Rep. Ken Helm

] Requires an electric utility to disclose to its customers the costs of storing [ the ] nuclear waste produced by an energy facility in generating electricity. Requires a person who develops an energy facility to disclose to the electric utility and the public the costs of storing [ the ] any nuclear waste produced by the energy facility in generating electricity. Takes effect on the 91st day following adjournment sine die.

Directs the Department of State Lands, in consultation with the State Department of Fish and Wildlife, to develop a salmon credit pilot program to encourage the voluntary restoration of salmonid habitat in the Coquille and Coos watershed basins. Establishes the Salmon Credit Trust Fund. Directs the Department of State Lands and the State Department of Fish and Wildlife to consult with the United States Army Corps of Engineers to seek federal approval for a bank instrument and authorization of activities that occur in navigable waters of the United States. Becomes operative on the date that the federal authorization and bank instrument are approved. Provides that the Department of State Lands may not approve a salmon credit project on or after January 1 of the sixth year following federal approval. Takes effect on the 91st day following adjournment sine die.

Allows city and county services for which net local transient lodging tax revenue may be used to be provided either directly by the city or county or indirectly by a special district. Changes the division of allowable uses of net local transient lodging tax revenue from at least 70 percent for tourism-related expenses and no more than 30 percent for city or county services, to at least 40 percent and no more than 60 percent, respectively. Allows units of local government with restricted grandfathered local transient lodging tax regimes to take advantage of the new provisions of the Act. Establishes biennial reporting by local governments of amounts and uses of local transient lodging tax revenue. Takes effect on the 91st day following adjournment sine die.

Directs the State Forester to determine the available state forestland, establish sustainable harvest levels for harvesting timber on state forestland and manage available state forestland. Allows certain persons to seek a court order if the State Forester fails to establish sustainable harvest levels or manage available state forestland. Declares an emergency, effective on passage.

Directs the State Department of Energy, subject to the availability of funding, to conduct a study on nuclear energy, including advanced nuclear reactors. Directs the department to engage with tribal governments, consult with certain [ state agencies and ] organizations and utilize moneys from federal, private and other public sources to carry out the study. Requires the department to report and make public information on the sources of moneys or assistance and amounts of moneys that the department receives to carry out this Act, anticipated uses of those moneys or assistance and any potential conflicts of interest. Directs the department to submit the report to the interim committees or committees of the Legislative Assembly related to energy not later than one year after the date the department receives the moneys or assistance necessary to complete the study. Directs the department to provide an update on the department's progress in carrying out this Act to the interim committees or committees of the Legislative Assembly related to energy not later than February 15, 2027. Establishes the Nuclear Energy Study Fund. Sunsets January 2, [ 2028 ] 2030 . Declares an emergency, effective on passage.

Maddy summarySCR 204 is a concurrent resolution honoring the Association of Oregon Counties (AOC) on its 120th anniversary. It formally recognizes the AOC's historical role in representing Oregon's 36 counties and its contributions to state governance, including supporting county services like elections, public safety, infrastructure, and advocacy for policies like property tax systems and transportation funding. The resolution has no policy impact or funding changes - it is purely ceremonial, celebrating the AOC's work without creating new obligations.

Maddy summaryOregon's legislature is requesting Congress permanently extend federal tax relief for wildfire victims, which expired at the end of 2025. This follows Oregon's 2024 state law (SB 1520) that provided tax relief for wildfire recovery, but required federal companion relief to prevent liability settlements from being taxed. The memorial specifically urges Congress to make permanent the temporary federal tax cuts established by H.R. 5863 (Federal Disaster Tax Relief Act of 2023). This applies to wildfire victims in Oregon who faced federal taxation on recovery funds after recent catastrophic fires.

Establishes the Task Force on Municipal Solid Waste in the Willamette Valley. Directs the task force to submit a report to the interim committees of the Legislative Assembly related to the environment no later than December 15, 2026. Sunsets the task force on December 31, 2026. Takes effect on the 91st day following adjournment sine die.

Maddy summaryHB 3544 establishes standardized procedures for challenging proposed water use decisions in Oregon. It requires anyone objecting to a water permit or decision to submit a written protest within 45 days, including specific details about how the decision would harm their interests and legal arguments. The bill defines what makes a protest valid (e.g., clear issues, sufficient detail) and outlines when hearings must occur or can be skipped, such as if all parties agree or a protest is withdrawn. These changes directly affect individuals, businesses, and organizations filing objections to water permits and the Water Resources Department managing these cases.

Requires, for each dwelling unit rented by a landlord for which the source of drinking water is an exempt well in a ground water quality management area, that the landlord collect and test samples of drinking water from the dwelling unit for arsenic, coliform bacteria, lead and nitrates. Requires the Oregon Health Authority to adopt implementation rules. Becomes operative on January 1, 2027.