2026 Legislative Session Priorities
2026 is a “short session” year for Oregon. But having less time until sine die doesn’t mean we can’t still get a lot done.
This session, we’re focused on shoring up protections where they matter most – from electric grid infrastructure, to transportation agency accountability and toxic protections. As federal turmoil continues at an unprecedented pace and scope, the progress we’re able to make at home matters more than ever.
CLIMATE | WATER | TRANSPORTATION | ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH
CLIMATE:
OEC’s climate priorities this legislative session are a mix of bills that increase electrification in peoples’ homes, and bills aimed at holding the biggest polluters in our state accountable for their climate impacts. Improving infrastructure across the state, making renewable energy more accessible to more Oregonians, and ensuring the funds are available to make this type of progress possible, are all key to our 2026 climate goals.
Make Polluters Pay (SB 1541)
Backed by a growing, nationwide coalition of like-minded organizations, forces out-of-state major oil and gas corporations to pay their fair share for the major oil and gas damage they’ve caused in Oregon.
Community-Based Power: Distributed Power Plants (SB 1582)
Distributed power plants (or DPPs) bring together customer resources like rooftop solar, battery systems, and smart thermostats to provide energy when and where it’s needed most. This bill would require electric companies to incorporate DPPs into their resource mix.
Upgrade and Save (SB 1588)
Requires electric companies to develop inclusive utility investment programs, aimed at allowing customers to upgrade to more efficient, renewable home energy appliances with no upfront cost.
Balcony Solar (HB 4080)
Allows electric utility customers to install and use portable solar devices to help power their homes.
FORGE: Fund for Oregon’s Resilience, Growth, and Energy (SB 1526)
Creates financing tools, including a revolving loan fund, to provide more affordable, accessible long-term financing for clean energy and resilience infrastructure projects in Oregon.
Expediting Permitting for Clean Energy Projects (HB 4031)
Exempts energy facilities powered by renewables from needing Energy Facility Siting Council certification to operate. Only applies to projects that qualify for federal renewable energy tax credits.
WATER:
In the 2025 legislative session, we secured some historic wins for Oregon groundwater – from requiring landlords to test the well water on their properties for contaminants, to fundamentally reshaping how groundwater is managed throughout the state. This session, we’re building on that momentum, seeking new, creative ways to protect the quality and quantity of this precious resource that all Oregonians rely on.
TRANSPORTATION:
With rising ODOT debt, and poor accountability measures for how state agencies are meeting their transportation goals, we need more guardrails in place to make our transportation system run smoothly. This session, we’re focused on implementing new systems to ensure safe, clean, and accessible options for how Oregonians get around.
Guardrails for Good Governance (SB 1543 )
Creates Oregon’s first transportation debt management policy, requiring the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) and the Oregon Transportation Commission to balance both present and future funding needs when making debt decisions.
Measure What We Drive (SB 1542 )
Creates a scoring system for new transportation project proposals, based on safety, climate impact, infrastructure maintenance, and cost; requires ODOT to publish an annual report card showing how Oregon is meeting it’s transportation goals.
ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH:
While much of our environmental health work is currently focused at the federal level (such as defending the Toxic Free Substances Act from congressional rollback), we also have our sights set on crucial protections for Oregon this legislative session. The bills we’re helping bring forward help avoid worst-case scenarios for earthquake-caused disaster, ensure safer workplace environments, and reduce e-waste pollution.
Battery Disposal (HB 4144)
Finances “end-of-life” battery management, lowering fire risk at e-waste management facilities and improving worker safety.
Critical Energy Infrastructure: Fuel Storage Dispersion (LC 126)
Directs Oregon Department of Energy (ODOE) to look for suitable sites for storing dispersed fuel reserves, aimed at minimizing the potentially catastrophic impacts of the Cascadia Subduction Zone earthquake on the Critical Energy Infrastructure (CEI) Hub in NW Portland.
Critical Energy Infrastructure: Liability (HB 4144)
Addresses earthquake risk to CEI by removing language that exempts “any person owning or having control over any oil or hazardous material” from liability due to “an act of war or sabotage or an act of God;” requires that all regulated facilities certify financial assurance and some details on related processes.
MULTI-PROGRAM:
Not all of our 2026 legislative priorities fit neatly into one of our four program areas. These bills involve better budget protocols to help fund the state agencies responsible for carrying out critical policies, and increased protections for Oregon’s most vulnerable communities (at a moment in history when they’re needed most).
Kicker Reform (HB 4125)
Changes how the annual “Kicker” is calculated, causing it to “kick” less; directs legislature to spend excess funds on one-time expenses, including wildfire costs, state emergencies, and capital projects.
Immigrant Justice Package
Package of eight separate bills aimed at increasing accountability for federal agents in Oregon, strengthening existing anti-discrimination policies, ensuring equal access to health care, protecting SNAP, and more.
OEC has been Oregon’s political voice for the environment since 1968.
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