adopted or modified to enable the Energy Facility Siting Council to provide oversight of a demonstration project. Directs the department to submit the report to the interim committees or committees of the Legislative Assembly related to energy not later than [ one year after the Act takes effect ] December 15, 2026 . Establishes the Umatilla County SMR Demonstration Project Report Fund. Refers the Act to the people of Umatilla County for their approval or rejection at the next regular general election.

Requires public elementary school students to be provided with recess time each day. Prohibits the withholding of recess or the imposition of physical activity as a form of discipline.

Allows an exclusion from the Oregon taxable estate of a surviving spouse for the unused portion of exclusion that applied to the prior deceased spouse of the decedent. Applies to estates of decedents who die on or after January 1, 2026. Takes effect on the 91st day following adjournment sine die.