There appears to be a few bills tracked by the Energy, Environment and Land Use (EELU) subcommittee that seem to be involved in the end of session negotiations. Here is a brief recap of some of those bills.

RURAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT BILLS

Two bills aimed at rural economic development are rumored to be receiving hearings next week in Senate Rules. Senate Bill (SB) 644 would expedite the local land use process for mines meeting certain criteria in several Eastern Oregon Counties. If the mine meets both Federal and Department of Geology and Mineral Industries (DOGAMI) requirements the county process would be a much simpler process ensuring that the mine met certain local criteria. The -6 amendments were recently published and will have a public hearing and possible work session on Monday, June 26, in Senate Rules. SB 432 will also have a public hearing and possible work session on Monday, June 26, in Senate Rules. The bill, with the -13 amendments, creates a new exception process for the eight rural counties that have been showing no growth since the last census.

ONSITE SEPTIC LOAN PROGRAM FUNDING

AOC has been working with several other advocates to find funding for the onsite septic loan program. The program which was funded with $200,000 in 2016 and, with the efforts of Craft3, the loan fund has grown to $700,000 through private funding. Loans have been administered in twelve counties but funding is beginning to run out. SB 383 would provide an additional $1.5 million. Members of the Ways and Means Committee have voiced positive support for this program.

ENERGY TAX CREDIT FIX

AOC has worked with other stakeholders to fix a technical problem with transportation tax credits. A couple of counties have been impacted by this technical problem. House Bill (HB) 3032-1 is still in the House Revenue Committee and AOC continues to work with other stakeholders to get it moving as part of the end of session negotiations.

BIOMASS

The -6 amendments of SB 634 puts sideboards on the uses of biomass for meeting the 1.5 percent investment in renewable energy requirement. There still seems to be a good chance that this bill will move.

SECURE MEDICINE TAKEBACK

HB 2645A, the secure medicine take-back bill is still awaiting a hearing in a Ways and Means Subcommittee. AOC staff is working with other advocates to secure enough votes to convince leadership to get a hearing. A short phone call or letters from concerned judges and commissioners can go a long way. If you have an interest in helping, please reach out to AOC staff, Mark Nystrom.

BUDGET

This week the Natural Resources Subcommittee will hear a few policy bills and the Department of Forestry (SB 5519) and the Department of Environmental Quality (SB 5518) budgets.

Contributed by: Mark Nystrom | AOC Energy, Environment & Land Use Policy Manager