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Senate committee adopts amendment to let Oregon add funds to existing heat pump contracts, sends bill to floor
Summary
The Senate Committee on Energy and Environment adopted the A3 amendment to House Bill 2567 to allow the Oregon Department of Energy to add grant funds to existing performance agreements for the heat pump deployment program, formalize confidentiality protections, and recommended the bill to the Senate floor with a due-pass recommendation.
The Senate Committee on Energy and Environment on April 21 adopted the A3 amendment to House Bill 2567 and voted to send the bill to the Senate floor with a due-pass recommendation.
The amendment authorizes the Oregon Department of Energy to add grant money to eligible entities by using existing performance agreements—rather than opening new contracting processes—if additional funds become available in the Heat Pump Deployment Fund. The amendment also formalizes protections for applicants’ personal information, language the department said codifies current administrative practice.
“This amendment will only be applicable if funding is added to the program,” said Caitlin, a staff member with the Oregon Department of Energy. “We would be able to work with existing performance agreements, to add the funding to those existing performance agreements.”
Vice Chair Brock Smith moved adoption of the A3 amendment. Committee members raised no objections and the amendment was adopted by unanimous consent.
Later in the session, Vice Chair Brock Smith moved that House Bill 2567, as amended, be reported to the floor with a due-pass recommendation. The committee recorded roll-call votes of Senators Golden, Pham, Robinson and Vice Chair Brock Smith in support. The motion carried.
Committee members described the action as largely an administrative change that gives the department flexibility to expand the program if funds are available. One member said they remained interested in cost and efficiency questions but supported the bill because it “shuffles” program authorities rather than creating a new spending structure.
The bill package includes fiscal statements posted to the state’s legislative information system; the committee noted a fiscal statement was issued for the A3 amendment and a separate no-revenue-impact statement was posted.
The committee did not adopt additional policy changes during the work session. The measure will proceed to the Senate floor as recommended by the committee.
