l9n/ Oregon

2025 Regular Session

House Bill 3984

Provides that an electric company that is found to be liable for damages in a civil action arising out of allegations that the conduct of the electric company caused or substantially contributed to a wildfire shall also be liable for any federal income tax liability that a plaintiff or class member owes or pays on amounts the plaintiff or class member receives in relation to the civil action.

In the Senate, waiting for a committee, since June 27, 2025.

What it does

The synopsis the Legislative Assembly published with the bill.

<b>Digest: Makes a power company liable for any federal income taxes that a party owes or pays on amounts that the party gets in the civil action. Tells the PUC to study issues related to big wildfires. States findings and intent. (Flesch Readability Score: 60.0).</b> [<i>Digest: Makes the PUC do a study on wildfires and submit a report. (Flesch Readability Score: 81.8).</i>] [<i>Requires the Public Utility Commission to study wildfires. Directs the commission to submit findings to the interim committees of the Legislative Assembly related to energy no later than September 15, 2026.</i>] [<i>Sunsets on January 2, 2027.</i>] <b>Provides that an electric company that is found to be liable for damages in a civil action arising out of allegations that the conduct of the electric company caused or substantially contributed to a wildfire shall also be liable for any federal income tax liability that a plaintiff or class member owes or pays on amounts the plaintiff or class member receives in relation to the civil action. Allows a plaintiff or class member to seek a supplemental judgment to recover from the electric company for the federal income tax liability. <b>Requires an electric company to apply for a wildfire safety certification. Directs the Public Utility Commission to issue a certification if the applicant is implementing a wildfire protection plan and meets certain requirements. Provides that a certification establishes that the applicant has implemented wildfire policies and practices consistent with wildfire safety standards. Provides that a certification does not establish immunity against claims for damages resulting from a wildfire. <b>Directs the commission to commission a study to examine issues related to catastrophic wildfire risk and recovery and develop scenarios for a balanced solution. Directs the commission to provide an interim report on the study's findings and recommendations to the committees of the Legislative Assembly related to energy and environment during the 2026 regular session and provide recommendations for a stakeholder process to follow the final study report. <b>Declares an emergency, effective on passage.</b>

Sponsors

Who carried the bill in each chamber, and who signed on. Each name leads to the member's page.

In the House of Representatives

1 co-sponsor

Thuy Tran

Its course

June 12 to June 27, 2025, on one scale. In the top row each mark is a day something happened; taller marks are busier days.

Each committee stop sits inside its chamber.

Every action11 actions on 4 days

In the House of RepresentativesJun 12 to Jun 2715 days

Waiting for a committeeJun 12 to Jun 120 days

RulesJun 12 to Jun 2715 days

In the SenateFrom Jun 27

Waiting for a committeeFrom Jun 27

Votes

Yeas to nays, as the Legislative Assembly recorded them. Committee votes are set in.

  • House of Representatives, third reading34–17

    Passed · Jun 27 · 9 present

Amendments

Each amendment offered, and what became of it.

  • House of Representatives committee amendmentAdopted

    Adopted Jun 27

Text

Each version as the Legislative Assembly printed it.

l9n doesn't hold this bill's text yet.

What happened

In l9n's words, one line for each step. Every action as the Legislative Assembly published it is below.

In the House of Representatives Jun 12 – Jun 27

  1. Jun 12Introduced
  2. Sent to Rules
  3. Jun 23Heard in Rules
  4. Jun 27Heard in Rules
  5. Rules recommended it as amended
  6. Read a second time
  7. Passed the House of Representatives, 34 to 17

In the Senate Jun 27

  1. Jun 27Arrived in the Senate
All 11 actions, as published
  1. Jun 12First reading. Referred to Speaker's desk.House of Representatives
  2. Jun 12Referred to Rules.House of Representatives
  3. Jun 23Public Hearing held.House of Representatives
  4. Jun 25Work Session cancelled.House of Representatives
  5. Jun 27Work Session held.House of Representatives
  6. Jun 27Recommendation: Do pass with amendments and be printed A-Engrossed.House of Representatives
  7. Jun 27Second reading.House of Representatives
  8. Jun 27Rules suspended. Made a Special Order of Business immediately.House of Representatives
  9. Jun 27Potential conflict(s) of interest declared by Gomberg.House of Representatives
  10. Jun 27Rules suspended. Third reading as Special Order of Business. Carried by Marsh, Kropf. Passed.House of Representatives
  11. Jun 27First reading. Referred to President's desk.Senate