There has not been a great deal of movement on Energy, Environment & Land Use (EELU) bills this week but a couple of agency budgets continued to move.

BIOMASS

Senate Bill (SB) 634 states that energy from a biomass facility can be used to meet the state’s 1.5 percent investment in renewable energy requirement. The bill received a work session on Wednesday, May 31 but was unexpectedly moved to the House Committee on Rules. The -4 amendments were drafted and now advocates are pushing for a hearing in House rules.

SECURE MEDICINE TAKEBACK

House Bill (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.

HISTORIC HOMES IN RURAL RESIDENTIAL

HB 3012A would allow the construction of a second home on a rural residential parcel under certain conditions and has now passed the Senate. It moves to the Governor for her signature.

BUILDING CODES and SMALL HOUSES

HB 2737-A4 passed the Senate floor and the House concurred with the Senate amendments. It now heads to the Governor for her signature. The bill requires that the Director of the Department of Consumer and Business Services to adopt construction standards for small homes (600 sq ft and smaller) for incorporation into the state building code. The codes must include standards for lofts and allow the use of ladders or alternate tread devices as the primary means of egress from a sleeping loft.

BUDGET

The agency budgets for the Oregon Department of Energy (HB 5009) and the Department of Land Conservation (SB 5527) had work sessions and passed from the Ways and Means Committee on Friday, June 9.

The Ways and Means Subcommittee on Natural Resources will consider the Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board’s budget (HB 5040) on June 14.

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