HB3161 • 2025

Prohibits a public utility from increasing the public utility's rates or schedules of rates if the public utility has, for a period of three or more years, outstanding or contingent liabilities arising out of wildfire-related litigation.

Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor: Representative Cate,, Diehl,, Gomberg,, Osborne, Representative Chotzen,, Lively,, Nelson,, Nguyen D,
Last action: 2025-06-27
Official status: In House Committee
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

Using official source text because the generated explanation was unavailable or could not be confirmed against the official bill text.

Prohibits a public utility from increasing the public utility's rates or schedules of rates if the public utility has, for a period of three or more years, outstanding or contingent liabilities arising out of wildfire-related litigation.

Digest: Bans a public utility from raising rates if there are unresolved wildfire lawsuits for three or more years.

What This Bill Does

Digest: Bans a public utility from raising rates if there are unresolved wildfire lawsuits for three or more years.
(Flesch Readability Score: 61.6).
Prohibits a public utility from increasing the public utility's rates or schedules of rates if the public utility has, for a period of three or more years, outstanding or contingent liabilities arising out of wildfire-related litigation.
Takes effect on the 91st day following adjournment sine die.

Limits and Unknowns

This entry is temporarily using official source text because the generated explanation could not be confirmed against the official bill text during the last sync.

Bill History

2025-06-27 House
In committee upon adjournment.
2025-01-17 House
Referred to Judiciary.
2025-01-13 House
First reading. Referred to Speaker's desk.

Official Summary Text

Digest: Bans a public utility from raising rates if there are unresolved wildfire lawsuits for three or more years. (Flesch Readability Score: 61.6).
Prohibits a public utility from increasing the public utility's rates or schedules of rates if the public utility has, for a period of three or more years, outstanding or contingent liabilities arising out of wildfire-related litigation.
Takes effect on the 91st day following adjournment sine die.
Relating to: Relating to public utility liabilities arising out of wildfire litigation; prescribing an effective date.
Current location: In House Committee

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

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83rd OREGON LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY--2025 Regular Session
House Bill 3161
Sponsored by Representatives CATE, DIEHL (Presession filed.)
SUMMARY
The following summary is not prepared by the sponsors of the measure and is not a part of the body thereof subject
to consideration by the Legislative Assembly. It is an editor’s brief statement of the essential features of the
measure as introduced. The statement includes a measure digest written in compliance with applicable readability
standards.
Digest: Bans a public utility from raising rates if there are unresolved wildfire lawsuits for three
or more years. (Flesch Readability Score: 61.6).
Prohibits a public utility from increasing the public utility’s rates or schedules of rates if the
public utility has, for a period of three or more years, outstanding or contingent liabilities arising
out of wildfire-related litigation.
Takes effect on the 91st day following adjournment sine die.
A BILL FOR AN ACT
Relating to public utility liabilities arising out of wildfire litigation; and prescribing an effective
date.
Be It Enacted by the People of the State of Oregon:
SECTION 1.
Section 2 of this 2025 Act is added to and made a part of ORS chapter 757.
SECTION 2. (1) As used in this section:
(a) “Wildfire” means a wildfire as defined in ORS 477.089, that started on or after July
5, 2020, and before December 1, 2020, and:
(A) Is the subject of a state of emergency declared by the Governor;
(B) Occurs in an area subject to an executive order of the Governor invoking the Emer-
gency Conflagration Act under ORS 476.510 to 476.610; or
(C) Is a federally declared disaster, as defined in section 165 of the Internal Revenue
Code, whether located within Oregon or elsewhere.
(b) “Wildfire-related litigation” means litigation through which a plaintiff seeks compen-
sation for losses, expenses or damages found to be caused by a wildfire.
(2) A public utility may not increase or apply to the Public Utility Commission to increase
the public utility’s rates or schedules of rates, if the public utility has, for a period of three
or more years, any outstanding or contingent liabilities arising out of wildfire-related liti-
gation.
SECTION 3.
Section 2 of this 2025 Act is repealed on January 2, 2036.
SECTION 4. This 2025 Act takes effect on the 91st day after the date on which the 2025
regular session of the Eighty-third Legislative Assembly adjourns sine die.
NOTE: Matter in boldfaced type in an amended section is new; matter [ italic and bracketed] is existing law to be omitted.
New sections are in boldfaced type.
LC 3686