Natural Resources
Legislative Report - Week of 2/9

Natural Resources Team
Coordinator: Peggy Lynch
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Agriculture/Goal 3 Land Use: Sandra U. Bishop
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Coastal Issues: Christine Moffitt, Peggy Lynch
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Columbia River Treaty: Philip Thor
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Dept. of Geology and Mineral Industries: Joan Fryxell
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Emergency Management: Rebecca Gladstone
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Forestry: Josie Koehne
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Elliott State Research Forest: Peggy Lynch
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Northwest Energy Coalition: Robin Tokmakian
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Oregon Dept. of Fish and Wildlife: Melanie Moon
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Oregon Health Authority Drinking Water Advisory Committee: Sandra Bishop
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Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board: Lucie La Bonte
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Water: Peggy Lynch
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Wildfire: Carolyn Mayers
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Ways and Means Natural Resource Budgets/Revenue: Peggy Lynch
Please see Natural Resources Overview here.
Jump to a topic:
Intro
Information on the 2026 session is live! Bills are posted and committee agendas are beginning to be posted. We encourage you to e-Subscribe to the bills you want to follow and the committees of interest. Below you will find bills that our volunteers found of interest. You will need to look on OLIS to find the Committee to which the bills have been assigned. We will review bills for a linkage to League positions to determine if we will provide testimony for or against. Be sure and note amendments being posted at the day of a public hearing or work session on a bill. Testimony is accepted for up to 48 hours after a public hearing. If you miss that deadline, you can email legislators directly with your personal concerns. Only our League President can speak for LWVOR.
The Revenue Forecast is here. Although we saw an increase in funds, it is not enough to cover costs so cuts will happen. The League continues to share our concerns. For natural resource agencies, we appreciate the Water Caucus's engagement. Read their letter here. Read their verbal testimony here. League members engaged with Leadership as well to explain the nexus between our agencies and public health. Although we can accept not filling agency vacancies—or delaying hiring—we hope to preserve staff positions for the biennium. We also note that some agency staff need 6-12 months of training in order to do their job as required. This is especially true for permit processers.
See the Revenue section of this Legislative Report and sections of other Legislative Reports.
AGRICULTURE
Sandra U. Bishop
HB 4130: Relating to farm use. A public hearing was held on Feb. 4 in the House Committee on Revenue. The stated intention of the bill is to clarify the meaning of preparing agricultural products in defining farm use for purposes of determining assessed value of farm land for taxation. The bill proposes changes that would tie definitions of preparation of farm products or by-products to a new term “farm unit” (meaning all parcels used for farming whether owned or leased) and to where a majority of the preparation occurs. Preparing products or by-products “… means but is not limited to cleaning, treating, cutting, sorting and packaging.” There was no discussion during the hearing about suggested changes to language in the bill governing biofuel production on agricultural land. Staff measure analysis does not address the meaning or consequence of proposed language changes regarding biofuel processing that would seem to open farmland for increased biofuel production. The League continues to monitor the bill based on concerns linked to our positions on the importance of agricultural lands for agriculture.
HB 4153: Relating to farm stores. Feb. 4 Public Hearing was held in the House Committee on Agriculture, Land Use, Natural Resources, and Water. Co-Chair Helm continued the hearing until Monday Feb 9th. Only a few people had a chance to testify. There were 53 people signed up to testify (24 opposed, 27 support, and 2 neutral). Those on the sign-up sheet who did not get to testify on the 4th will be called to testify on Monday. More than 900 written comments have been submitted. Advocates for the bill were given substantial time to address the bill while opponents just had 1-2 minutes each. The bill with -1 amendments and -2 amendments under consideration would eliminate any reference in statute to farm stands and add new language for “farm stores” on Exclusive Farm Use (EFU) zoned land.
Permissive and vague language in the bill would allow many more types of event and sales of items unrelated to agricultural operations in up to 10,000 square foot permanent retail stores. There are no protections or consideration for adverse effects on nearby agricultural operations. As written, the bill states that counties “…may adopt siting standards for farm stores…” County staff determining standards on a case-by-case basis or ignoring such commercial development on EFU land is insufficient. Proposed changes in this bill could have profound economic and operational effects on farms and other agricultural undertakings in Oregon. A bill as complicated as this should not be rushed through in a short session. More public scrutiny and comment is needed, as well as more time for deliberation by legislators. The League has submitted testimony in OPPOSITION based on our positions on the importance of maintaining agricultural lands for agriculture. We appreciated the presentation posted on OLIS from Mike McCarthy, Ag for Oregon. Held over Public Hearing Feb. 9. Work Session Feb. 11.
OPB article: Oregon farmers are divided over a proposal that would lift some limits on the type of business they can conduct on agricultural land. Some are pushing to change state law so they can make more money from sources other than agriculture, saying it’s necessary to stay in business. Others worry that changing the rules – and inviting more tourism to rural areas – could harm working farms and transform farming communities.
Good news for the Lower Umatilla Basin Groundwater Management Area (LUBGWMA): The federal government awarded:
$2 million for well inspection and constructing monitoring wells in the LUBGWMA, including design and construction of eight new wells, filling gaps in OWRD’s current regional monitoring network with new wells at different aquifer levels.
$600,000 to complete a groundwater analysis in LUBGWMA, including consumptive water use in the LUBGWMA from 1985-2023.
See the Feb. 2nd Legislative Report for details on the LUBGWMA.
BUDGETS/REVENUE
Peggy Lynch
The Revenue Forecast provided around $300 million General Fund and $33 million Lottery Funds that legislators can now consider as they balance the 2025-27 budget again. Because that is not enough to cover costs, we expect cuts. The Co-Chairs of the Ways and Means Subcommittees have provided Leadership with their recommended cuts lists, but they have yet to be made public. Working in the natural resource world which is less than 3% of the state’s budget, each cut reduces the ability for Oregon to protect our air, land and water. The Water Caucus filed this letter to the Full Ways and Means Committee related to proposed funding cuts and investment priorities. The League continues to work to support bills that help narrow the funding gap.
See the Revenue section of this Legislative Report for in depth information. We encourage you to read ALL sections.
CLIMATE
Claudia Keith and Team
See the Climate Emergency section of this Legislative Report. There are overlaps with this Natural Resources Report. We encourage you to read both sections.
COASTAL ISSUES
Christine Moffitt
SB 1525 would establish the Blue Economy Task Force to study and report on economic development plans or strategies for the “blue” (coastal) economy and opportunities for the state to nurture sustainable blue economy businesses while preserving and protecting Oregon’s coastal ecosystems. It would authorize the Oregon Ocean Science Trust (OOST) to create a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) entity to advance the trust’s mission. Chair Sollman testified in favor, as did a trust representative. The trust has distributed $2 million in competitive grant funding for high-impact research projects, but more research is needed. The 501(c)(3) would serve as a dedicated fund-raising arm of the trust—“technically clean, fiscally noncontroversial, and urgently needed.” The task force would be sunsetted on 12/31/2027.
The bill is starred for subsequent referral to Joint W&M. The League has been a continual supporter of the OOST. Public hearing set for Feb. 4. Work Session set for Feb. 9.
HB 4097: Authorizes the Oregon Ocean Science Trust to create and maintain a nonprofit organization. LWVOR can support this bill. Bill passed the committee on Feb. 4 and is headed to the House chamber.
On Friday, the Full Ways and Means Committee introduced LC 321: Modifies previously approved lottery bonding provisions. (Includes monies for the Port of Coos Bay) Bond Authority Senate Bill. The bill was described as simply a correction/allocation issue. League members will follow up.
Public Access Rulemaking has begun to clarify how local governments will address protection of public access to Oregon beaches.
Undersea Infrastructure and Easements in Oregon’s Territorial Sea Rulemaking begins Feb. 11.
DEPT. OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY (DEQ)
HB 4102: Modifies the authority of the Department of Environmental Quality to enter into agreements with regulated entities to expedite or enhance a regulatory process. It would allow DEQ to hire third-party contractors to expedite environmental permitting, as a response to DEQ’s sizable permitting backlog. Tech organizations and other advocates said the bill would speed up permitting for large projects and give businesses the certainty they need to grow jobs in Oregon. LWVOR opposed the bill in written testimony, expressing great concern about the use of outside contractors to perform important permitting work, especially if those contractors are paid by the regulated businesses. Multiple environmental organizations objected on the same grounds and pushed for sideboards to ensure that DEQ could identify qualified contractors and screen out those with conflicts of interest. Several committee members acknowledged these concerns and regretted that the tight deadlines of the short session prevented them from diving deeper into these issues.
Other members suggested that agencies’ normal procurement practices would result in proper vetting of potential contractors, and this business-friendly bill was too important to delay. The committee essentially chose to punt these concerns to the Senate, assuming passage in the House, though the House would need to repass any amended bill. Public Hearing Feb. 3. Work Session Feb. 5. Vote in House chamber set for Feb. 10. We will continue to follow the bill if it moves to the Senate.
DEPT. OF GEOLOGY AND MINERAL INDUSTRIES (DOGAMI)
Joan Fryxell
The Joint Committee On Ways and Means Subcommittee On Natural Resources heard a presentation on Feb. 4 on the status of ePermitting, a concept that will allow DOGAMI to piggyback on the work by the Dept. of Environmental Quality’s electronic permitting system. Progress is being made. The League supported this effort as both a savings for permit applicants and access to information by the general public.
FORESTRY (ODF)
Josie Koehne
The following is a list of bills we will be watching and possibly commenting on:
HB 4004: Provides that additional taxes otherwise imposed upon disqualification of land from certain forestland special assessment programs may not be collected if the disqualification is due to the suspension of reforestation requirements as a result of insects or disease.
HB 4105: Directs the State Forester to determine the available state forestland, establish sustainable harvest levels for harvesting timber on state forestland and manage available state forestland. Allows certain persons to seek a court order if the State Forester fails to establish sustainable harvest levels or manage available state forestland. The bill has a subsequent referral to Ways and Means. LWVOR opposed a version of this bill in 2025 and will do so in 2026. Public Hearing Feb. 11.
HB 4056: Appropriates moneys to the State Forestry Department to offset landowners’ costs of fire protection provided by the department. For the biennium ending June 30, 2027, out of the General Fund, the amount of $9,000,000, for the purpose of offsetting potential increases in landowner forest patrol assessments.
SB 1590: Prohibits public bodies from assisting the federal government with privatization of certain federally owned lands. Public Hearing Feb. 3. Work Session Feb. 10 (3 amendments posted).
GOVERNANCE
Peggy Lynch
The Natural Resources Team often follows bills related to permitting processes. Among the bills we are following:
HB 4073: Modifies provisions relating to administrative law. As with HB 2692 (2025), this bill creates burdensome and inefficient Administrative Rules Processes. LWVOR 2025 testimony. Public Hearing Feb. 10.
HB 4019: Requires certain agencies to base approval or denial of an application for a new permit on the rules and standards that are applicable at the time that the agency determines the application is complete.
HB 4020: Requires certain agencies to specify the authority justifying the denial of a permit application and provide the applicant a guide on how to contest the denial. Public hearing 2/03 -1 amendment was discussed and staff summary provided. LWVOR provided Comments. Work Session Feb. 10 (-1 amendment).
HB 4084: Establishes the Joint Permitting Council. A -1 amendment has been posted. The bill creates a fast-track permitting process for major projects, expands economic “enterprise zones,” and invests $40 million in industrial land site readiness to promote manufacturing. The Governor provided testimony on the bill at the Feb. 4th Public Hearing.
HB 4021: Requires certain agencies to make adoption, amendment or repeal of administrative rules effective only on January 1, April 1, July 1 or October 1. Public Hearing Feb. 10.
SB 1586: Modifies the tax credit allowed for semiconductor research. Creates and amends certain programs offering tax breaks related to advanced manufacturing, enterprise zones and regionally significant industrial sites. Directs certain state agencies to establish deadlines within which the agency intends to process applications for permits and make the deadlines available to the public. Directs certain state agencies to publish a catalog of permits issued by the agency within 60 days after the effective date of the Act. This Oregonlive article provides a great review of the bill. The League is watching and may oppose.
HANFORD
The U.S. Dept. of Energy sent this bulletin on Feb. 3rd and announced: that it is partnering with American nuclear fuel company General Matter for the potential use of Hanford’s Fuels and Materials Examination Facility (FMEF). This partnership holds great promise for rebuilding the domestic nuclear fuel supply chain and unlocking nuclear energy critical for meeting growing demand for affordable, reliable baseload power needed to fuel the artificial intelligence (AI) race.
FMEF is a 190,000-square-foot facility originally intended to support the Liquid Fast Breeder Reactor Program but was never used in any nuclear capacity. The facility has not supported a DOE mission since 1993 and has since remained in a dormant surveillance and maintenance status.
LAND USE & HOUSING
Peggy Lynch
The League joined others in support of Oregon’s Land Use Planning Program in a letter on Feb. 2nd: A United Voice for Oregon’s Land Use Program.
Bills we are watching:
SB 1564: Adds specified lands to the City of Woodburn's urban growth boundary. Public hearing Feb. 10, Work Session Feb. 12.
SB 1522: Was a “study” bill, but the -1 amendment focuses the bill on processes for designating urban reserves. Public Hearing and Possible Work Session Feb. 12.
HB 4113: Requires the Department of Land Conservation and Development) to study housing development opportunities conditioned upon land conservation. Directs the department to submit findings to the interim committees of the Legislative Assembly related to land use no later than September 15, 2027. The bill relates to prior legislation and property in/near the Metolius. Public Hearing Feb. 10. Possible Work Session Feb. 12.
HB 4035: Expands eligibility for cities and Metro to amend their urban growth boundaries under a temporary program. Authorizes the Land Conservation and Development Commission (LCDC) to issue grants to implement the commission’s duties. The bill was filed after a Work Group conversation to consider reducing the sideboards from SB 1537 (2024) to expand UGBs. Presentation by Rep. Marsh. An amendment was discussed but not yet available. LWVOR engaged in SB 1537 and Work Group members have reached out during this process. Besides tightening up the use of exclusive farm land, we are concerned by the recommendation to expand the amount of acreage in HB 4035. We will hope that the amendment mentioned will address our concerns. Public Hearing Feb. 5. Possible Work Session Feb. 10.
HB 4082: Adds to a temporary UGB addition program an option for each city or Metro to also add to its urban growth boundary a site for manufactured dwelling parks, or for housing for older persons, that is affordable for households with incomes not more than 120 percent of area median income. Public Hearing Feb. 3. Possible Work Session Feb. 10 where -1 amendment will be considered.
SB 1586: Modifies the tax credit allowed for semiconductor research. Creates and amends certain programs offering tax breaks related to advanced manufacturing, enterprise zones and regionally significant industrial sites. Directs certain state agencies to establish deadlines within which the agency intends to process applications for permits and make the deadlines available to the public. Directs certain state agencies to publish a catalog of permits issued by the agency within 60 days after the effective date of the Act. Adds rural reserves in Washington County to Metro to be used for high technology and advanced manufacturing purposes. See more on this omnibus bill in the Revenue Legislative Report. The League has major concerns about sections of this bill. Oregonlive article provides a great review of the bill.
SB 1578: Allows counties with a population density of less than 30 people per square mile to rezone up to 50 acres to be divided and developed for residential dwellings of at least five units per acre. The League has concerns related to parcellation of ag and forest lands and adding more private wells and septic systems in these rural areas. Public Hearing Feb. 10.
HB 4108: Requires a city to annex noncontiguous land upon receipt of a petition from all owners of the land that satisfies four eligibility criteria. Public Hearing held Feb. 3. Possible Work Session Feb. 10. The League supports the concept of this bill as good planning with the -1 amendment.
The 2025-27 Policy Agenda 2025-27 Policy Agenda was approved by the LCDC on Oct. 24. There will be seven rulemakings on Housing alone, including: Housing Rulemaking for HB 2138 and HB 2258 (2025) and (Rulemaking to clarify and allow housing and other needed development outside of wetlands. The rulemaking would create an optional, alternative compliance pathway for wetlands resources when a city is preparing bill annex lands from the urban growth boundary (UGB) to accommodate needed housing and economic development. See their Rulemaking page for more info on all the rules work being done by this agency.
See also the Housing Report in the Social Policy section of this Legislative Report.
OREGON DEPT. OF FISH AND WILDLIFE (ODFW)
Melanie Moon
HB 4134 is a bipartisan bill that would increase the state tax from 1.5% to 2.75% for transient visitors to Oregon including camping, hotels and vacation rentals. This 1.25% increase has the potential to raise tens of millions of dollars urgently needed by the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife to protect hundreds of imperiled species and the habitat that supports them. As an added benefit, this investment in wildlife and habitat would help protect clean drinking water and provide protection from drought and wildfires. LWVOR signed on to a letter in support. High Country News provides an article on this bill. Public Hearing Feb. 4.
RECYCLING
HB 4144: Requires producers of batteries or battery-containing products to join a battery producer responsibility organization and implement a battery producer responsibility program for the collection and recycling of batteries. Public Hearing Feb. 2. Work Session Feb. 10. Currently set to move to Ways and Means so there is an expectation of a fiscal impact.
REGIONAL SOLUTIONS
The Regional Solutions Program: Within each of the 11 Regions, which are tied to Oregon’s federally designated Economic Development Districts, a Governor-appointed Advisory Committee sets Regional Priorities and a cross-functional Team of state agency staff works together to move projects forward. If you know anyone who may benefit from these publications, please direct them to this signup page. The public is welcome to attend virtually or in person. Go to the program website and to the region to find the agendas and meeting materials posted a few days before the meetings. Public Comment is usually scheduled. Upcoming Regional Solutions Advisory Committee (RSAC) Meetings:
Regional Solutions:
South Central (Klamath and Lake Counties) February 17th from 9:00am-11:00am
Mid-Valley (Marion, Polk, and Yamhill Counties) March 12th from 1:30-3:30pm
Southern (Jackson and Josephine Counties) March 25th from 12:00-2:00pm
South Valley/Mid-Coast (Benton, Lane, Lincoln, and Linn Counties) March 26th from 1:00-3:00pm
STATE LAND BOARD
Peggy Lynch
The State Land Board will meet Feb. 10. The agenda and meeting materials are available. The meeting can be viewed on their YouTube Channel. Items on the agenda:
Draft legislative concepts being developed by the Department of State Lands for the 2027 Legislative Session;
An annual report from the Oregon Department of Forestry on management of the Common School Fund forest lands;
The annual audit of the Common School Fund;
A climate action spotlight highlighting DSL’s work aligned with Governor Kotek’s Executive Order 25-26, including updates on two climate resilience projects:
The Geologic Carbon Sequestration Project (in partnership with the Oregon Department of Geology and Mineral Industries); and the Elliott State Research Forest Carbon Project.
TRANSPORTATION (ODOT)
Bills we are watching:
SB 1599: Moves the election date for the parts of chapter 1, Oregon Laws 2025 (special session), referred to the people by Referendum Petition 2026-302, to the primary election held on May 19, 2026. Bill was assigned to the new Joint Special Committee On Referendum Petition 2026-302. Public Hearing Feb. 9.
SB 1542: Measure What We Drive: Performance-based scoring system to allocate road project funding, to include safety, climate and emissions. Annual Report Card. (Senate Transportation Committee) Informational meeting held Feb. 2. Public Hearing and Possible Work Session set for Feb. 9.
SB 1543: Guardrails for Good Governance: Adopt a transportation debt management policy with better transparency. Broaden representation on the Oregon Transportation Commission. (Senate Transportation Committee) Informational meeting held Feb. 2. Public Hearing and Possible Work Session set for Feb. 9.
HB 4126: Get the Data for a Better Road User Charge (RUC): Require ODOT to report the total biennial cost of maintenance and preservation for the state’s road system, and to report the total mileage driven. This data could later be used to calculate the RUC. Public Hearing and Possible Work Session set for Feb. 11.
HB 4008: Transit Funding Task Force To determine the level of funding needed to maintain adequate transit service statewide and explore funding mechanisms to achieve that funding. House Transportation Committee) The League supports. Public Hearing Feb. 9
A press release from ODOT on Jan. 14 reports: Impacts if Funding Gap Isn’t Addressed. In the upcoming short session, legislators will be looking at a $297 million funding target to support ODOT’s operations beyond June 30, 2027. Without new resources for the current budget cycle, the agency estimates it would need to reduce its workforce by more than 1,000 positions, including eliminating570 vacant positions and laying off approximately 470 current employees. KATU reminds Oregonians of the need for road maintenance.
From ODOT press release: Learn more about our capital improvement plan for state and federally funded projects by visiting the draft 2027-2030 Statewide Transportation Improvement Program, also known as the STIP, online open house. The online open house will be available through March 20. We may use your comments to make adjustments as we begin designing projects in the STIP. All comments will be included in the public comment record. This record will go to the Oregon Transportation Commission before they approve the final STIP in June.
See what we're doing on the roads in and around your community by visiting our construction webpage. Explore our interactive map to see what we're working on.
WATER
Peggy Lynch
Bills of concern:
HB 4006: Authorizes holders of certain Columbia River water rights to change the point of diversion or use the water right on land to which the right is not appurtenant, provided certain conditions are met. Public Hearing Feb. 9.
HB 4049: Directs the Water Resources Commission to encourage and approve voluntary agreements between ground water users in the Greater Harney Valley Groundwater Area of Concern to achieve reasonably stable ground water levels. -3 amendments posted. Public hearing Feb 4. Work Session Feb. 11
League members may want to check the U. S. Drought Monitor, a map that is updated every Thursday. Governor Kotek has declared a drought in eight counties (map). Here is a more complete website about drought in Oregon.
We all need to pay attention to the potential for harmful algal blooms (HABs). “When in doubt, stay out.” Visit the Harmful Algae Bloom website or call the Oregon Public Health Division toll-free information line at 877-290-6767 to learn if an advisory has been issued or lifted for a specific water body. Information on current advisories can be found on the OHA’s cyanobacteria bloom webpage at healthoregon.org/hab. The OHA has an online photo gallery to help community members identify signs of potentially harmful blooms.
WEATHER
State climatologist Larry O’Neill predicts weather change—possibility of snow starting Feb. 8 in an article in the Feb. 3rd Statesman Journal . Forecast models show that ridge breaking down beginning around Feb. 7-8 and opening a “trough” that should allow storms back into Oregon. Often, this sort of trough, when it comes with northwest flow, brings both wet and cool conditions ripe for mountain snow, O'Neill said. Indeed, some of the forecast models are predicting as much as 44-72 inches in the Cascade Mountains by Feb. 18.
Feb. 5th OPB article on Oregon’s snowpack. Without more mountain snow in the coming weeks, wildlife, farmers and ranchers could all face hardship this summer. Oregon last had a record-breaking low snowpack year in 2015. It could break winter records again this year if it doesn’t get more snow before the end of March. That’s usually when regions hit their peak snowpack of the season.
WETLANDS
Peggy Lynch
SB 1584: Directs the Department of State Lands, in consultation with the State Department of Fish and Wildlife, to develop a salmon credit pilot program to encourage the voluntary restoration of salmonid habitat in the Coquille and Coos watershed basins. Establishes the Salmon Credit Trust Fund. Directs the Department of State Lands and the State Department of Fish and Wildlife to consult with the United States Army Corps of Engineers to seek federal approval for a bank instrument and authorization of activities that occur in navigable waters of the United States. Becomes operative on the date that the federal authorization and bank instrument are approved. Provides that the Department of State Lands may not approve a salmon credit project on or after January 1 of the sixth year following federal approval. The League has opposed similar bills in the past, including SB 511 (2025). We provided testimony again in opposition. Public Hearing Feb. 3.
WILDFIRE
Carolyn Mayers
The 2026 Short Session of the Oregon state Legislature is underway, and the League is following two wildfire related bills, both of which had public hearings this week before the Senate Committee on Natural Resources and Wildfire.
The first of these, SB 1551, was heard on February 4. This bill would prohibit Homeowner’s Associations from preventing their members from taking certain home hardening actions, such as removing flammable fences and other structures and building materials from their properties, and replacing them with fire resistant materials. There were many questions from the committee around the question of fences on property lines and how they would be handled. There was testimony by representatives of state homeowner’s associations in opposition, and the bill has not yet advanced to a work session. Work Session Feb. 10 (-1 amendment).
The second bill, and one that the League offered testimony in support of, SB 1541, was heard on February 5 and would establish a Climate Superfund Cost Recovery Program. A nearly identical bill did not advance last session. In a nutshell, this is a “Make Polluter’s Pay” bill, where it would require an assessment of damages caused by climate change driven wildfires and other catastrophic events such as heat domes and floods between 1995 and 2024, and require the largest oil and other greenhouse gas producing companies to pay into a fund. This fund would then be distributed via grants and loans to help the state, and local governments, recover costs associated with these disasters, and help to cover mitigation and resilience projects. Nearly all of the testimony was in favor with several timber and business-related organizations coming out in opposition. There is a -1 amendment which changes the party responsible for the rule-making around dispersal of funds from the Department of Land Conservation and Development agency to the Land Conservation and Development Commission. Much more detail in available in this article from the Oregon Capital Chronicle.
Work Session Feb. 10.
SB 1540: Requires an insurer that uses a catastrophe model or wildfire risk model to provide the Director of the Department of Consumer and Business Services a description of each model, along with related information, and an explanation of how the insurer uses the model in underwriting decisions. Specifies elements that an insurer must include in each model and requires the insurer to give a premium discount or adjustment, or other incentive, to a policy holder that demonstrates having undertaken a property-specific mitigation action or that a community-level mitigation action occurred in proximity to the policy holder’s property.
The Wildfire Programs Advisory Council met in January and released a required report on the Oregon Conservation Corps. The WPAC meets next on April 17.
The Joint Subcommittee On Natural Resources heard a presentation on Landscape Resiliency on Feb. 2.