ORS 283.327 Purchase or lease of light-duty vehicles by state agencies; requirement for zero-emission vehicles; exceptions when purchase or lease of zero-emission vehicles is not feasible; compliance with federal safety standards

As used in this section, “light-duty vehicle” means a vehicle with a gross vehicle weight rating of 8,500 pounds or less, such as a passenger car, sedan, station wagon, pickup truck, minivan equipped for passengers or cargo, sport utility vehicle, crossover vehicle or a similar specialty vehicle.

Except as provided in paragraph (b) of this subsection, on and after January 1, 2025, a state agency that purchases or leases a new light-duty vehicle shall purchase or lease only a zero-emission vehicle, as defined in ORS 283.398.

If the state agency finds that a zero-emission vehicle is not feasible for the specific use the state agency has for a light-duty vehicle, the state agency may purchase or lease a light-duty vehicle that:

Can operate with alternative fuel and that otherwise meets the requirements set forth in the Comprehensive National Energy Policy Act of 1992 (P.L. 102-486); or

Qualifies as a low-emission vehicle under a written policy that the Oregon Department of Administrative Services adopts in consultation with the Department of Environmental Quality, if the state agency finds that a vehicle described in subparagraph (A) of this paragraph is not feasible for the specific use the state agency has for a light-duty vehicle.

To the maximum extent feasible, light-duty vehicles that state agencies own or lease must be zero-emission vehicles.

A state agency that owns or leases light-duty vehicles shall comply with all safety standards that the United States Department of Transportation establishes for the conversion, operation and maintenance of vehicles that use alternative fuels. [1991 c.399 §2; 1993 c.335 §5; 2005 c.22 §201; 2007 c.739 §25; 2019 c.565 §§2,3; 2021 c.107 §§6,7; 2023 c.553 §§2,3]

2010, provide: Sec. 13. Distribution of natural gas to private entities for use in motor vehicles. The Oregon Department of Administrative Services, by rule, may implement a program to make available, sell, distribute and dispense compressed natural gas to private entities for use in motor vehicles. The department, by order, may establish and adjust the prices for compressed natural gas. The department shall set the price for compressed natural gas at a level that does not:

Subsidize any of the operations of any private entity; or

Substantially exceed the total costs to the department of making the compressed natural gas available. [2010 c.30 §13] Sec. 14. Section 13, chapter 30, Oregon Laws 2010, is repealed on January 2, 2025.