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83rd OREGON LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY--2025 Regular Session
SENATE AMENDMENTS TO
SENATE BILL 926
By COMMITTEE ON JUDICIARY
April 18
Delete lines 4 through 17 of the printed bill and insert:
“SECTION 1. Sections 2 and 3 of this 2025 Act are added to and made a part of ORS
chapter757.
“SECTION 2.(1) As used in this section:
“(a) ‘Electric company’ means an electric company, as defined in ORS 757.600, that ser-
vices electricity to more than 25,000 retail electricity consumers located in this state.
“(b) ‘Retail electricity consumer’ has the meaning given that term in ORS 757.600.
“(2) If a court or jury finds that a wildfire resulted from the negligence or a higher de-
gree of fault on the part of an electric company, the electric company may not recover from
retail electricity consumers the following costs and expenses:
“(a) Costs and expenses that are, or are associated with, a civil judgment, civil fine or
penalty or criminal fine or penalty that results from or is based on the finding that the
wildfire resulted from the negligence or a higher degree of fault on the part of the electric
company.
“(b) Costs and expenses that are, or are associated with, a settlement that is based on:
“(A) The underlying allegations that there are losses, expenses or damages caused by the
wildfire that resulted from the negligence or a higher degree of fault on the part of the
electric company; or
“(B) The finding that the wildfire resulted from the negligence or a higher degree of fault
on the part of the electric company.
“(c) Litigation costs and expenses of, or associated with, the civil or criminal action in
which the court or jury finds that the wildfire resulted from the negligence or a higher de-
gree of fault on the part of the electric company.
“(d) Costs and expenses of, or associated with, repairing or replacing the electric
company’s real or personal property that was damaged or destroyed in the wildfire that the
court or jury finds resulted from the negligence or a higher degree of fault on the part of
the electric company.
“SECTION 3. (1) As used in this section, ‘electric company’ means an electric company,
as defined in ORS 757.600, that services electricity to more than 25,000 retail electricity
consumers, as defined in ORS 757.600, located in this state.
“(2) If an electric company owes any debt on an outstanding judgment that is based on
a finding by a court or jury that a wildfire resulted from the negligence or a higher degree
of fault on the part of the electric company, the electric company may not:
“(a) Pay or distribute dividends, income, interest or profits of the electric company, or
affiliate or subsidiary of the electric company, to any person or individual with an ownership
LC 1362/SB 926-3 1
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or beneficial interest in the electric company; or
“(b) Pay, distribute or repurchase stock or other ownership interest in the electric
company, or affiliate or subsidiary of the electric company, to any person or individual with
an ownership or beneficial interest in the electric company.
“SECTION 4. In a civil action arising out of allegations that the conduct of an electric
company, as defined in section 3 of this 2025 Act, caused or substantially contributed to a
wildfire, if the plaintiff establishes that the wildfire resulted from the negligence or a higher
degree of fault on the part of the electric company:
“(1) The rate of interest on the judgment shall be nine percent per annum and accrue
from the date the wildfire was ignited; and
“(2) Damages awarded to the plaintiff may not be offset by any money received from any
other source by the plaintiff.
“SECTION 5.Sections 2 to 4 of this 2025 Act apply to wildfires that are ignited on or after
January 1, 2020.
“SECTION 6.(1) As used in this section, ‘electric company’ means an electric company,
as defined in ORS 757.600, that services electricity to more than 25,000 retail electricity
consumers, as defined in ORS 757.600, located in this state.
“(2) If an electric company owes any debt on an outstanding judgment that is based on
a finding by a court or jury that a wildfire resulted from the negligence or a higher degree
of fault on the part of the electric company and the electric company has not satisfied the
judgment by January 1, 2026, the electric company shall be liable for all taxes that may be
owed by the prevailing party on the judgment at the time the electric company satisfies the
judgment.
“SECTION 7. Section 6 of this 2025 Act applies to a judgment that has been issued be-
tween January 1, 2020, and January 1, 2025.”.
SA to SB 926 Page 2