Verde Advocacy’s Legislative Session Wrapped
Oregon just wrapped up one of the most intense legislative sessions ever, with over 3200 bills introduced (a record number). The Verde Advocacy Team worked non-stop on 17 bills that reflect our goals on water, energy, air quality and climate, and transportation.
With hard work and people power, we passed some big victories for our communities:
Made sure renters who rely on wells have safe drinking water (HB 3525)
Won ongoing funding for the Water Equity Fund so that tribes and communities can research and educate on water issues (HB 3528)
Guaranteed that Big Tech and data centers pay their fair share for energy with the POWER Act
Kept for-profit utilities honest by requiring more transparency in utility bills with the FAIR Energy Act
Secured more relief for low-income families facing high energy bills by doubling the funding for the Oregon Home Energy Assistance Program (from $20 to $40 million)
These victories all happened because we showed up and spoke out. We also worked hard to pass a transportation package and the Health Communities Act. Although these priorities didn’t make it across the finish line, we built power together and we will keep fighting.
Power of Community Voices
Good policy only happens when all of us are at the table. We are proud to have brought so many community members into the complicated legislative process. All of your voices and efforts made a huge difference!
We kicked this big push off with our Day in Salem, where Verde leaders told their stories to legislators face to face. What we heard from you shaped Verde’s priorities going into this historic legislative session.
Month after month we brought community voices to the Capitol to speak on our priorities at Water Day, Building Resilience Day, Clean Air Day, and more. We brought our Verde Builds Manager Tatiana to Salem to highlight our experience installing heat pumps for families. Along with 15 heat pump installers from across the state, they talked directly to 13 legislators or their staff. We also brought dozens of people to the Move Oregon Forward lobby day, plus our leaders in the Transportation Justice Leadership Institute.
Altogether, 100+ people made their voices heard for environmental justice because of Verde.
“From an attendee perspective, I thought it was just amazing. . . I really appreciated having group time and background info for putting a coherent message to our elected officials.”
“I want to say thank you to the organizers for this opportunity to learn about transportation in a new way, to be empowered to use my voice to speak up for my community, and to hear from other people who are deeply impacted by Oregon's transportation system. This is my first legislative session that I ever participated in, writing testimonies and lobbying for the very first time. I will continue to advocate moving forward. Thank you so much for your guidance and opening up new perspectives to me!”
During the legislative session, community members continued to show up for clean air, energy, transportation, and water justice. In total, through the Building Resilience, Move Oregon Forward, and Oregon Water Futures coalitions, we had:
334 people visit legislators at the capital to ask questions and share their personal stories and the challenges they are experiencing.
162 pieces of written testimony submitted to the Ways and Means Committee on behalf of Building Resilience.
1,258 emails were submitted to lawmakers calling for the passage of the energy package. We had even more from our transportation and water justice work.
Thank you to everyone who advocated for a more environmentally, economically, and racially just Oregon. We want to give a huge shout out to our partners in the Building Resilience, Move Oregon Forward, and Oregon Water Futures coalitions.
A huge part of our people power comes from Verde’s brilliant staff. Big thanks and appreciation to all of the Advocacy Team members:
Roselyn Poton, Water Justice Coordinator
Anahi Segovia Rodriguez, Energy Justice Coordinator
Xitlali Torres, Air Quality and Climate Justice Coordinator
Indi Namkoong, Transportation Justice Coordinator
Cheyenne Holliday, Verde Advocacy Manager
Stay tuned for more about what comes next as we work to legislative wins for air, energy, transportation, and water justice.