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AGRICULTURE

2025 Farm Stand Rulemaking Advisory Committee to Meet June 24, 2025: 

Information: The public comment and consultation period for this rulemaking will close on November 7, 2025, at 5:00 p.m. To make public comment in writing, please email farmforest.comment@dlcd.oregon.gov at any time.

AIR QUALITY

SB 726 A would direct the Environmental Quality Commission to adopt rules requiring the use of advanced methane detection technology for surface emissions monitoring at a landfill located in Benton County (e.g., Coffin Butte). June 16: Governor signed. 

Related to this bill is HB 3794, a bill that creates a Task Force on Municipal Solid Waste in the Willamette Valley. HB 3794 passed Ways and Means on June 20.

BUDGETS/REVENUE

By Peggy Lynch

Following are the budget bills we are watching in Natural Resources. However, there are currently over 500 bills in Joint Ways and Means, with many of the agency budget bills now moving through that committee and to the floor and then on to the Governor. 

• Dept. of Agriculture: SB 5502 Dept. of Agriculture Fees: SB 5503 Both bills awaiting the Governor’s signature. Five bills related to the department's various fee increases also passed Full Ways and Means. HB 2805 Relating to food establishment licenses (Meeting Materials), HB 2806 Relating to license fees for commercial instruments (Meeting Materials), HB 2809 Relating to pesticide registration fees (Meeting Materials), SB 1019 A Relating to brands (Meeting Materials), SB 832 A Relating to civil penalties for laws implemented by the State Department of Agriculture (Meeting Materials)

•  SB 5508 LFO Recommendation Columbia River Gorge Commission:June 16: Governor signed.

• Dept. of Environmental Quality: SB 5520 League testimony. LFO Recommendation and Meeting Materials Waiting Governor’s signature.

• Oregon Dept. of Energy: SB 5518 and Oregon Dept. of Energy Fees: SB 5519 Meeting Materials. Waiting the Governor’s signature. 

• Oregon Dept. of Fish and Wildlife: HB 5009 (LFO Recommendation), along with HB 2342 A (LFO Recommendation) Relating to fees concerning wildlife, HB 2343 A (LFO Recommendation) Relating to the Columbia Basin endorsement and HB 2345 (LFO Recommendation) Relating to Oregon hatcheries. These three bills passed both chambers. 

• From the Environmental Caucus newsletter: HB 2977, the 1% for Wildlife Bill, would increase the Transient Lodging Tax (TLT) that is collected at lodging establishments, from 1.5% to 2.5% total. The revenue from the increase would go towards habitat and species restoration and conservation. On Tuesday, the House Revenue Committee adopted an amendment that adds another .25% increase to the TLT, bringing the total to 2.75%. The additional .25% revenue will go towards anti-poaching efforts, the Wolf Management Compensation and Proactive Trust Fund, wildlife connectivity and stewardship, and invasive species control. The bill passed out of committee with bipartisan support, passed the House floor and is headed to the Senate. 

• Oregon Dept. of Forestry: SB 5521. Meeting Materials; LFO Recommendation Passed the Senate and now headed to the House for a chamber vote. HB 2072 , Harvest Tax, LFO Recommendation, is awaiting the Governor’s signature. 

• Dept. of Geology and Mineral Industries (DOGAMI): HB 5010 LFO Recommendation. Waiting the Governor’s signature. Meeting materials LWVOR testimony LWVOR supports SB 836, a bill that would significantly increase permit fees for mining related activities. Here is the LFO Recommendation for SB 836. It passed the Senate and is awaiting a vote in the House. 

• Dept. of Land Conservation and Development: SB 5528 LWVOR testimony. The budget passed the Senate and is waiting for a vote in the House. This budget and the Oregon Housing and Community Services budget (HB 5011) have been part of a challenging conversation between the Governor and the Ways and Means Co-Chairs with the Governor’s recommended budget being more than the May revenue forecast can afford. LFO Recommendation HB 5011 is waiting for a vote in both chambers. 

• Land Use Board of Appeals: SB 5529 Public hearing Feb. 27 LWVOR testimony. The bill is awaiting the Governor’s signature. 

• Oregon State Marine Board (OSMB): HB 5021 and HB 2558 A modifies the definition of "charter guide" for purposes of outfitter and guide laws. Both bills have been signed by the Governor. HB 2982 A, a bill that increases boating permit costs estimated to increase revenue to OSMB by about $1 million for the 2025-27 biennium, most of which will be used to address Aquatic and Invasive Species (AIS) management in partnership with the Oregon Dept. of Fish and Wildlife were considered together. Here is the Legislative Fiscal Office recommendation for each of the three bills. HB 2982 is awaiting the Governor’s signature. 

• Dept. of State Lands: SB 5539 LWVOR testimony in support. LFO 2025-27 budget recommendation. LFO budget recommendation for SB 147. June 16: Governor signed both bills. 

• Oregon State Parks and Recreation Dept.: HB 5026 Public hearing March 5. Meeting Materials LWVOR testimony in part to address comments by the Legislative Fiscal Office. The bill is waiting for the Governor’s signature. LFO Recommendation. There is a bill related to contracting rules (SB 838 A) also waiting the Governor’s signature. Another, SB 565, would move the Capitol State Park back to the control of the Dept. of Administrative Services, may come back in 2026. 

• Water Resources Dept.: SB 5543 Public hearing Feb. 18-20. Meeting Materials. LWVOR testimony . And the fee bills: support HB 2808 and support HB 2803 (The - 3 amendment was adopted, reducing the fees significantly which will cause the department a revenue shortfall should the amendment stand the scrutiny of Ways and Means where it now lies.) The budget and fee bills passed Full Ways and Means along with HB 3544A, a bill that revises current statutes on contested case procedures related to new water right applications and water right transfer applications (contested cases). The bills now go to the chambers for a vote.

• Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board: HB 5039. Info mtg. & Public hearing Feb. 25-27 LWVOR testimony. Meeting Materials. Waiting for the Governor’s signature. LFO Recommendation 

• Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board 6-Year Limitation: HB 5040 LFO Recommendation Also waiting for the Governor’s signature.

• Oregon Dept. of Transportation (ODOT): SB 5541 info hearing 3/03-6, public hearing 3/11. The budget for ODOT has now been assigned to the Capital Construction Ways and Means Subcommittee. Now that HB 2025, the comprehensive Transportation ReInvestment Package (TRIP) has passed out of the Joint Committee on Transportation Reinvestment, we expect to see the agency budget to move. However, it may await the outcome of votes on HB 2025. The League signed on to a letter in support of increased transit funding. 

• Legislative Administration Committee, Legislative Assembly, Legislative Counsel Committee, Legislative Fiscal Officer, Legislative Revenue Officer, Commission on Indian Services and Legislative Policy and Research Committee: HB 5016 Info hearings 4/29-30. Public hearing May 1st. This bill has passed Full Ways and Means and is headed to the chambers for votes. Among the changes are increased security due to full opening of the Capitol building in 2026, replacement/upgrades of the OLIS and 3 new legislative analysis and research positions to reflect increased workload. There will also be money to contract for a review of salaries and number of staff needed by legislators. Sen. McLane supported an amendment to increase staff. There was a discussion and assumption that having more information by the February session will help in any staffing increase change decisions. 

• The following four bills (and a few others) are expected to show up in the Ways and Means Capital Construction Subcommittee Monday, June 23—or later in the week:

• Lottery Bonds: SB 5531: an average debt capacity of $564 million in each Biennium. Public hearing May 9 and May 16 @ 1p. The League supported two of the requests: $160 million for preservation of rental housing and $25 million to preserve manufactured housing and $100 million Housing Infrastructure Fund in Section 14. There are over $2 billion in requests for a variety of projects around Oregon! 

• Emergency Board: HB 5006 This bill will be populated with an amount for the Emergency Board to spend at will and amounts in Special Purpose Appropriations if needed when the legislature is not in session. It is expected that this will be the end-of-session (Christmas Tree) bill. 

• General Obligation Bonds, etc.: SB 5505: an average debt capacity of $2.22 billion per Biennium. Public hearing held April 18. Second public hearing, this time on university and community college requests, was held May 2.  

• Six-Year Limitation/Bonds: SB 5506 (Limits for the six-year period beginning July 1, 2025, payment of expenses from fees, moneys or other revenues, including Miscellaneous Receipts, but excluding lottery funds and federal funds, collected or received by various state agencies for capital construction.) Public hearing held May 2. 

CLIMATE

By 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

SB 504 A relating to bioengineering for the protection of coastal resources passed Full Ways and Means along with SB 1047 B, a bill that may well open up a new golf course south of Bandon Dunes on the south coast. This project has been at odds with conservation interests due to the need for water and development issues. This is another bill where the legislature is overriding our land use planning system.

Coastal Program meetings on Offshore Wind Energy, Ocean Acidification and the Ocean Science Trust coming soon. 

The League supports HB 3580 eelgrass stabilization LWVOR signed letter of support and HB 3587A Protection of Rocky Habitat LWVOR signed letter of support (fiscal impact statement). To help these bills get funded, consider LWVOR’s Action Alert. If either of these bills are funded, it is most likely to be HB 3587.

The League signed on to a letter of support for HB 3963 , a bill that extends the timeline for the Dept. of Land Conservation and Development to provide a report on offshore wind conversions from 2025 to 2027. The League signed on to testimony in support. The bill passed the House floor (34/18 with 2 excused) and is headed to the Senate floor.

DEPT. OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY (DEQ) 

By Peggy Lynch

SB 1154 was filed by the Governor to address the groundwater/nitrate issue in Morrow and Umatilla counties per this OPB article. See also in the Water section for a presentation of interest. This Oregon Capital Chronicle article helps explain the controversy. The bill passed the Senate 18/12. A work session is set for June 23 in House Rules. 

DEPT. OF GEOLOGY AND MINERAL INDUSTRIES (DOGAMI)

By Joan Fryxell

The State Land Board met on June 10th and received yet another presentation/slide show from the Department of Geology and Mineral Industries on geologic carbon sequestration. 

The DOGAMI Board will meet on June 24. Here is the agenda. 

The Grassy-Mountain Gold Project Technical Review Team met June 16th. Information can be found here. The League continues to follow this project as the first consolidated permitting project to be held in Oregon. 

ELLIOTT STATE RESEARCH FOREST (ESRF)

The ESRF Board of Directors met in North Bend June 11. Click here to download the meeting agenda and materials. The Board approved the 2025-27 Biennial Operations Plan and recommended research grant proposals one and two and the tier two level with verbal support for proposals three and four without funding at this time.  

FORESTRY

SB 1051, which transfers the authority to appoint a State Forester from the State Board of Forestry to the Governor, subject to Senate confirmation, was amended by the -4 amendment and the bill has passed the Senate. It now has a work session in House Rules on June 23.

GOVERNANCE

HB 3569, to require a Chief Sponsor (legislator) of a bill to be a part of a rules advisory committee (RAC) for legislation they had a hand in passing, passed the House. The League provided testimony with our concerns and opposition to the bill. The bill passed both the Senate and House and awaits the Governor’s consideration and possible signature. 

We have provided testimony in opposition to HB 2692, a bill to create complicated and burdensome processes for agencies to implement legislation with their rulemaking procedures. The League joined others in sharing concerns about this bill to members of House Rules. It was pulled from the scheduled work session on May 28th. 

The League continues to follow the bills listed on the March 17 agenda of the Senate Committee On Rules since some of the bills relate to the process of rulemaking (SB 437, SB 1006, SB 370, SB 483) and SB 411, SB 895 also in Senate Rules. 

HB 2454 passed House Rules with the -1 amendment and sent to Ways and Means. The bill creates a new Audits Officer (with possible additional staff). The Jt. Audits Committee would hire the Officer. 

We are concerned with HB 3382, since the requirements of the Secretary of State to gather ALL the state agencies’ rulemaking, including all materials, would be overwhelming. Individual state agencies provide that information on their rulemaking websites. A work session was held May 28 where the -2 amendment was adopted to delay the web work and the bill sent to Ways and Means. 

Separately, the League was invited to a conversation among state agency rules staff on addressing concerns of the Governor and in an attempt to standardize the process statewide. The Governor has provided Rulemaking Guidance to state agencies: This DAS document includes questions received from agencies since the Governor’s letter.

This Transparency website document includes additional resources for agencies including direction to post updates to the Transparency site, a website template that agencies can use (if they choose) to develop their pages, and links to other comprehensive agency rule making sites to review.   There is a broader discussion to increase transparency and consistency in the state agencies’ rulemaking process. A second meeting related to the state agency rules process, in particular the Natural Resource agencies, was held June 17. The Governor’s staff attended as they worked with agencies and others to develop a template for rules advisory processes. A draft of the plan was shared. Not only would there be three tiers to determine the level of engagement needed, but whether or not Commission members should be a liaison to more complicated rulemakings. 

See also the Governance section of this Legislative Report. 

LAND USE & HOUSING

By Sandra U. Bishop/Peggy Lynch

HB 2138, the Governor’s follow up on middle housing bill has passed the House and is headed to the Senate for a vote. LFO Recommendation The League engaged on elements of this bill over the summer but chose to stay silent due to some of the bill provisions. 

HB 2258, a bill that authorizes the Land Conservation and Development Commission to adopt rules requiring local governments to approve certain land use applications for residential developments using building plans preapproved by the Department of Consumer and Business Services passed the House and is headed to the Senate for a vote. LFO Recommendation 

The League provided testimony in support of HB 3939, a bill that provides a list of infrastructure projects to fund for smaller Oregon cities so they can build more housing. We have also supported HB 3031 A which has been assigned to the Ways and Means Capital Construction Subcommittee. The -1 amendment to HB 3939 was adopted and sits in Ways and Means.

HB 2316: Allows designation of Home Start Lands to be used for housing. HB 2316 -4 frees up approximately 3,500 acres of state land which can now be used for housing production, all within the urban growth boundaries. The A6 amendment was adopted and the bill sent to Ways and Means.

The Land Conservation and Development Commission will meet June 26-27 in Salem. Guest presenters include Oregon Water Resources Director Ivan Gall, and Integrated Water Resources Strategy (IWRS) Coordinator Crystal Grinnell, who will provide updates on the 2025 Draft IWRS before its scheduled adoption by the Water Resources Commission this fall. Agenda 

See also the Housing Report in the Social Policy section of this Legislative Report.

TRANSPORTATION

HB 2025 is the comprehensive Transportation ReInvestment Package (TRIP) assigned to the Joint Committee on Transportation Reinvestment. The League signed a letter in support of increased transit funding. A work session on HB 2025 was held June 20 where a number of amendments were offered but it was the -23 amendment that was adopted and it passed out of committee on a party line vote with Senate President Wagner substituting himself instead of Sen. Meek. Revenue Impact Statement. Because it raises taxes, HB 2025 needs a 3/5 majority to pass—18 of 30 Senators, 36 of 60 Representatives. 2 Oregon Democrats balk at transportation bill as session nears its end (OPB), and Divided Oregon panel sends massive transportation funding bill to House floor (OR Capital Chronicle).

The proposed HB 2025 Transportation package, if not agreed upon by the legislature in a truly bipartisan manner, is expected to be taken to the voters by a new political action committee “No Gas Hikes’ per this OPB article. “

Bills passed by Oregon lawmakers can be referred to voters if organizers collect enough valid signatures within 90 days of the Legislature adjourning. This year, a referral would require at least 78,115 signatures, equal to 4% of the people who cast a ballot in the 2022 gubernatorial election.” But the bill must pass the legislature before it can be referred to voters.

WATER

By Peggy Lynch

HB 2169 is awaiting the Governor’s signature. LFO Recommendation. The bill directs the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) to establish and lead an interagency water reuse team to encourage and expand water reuse in Oregon. 

HB 2947 is waiting for the Governor’s signature. “Directs the Oregon State University Extension Service and the College of Agricultural Sciences of Oregon State University to study the distribution and occurrence of perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) found in biosolids applied to agricultural fields that do not produce crops intended for human consumption.” LFO Recommendation. 

HB 3806, a bill that authorizes the Oregon Water Resources Commission to approve a Deschutes River water bank pilot program if the charter is approved by the Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs and adheres to all requirements. It sunsets the pilot program on January 2, 2034, and is awaiting the Governor’s signature. 

Water Right Process Improvements (HB 3342). A - 4 amendment was adopted and the bill is now awaiting the Governor’s signature.

LWV Deschutes County submitted a letter in support of SB 427, a water rights transfer bill meant to protect instream water flows. The bill sits in Senate Rules. SB 1153, an alternate bill provided with help from the Governor’s office was amended by the -10 amendment and sent to Ways and Means.

Harney Basin Groundwater Management (HB 3800). A work session was held and the bill was sent to House Rules without recommendation as to passage. 

Water Rights and Public Interest (HB 3501) A work session was held and the bill was referred to House Rules without recommendation as to passage on a 6 to 3 vote.

HB 3525 is related to tenants’ right to well water testing. The League submitted testimony in support. The League hopes to see this bill move forward, even if there are constraints. It would be a beginning and a recognition that water needs to be safe for everyone-homeowners and renters. The House Rules Committee had a work session on June 16 where the A-12 amendment was adopted. The House passed the amended bill and it heads to the Senate.

League members may want to check the U. S. Drought Monitor, a map that is updated every Thursday. 35% of Oregon is now classified under “moderate drought” and 65% of the state is “abnormally dry. “This time last year, the water supply outlook hung around slightly below to near normal conditions, while this year it has mostly been below normal” per an article in the Estacada News. Here is a more complete website about drought in Oregon and a long range climate prediction.

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.

WILDFIRE

By Carolyn Mayers

"We are preparing for what is likely to be an even more aggressive and increasingly difficult to control wildfire season this year,”

“What’s striking is the size of the fires we’ve seen this early in the season,” Oregon Department of Forestry wildfire spokeswoman Jessica Neujahr said. “It’s not unusual for us to have wildfires in June, especially on the east side of the state, but to have them this large and just back-to-back-to-back is unusual."

Summer may have just officially begun, but wildfire season is already well underway with a large number of fast-moving wildfires. Oregon has had more than 400 fires so far, with least 56 homes lost and over 20,000 acres burned, mostly east of the Cascades. This is just short of twice the 10-year average of 13,000 acres burned by this point in the fire season. This June 20th article in the Statesman Journal, from which to two opening quotes of were drawn, provides important details on the season so far, and sobering information on what might be ahead. There are some very alarming predictions therein.

It is against this backdrop that the Legislature, with the end of the session looming, is still trying to find a path to provide at least some funding for our state’s wildfire crisis. There has been precious little movement to no movement on some bills as well as scrambling on others to try and find creative solutions.

The Oregon Department of Forestry and Oregon State Fire Marshal’s Office have stated the minimum annual need for wildfire funding to address the growing wildfire crisis is around $280 million. Toward that end, the “one big beautiful” (forgive the dark humor) omnibus wildfire funding bill, HB 3940 B, is one that has seen a flurry of activity in this past week. A Public Hearing was held on June 18 before House Revenue, followed by a Work Session June 19 at which the -A 24 Amendment was adopted, and the bill sent to the floor with a do-pass recommendation. This is an extremely complex bill, with the newest iteration proposing a tax on the sale of "oral nicotine products" like synthetic nicotine pouches. This brief summary from The League of Oregon Cities covers the basics of the current status of this critically important bill. Included is a proposal to use 20% of the interest on the Rainy Day Fund for wildfire mitigation. The total of these two measures would bring in approximately $60 million. During the League of Oregon Cities Legislative Update on June 20, Legislative Affairs Director Jim McCauley suggested that another $180 million was anticipated from the Christmas Tree bill at the end of the session.

Among bills that did see movement was SB 1051 A, which would transfer the power to appoint the State Forester to the Governor from the Board of Forestry. A Public Hearing was held June 16 before House Rules and a work session is set for June 23.

SB 83 would repeal the State Wildfire Hazard Map and accompanying statutes related to it, remains in House Rules where it has been since May 20, its fate likely hinging on the disposition of the remaining wildfire funding bills. 

SB 75 A, removes the wildfire hazard map as a guide for allowing ADUs and requiring higher building codes in rural areas, also still in House Rules where it was sent May 22nd. Like SB 83, it is likely to stay while negotiations continue on wildfire funding.  

With the movement of HB 3940, the following bills may be dead for the session: SB 1177  would establish the Oregon Wildfire Mitigation and Adaptation Fund and redirect the “kicker” to it, one- time, for financing wildfire related expenses, by using the interest earned. A 5% return would yield approximately $170-180 million per year, or just over half of the aforementioned projected ongoing costs to fund wildfire mitigation and suppression. (The Governor has expressed interest in using only the amount of kicker that would go to large income earners for wildfire costs.)  SJR 11 remains before Senate Finance and Revenue after its April 7 public hearing. It would dedicate a fixed, to-be-determined percentage of net proceeds of the State Lottery to a wildfire fund created by the Legislature. Its passage would mean an amendment to the Oregon Constitution, which would have to go to voters for approval. Finally, HB 3489, which imposes a severance tax on owners of timber harvested from public or private forestland, had a Public Hearing April 24 before House Revenue, where it remains. The League has supported a severance tax in past sessions and provided testimony at the hearing. Rep. Reschke suggested using the interest generated by Oregon’s Rainy Day Fund savings account to pay for wildfire. For the 2025-27 session, that interest is around $160 million – which gets lawmakers more than halfway to the $280 target.  He also suggested pulling more money out of the body of the Rainy Day Fund itself to cover the other half, though doing so would be complicated.  However, the Governor and others have insisted on “new money” for wildfire funding rather than using “current money”. It seems that Rep. Reschke’s idea had some merit as the idea is part of the proposed HB 3940 amended bill. 

SB 454 A requires the Department of the State Fire Marshal to create an advisory committee to advise the department on funding options for rural fire protection districts (RFPDs), instructs the committee to develop funding recommendations based on the review and report to the Legislature by December 31, 2026. The Senate has passed the bill and it is waiting for a vote in the House. 

The League is also still following other non-funding related bills, such as SB 926, which would prohibit the recovery of certain costs and expenses from customers that an electric company incurs as a result of allegations of a wildfire resulting from the negligence or fault on the part of the electric company. It was passed by the Senate. The House Committee on Judiciary adopted the A 10 amendment and the Speaker sent the bill to Ways and Means, where it remains. HB 3666 remains in the Rules Committee. This bill would establish wildfire mitigation actions and an accompanying certification for electric utilities in an attempt to standardize their approach.

HB 3349 had an A-2 amendment and an LFO Recommendation of $1 million placed in a new Rangeland Protection Association Fund. A Work Session on HB 3349 B was held before full Ways and Means on June 17, and sent to the House floor with a do-pass recommendation.

Volunteers Needed 

What is your passion related to Natural Resources?  You can help. Volunteers are needed. The long legislative session begins in January of 2025. Natural Resource Agency Boards and Commissions meet regularly year-round and need monitoring. If any area of natural resources is of interest to you, please contact Peggy Lynch, Natural Resources Coordinator, at peggylynchor@gmail.com. Training will be offered.

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