2025 Legislative Session
Bill summaries
This MCAT resource describes each of the bills that we are following in the 2025 Legislative Session. Bill descriptions will be updated throughout the legislative session, as of the date indicated.
Links to the comprehensive Oregon Legislative Information Service (OLIS) are provided, where known, for each bill. The author of this resource is MCAT Steering Committee member, Dr. John Perona.
Climate Superfund (Polluter Pays) (SB 1187)
Requires large fossil fuel companies to pay retroactive damages caused by anthropogenic climate change.
POWER ACT (Big Data Center bill) (HB 3546)
Requires electric companies to impose a charge on big data centers that are large electricity consumers, and mitigate any increased costs to other consumers.
Distributed Power Plants (HB 3609)
Requires electric companies to develop programs for expanding distributed power plants
Climate Target Modernization (HB 3477)
Updates state goals for achieving greenhouse gas emissions reduction
Thermal Energy Networks (SB 1143)
Directs Oregon’s Public Utilities Commission to establish a pilot program for natural gas companies to develop heating and cooling networks
Community solar program (SB 92)
Sets a limit on the maximum size of community solar projects, and updates the duties of electric utilities with respect to these projects
Hydrogen Transparency (SB 685)
Requires gas utilities to notify the Public Utility Commission before blending hydrogen with natural gas
Performance-Based Regulation of Electric Utilities (SB 688)
Directs Oregon’s Public Utility Commission to regulate electric utilities under a new framework that better reflects the public interest.
Electricity Transmission Permitting (HB 3681)
Streamline regulations to enable faster and simpler transmission planning.
Public State Bank (HB 2966)
Creates a Task Force to study the possibility of establishing a public state bank
Reducing Food Waste (HB 3018)
Requires businesses that cook, assemble, process, serve or sell food to recover and dispose of food waste.
Zero Emission School Bus Act (HB 2945)
Requires new rules for accelerating the transition to zero-emission school buses.
Grid Enhancement Technologies (HB 3336)
Requires Oregon electric utilities to create strategic plans to incorporate Grid Enhancement Technologies into their future plans.
Right to a Healthy Environment (SJR 28)
Creates a ballot measure that, if passed, creates a new state right to a healthy environment
Risk bond study (HB 2949)
Requires DEQ to study whether bonds should be imposed on operators of fuel facilities.
Seismic Risk Fund Expansion (HB 2151)
Expands the allowable uses of the Seismic Risk Mitigation Fund by state agencies.
Statewide fuel infrastructure (HB 2152)
Requires ODOE to develop and implement a state-wide Disaster Reserves Plan for liquid fuels.
CEI Hub Transition (HB 3450)
Requires DEQ to produce a strategic energy storage transition plan by 2026.
Oregon Transmission Authority (HB 3628)
Establish an Oregon Electric Transmission Authority to coordinate planning for the state electricity grid.
Methane Monitoring (SB 726)
Requires owner/operators of landfills to regularly monitor and report methane emissions from its surface