Please see Natural Resources Overview here.

Jump to a topic:

• Agriculture

• Budgets/Revenue

• Climate

• Coastal Issues

• Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ)

• Department of Geology and Mineral Industries (DOGAMI)

• Department of State Lands (DSL)

• Drinking Water Advisory Committee (DWAC)

• Elliott State Research Forest

• Forestry (ODF)

• Governance

• Land Use & Housing

• Oregon Dept. of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW)

• Oregon Parks and Recreation Department (OPRD)

• Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board (OWEB)

• Recycling

• Regional Solutions

• State Land Board

• Transportation (ODOT)

• Water

• Weather

• Wetlands

• Wildfire 

Done!  The 2026 legislative short session closed before 5p on March 6.  But the Oregon Legislative Information System (OLIS) is a year-round system so you can use it to review the bills, read testimony, find votes, and watch recorded committee hearings. We encourage you to e-Subscribe to committees of interest.  Now it’s time to review the work done by the legislature and by your League volunteers.  We were engaged on many issues about which Oregonians care.  We worked with other groups on individual bills, signed on to letters in support and opposition as well as providing our own testimony on bills. We are a founding member of the Oregon Conservation Network (OCN). 

After taking a breather, it’s time to engage with our state agencies as they implement the legislation (you can get involved in rulemaking to help clarify the agency’s responsibilities on legislation about which you may be interested) and consider what needs to be done in 2027. Attend Town Halls and election events.  Ask candidates questions and consider recommending legislation you believe will help your local community and/or the State of Oregon. Volunteers can monitor the Interim Committee Meetings in June, September and December and report to LWVOR’s Action Committee.  We will provide Legislative Reports after each 3-day set of meetings.  

Governor’s Executive Orders 25-25,  25-26 and 25-29 Staff Report and Documents.  Slide Presentation to the Land Conservation and Development Commission and Water Resources Commission on Feb. 26. The Orders instruct certain state agencies to implement these Orders on Wind and Solar Development, Promoting Resilience of our Communities and Natural and Working Lands and Waters and Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions.  

Environmental Caucus:  Do you want to sign up? You can check out previous newsletters on the Environmental Caucus page. Questions or comments, email kathryn.duvall@oregonlegislature.gov.

AGRICULTURE

Sandra U. Bishop

HB 4153 Enrolled: Relating to farm stores. This bill allows large stores in permanent structures on Exclusive Farm Use (EFU) zoned land and allows for major expansion of agri-tourism—mostly with a permit.  The League opposed the bill and will monitor local actions.  LFO Recommendation Staff Measure Summary OPB provides an article explaining the bill.  Passed the House and Senate Mar. 6.  

HB 4130 Enrolled: Relating to farm use. This bill is predominantly a taxation bill. The main purpose is to make sure agricultural land under processing facilities or being used for farm product preparation are qualified for the special farm property tax assessment. The meaning of preparing farm products and by-products was also clarified. Mar. 3 Passed the House. Mar. 6 Passed the Senate. 

The League continues to follow work on the Lower Umatilla Basin Groundwater Management Area (LUBGWMA).  State agencies are increasing their monitoring and enforcement of state laws and rules.  But a lot of work remains, according to the state’s first report on its progress.

BUDGETS/REVENUE

Peggy Lynch

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 A, creating the Blue Economy Task Force to report on economic development plans or strategies for Oregon’s blue (coastal) economy passed. The task force would sunset on 12/31/2027.  This bill also would authorize the Oregon Ocean Science Trust to create a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) entity to serve as a dedicated fund-raising arm of the trust. HB 4097, already passed by both Houses, contains an identical provision. HB 4097 has been signed by the Governor. LFO Recommendation  SB 1525 passed Senate unanimously!  Passed House March 5.  

News Release: Draft Offshore Wind Energy Roadmap Available. The public may comment from February 17 – April 3, 2026. Public meetings are also scheduled for our south coast communities starting Feb. 25^th. The League provided Comments on HB 4080 in 2024. Note that the schedule and meeting locations may have changed. website.   

The Oregon Department of State Lands (DSL) is updating  administrative rules in Division 83 that guide how easements are issued for uses of the territorial sea (Undersea Infrastructure and Easements). Proposed changes will strengthen protections for Oregon’s marine ecosystems, streamline the permitting process, and ensure fair public compensation for use of the seafloor.  March 11 meeting. Undersea Infrastructure and Easements in Oregon’s Territorial Sea Rulemaking.  

Public Access Rulemaking has begun to clarify how local governments will address protection of public access to Oregon beaches. The next meeting is May 13.  

News Release:  The Oregon Coastal Management Program has published Rocky Habitat Management Plans for 8 locations. 

• The Ocean Policy Advisory Council is seeking new members.  Apply by April 1^st.

• Oregon Ocean Science Trust OOST) Quarterly Board Meeting, April 1^st.

• Ocean Policy Advisory Council Meeting Notice, April 21^st.

 The League of Women Voters of Coos County continues to follow the proposed Pacific Coast Intermodal Port (PCIP) project in Coos Bay. (See their public website.)  

DEPT. OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY (DEQ)

HB 4102: Modifies the authority of DEQ 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. 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. Bill passed the House.  We appreciated Rep. Gamba’s statement on the House floor regarding …”the potential influence on a permitting process without further sideboards.” Of interest, an Intel representative stated on the record that Oregon does “underfund our permitting agencies.”  Passed the Senate floor on Mar. 2. The League will monitor.   

The Environmental Quality Commission will hold its next regular meeting on March 12, in Portland and via Zoom.  Materials for the meeting, including links to staff reports, are now available on the meeting agenda webpage.

DEPT. OF GEOLOGY AND MINERAL INDUSTRIES (DOGAMI)

Joan Fryxell

The League continues to monitor the Grassy Mountain Gold Mine project outside of Vale.  We will also continue following DOGAMI’s carbon sequestration project in NE Oregon.  Because of the high federal interest in rare earth minerals, we expect that this agency will be busy processing permit applications, particularly in Eastern Oregon.   

DEPT. OF STATE LANDS

As part of their responsibility to be stewards of Oregon’s waters of the state, Willamette Week reports that Robert Pamplin, Jr. (Ross Island Sand and Gravel), has been fined $13.9 million for not keeping his agreement to mitigate the damage to the Willamette River. Ross Island Sand & Gravel, one of Pamplin’s companies, mined the Ross Island lagoon in the middle of Portland for sand and rock from 1926 to 2001. After the company ceased mining, it struck a 2002 agreement with the Oregon Department of State Lands, which regulates the state’s navigable waterways, to refill excavations well over 100 feet deep, as well as to restore the upland portions of the island, where the company processed the materials it mined.

DRINKING WATER ADVISORY COMMITTEE (DWAC)

Sandra U. Bishop

The League has a standing seat on DWAC.  

ELLIOTT STATE RESEARCH FOREST (ESRF)

The Elliott State Research Forest Board of Directors will meet virtually via Zoom March 11, from 10:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Click here to download the meeting agenda and materials.  

FORESTRY (ODF)

Josie Koehne

The Board of Forestry met March 4.  News Release.  Kacey KC, the new Oregon State Forester and Director of the Oregon Department of Forestry, started work March 1. Kacey began her career with the Nevada Division of Forestry on the Nursery and Seedbank Program, then moved into the state office working in various positions in fire suppression and resource management and then to the Nevada Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.

ODF staffers Mike Wilson and Tyson Wepprich presented on rulemaking and performance measures for the Western Oregon Forest Management Plan (FMP). Board members and several people provided public comments, remarking that the document was too high level and vague. It did not set clear goals on which metrics could be set, which then should be reflected in the department's Business Performance Management (BPMs). See LWVOR comments on this plan here.

Chandra Ferrari, a former ODF Board member, now working with Geoff Huntington as Governor Kotek's natural resources staff, provided an update, followed by reporting on the Adaptive Management Program. A team composed of Kotek's appointees works closely with an OSU scientific research team, the Independent Research and Science Team (IRST). They are establishing a baseline using detailed Forest Inventory and Analysis (FIA) plots on which to measure forest health over time in response to climate change. The group is developing questions that can be quantified for future research. FIA plots are laid out on a grid that are monitored and that track species, tree health, and volume to assess forest conditions, growth, and carbon stock. The team then will make recommendations for forest management based on these findings.

On the federal level, the administration wants an increase in logging per this Oregonlive article. The Trump administration is proposing to quadruple logging on federal lands in 18 Oregon counties, raising timber harvests to levels not seen since before spotted owl protections reshaped forest management in the 1990s. The public can comment on the logging increase proposal until March 23. BLM (The Bureau of Land Management) anticipates publishing a draft environmental impact statement this summer and making a final decision in early 2027, an agency spokesperson said. 

This session, two forestry bills passed and one died in Ways and Means:

HB 4004 Enrolled:  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. In other words, if forests are lost due to natural causes, like drought, landowners getting forestry special assessment will not have to pay penalties for land that no longer qualifies for special assessment.  -11 amendments, -13 amendments, -14 amendments and  – A 17 amendments were all adopted.  Passed both chambers.  

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. See LWVOR testimony in opposition. Bill died in Ways and Means but is expected back in 2027.

SB 1590 A Enrolled: Prohibits public bodies from assisting the federal government with privatization of certain federally owned lands. Passed both chambers.  

GOVERNANCE

Peggy Lynch

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.  -1 amendment  was discussed and staff summary provided. LWVOR provided Comments. The -1 amendment was adopted.    -A2 amendment adopted. LFO Recommendation. The bill passed the House Mar. 3. Passed the Senate Mar. 5.     

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. -2 amendment The League is concerned about the need for rules to be adopted and implemented in a timely manner.  We will monitor.  Passed the House.  -A3 amendment was adopted and the bill passed the Senate Mar. 4. 

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. The League signed on to a letter in opposition to the bill. Bill died in committee.

HB 4084 A: Establishes the Joint Permitting Council. See the Revenue Report for details of this bill. Staff Measure Summary LFO Recommendation.  The League has been involved in conversations around these important policy and tax issues and provided an email to members of the Subcommittee with a request to support amendments restricting data centers and addressing some of the tax credits issues.  

LFO Recommendation of the three amendments added.  Passed the House Mar. 4 (50/5/4/1) Passed the Senate Mar. 6 (21/8/1)

LAND USE & HOUSING

Peggy Lynch

The Dept. of Land Conservation and Development (DLCD) presented the Commission   with a report on Data Centers, providing information on the planned and projected buildouts of data centers across the state. In the packet, see Item 9, Director's Report, Exhibit 1. It shows an expected land demand of 8,571 acres, 5,990 acres of which would be through proposed UGB expansions. That's more new data centers than Virginia has today. Almost all of these expansions are in Eastern Oregon/ Umatilla Basin. This might have been why Eastern OR was out in force during the Oregon Data Center Advisory Committee's second agenda item from 10-11:30 "What are the Economic Development Possibilities and Concerns for Oregon’s Rural Communities?"

A key quote from the DLCD report is: "The magnitude of urban growth boundary expansions for data center development is without modern precedent under Oregon’s statewide land use planning program.... [T]he rate of development by data centers is necessitating more frequent UGB expansions as local governments attempt to match the accelerating pace of industry demand."

SB 5701 includes bonds for water and sewer projects that can help increase housing around Oregon as well as new Affordable Rental Housing and Preservation bonds to keep units that would otherwise go on the open market.  

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 to issue grants to implement the commission’s duties. -3 amendment was adopted and the bill passed the committee to the House floor where it passed on Feb. 18. The Senate Housing and Development adopted the -A 4 amendment.  The bill passed the Senate on Mar. 2. 

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.  This Oregonlive article explains the conversation around this bill. The League has stayed silent, seeing both sides of the discussion.  We will now monitor its effectiveness as cities consider implementation. Passed both chambers. 

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. Adds rural reserves in Washington County to Metro to be used for high technology and advanced manufacturing purposes. Oregonlive article provides a great review of the bill.  The League submitted strong testimony in opposition.  See the meeting materials posted in the Analysis section of the bill’s Overview for more information.  -7 amendment was posted Saturday morning (9:27a) from Sen. Sollman--a replacement of the bill. LWVOR provided testimony opposing the amendment on Feb. 23. The bill remained in Senate Finance and Revenue with no Work Session scheduled.

HB 4108: Would have required a city to annex noncontiguous land upon receipt of a petition from all owners of the land that satisfies four eligibility criteria. The League supports the concept of this bill as good planning with the -1 amendment. A -2 amendment was adopted limiting this policy as a “pilot project” for the City of Eugene.  We are disappointed that the bill was narrowed, but glad to see some movement on this important land use issue. The bill passed the House on Feb. 18. The Senate Housing and Development adopted a -A 4 amendment and the bill passed the Senate Mar. 4. The House concurred and passed the amended bill on Mar. 6.

HB 4113: As filed, the bill would have required the Department of Land Conservation and Development to study housing development opportunities conditioned upon land conservation. Directed the department to submit findings to the interim committees of the Legislative Assembly no later than September 15, 2027. The bill relates to prior legislation (2009) around the Metolius.  The Metolius was designated an Area of Critical State Concern and the developers of land in that area were granted an opportunity to use Transfer of Development Rights for a limited period of time.  That time has been extended a number of times but this is 17 years later!  -1 amendment The League was part of a Sign on letter in opposition to the bill.  Bill died in committee.  

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.  The bill died in committee.  

The 2025-27 Policy Agenda 2025-27 Policy Agenda was approved by 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.  LCDC had a presentation on Feb. 27^th (DSL presentation on wetlands at LCDC on YouTube Feb. 27 at the 3-4:15p Meeting time.) See their Rulemaking page for more info on all the rules work being done by this agency.  

News Release: New officers were elected for the Land Conservation and Development Commission:  Chair Lazzo and Vice Chair Boyer.  

The League joined others in support of Oregon’s Land Use Planning Program in a  letter  on Feb. 2^nd. It is important for Oregonians to understand the impact of all 19 Goals and how they address “where we live, work, shop and play and how we get there”. 

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 the 1.25% for Wildlife bipartisan bill that would increase the state transient lodging tax from 1.5% to 2.75% for transient visitors to Oregon including camping, hotels and vacation rentals. It is estimated to raise $13.4 million this biennium (and specifies the net revenue from 0.9 percentage points of the increase is to be distributed to the Recovering Oregon’s Wildlife Fund Subaccount. Specifies 0.1 percent of the net revenue to be distributed to the Oregon Conservation Corps Fund, 0.05 percent to the Department of State Police to combat the poaching of wildlife, 0.05 percent to the Wolf Management Compensation and Proactive Trust Fund, 0.05 percent the Oregon Conservation and Recreation Fund, 0.05 percent to the State Department of Fish and Wildlife for wildlife connectivity and 0.02 for wildlife stewardship, 0.015 percent to the Invasive Species Control Account, 0.01 percent to the Department of Justice for anti-poaching and wildlife law enforcement, and 0.005 percent to the Invasive species Council Account. Revenue Impact Statement LWVOR signed on to a letter in support. HB 4134 (20/9/0/1) passed March 4 and passed the Senate (20/9/1) on March 4.  

OREGON PARKS AND RECREATION DEPT (OPRD)

The League is working with others to address the fiscal crisis at OPRD.  Oregonlive provides an article on ways they are trying to save money.  The League studied Oregon Parks in 1998:  Oregon State Parks, Part 1 (PDF, 7 pgs)  Oregon State Parks, Part 2 (PDF, 9 pgs).

OREGON WATERSHED ENHANCEMENT BOARD (OWEB)

The Oregon Environmental Restoration Council (OERC)—a part of OWEB--has an OERC website.  The state of Oregon has secured a historic $698 million dollar settlement against Monsanto for long term harm caused by the company’s polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB) chemicals to Oregon’s land, water, fish and wildlife. The Ways and Means Committee approved an Other Funds expenditure limitation increase of $35 million which was included in HB 5204.   

RECYCLING

HB 4144 A: 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. Target is lithium batteries that start fires.  Passed both chambers. 

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. To receive their reports, use 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:   

Mid-Valley (Marion, Polk, and Yamhill Counties) March 12th from 1:30-3:30pm

Northeast (Baker, Union, and Wallowa Counties) March 13th from 2:00-4:00pm

South Central (Klamath and Lake Counties) March 17th from 10:00am-12:00pm

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 meets regularly. Their next meetings (tentative) are: April 14, June 9, August 11, October 13, and December 8. Watch a livestream of the meeting or recordings of past meetings on their YouTube channel..  The League follows these meetings since the Governor, Secretary of State and State Treasurer comprise the Board membership. They are responsible for management of the Common School Fund, including lands and other assets, overseeing the South Slough National Estuarine Research Reserve, the Elliott State Research Forest and our Waters of the State.  

TRANSPORTATION (ODOT)

On March 3, SB 1601 with the  -3 amendment was posted. It included a rebalance of ODOT’s programs in Section 11-23. Passed the Senate and House Mar 6. Money was moved from a variety of ODOT funds in order to pay for basic operations and maintenance. Oregonlive provided an analysis: The largest reductions would be $42 million from Connect Oregon, which pays for aviation, marine and rail projects, and $35 million that primarily funds bridge projects, seismic improvements and highway preservation, among other programs. The plan would also redirect $20 million from the state’s Transportation Operating Fund, which supports a range of services including passenger rail and transportation for people with disabilities. It would also cut $17 million from Safe Routes to School, which funds infrastructure to make walking and biking to school safer for children. But staffing was lost with many employees choosing to leave the agency during this funding fight. This is a short-term fix for a very real problem.  We can only hope there are significant conversations around how to pay for transportation services, including transit services, in 2027. 

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. -2 amendment adopted and bill passed the committee on a party line vote.  Passed the Senate Feb. 23 (17/13). Passed the House (31/20/8/1) Mar. 2. Governor signed Mar. 2. Because the referendum date was moved from November to May, some members of the legislature and an individual Oregonian are suing. They contend that the November date was on the petitions they submitted to the Secretary of State.  See Oregonlive article.

News Release: The Transportation Commission is meeting March 12. News Release: Agency response to legislative session action.  

SB 1542: Measure What We Drive: Performance-based scoring system to allocate road project funding, to include safety, climate and emissions. Annual Report Card. Bill died in committee. 

SB 1543: Guardrails for Good Governance: Adopt a transportation debt management policy with better transparency. Broaden representation on the Oregon Transportation Commission. Bill died in committee. 

HB 4126: Get the Data for a Better Road User Charge (RUC).  Died in Ways and Means.

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. Died in Ways and Means.

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.

WATER

The League monitored water bills but did not directly engage.  Two of the bills about which we had concerns died:  

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.  The -3 amendments were adopted and the bill was moved to Ways and Means where in died. 

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. Bill died in Committee. 

The Water Committee for LWV Deschutes County provided comments to a recent rulemaking, encouraging better linkages between land use and water.  LWVOR has supported that concept for a very long time and we appreciate their voice on this important issue. On Feb. 26 the Land Conservation and Development Commission met with the Water Resources Commission to discuss how to address this important issue. 

Oregon Water Caucus: The Oregon Legislature's Water Caucus is a bipartisan, bicameral group of state legislators and staff committed to fostering a secure and resilient water future for all.  To learn more about the Water Caucus and its work, please contact Harmony Burright at 541-846-8863 or Harmony.Burright@OregonLegislature.gov. You can also subscribe to receive email updates from the Water Caucus​.  

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

The Bend Bulletin reports Oregon’s snowpack looked “terrible” roughly one month from when it should hit its peak, and that could contribute to drought and wildfires and cause irrigation problems, said Larry O’Neill, Oregon state climatologist.

The best guess of the various forecasters is that sometime between June and September the world will enter an El Niño cycle. When that happens, prepare for bedlam. Each El Niño event in recent decades has gotten steadily worse, because each one drives the temperature to a new record. Here’s a short video explaining El Nino.  

WETLANDS

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. The League has opposed similar bills in the past, including SB 511 (2025).  We provided testimony again in opposition. The bill died in Committee.

The next meeting of the Wetlands Rulemaking RAC, originally planned for February 23) will be postponed until later in the spring. Please stay tuned for a new meeting date after the close of the 2026 legislative session.  DLCD’s rulemaking webpage.

WILDFIRE

Carolyn Mayers

SB 1540 A, which endeavored to align insurance company wildfire risk assessment with homeowner and community level mitigation efforts in an attempt to help address the rising cost of homeowners insurance, died in committee.

SB 1541 died in Ways and Means. This was Senator Golden’s Climate Superfund bill which would have provided, among other things, funding toward wildfire mitigation and disaster recovery.

SB 1551 A would invalidate deed restrictions and planned community governing documents prohibiting the removal of non-fire-hardened building materials or installation of fire-hardened building materials on residential properties. This bill passed both chambers. 

HJM 201, which urges Congress to pass legislation to permanently extend federal tax cuts for wildfire victims, has passed the House and the Senate.

The Oregon Capital Chronicle reported that Oregon is building back better. Thanks to state incentives, the new homes are more energy efficient and resilient to future threats

The 2025 Fire season costs were contained in HB 5204 for both the Dept. of Forestry and the Dept. of the State Fire Marshal. There are openings for membership in the Governor’s Wildfire Program Advisory Council.

Finally, as reported in this article from KPTV, loss of funding may result in 30 early wildfire detection cameras being shut down across the State. This is technology that has proven to be instrumental in authorities being able to respond quickly to wildfires, keeping them contained, and the loss of the the use of them would be potentially catastrophic in the face of increasing wildfire risk in Oregon. OPB also covered this story:  Almost half of the University of Oregon’s network of cameras to monitor wildfires is at risk of being discontinued, according to an administrator. The Oregon Hazards Lab’s network of cameras operates 24-7 and covers some of the most remote, rugged, and inaccessible areas of the state. It is unclear if any funding was provided in 2026.

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED: What is your passion related to Natural Resources? You can help. Volunteers are needed.  We particularly need help tracking legislation concerning 

•Air Quality (Dept. of Environmental Quality)

•Columbia River Gorge Commission

•Hanford Cleanup

•Oregon Dept. of Fish and Wildlife

•Parks and Recreation Dept.

•Recycling/Materials Management (Dept. of Environmental Quality)

•Toxic Control

Interested in reading additional reports? Please see our Climate Emergency, Revenue, Governance, and Social Policy report sections.