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Subcommittee backs Lifeline expansion to include $100 computing benefit, funds for PUC administration
Summary
The subcommittee advanced House Bill 3148 to the full committee with the dash-A3 amendment, renaming Oregon’s Telephone Assistance Program as the Oregon Lifeline Plan, adding a one-time $100 personal computing device benefit, and increasing the Public Utility Commission’s expenditure limitation to administer the program.
The subcommittee moved House Bill 3148, renaming the Oregon Telephone Assistance Program the Oregon Lifeline Plan and expanding benefits to include a one-time $100 personal-computing-device benefit for eligible low-income customers. LFO recommended the dash-A3 amendment and a due-pass referral to the full committee.
Why it matters: the bill expands an existing affordability program, removes a 2030 sunset, and directs the Public Utility Commission (PUC) to administer a capped device benefit and to use an increased Residential Service Protection Fund (RSPF) expenditure limitation to cover program costs.
Details: LFO described a dash-A3 amendment that caps the device benefit at $100 per recipient and increases the PUC's RSFP expenditure limitation by $1,977,012 other funds in the 2025–27 biennium. The PUC will be allowed to contract with third parties for device distribution and bulk purchases. The PUC will administer the program with one position (0.92 FTE) to recommend priorities and strategies and LFO assumed biannual auditing of the program.
Questions from members: Representative Smith asked where the other funds come from; staff answered the revenue source is a monthly surcharge charged to retail subscribers (currently about 27¢ per month, statutorily capped at 35¢). Committee members asked about duplication with federal programs; witnesses said the state supplement augments federal benefits and is not a complete offset. League of Oregon Cities and other witnesses described PUC fraud-prevention and matching processes.
Action: The subcommittee adopted the dash-A3 amendment and moved HB 3148 to the full Ways and Means Committee with a due-pass recommendation.
Ending: The bill advances to full committee; members asked for continuing auditing and oversight from the PUC on eligibility and to ensure the one-time benefit is not repeatedly claimed by the same person.
