Oregon’s Climate Omnibus HB 3409, Decoded for Manufacturers
Oregon’s 2023 climate package is not just about forests and heat pumps. It quietly rewires agencies, funds natural climate solutions, and sets up programs that reach into job sites, specs, and submittals. If you sell materials into Oregon, the signals around embodied carbon and documentation are getting louder. Here is what HB 3409 actually changes, what numbers matter, and how to turn it into faster bids and fewer last minute scrambles.
HB 3409 in plain English
HB 3409 modernized the state climate commission, launched new funding streams, and authorized programs that touch transportation, buildings, and natural climate solutions. The Natural and Working Lands Fund received an initial ten million dollar appropriation in 2024 for nature based climate actions, with reporting in 2025 on where dollars went (Oregon Climate Action Commission, 2025).
Transportation got a push too. The new medium and heavy duty zero emissions vehicle rebate program is live, seeded with three million dollars. Those vehicles account for an estimated 9.3 million metric tons of greenhouse gases each year, about forty two percent of Oregon’s on road fleet emissions (Oregon DEQ MHD ZEV Rebate, 2024).
Where embodied carbon shows up
The legislature directed the Building Codes Division to explore options to cut emissions attributable to building materials under Section 7 of HB 3409. That is a clear policy door for embodied carbon to move from guidance into requirements over time.
Separately, the Low Embodied Carbon Housing program targets 940 new units across nine communities and projects a reduction of about 343,000 metric tons carbon dioxide equivalent by 2050. Applicants follow a DEQ approved pathway to reduce embodied carbon at least ten percent (Oregon DEQ Low Embodied Carbon Housing, 2025).
What this means for product manufacturers
Public owners and cities will ask for clean, consistent material data. Product specific, third party verified EPDs remain the most accepted passport for embodied carbon reporting on bids, addenda, and closeout. When codes and rebates push toward lower footprints, submitters without EPDs face conservative default assumptions that make products look worse on paper, which can stall or sink a spec.
2025 milestones worth watching
The state published its first Biennial Oregon Heat Pump Report on September 15, 2025, tracking progress toward a goal of 500,000 additional heat pumps in buildings by 2030. Big building energy moves keep embodied impacts in the spotlight because total carbon is what counts in the end (ODOE Biennial Heat Pump Report, 2025).
Natural and Working Lands funding is now under the Oregon Climate Action Commission with annual accountability updates that cite project types and investment levels (Oregon Climate Action Commission, 2025).
How EPDs plug into HB 3409 era submittals
Think of the PCR as the rulebook and the EPD as your scorecard. Owners do not want guesswork. A current EPD gives design teams, code reviewers, and rebate administrators a verified number they can place into calculators without delay. Even an older but valid EPD usually clears review faster than a fresh sustainability one pager with no verification.
Pick program operators aligned with your market. In the US, Smart EPD is common. In Europe, IBU is frequent. What matters most is credible verification and a clean, complete dataset that matches how your product is actually made.
What to do in the next ninety days
- Map EPD coverage across your top revenue products, including expiration dates and the PCR each one uses.
- Confirm the Oregon relevant PCR choice matches competitors and the expected code or rebate pathway in your segment.
- Pull a one year reference dataset for each plant. Utilities, inbound materials, transport, scrap, and any onsite fuels.
- Queue renewals at least six months before EPD expiry so you never pause a bid. You will definately feel the gap if a submittal lands during a lapse.
- Pre assemble a standard Oregon submittal packet that pairs the EPD with mix designs, mill certs, and contact info for quick verification.
One funding wrinkle to keep in view
Federal climate dollars that once supported regional EPD work are uncertain in 2025. DEQ notes the 3.8 million dollars awarded by EPA for EPD development is under review and not yet contracted, so do not bank timelines on that stream (Oregon DEQ Embodied Carbon, 2025). State policy is still moving, which is why getting your own data house in order is the safer play.
The commercial takeaway
HB 3409 is a policy signal that Oregon procurement, codes, and incentive programs will reward low embodied carbon with documentation to match. EPD ready products shorten review cycles, keep you in specs when carbon accounting kicks in, and lower the chance of being swapped late in design. Invest in the boring plumbing of data collection and verification now. It pays off when the next RFP drops.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does HB 3409 require EPDs today for all state projects?
No. HB 3409 directs agencies to develop options on materials emissions and funds programs that incentivize reductions. Many owners already request EPDs, and state programs reference verified reporting for eligibility, so EPDs remain the safest path.
What numbers from HB 3409 matter most to manufacturers?
Natural and Working Lands funding of about $10 million in 2024, a $3 million rebate fund for zero emission medium and heavy duty vehicles, and housing rebates tied to at least 10% embodied carbon reduction for 940 units with an estimated 343,000 tCO2e cut by 2050 (Oregon Climate Action Commission, 2025) (Oregon DEQ MHD ZEV Rebate, 2024) (Oregon DEQ Low Embodied Carbon Housing, 2025).
Should we wait for federal IRA money to subsidize EPDs in Oregon?
No. DEQ indicates the EPA funded EPD support is under review and not yet contracted in 2025. Build your EPD plan without assuming federal subsidies (Oregon DEQ Embodied Carbon, 2025).
About the Author
Walker Ryan is a climate-tech entrepreneur focused on driving industrial decarbonization through better data. As the founder and CEO of Parq, he helps manufacturers generate high-quality, third-party–verified carbon disclosures at scale—accelerating a traditionally slow and expensive process. Before starting Parq, Walker led over $200 million in sustainability-focused investments as VP of Strategy & Growth at ReStream Solutions, following earlier experience in investment banking at Deutsche Bank. He brings a rare mix of capital markets expertise and hands-on sustainability knowledge to tackling the infrastructure of industrial emissions.
