The 2021 Legislative Assembly adjourned June 26th, 2021. The session was anything but unproductive, despite nearly all processes happening through online meetings. Several key bills were passed out of the Senate Saturday, in quick succession, including an ambitious climate bill setting 100% reduction in carbon emissions by Oregon’s electric utilities by 2040.
According to Oregon Public Broadcasting, “HB 2021 sets a timetable by which Oregon’s two major power companies, Portland General Electric and Pacific Power, must eliminate emissions associated with the electricity they provide. Five “electricity service suppliers” in the state also would face regulation, though their emissions are tiny compared to the big utilities.”
The Oregon Senate also passed the HB 3352, the Cover All People Act, to Governor Kate Brown to be signed. If signed, the Health Care for All Oregon Children program will be renamed and will add eligibility to adults who would qualify for Medicaid but are denied because of their immigration status.
According to the Statesman Journal, legislators also passed
- House Bill 2927 — restructures Oregon’s emergency management systems.
- House Bill 2928 — further regulates use of chemical incapacitants, kinetic projectiles and sound devices by law enforcement.
- Senate Bill 817 — eliminates fees, fines and court costs associated with juvenile delinquency matters.
- House Bill 3294 — requires all public education providers to make available tampons and sanitary pads at no cost to students.
Another bill that cleared a big hurdle was SB 762 that would allocate almost $200 million for wildfire “response, recovery and mitigation.” Acccording to a report by KDRV Channel 12, the bill would “coordinate a comprehensive statewide response to plan for and mitigate wildfires with a focus on community preparedness and public health.” SB 762 also calls for local Wildfire Programs Advisory Councils to monitor and provide input on investments and planning for various regions across the state.
Other bills that passed included limited police reforms, stored water use policy changes, groundwater and water rights legislation, and funding for wildfire management.
