2022 Priorities for a Healthy Oregon

For more information, contact Julia DeGraw, OLCV’s Coalition Director, at julia@olcv.org

REACH Codes:
Buildings are Oregon’s second largest–and longest lasting–source of climate pollution, with buildings commonly being used for 50 years or more. The way we build matters, not only today, but long into the future. Passing the REACH Codes bill (SB 1518) will give cities the opportunity to adopt stronger codes to make new construction energy efficient and less dependent on fossil fuels. This will not only help reduce greenhouse gas emissions–it’ll also lead to cleaner air and lower energy bills. → Learn More!

Emergency Heat Relief: 
Last summer’s extreme heatwave led to almost 100 deaths in Oregon alone. In times like this, air conditioning and heat pumps can save lives, especially as extreme weather grows more common. That’s why we’re supporting Verde and the Community Alliance of Tenant (CAT) on The Emergency Heat Relief Package––which includes two bills:

• The ‘Emergency Heat Relief for Communities’ bill (HB 4058), provides funding for low-income environmental justice communities, including rural communities, to install energy efficient heat + cooling pumps.
• The ‘Emergency Heat Relief for Renters’ bill (SB 1536) removes barriers for renters in installing portable cooling technologies, like air conditioners, establishes other clear rights around cooling, and provides funding for landlords to transition their rental housing to including heat + cooling pumps and for local and tribal governments to establish extreme weather shelters →  Learn More!

Elliott State Forest:
In 2017, we led a coalition that saved the Elliott State Forest–one of Oregon’s largest remaining stands of old-growth in the Coast Range–from being logged. The Elliott State Forest bill (SB 1546) would make the Elliott a research forest, and create a new, publicly-owned entity to oversee it, helping keep the forest open for recreation while protecting the unique wildlife it supports, like the marbled murrelet, northern spotted owl, and coho salmon. →  Learn More!

Budget:
As usual, we support a strong budget for environmental and conservation agencies to keep our air and water clean, invest in the health of our communities, and work toward climate and environmental justice.  →  Learn More!

OLCV Special Focus – Farmworker Overtime:
Despite being essential workers, farmworkers have been excluded from overtime pay since 1938. Now, Oregon has the opportunity to right this historic wrong by passing the Farmworker Overtime bill (HB 4002), which is being led by our friends at Oregon’s farmworker union, PCUN (Pineros y Campesinos Unidos del Noroeste). → Learn More!