I just passed the five-month mark as Forth’s first Director of Government Relations and I have been working diligently on one of my first priorities, securing passage of an electric vehicle rebate during Oregon’s 2017 Legislative Assembly. Sponsored by Representative Helm, HB 2704 will establish rebates of up to $2,500 for passenger cars, larger rebates for electric transit buses, and a pilot “cash for clunkers” project in a low income, disadvantaged community. 

The Legislature convened February 1, and a public hearing and work session on HB 2704 were held in the House Committee on Energy and the Environment on February 8 and March 22 respectively. The bill passed out of the Committee with the support of key industry partners and is now in the House Revenue Committee. 

There is plenty of evidence that “cash on the hood” incentives are the best way to drive increased electric vehicle sales. They’ve worked in California, Washington, and Norway. And we’ve also seen the opposite, when electric vehicle sales dropped 80% after Georgia eliminated its state incentive.  

While this bill could stand alone, we would like electric vehicle point-of-purchase rebates to be included within the $8 billion Joint Committee on Transportation and Preservation and Modernization Proposal released recently.  

Show Your Support Today!

HB 2704 is the single most important electric vehicle legislation being considered this session. Please email members of the Committee (contact information below) and encourage them to include and fund electric vehicle rebates in the transportation proposal!  

If your time is limited, please email the two Co-Chairs and two Co-Vice Chairs, who have a key role in shaping the discussions.

For more information about our legislative and policy work, please contact me at any time. Thank you for your on-going support!

Oregon State Legislature – Joint Committee on Transportation Preservation and Modernization

Co-Chair Senator Lee Beyer
503-986-1706
Sen.LeeBeyer@oregonlegislature.gov

Co-Chair Representative Caddy McKeown
503-986-1409
Rep.CaddyMcKeown@oregonlegislature.gov 

Co-Vice Chair Senator Brian Boquist
503-986-1712
Sen.BrianBoquist@oregonlegislature.gov 

Co-Vice Chair Representative Cliff Bentz
503-986-1460
Rep.CliffBentz@oregonlegislature.gov 

Senator Fed Girod
503-986-1709
Sen.FredGirod@oregonlegislature.gov

Senator Betsy Johnson
503-986-1716
Sen.BetsyJohnson@oregonlegislature.gov 

Senator Rod Monroe
503-986-1724
Sen.RodMonroe@oregonlegislature.gov 

Senator Kathleen Taylor
503-986-1721
Sen.KathleenTaylor@oregonlegislature.gov

Senator Jackie Winters
503-986-1710
Sen.JackieWinters@oregonlegislature.gov

Representative John Lively
503-986-1412
Rep.JohnLively@oregonlegislature.gov 

Representative Susan McLain
503-986-1429
Rep.SusanMclain@oregonlegislature.gov

Representative Andy Olson
503-986-1415
Rep.AndyOlson@oregonlegislature.gov 

Representative Greg Smith
503-986-1457
Rep.GregSmith@oregonlegislature.gov 

Representative Barbara Smith Warner
503-986-1445
Rep.BarbaraSmithWarner@oregonlegislature.gov