We are now about six weeks into the 2019 Oregon Legislature, and we’re watching and actively working on dozens of bills in state legislature already. Of course, for almost every progressive bill we’re fighting to pass, there is another bill waiting in the wings to take us back 20 years. That is why it’s our job to hold our recently elected officials accountable and remind them who put them in office, and to ensure that our government puts our communities and environment first.
As we have been in previous legislative sessions, we are part of a coalition working to put a price on carbon in Oregon. This makes the Oregon Chapter’s top legislative priority the “Clean Energy Jobs bill,” House Bill 2020. In order for this bill to work at its best, the state’s biggest polluters must be held fully accountable. We are working to limit giveaways to polluters and ensure equitable reinvestments to vulnerable communities already affected by climate change in Oregon. HB 2020 has already undergone a slew of public hearings in February and earlier this month. March 8 was the last day to send public comments to the Joint Committee on Carbon Reduction about HB 2020 -- thank you to over 500 of our members and volunteers for sending in comments to the committee and/or your legislators!
Another one of our biggest priorities (featured in our last Action Night) is implementing stricter regulations for oil trains. Oregon currently has the weakest oil-by-rail laws on the U.S. west coast. Multiple bills to change that are pending, including House Bill 2209, but Senate Bill 99 and House Bill 2858 stand as the strongest. However, the railroad companies are making plays to avoid financial accountability. These bills must require that oil and railroad companies pay - not taxpayers - to fund emergency preparedness for the next oil spill. To take action, call your legislators and get the word out to friends!
Ten years ago, legislators voted to protect our waters from offshore drilling and exploration, but that law came with an expiration. Senate Bill 256 would effectively repeal the sunset on the offshore drilling moratorium, ensuring our coasts’ integrity. SB 256 comes during a critical time as the Trump administration seeks to strip federal environmental protections and put our coastlines at risk of dangerous oil drilling. SB 256 successfully passed through the Oregon Senate 23-6 and is now in the House Committee on Energy and Environment which held a public hearing on March 5. Strong testimony supported SB 256, but complacency is not an option. Now is the time for us to call our House representatives to ensure this bill passes through the House and goes to the Governor’s desk!
Unfortunately, offshore drilling isn’t the only oil industry threat to our natural environment. We saw how hydraulic fracturing - or “fracking” - impacts other states, and we cannot let that happen to Oregon. House Bill 2623 seeks to impose a moratorium on all oil and gas fracking in our state, effectively banning its enterprises in Oregon. Put under care of the House Committee of Energy Environment, HB 2623 quickly went into a public hearing and recently finished its work session on March 7. With a 6-2 vote within the committee, HB 2623’s next destination is the House floor. Even now, oil lobbyists will be in our state representatives offices to fight against this bill. We must let our elected officials know that we won’t let this happen.
Another bill we want sent to the Governor’s desk is Senate Bill 2015, which would eliminate the requirement that individuals provide proof of legal residence before the Department of Transportation issues a driver’s license. Current law drastically affects low-income and undocumented community members who are left to choose between driving without a license or risking severe consequences if they seek out a driver’s license. As of March 4, SB 2015 is assigned to the Joint Committee on Transportation and has yet to be scheduled for a public hearing. To learn more about SB 2015 and the communities affected by it, come to our Action Night on the topic this month (stay tuned for the date!). On March 26, there is an Advocacy Day in Salem where we can all gather in support of SB 2015.
Another bill we’re watching could have far-reaching consequences, impacting the entire country! Senate Bill 870 - “the National Popular Vote bill” - provides that Oregon would give our electoral votes to whichever presidential candidate wins the most votes nationwide instead of statewide. However, SB 870 would not go into effect until enough other states also sign onto similar electoral changes. Once 270 electoral votes out of 538 are pledged to the nationwide-winning presidential candidate, the popular vote would go into effect. Then every citizen in this country would choose our president rather than a few key swing states. As of now, 181 electoral votes are committed, and Oregon has seven. In a state of over 4 million people, our voices should speak louder in coming elections. Use those voices now to demand a popular vote in Oregon!
These are just a few of the many bills that Sierra Club watches closely. To stay engaged, subscribe to our Legislative Action Team and join us at upcoming Action Nights. Only when all of us come together can we create a better future for ourselves and our planet.
