Bill > HB2519

This bill establishes the Oregon Public Utility Homeland Security Commission within the Oregon Department of Emergency Management (ODEM) to create a grant program for consumer-owned utilities (including people's utility districts, municipal utilities, and electric cooperatives) to better prepare for, respond to, and recover from natural disasters. The commission, consisting of five members appointed by the Governor, will evaluate and recommend grants for projects such as facility safety assessments, infrastructure vulnerability evaluations, service reliability reviews, and developing power restoration prioritization plans. The bill also creates the Oregon Public Utility Homeland Security Fund, which will be funded through legislative appropriations and potentially lottery bonds, to provide financial support for these grants. Consumer-owned utilities must submit detailed project proposals to the commission, which will assess each proposal based on its potential to mitigate disaster damage, project feasibility, and estimated costs. The legislation authorizes the State Treasurer to issue lottery bonds to support these efforts, with the underlying goal of improving utility infrastructure resilience and supporting economic development by creating jobs and enhancing utility preparedness for natural disasters.

Military Affairs and Security

https://olis.oregonlegislature.gov/liz/2025R1/Measures/Overview/HB2519