By Emily Bowes
Policy Strategist
Sierra Club Oregon
The 2025 Oregon Legislative long session started January 21st and will wrap up at the end of June. As the 2025 Oregon legislative session kicks off, the Sierra Club Oregon Chapter’s Legislative Committee is ready to advocate for bills that protect our climate, communities, and natural spaces. Our priorities this session focus on advancing clean energy, defending Oregon’s public lands and waters, promoting environmental justice, and stopping harmful policies that would roll back climate progress.
With this being a long session year lawmakers are considering a wide range of bills especially related to funding. Some of these bills will contribute to a just transition for Oregon and others that threaten our environment and communities. It’s critical that we stay engaged and advocate for climate justice across the state and we’re hoping you’ll help us do that. Below, we’ve highlighted key bills to watch this session so far, both the good and the bad, and how you can take action.
Good bills we want to see passed this session:
HB 3081 & SB 89 - These bills would make it easier for people to access energy efficiency incentives by requiring the State Department of Energy to create a user-friendly system with multilingual resources. This system would help residents and businesses find and understand available programs to lower energy costs and reduce carbon emissions.
SB 88 - This bill prevents utility companies from passing certain costs like advertising, lobbying, lawsuits, and fines onto customers. This ensures that ratepayers are not footing the bill for corporate expenses unrelated to providing energy.
SB 583 - This bill establishes a task force to study the creation of a state public bank in Oregon. A public bank could help fund clean energy, affordable housing, and local economic development projects while keeping public money working for Oregonians instead of Wall Street.
HB 3052 - This bill directs the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) to study PFAS chemicals, also known as “forever chemicals,” which have been linked to serious health and environmental risks. The study will provide data to help policymakers take action to protect Oregon’s water, air, and public health.
HB 2137 - This bill would allow people to donate to a state park access fund when they register their vehicles. The fund would provide free entry to state parks for Oregon-registered vehicles, eliminating the need for daily parking fees.
HB 2980 - As human development expands, conflicts between people and wildlife are increasing. This bill would create the Wildlife Stewardship Program, investing nearly $1 million to fund three new wildlife coexistence biologists, a public education campaign, and grants for Oregon’s wildlife rehabilitation centers.
HB 3134 - This bill creates the Landowners Living with Beaver Grant Program, helping private landowners use non-lethal strategies to coexist with beavers. Since beavers play a key role in creating wetlands and improving water quality, this program would support both landowners and Oregon’s ecosystems.
HB 2978 - This bill strengthens efforts to reduce wildlife-vehicle collisions by improving road safety measures for drivers and animals. It requires state agencies to integrate wildlife crossings into highway projects, develop training programs, and create a public advisory group to improve planning and coordination.
SB 702 - This bill bans the sale of flavored tobacco and inhalant products, which are known to attract young people to smoking and vaping. It also allows local governments to pass stronger restrictions and ensures all sales occur at licensed retailers.
Bad bills we want to stop this session:
SB 215, SB 216, & HB 2426 - Would overturn Oregon’s long standing moratorium on nuclear power reactors, even though there is no national plan for safely managing nuclear waste.
HB 2410 - This bill would create an exception for Umatilla County, allowing it to develop nuclear power despite Oregon’s existing moratorium.
SB 635 & HB 2038 - These bills would direct the Oregon Department of Energy and Oregon State University to study “the advantages” of nuclear power in Oregon without addressing the serious risks and long-term waste storage issues.
Now get engaged!
But staying informed is just the first step. If you want to learn how to turn that knowledge into action, join us for a free training webinar on Wednesday, February 19, from 6–7pm. Whether you’re new to advocacy or want to brush up on your skills, this is a great chance to learn how to make your thoughts count in the Capitol.
Here’s what we’ll cover:
- How Oregon’s legislative process works
- Tips for talking to lawmakers and being heard
- How to write and deliver testimony that really makes an impact
We’ll also dive into the Oregon Sierra Club’s 2025 legislative priorities, like:
- Making sure timber companies contribute to wildfire response
- Pushing for a state bank to fund sustainable projects
- Addressing PFAS “forever chemicals” and their impact on public health
- Opposing harmful biomass and nuclear energy projects
Cost: Free
Register HERE