[{"_1":2,"_88":-5,"_89":-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],{"_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",6269669,"mediaKeyId","3040958-e24f74bdab3861c918464f482a2ae96e","parentId",3040958,"title","Committee hears bill to curb single-use plastics; restaurants and retailers would provide items only on request or as paper","audioSeconds",2485,"startMs",878000,"endMs",3363000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3040958-e24f74bdab3861c918464f482a2ae96e&start=878&end=3363","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3040958-e24f74bdab3861c918464f482a2ae96e/thumbnail_878000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6269669/Oregon/Committee-hears-bill-to-curb-single-use-plastics-restaurants-and-retailers-would-provide-items-only-on-request-or-as-paper","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6269669-b4391cd6a650162f9143aba4ba0c3d63/orig.mp4?Expires=1770690426&Signature=LjiN9H1nMoWMd2HvzxZkgqCCaLXQ4-rZT3Hb0VM5Ti4CWwgF28ED-ASysxSjv63piK~-16QeU83slCuwZRy~KeLNs2NXK~8qYVT9VWTZUeLAyE59ZYGjxTWSzhtoTVTBBVWYdPHXdNxwnzdeY9BXbgB-XTfEhOJxwRRGISstRJKxDbaBz0vwM-cfWfSgxPzolNLqtcsgHz0xBvc87EJO965QxwElw5uifNsgx5CHIScx1ad0-KeD~YblIOjVOxku~ge69wIIa0mgRT57rzKx4XcePGl4Xwx0eC8G7xV-xPWwbZdMCSOAkm37oy0vybCInEgylN38cPQPJh~uZa9ksg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Oregon Legislature","date","2025-04-17T00:00:00Z","article","The Senate Committee on Climate, Energy, and Environment held a public hearing on Senate Bill 551 on Oct. 12, 2025, which would prohibit retailers and restaurants from automatically providing single-use plastic checkout bags, single-use plastic utensils and condiment packaging unless requested, and would prohibit lodging establishments from supplying small plastic personal-care containers unless requested.

State Senator Janine Salmon, who introduced the bill, said the measure is intended to reduce plastic waste and the spread of microplastics. \"We must do it,\" Salmon said in testimony, arguing the bill builds on the 2019 statewide plastic bag law by removing thicker single-use plastic bags from circulation and encouraging paper or customer-provided bags.

Supporters at the hearing included elected officials and environmental and business groups. Representative Tom Anderson, a sponsor in the House, described the bill as a follow-up to earlier local and statewide efforts; Representative Courtney Neron said the bill takes a \"measured and practical approach\" by shifting to on-request distribution for many single-use items. Celeste May, state director of Environment Oregon, told the committee that plastic pollution harms oceans, wildlife and potentially human health through microplastics. Charlie Plybon of the Surfrider Foundation described extensive coastal cleanup work and said the bill targets items that are typically discarded after a single use.

Business and industry witnesses also supported the measure with conditions to manage supply. Sean Miller of the Northwest Grocery Retail Association said most stores have already moved to paper bags and that paper production in Oregon means the policy could benefit pulp and paper businesses. Miller provided cost figures from a member survey, saying the average paper bag cost is about 16 cents while the average plastic bag cost was about 39 cents. He also noted an operative date of Jan. 1, 2027, in section 4 of the bill to allow pulp and paper mills time to scale production; the date was discussed in testimony as intended to avoid a supply shortfall when California\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000s ban takes effect.

Committee members asked about practical and health-related implications. Representative Wallen and Representative Helm raised questions about hygiene, restaurants and health-care settings; Salmon and other proponents said the bill is designed to allow utensils, condiments and small containers to be provided upon request to avoid creating access problems for people without a private place to store reusable items and to accommodate disability and health needs. Salmon and witnesses noted many hotels already use bulk dispensers for shampoo and conditioner and that the bill would nudge more businesses toward those models.

Several legislators described business models and local examples in which retailers or hotels have voluntarily reduced single-use plastics. Opponents were not recorded in the limited time available; proponents including environmental organizations and retailers urged the committee to advance the bill.

The committee closed testimony on SB 551 after multiple witnesses and did not take a committee vote during the hearing. Written testimony was accepted for 48 hours from the start of the meeting.

","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","House Committee On Climate, Energy, and Environment 04/17/2025 8:30 AM","oneSentenceSummary","The Senate Committee on Climate, Energy, and Environment held a public hearing on Senate Bill 551 on Oct. 12, 2025, which would prohibit retailers and restaurants from automatically providing single-use plastic checkout bags, plastic utensils and small hotel toiletry containers except when requested and require checkout bags to be paper or customer-provided.","taxTitle","Climate, Energy, and Environment, House of Representatives, Committees, Legislative, Oregon","taxId",17502,"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},6269674,"Committee hears bill to let DEQ offer grants, principal forgiveness for failing septic systems",437,440000,877000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3040958-e24f74bdab3861c918464f482a2ae96e&start=440&end=877","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3040958-e24f74bdab3861c918464f482a2ae96e/thumbnail_440000.jpg","/articles/6269674/Oregon/Committee-hears-bill-to-let-DEQ-offer-grants-principal-forgiveness-for-failing-septic-systems","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6269674-f255e973268db9240644e97659e559f3/orig.mp4?Expires=1770690426&Signature=b2CAGj12Hzpd~7YbEecQHTYIOEZIIZlezK08CTlxy8Kau52SanhLjXFjotrTaScZ9l-QmPFxzTGJE9fJHbENjansKUrnB53bR~ebM9iscjUkkKUnGXf3V-qUrdmM-H3ow37yun8usOWbkXgJaUfzslY1I-3-RCm4b5UAZ6rioVJOG0f5BDmtdE0EmrcjfHeHmWXDPrEcSd9wvSUT2kokphEY-FGTaYOzCNGDWypeYJCJ1FD7H7AQE3cf2lZ3MxdY7t3oaNh4Yz73QplSgmBHfkVXyW902Kzp1oj-DszWtpc2iDlUizO15ttcaMhowZ1OKACyRhicYTI5l63N8ZjwHg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Senate Committee on Climate, Energy, and Environment held a public hearing on Senate Bill 830 on Oct. 12, 2025, to consider expanding the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality\u0000(DEQ) on-site septic financial aid program to allow grants and principal forgiveness as well as loans and to clarify eligibility for multi-unit residential housing.

Supporters and staff told the committee the change is designed to help low-income, elderly and fixed-income homeowners, and to ensure larger residential settings such as manufactured home parks, RV parks and apartments can qualify for assistance.

Ryan Huff, senior policy analyst for water-related programs at the DEQ, said SB 830 would add authorization for grants and other financial assistance tools that are not currently permitted under the agency\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000s existing affordable loan program. \"This aims to improve the options by which the state may offer financial assistance to rural Oregonians struggling to address the financial challenges associated with repairing or replacing on-site septic systems that have failed or are in disrepair,\" Huff said.

Huff outlined two existing efforts the bill would build on: a 2016 loan program administered through the community development financial institution Craft3 and a 2021 ARPA-funded on-site septic financial aid program. He told the committee Craft3\u0000has administered roughly $3,700,000 in state funds since 2016, benefiting 224 homeowners in 26 counties through below-market loans and flexible terms, and said Craft3 has leveraged private funds and charitable donations to expand lending capacity. He said the ARPA program received $15,000,000 and allowed a wider mix of tools, including grants, but that those ARPA funds have been obligated and the program is expected to be fully expended by early 2026.

\"The grants are particularly important for assisting the most vulnerable low income, elderly, and fixed income homeowners who might not be able to participate in a loan program without additional incentive or subsidies,\" Huff said, adding that SB 830 itself does not appropriate new money; it only expands the program\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000s authorities and policy flexibilities.

Members sought clarity about eligibility and funding. Representative Marsh asked whether the expansion is intended to include manufactured home parks; Huff said yes, the language is intended to make that explicit. Vice Chair Levy asked how the program would help people in her district; Huff said local partnerships similar to those used with ARPA funds would be considered depending on the scope of future funding and noted the Lower Umatilla Basin had been highlighted in the recently finalized Oregon Nitrate Reduction Plan.

When Vice Chair Gamba asked whether any funds are currently available to accept new applications, Huff replied no: the original loan program funds were expended by 2022 and the $15,000,000 in ARPA funds have been obligated. Huff said additional funding would need to be identified before new applications could be accepted. He also identified House Bill 2168 as a separate budget bill at the Ways and Means Committee that, as of his testimony, proposed $5,000,000 for the program.

Justin Green, executive director of Water for Eastern Oregon and a former DEQ water quality administrator, testified in support. \"Replacing failing septic systems have been identified as a method of reducing groundwater nitrate concentrations in the basin,\" Green said, citing the Lower Umatilla Basin action plans and Oregon\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000s nitrate reduction planning. He said the DEQ-managed financial aid program had provided clear benefits for human health and groundwater protection.

Committee members pressed for more data on how much nitrates in the Lower Umatilla Basin are attributable to septic systems; Green pointed to a pie chart in the Lower Umatilla Basin Groundwater Management Area second action plan but did not give a specific percentage and said he would follow up.

The hearing record shows SB 830 as a policy bill that would broaden allowable financial-assistance mechanisms but does not by itself provide appropriation authority. Committee members closed testimony on SB 830 without taking a committee vote; staff and witnesses indicated additional funding would be required before the expanded authorities could be used to fund new repairs or replacements.

The committee closed the SB 830 hearing and proceeded to a separate hearing on Senate Bill 551.

","Senate Bill 830 would expand the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality\u0000(DEQ) on-site septic financial aid program to allow grants and principal forgiveness in addition to loans and to clarify that multi-unit residential housing is eligible; committee took testimony but no funding was approved.","actionData","errors"]

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Committee hears bill to curb single-use plastics; restaurants and retailers would provide items only on request or as paper

Committee hears bill to let DEQ offer grants, principal forgiveness for failing septic systems