Legislative Report - Week of 1/16/23

Bills have been filed, “first read” and assigned to committees. But this does not guarantee they will receive public hearings. That decision first rests with the Committee Chairs in consultation with their Vice Chairs. Final determination is always with Legislative Leadership. Filing deadline is Feb. 21 for most bills.

AGRICULTURE

Bills being reviewed by the League:

SB 47: Directs Environmental Quality Commission and Department of Agriculture to enter into a memorandum of understanding to allow the department to exercise exclusive jurisdiction over air quality laws, water quality laws and land quality laws that apply to agricultural lands, operations and equipment.
HB 2121: House version of SB 47.
SB 399: Would limit water use for confined animal feeding operations, known as CAFOs.
HB 2667: Would put a pause on all new CAFOs for the next several years.

AIR QUALITY

Our friends from Neighbors for Clean Air have set their 2023 agenda: Particulate Air Pollution.

BUDGETS/REVENUE

We are all awaiting Governor Kotek’s Governor’s Recommended Budget (GRB)—due by Feb. 1. The next Revenue Forecast is Feb. 22. The House Revenue Committee provided an overview/audio of Revenue issues. The meeting is worth listening to.

CLIMATE

By Claudia Keith and Team

See Climate Report in the Climate Emergency section of this Legislative Report. There are overlaps with this Natural Resources Report. We encourage you to read both sections.

HB 2236: Prohibits governor and specific agencies from taking measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions unless authorized by Legislature.

COASTAL ISSUES

By Christine Moffitt

Bills being reviewed by the League: HB 2190 (Relating to offshore wind).

DEPT. OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY (DEQ)

On January 19, the Environmental Quality Commission announced two finalists for consideration to become the new Director of the Dept. of Environmental Quality: Current Interim Director Leah Feldon and Jamie McLeod-Skinner, regional emergency coordinator with the Oregon Department of Human Services and is also founding partner and attorney with MS Sage Consulting in Central Oregon. The Commission will hold a special meeting in February for the Commission, staff and the public to engage before the Commission makes its decision.

Bills being reviewed by the League:

SB 47: Directs Environmental Quality Commission and Department of Agriculture to enter into a memorandum of understanding to allow the department to exercise exclusive jurisdiction over air quality laws, water quality laws and land quality laws that apply to agricultural lands, operations and equipment.

HB 2121: House version of SB 47.

DEPT. OF STATE LANDS (DSL)

By Peggy Lynch

Bill possibly supported by the League: HB 2238: Fees related to removal or fill permit applications, wetland delineation reports and general authorizations.

FORESTRY

On February 7 from 1 – 4 p.m. there will be a virtual meeting open to the public to learn more about the Oregon Department of Forestry’s Forest Management Plan (FMP) and Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP). This meeting will provide an update on the FMP, the HCP, and the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) process. A proposed agenda and additional details will be provided closer to the meeting date. RSVP is requested; you can do so by clicking here. More information is available online at the Western Oregon State Forest Management Plan Website and the Western Oregon State Forest Habitat Conservation Plan Website.

See “Wildfire” below for a report on the Oregon Wildfire Council.

GOVERNANCE

By Peggy Lynch

Bills being reviewed by League members:

HB 2480: new or increased fees adopted by state agency do not become effective unless approved by three-fifths of each chamber of the Legislative Assembly. LWVOR opposes.

SB 660: No new/increase in agency fees unless approved by legislative assembly. LWVOR opposes.

SB 43: Requires agencies to post certain information about rulemaking on agency websites and a long list of other requirements. LWVOR opposes.

HANFORD

By Marylou Schnoes)

The Oregon Hanford Cleanup Board will hold a virtual meeting on January 18. A full meeting agenda, including how to participate, and other meeting materials is available on their website.

LAND USE/HOUSING

By Peggy Lynch

Bills being reviewed by League members:

HB 2203: Allows RVs used to provide security of farm use to be sited on lands zoned for EFU. Public Hearing 1/19. LWVOR has concerns around waste disposal, drinking water availability and other services.

HB 2889: Establishes Oregon Housing Needs Analysis within the Housing and Community Services Department. LWVOR supports. You can watch a presentation of this concept in the House Housing Committee on Jan. 17.

SB 70: A “correction” to SB 16 (2021), a bill that would have allowed 100 homes on farmland and which we opposed, but passed yet never implemented. At first glance, we will oppose SB 70 as well.

HB 2211: Redefines "historic home" to include dwellings built before 1974 for the purpose of serving as accessory dwelling unit to home newly constructed on rural residential lands. LWVOR opposes as we have in past sessions.

HB 2749: Change the RR lot size for ADUs from 2 acres to 1 acre or 1/2 acre. LWVOR has concerns. HB 2758: Change the RR lot size for ADUs from 2 acres to 1 acre or 1/2 acre. LWVOR has concerns

SB 534: Requires Oregon Facilities Authority to provide financing for infrastructure and predevelopment costs for moderate income housing. LWVOR may support.

HB 2258: Extends sunset of Oregon Industrial Site Readiness Program. LWVOR has supported this data-driven program.

HB 2027: Requires Housing and Community Services Department to study housing—a potential “gut and stuff” bill. Expect major amendments.

HB 2202: Prohibits counties from allowing use of certain new dwellings on resource lands as vacation occupancies.

SB 580: Relating to climate rules for land use planning.

HB 2207: Limits standing in appeals of land use decisions.

HB 2260: Relating to system development charges impacting housing.

HB 2210: Relating to parcel sizes of resource lands.