February 12, 2026 3:50 a.m.

On Wednesday, Republican State Senator David Brock Smith of Port Orford, vice-chair of the Senate Committee on Energy and Environment, condemned the passage of Senate Bill 1541, known as the “Climate Superfund” bill, warning that it will increase costs for working families across Oregon.

The legislation passed out of committee on a party-line vote and was sent to the Ways and Means Committee for further consideration.

A Brock Smith release said State Senator Jeff Golden, Democrat of Ashland, and Chair of the Senate Committee on Natural Resources and Wildfire, used his position to introduce the legislation as a committee bill rather than under his own name. He then devoted a February 5th committee hearing exclusively to consider his Climate Superfund bill, with no other legislation heard that day. Senator Brock Smith criticized the move as an unprecedented abuse of power.

Brock Smith said, “Senator Golden is out of touch with working families, full stop”. Brock Smith said, “Thousands of Oregonians from every corner of Oregon showed up and expressed their strong opposition to Governor Kotek’s gas tax and fee increases last session – legislation Senator Golden supported with seemingly no hesitation”. Brock Smith said, “Their opposition was so strong that over 250,000 Oregonians signed petitions in a matter of weeks to refer the $4.3 billion tax and fee increases to the ballot this November, though there is now an active attempt to rig the process and move that vote to May”.

Brock Smith said the Climate Superfund bill will not only increase fuel costs but will also drive-up housing prices and the cost of goods and services statewide.

Brock Smith said, “I implore Senator Golden to stop this relentless push for policies that make Oregon less affordable”. Brock Smith concluded, “Oregon families deserve policies – and policymakers – that lower costs and protect their ability to live and work in our great state, not drive them out”.

State Senator David Brock Smith represents Senate District 1, which includes Curry, Coos and Douglas counties.