[{"_1":2,"_88":-5,"_89":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6302723,"mediaKeyId","2476468-7ede3516eb8cba004cdbcad5fb88fcd1","parentId",2476468,"title","Panel hearing on bill to bar utilities from charging ratepayers for lobbying and advertising draws supporters and utility opposition; hearing continued","audioSeconds",4452,"startMs",627950,"endMs",5080755,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2476468-7ede3516eb8cba004cdbcad5fb88fcd1&start=627&end=5080","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2476468-7ede3516eb8cba004cdbcad5fb88fcd1/thumbnail_627950.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6302723/Oregon/Panel-hearing-on-bill-to-bar-utilities-from-charging-ratepayers-for-lobbying-and-advertising-draws-supporters-and-utility-opposition-hearing-continued","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6302723-fee6127631fa8339c4c3b7c1d19575d5/orig.mp4?Expires=1775224178&Signature=mS6T5zvdg3vLfluMYTqZIMFSWr6VQd2-aCD3Josw1bBB2NJQNBkTfZ~T3QbUR0tqT3sd252iUqsdPA-PVfssTAn5ObDlxdZ1Z6mZRsKArXI1F~KEJln5kPd1tE-ZK5Oj~UPa1THwBdiBHCQA1rGlDo5HjYtOC7nbbGxyU~2aC64mz-ZjBchbw2hMMwWnd-8Lu11Mb~u6qz4InvsuGPJJFsFnRD7suuzM0LzCyXac3oMASuZAYRyEdGHxaWwkr6Rjhy7OVRpd55ySq270WMD~z0r6vPP2RP3RvaUoWCIgM~qS4MOrw0O4YvtpalEwu-GegcIAX9LNho1nS5NtIC9Brg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Oregon State Legislature","date","2025-03-03T15:00:00Z","article","The Senate Energy and Environment Committee on March 3 heard more than three dozen in-person and virtual witnesses on Senate Bill 88, a measure that would limit the costs an electric or gas utility may recover from ratepayers for advertising, political influence activity, litigation penalties and certain compensation, require annual reporting to the Public Utility Commission and allow civil penalties for recovery of unallowable costs.

Proponents — including consumer advocates, environmental groups and community organizations — told the committee that utilities have passed a range of nonessential corporate expenses onto customers and urged legislation to increase transparency and hold investor-owned utilities accountable. Sarah Walkley of the Oregon Citizens' Utility Board told the committee that the bill would shift incentives by imposing penalties greater than the unallowed costs and would reduce the need for advocates to scour lengthy rate-case records to find expenditures that should not be on customer bills. \"Senate Bill 88 understands that the customer is not being centered in the rate making process,\" Walkley said on the record.

Climate Solutions, the Green Energy Institute at Lewis & Clark Law School, Verde and a coalition of environmental and community groups also testified in support. Claire Prijota of Climate Solutions described SB 88 as \"one of the tools\" needed to address a sizable increase in household utility bills and said it would clarify what belongs on customer bills and what should be borne by shareholders. Kara Sailor of the Green Energy Institute cited statutes and examples from other states and urged the committee to adopt a bright-line approach so ratepayers are not charged for branding, lobbying or litigation that does not directly benefit customers. Community groups including Unite Oregon, Unite Oregon Climate and Environmental Justice, Oregon League of Conservation Voters, Rogue Climate, Oregon Just Transition Alliance and others told the committee that their members are experiencing steep bill increases and urged action to prevent ratepayer funds from covering corporate political activity and advertising.

Utility representatives and trade associations testified in opposition. Alan Spector, manager of external affairs for Cascade Natural Gas, said existing law and PUC rules already give the commission authority to review contested-case costs and that the bill would create redundant reporting requirements and a presumption of bad faith. \"Section 3 appears redundant to existing PUC efforts,\" Spector said, adding that mandatory reporting on nonrecoverable activities would impose administrative costs that do not reduce customer bills. Northwest Natural's Zach Kravitz described the regulatory process as highly transparent and characterized the utility's filings as thousands of pages of testimony and data requests that the PUC already reviews; he and others raised constitutional concerns, including First Amendment and due-process implications.

Northwest Gas Association and other industry witnesses warned the bill could chill legitimate communications and create legal exposure for regulated utilities. Opponents also told the committee the principal drivers of recent rate increases are inflation, insurance and safety investments rather than the categories targeted by the bill.

Committee chair remarks and procedural outcome: Chair Solman said the measure is not intended to produce large, immediate bill reductions but to improve transparency about what costs may be included in customer rates. After more than two hours of testimony and questioning, the committee did not vote on the bill. Chair Solman said the hearing would continue and be carried over to a subsequent session (committee staff indicated an informational session was being rescheduled to Wednesday), that the written record would remain open through 3 p.m. Wednesday for additional testimony and that utilities were asked to provide follow-up materials (including a requested table of regulatory citations and examples). The chair said she wanted adequate time for questions and to allow coalition witnesses to coordinate testimony.

Next steps: The committee carried SB 88 forward for additional review and scheduled continuation of the hearing; no committee recommendation or vote was recorded on March 3.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Senate Committee On Energy and Environment 03/03/2025 3:00 PM","oneSentenceSummary","A public hearing on Senate Bill 88 drew broad testimony on March 3 as advocates urged lawmakers to bar utilities from charging ratepayers for advertising, lobbying and certain legal expenses while industry witnesses said the Public Utility Commission already has authority to police such charges.","taxTitle","Energy and Environment, Senate, Committees, Legislative, Oregon","taxId",17629,"location","Oregon","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6302728,"Senate committee adopts amendment to curb single-use plastics, forwards bill to floor",597,29990,627470,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2476468-7ede3516eb8cba004cdbcad5fb88fcd1&start=29&end=627","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2476468-7ede3516eb8cba004cdbcad5fb88fcd1/thumbnail_29990.jpg","/articles/6302728/Oregon/Senate-committee-adopts-amendment-to-curb-single-use-plastics-forwards-bill-to-floor","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6302728-3209bcffd881d23247b0f0985d936197/orig.mp4?Expires=1775224178&Signature=YhNOYwDZDKQkXJ2SF0VOw1EiRY4tp~kP2ytmmHjT5T6JtCYfA6Uo6mRXCb5IJODszNtWwF1fWbj6fYCjSLz6pRO5qwXKquazm0ou6G968YfhC3qVzioeMBsLV6unGSk8w35GnL1d6qo~wQC0VYdUMEbcb-v~QrE3ChuYRn8YsMl7Bg~h7ajRyDaNKY9DCWozfQAY6~h5zRx9dLcXMTyayn1nwvJ4yA9z-WhLddm8KhTb6q0O7VzsZHiWXOesXNSEYsv3fwbLEIYE1B6NRhvTbLdG8RV8HDLUMDegxZYTALOHxtFDnrBmWh9n~T3ntms~xxbczyq1nrZ6qka8M3Aojg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Oregon Senate Energy and Environment Committee on March 3 adopted a dash-3 amendment to Senate Bill 551 and voted to forward the bill to the full Senate with a due-pass recommendation.

The dash-3 amendment modifies the bill's definition of a single-use checkout bag and phases in a set of prohibitions. According to committee staff summary presented on the record, the amendment: restricts provision of certain checkout bags; prohibits food-and-beverage providers and convenience stores from providing single-use plastic utensils or single-use condiment packaging unless requested, beginning July 1, 2026; prohibits lodging establishments with 50 or more sleeping accommodations from providing personal health or beauty products in small plastic containers as of Jan. 1, 2027, and expands that lodging prohibition to establishments with one or more sleeping accommodations as of Jan. 1, 2028. Committee staff also described the amendment as having a minimal fiscal impact and no revenue effect.

Committee members debated the amendment and the bill. Several senators said they support the effort to reduce plastic pollution on Oregon beaches and waterways and noted engagement with stakeholders, including the state's paper and pulp industry, which some members said stands to gain from increased use of paper bags. One member spoke against the bill on general principle of consumer and business choice. Another expressed concern about the impacts on timber and paper communities but ultimately supported the amendment because of its phased approach and stakeholder engagement. Committee members emphasized the bill is narrowly targeted at particular single-use items, not all plastics in commerce.

Committee action included two recorded votes. Vice Chair Brock Smith moved adoption of the dash-3 amendment. Roll call on the amendment recorded Senator Bamm: Aye; Senator Robinson: No; Vice Chair Brock Smith: Aye; Chair Solman: Aye. The amendment was adopted. Brock Smith then moved that Senate Bill 551, as amended, be recommended to the Senate floor with a due-pass recommendation. The committee recorded Senator Pam: Aye; Senator Robinson: No; Vice Chair Brock Smith: Aye; Chair Solman: Aye. The motion carried and the chair said she would carry the bill to the floor.

Next steps: The committee closed its work session on Senate Bill 551 and the measure will be scheduled for floor consideration per Senate procedures.

Sources: Committee staff summary presented at the March 3 committee work session and roll-call votes recorded on the hearing record.","The Senate Energy and Environment Committee adopted a dash-3 amendment to Senate Bill 551 that revises definitions and phases in prohibitions on certain single-use plastics and related items, then voted to send the measure to the Senate floor with a \"do pass\" recommendation.","actionData","errors"]

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Panel hearing on bill to bar utilities from charging ratepayers for lobbying and advertising draws supporters and utility opposition; hearing continued

Senate committee adopts amendment to curb single-use plastics, forwards bill to floor