[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6284923,"mediaKeyId","2576443-a623887dfc32e0a3366afb4f18378926","parentId",2576443,"title","Bill would expand Oregon low‑income telecom aid, add $100 device benefit and rename program","audioSeconds",1674,"startMs",3503200,"endMs",5177850,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2576443-a623887dfc32e0a3366afb4f18378926&start=3503&end=5177","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2576443-a623887dfc32e0a3366afb4f18378926/thumbnail_3503200.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6284923/Oregon/Bill-would-expand-Oregon-lowincome-telecom-aid-add-100-device-benefit-and-rename-program","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6284923-45048028f268bedb09d084380ac99093/orig.mp4?Expires=1770785898&Signature=GEoWtehyyJF7A7RYOCS9XGMaNDulDZNJmhp8VcVjwlj-xQcFOOkPKQ8JA-ud11di4c9VOQ5OxgO2vHl33PxONlesp6lWQ1~XOQDIKiT7yOZU6xWGx8HOfvOOV~Lx8HUrAymZpVki71uoGoXnXn7UIKlsFyVd2mtXNUnpRooSY30ARDS9ZRGVQc3NmvXYmrzqExZbX9LpmNcktoxi-GkluJm6WJmO8kfl~FlK-1e7~fF9QjYyac6SqhSpDdoacn1W4WNe2RT81tYJpjSfKcdTVpCIIPXkXKh0tNImqRL81uOv~l5qIr-89~vRQP-pN93PzMvOmtmc86W8rwK-C79OvQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Oregon State Legislature","date","2025-03-12T00:00:00Z","article","The House Committee on Economic Development, Small Business and Trade held a public hearing March 12 on House Bill 3148, which would make changes to Oregon's low‑income telecommunications assistance program administered by the Public Utility Commission (PUC). The bill would rename the Oregon Telephone Assistance Program (OTAP) to the Oregon Lifeline Plan, increase the customer subsidy and establish a one‑time device benefit for eligible households.

Representative Pam Marsh (House District 5) described the measure as a modest state response to the end of the federal Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP). \"This is a very modest bill that in no way will replace ACP,\" Marsh said, adding that the state plans to use existing program structure to stretch available resources. The bill would give the PUC authority to raise the state subsidy from the current $10 toward a monthly customer benefit to $15; combined with the federal Lifeline subsidy, proponents said the total would be roughly $24.95 per month. The bill would also create a one‑time device benefit of $100 toward the purchase of a computer, laptop or tablet, up to a device value of $600.

Nolan Plescia of the League of Oregon Cities testified in favor and said the change would reduce administrative burden by shifting device administration to the PUC rather than Internet service providers. The bill would also repeal the OTAP advisory committee and remove certain reporting requirements to reduce PUC administrative costs. Plescia said the bill includes a budget limitation increase so the PUC can add one full‑time equivalent position and complete a planned software upgrade; he emphasized the measure does not require new general fund appropriations and that the program is supported by a surcharge (the Residential Service Protection Fund) already collected from telephone users.

Supporters noted that the state is receiving significant federal broadband infrastructure dollars — roughly $150 million from earlier ARPA grants and an anticipated approximately $700 million from the federal BEAD program — but said infrastructure alone will not close the digital divide because affordability and device access remain barriers.

Industry witnesses including Brent Wolf of the Oregon Broadband Association and Sam Ackley of Hunter Communications expressed support for the bill and for continued affordability assistance, noting many customers remain unable to afford basic Internet service even where networks are built. \"The Oregon Lifeline Plan and the continuation and expansion of the plan associated with this bill really represent crucial steps towards solving those challenges,\" Ackley said.

Committee members questioned how many households would be served, how device grants would be used by recipients and whether the program would reach remote areas where broadband access is not yet available. PUC and League witnesses said the Oregon Lifeline plan would likely serve fewer households than the federal ACP at its peak and that the legislation is designed to complement federal infrastructure funding rather than replace it.

The bill's dash-1 amendment moves some implementation deadlines to give the PUC additional time to adopt rules. No committee vote was reached at the hearing.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","House Committee On Economic Development, Small Business, and Trade 03/12/2025 8:00 AM","oneSentenceSummary","House Bill 3148 would rename Oregon's low‑income assistance program to the Oregon Lifeline Plan, raise the state subsidy, add a one‑time personal computing benefit and give the Public Utility Commission budget authority to implement the changes; the committee heard testimony March 12.","taxTitle","Economic Development and Small Business, House of Representatives, Committees, Legislative, Oregon","taxId",17512,"location","Oregon","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6284927,"Bill would fund research to turn Oregon seafood byproducts into higher‑value products; $840,000 proposed",915,2586309,3502265,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2576443-a623887dfc32e0a3366afb4f18378926&start=2586&end=3502","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2576443-a623887dfc32e0a3366afb4f18378926/thumbnail_2586309.jpg","/articles/6284927/Oregon/Bill-would-fund-research-to-turn-Oregon-seafood-byproducts-into-highervalue-products-840000-proposed","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6284927-26e9af47a8a6e0f8693dca6a7792cea2/orig.mp4?Expires=1770785898&Signature=gIcyPkxnai~P544n7cS-N0KphOlieYEhcV2ychS1XWWdOpbSbsd57ipUf~dKM-5lS17DS0EZuSC8Ejaa15dNUIGgb8sMheKsXQdNXfp~kW5pi9pjxDUGhPMbI1dK5dC~A6obQqOvN~fZGAB1P-WWvafIASP2vItAavlVbpJqo8ZXCA8K~4Lr9W0herUzFYkdtmPbNtozhWjzf4NHwGvR0CUqFIO9BEGZE77xEP7NeUsKCPQhZGjwYw5mpa4C07mKLWJxK5-EmiBKwgFBuUvb99DL6z4wVCiK~tdzjWpKfq5bn8YzOY-GWAdn6ZcRCbEPU3z7mBVdTgyV9LvUjGL3Gw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The House Committee on Economic Development, Small Business and Trade held a public hearing March 12 on House Bill 2969, which would appropriate $840,000 to the Oregon Coast Visitors Association (OCVA) to support research, development and light infrastructure aimed at increasing the value of seafood byproducts for nonfood uses.

Representative David Gomberg (House District 10), who presented the bill, said the proposal draws on work by the Iceland Ocean Cluster and would fund research and product development to extract high‑value materials from seafood byproducts. \"They've been pioneering a 100% fish utilization project to better capture the value of seafood byproduct,\" Gomberg said, later citing Iceland examples that converted the value of a single cod from about $12 to $4,700 by developing biomedical, leather and specialty products.

Marcus Hinns, executive director of the Oregon Coast Visitors Association, told the committee the dash-2 amendment would fund laboratory research and short‑run product testing, and that OCVA has identified facilities in Oregon for research and early manufacturing. Hinns said the appropriation would support analyzing skin, bones and scales to identify the highest‑value market opportunities and produce prototypes for testing. \"We have their expertise with us in this project, and the funds provided by HB 2,969 with the dash 2 amendment would allow us to conduct the preliminary research and development to scientifically extract these properties,\" Hinns said.

Testimony described potential nonfood applications including collagen for biomedical uses, enzymes for medical products, fish‑skin grafts, fish leather goods and specialty animal treats. Witnesses said such work could support light manufacturing jobs, new product lines for seafood processors and additional retail products for coastal tourism markets.

Committee members asked why OCVA would be the grant recipient rather than a research university or a development agency, and whether lodging tax revenues could be used. Hinns said OCVA is a business association that has worked on seafood marketing and workforce programs and has existing industry connections; he said some jurisdictions could use the discretionary portion of local lodging tax revenue for related projects but that the statute limits lodging tax use in most places.

The dash-2 amendment sets a project budget and anticipates spending on research and development, light infrastructure and coordination capacity to replicate aspects of the Iceland model in Oregon. The committee discussed industry readiness and existing processing assets; witnesses said Oregon has suitable labs and short‑run manufacturing capacity and that private investment could follow once initial product proofs are developed.

No committee vote was taken at the hearing. If enacted, the appropriation would fund OCVA to carry out staged R&D and pilot production intended to help Oregon seafood processors capture higher value from byproducts.","House Bill 2969 (dash-2) would appropriate $840,000 to the Oregon Coast Visitors Association to support '100% fish' research and light manufacturing pilots modeled on Iceland's Ocean Cluster, proponents told a March 12 committee hearing.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6284930,"Committee hears bill to fund industrial symbiosis roadmap, $1.3 million for pilot assistance",2551,32300,2583930,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2576443-a623887dfc32e0a3366afb4f18378926&start=32&end=2583","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2576443-a623887dfc32e0a3366afb4f18378926/thumbnail_32300.jpg","/articles/6284930/Oregon/Committee-hears-bill-to-fund-industrial-symbiosis-roadmap-13-million-for-pilot-assistance","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6284930-1bed87ef14becd1fd3d597194a413c3b/orig.mp4?Expires=1770785898&Signature=ap3mIoI~m0BlIe3Sgjze4TqRbqUTNzpqQONrzANBhpEFvnChXO64LbOfArL5slgZRn6hmDaKfV3WuoAc0e8cHnN3x38pQ8pIFHXF9xSAwiCWRCg9bIsERqv0mAfzHsmuLJHG1xpoCTFuB45vczmvg2-OSh2NnTQr2GWXJpZpYIJuYGkWUKJTm6Jdi1VsyaJKjgMppbe7i2rEpQNQb1qmgDAFkOBQEI3lTJy0EuAglnWTTQDnqLpgxWucUd0b8IIHrs6o3SURFlA6T4NMCP6848-Zs9DBvjj2GS3Fu8UiFsnJsfd9CY-hxm10QMJZYgkVBgCaQ15i8-jylGQ9A7dwbg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The House Committee on Economic Development, Small Business and Trade opened a public hearing March 12 on House Bill 3246, which would direct the Oregon Business Development Department (Business Oregon) to develop an industrial symbiosis roadmap and — in a dash-3 amendment — establish a pilot technical-assistance program with an appropriation of $1,300,000.

Supporters told the committee the measure is voluntary and aimed at helping businesses, ports and municipal utilities analyze ways to turn byproducts and waste streams into productive inputs for other industries. \"What the bill has two components: one is a report and roadmap on how industrial symbiosis can move forward in the state, and the second is a competitive grant process with a little bit of boost money behind that,\" said Representative Ken Helm, House District 27, one of the bill sponsors.

The dash-3 amendment expands the bill's definition and goals for industrial symbiosis, directs Business Oregon to run a pilot program offering technical assistance and sets selection criteria for pilots. Under the amendment, pilot communities would receive help with planning and design of symbiosis projects, convening community and industry meetings, and identifying infrastructure opportunities. Business Oregon is directed to select pilot communities that reflect geographic and industrial diversity, including at least one community east of the Cascade Range, one west of the range, at least one with food-processing industry presence, and at least one involving municipal water or wastewater operations.

\"It's voluntary. There's no regulatory compunction here, there's no mandatory anything,\" said Representative Bobby Levy, House District 58, a bill co-sponsor. \"We hope the incentives are just that, to incentivize good work.\"

Nonprofit, local-government and private-sector witnesses described existing projects and local plans they say could use early technical assistance. Rhys Roth, executive director of the Center for Sustainable Infrastructure, described study trips to Denmark and work in Washington state and told the committee that small early investments can help communities design projects that produce co‑products such as renewable natural gas, fertilizer from extracted nutrients, and high‑quality irrigation water. \"A small amount of technical assistance early on can help foster that collaboration and planning that can maximize infrastructure investments,\" Roth said.

Klamath County Commissioner Kelly Minty described a locally developed waterfront pilot concept centered on nutrient recovery and algae processing, and said the county used the convening power of elected officials to advance local planning. \"We developed a pilot concept around industrial symbiosis related to our waterfront and agriculture,\" Minty said, adding that the idea drew cross‑sector agreement in a region where water issues are often contentious.

Food processors described ongoing byproduct reuse and partnerships they said could scale with state support. Debbie Rady, chief quality and stewardship officer at Boardman Foods, described efforts to repurpose onion processing byproducts into cattle feed, packaging materials under study with Oregon State University, and methane capture used for onsite energy. \"We're already kind of engaged — we've been engaged,\" Rady said. Amy Wentworth of Pacific Seafood described existing processing conversion of seafood cuttings into feed, fertilizers and specialty proteins and said the roadmap would help identify additional symbiotic relationships.

Business groups and employers generally supported a market‑driven, nonregulatory approach. Duke Shepherd of Oregon Business & Industry said the bill formalizes a practice many firms already use and that the dash-3 form is preferable to an agency‑led regulatory approach.

Committee members asked how the program would interact with existing regulatory frameworks. A witness noted prior discussions with the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) and Business Oregon and said the agencies could advise communities on regulatory pathways but would not rewrite rules in the short term. Representative and committee members also raised specific local examples where permitting and regulatory requirements have affected existing waste‑to‑energy operations; witnesses advised that the pilot assistance would include regulatory navigation and agency coordination where appropriate.

The hearing included extended discussion of out‑of‑state examples such as Denmark and Washington state, and of local pilots from Boardman, Klamath Falls and ports. Supporters said the state roadmap plus modest technical funds would help turn nascent local projects into bankable investments and coordinated infrastructure, while opponents of heavy-handed regulation were assured the measure leaves participation voluntary.

No formal action or votes on HB 3246 occurred at the hearing; the committee closed the public hearing and moved on to the next bill.

The bill as described would: direct Business Oregon to prepare a statewide industrial symbiosis roadmap; implement up to six pilot projects selected to reflect geographic and industrial diversity; and appropriate $1,300,000 for technical assistance to pilot communities, per the dash-3 amendment. Details on program rules, grant criteria and reporting would be determined by Business Oregon implementation if the bill passes.","A House committee heard testimony March 12 on HB 3246, which would direct the Oregon Business Development Department to create an industrial symbiosis roadmap and fund technical assistance to up to six pilot communities under a $1.3 million dash-3 amendment.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Bill would expand Oregon low‑income telecom aid, add $100 device benefit and rename program

Bill would fund research to turn Oregon seafood byproducts into higher‑value products; $840,000 proposed

Committee hears bill to fund industrial symbiosis roadmap, $1.3 million for pilot assistance