OR SB679

Establishes strict joint and several liability for "responsible parties" (entities that have emitted or caused at least 1 billion metric tons of CO2 equivalent since January 1, 1965) for damages from climate disasters and extreme weather attributable to climate change

Allows individuals or groups with at least $10,000 in damages to sue for economic and noneconomic damages, including fair market value of lost, damaged, or destroyed property, plus reasonable attorney fees and costs

Defines "climate disaster" broadly to include events qualifying for federal major disaster assistance, state emergency declarations, or the NOAA Billion-Dollar Weather and Climate Disasters list, when determined by attribution science to be worsened by climate change

Eliminates numerous potential defenses including force majeure, assumption of risk, federal preemption arguments, and choice-of-law/forum clauses, while requiring actions be commenced within three years of incurring damages

Declares an emergency for immediate effect upon passage, with damages offset by any public body compensation or insurance payments already received by harmed parties