Lighting Emergency? Oregon Considers Fluorescent Ban Delay

Legislators argue that immediate LED conversion is too costly for schools

It’s a curious kind of emergency. In 2023, Oregon lawmakers moved to ban most fluorescent lamps, citing mercury hazards and environmental risks. With Oregon’s fluorescent ban already in effect, a new bill — HB 2307 — aims to roll back the rules for schools, allowing them to keep buying the now-banned lamps until 2030.

The reasoning? A sudden concern for financial burden and logistical headaches.

“We’re not saying schools shouldn’t transition to LED,” said Rep. Kevin Mannix. “This bill provides a transition period…saving them millions of dollars.”

The Details: A Proposed Carveout for Schools

The bill would amend ORS 459.488 to exempt school districts from the state’s now-implemented fluorescent ban. It lumps school-purchased lamps into the same category as specialty-use lighting for medical, research, and industrial applications — an interesting distinction, given that classroom lighting is neither rare nor specialized.

By declaring an “emergency,” HB 2307 would ensure that the exemption kicks in immediately upon passage, sparing schools from scrambling to replace fixtures. The official justification? The bill states it is “necessary for the immediate preservation of public peace, health, and safety.”

What it doesn’t say is why this emergency wasn’t apparent when Oregon passed its original fluorescent ban in 2023.