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AGRICULTURE

By Sandra U. Bishop

The first meeting of the Farm Stand Rulemaking Advisory Committee (RAC) was held on May 16th. (OAR 660-033-0130: Regarding farm stands in exclusive farm use (EFU) zones and agri-tourism)  The meetings are live-streamed and recorded and may be reviewed on the Oregon Department of Land Conservation and Development (DLCD) YouTube channel. The 20-member RAC is expected to meet 4 or 5 times. The public hearing will likely be in September 2025.  

The public comment period for this rulemaking will close October 5, 2025. To submit public comment please email written comments to:  farmforest.comment@dlcd.oregon.gov  

Comments must be in writing to be considered part of the rulemaking record. People may also make brief public comments at the RAC meetings. Rulemaking webpage 

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 municipal solid waste landfills, beginning 1/1/2027. The A7 amendment limits the bill's application to a landfill located in Benton County (e.g., Coffin Butte). Passed the House and repassed the Senate. Awaiting Governor’s signature.  

Related to this bill is HB 3794, a bill that would create a Task Force on Municipal Solid Waste in the Willamette Valley. HB 3794 is sitting in Ways and Means.

BOTTLE BILL UPDATE

By Sandra U. Bishop

The omnibus bottle bill SB 992 A, a conglomeration of several bills introduced this session to address problems with beverage container redemption in the Portland area, has been signed by the Governor!

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 passed Full Ways and Means and the Senate. Headed to the House floor for a final vote. Five bills related to 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)

• Columbia River Gorge Commission: SB 5508  LFO Recommendation The bill passed Ways and Means and the Senate and House. Awaiting the Governor’s signature.

• Dept. of Environmental Quality:  SB 5520 League testimony. LFO Recommendation and Meeting Materials The bill passed Full Ways and Means after a contentious discussion.  Passed the Senate (17-11 with 2 excused). Now it goes to the House floor.  As a major regulatory agency, this agency struggles to gain bipartisan support.  

• Oregon Dept. of Energy: SB 5518 and Oregon Dept. of Energy Fees: SB 5519 Meeting Materials.  Bills passed the Senate 18-10 with 2 excused.  Awaiting a vote in the House. 

• 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 Full Ways and Means on June 6 and now head to chamber floors. Conservationists, with HB 2977 (a -2 amendment has been filed), would add 1% (or 1.5%) for conservation programs.  That additional money would go to a special Fund at the Oregon Dept. of Fish and Wildlife.  It had a hearing in House Revenue on May 8.  

• Oregon Dept. of Forestry: SB 5521. Meeting Materials;  Work Session was set for May 27 and then cancelled. New Work Session June 5 where it passed the Subcommittee.  LFO Recommendation The budget recommended that payroll be transferred to the Dept. of Administrative Services. POP 801 provides funding for the Private Forest Accord and Habitat Conservation Plan work.  HB 2072, Harvest Tax, LFO Recommendation.  

• Dept. of Geology and Mineral Industries (DOGAMI): HB 5010 Public hearing Feb. 5-6; Meeting materials  LWVOR testimony LWVOR supports  SB 836, a bill that would significantly increase permit fees for mining related activities. See the agency’s presentation to understand the reasons for these increases. A public hearing was held on May 19 and the League provided verbal testimony on the proposed amendment. A Work Session was held May 28 where the -4 amendment was adopted.  A work session was held on June 3.  The LFO Recommendation for HB 5010 included additional staff related to the SB 836 fee increase, the carbon sequestration and e-permitting project.  There were two budget notes, both of which the League can support related to reporting on the e-permitting project and the audit report done in April. Here is the LFO Recommendation for SB 836.     

• Dept. of Land Conservation and Development:  SB 5528 Governor’s budget DLCD Fact Sheet Public hearing Feb. 3-4; LCDC 1/24 presentation;  Meeting Materials LWVOR testimony.  The budget is set for a work session in the Ways and Means Natural Resources Subcommittee on June 9.  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.   

• Land Use Board of Appeals: SB 5529  Public hearing Feb. 27 LWVOR testimony. The bill passed Full Ways and Means and the Senate. Is awaiting a vote in the House.  

• Oregon State Marine Board (OSMB): HB 5021 and HB 2558 A modifies the definition of "charter guide" for purposes of outfitter and guide laws and 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 5021, HB 2558 and HB 2982 all passed the House chamber. Awaiting a vote in the Senate.  

• Dept. of State Lands: SB 5539 LWVOR testimony in support.  LFO 2025-27 budget recommendation.  LFO budget recommendation  for SB 147.  Both bills passed the Senate and the House. Awaiting the Governor’s signature.   

• Oregon State Parks and Recreation Dept.:  HB 5026  info hearings March 3-4, public hearing March 5. Meeting Materials LWVOR testimony in part to address comments by the Legislative Fiscal Office.  The bill passed Full Ways and Means and is now headed to the House and Senate chambers. LFO Recommendation . There is a bill related to contracting rules that is passing and another, SB 565, that would move the Capitol State Park back to the control of the Dept. of Administrative Services.  Back in 2007, the League objected to the move to State Parks as a cost burden to Parks, but it was approved in part because of the lottery revenue available while the General Fund was struggling.  Now the reverse is true.  We understand that this bill may not move this session but may come back in 2026 where the League may be called on to engage.  

• Water Resources Dept.: SB 5543 Governor’s budget WRD Fact Sheet  Here is a summary of the Governor’s budget.  Governor's Budget and Agency Request Budget documents are available online here. Info Mtg. & Public hearing Feb. 18-20.  Meeting Materials. LWVOR testimony .  And the fee bills: support HB 2808 (Bill moved to Ways and Means)  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 are scheduled for a work session in Ways and Means Natural Resources Subcommittee on June 10 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). 

• Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board: HB 5039. Info mtg. & Public hearing Feb. 25-27 LWVOR  testimony.   Meeting Materials. Work Session June 2 where it passed the Subcommittee and passed Full Ways and Means on June 6 .  Now headed to both chambers for a vote.  LFO Recommendation Of special interest to the League is converting a staffer from “limited duration” (only through a biennium) permanent to oversee the agency’s land and water acquisitions, stewardship activities, the Oregon Agricultural Heritage Program (OAHP)  and the Drinking Water Source Protection (DWSP) Program.  The League has supported the DWSP Program.  We were disappointed that no additional monies were added to the program under this budget bill and will continue to hope for an infusion of monies by the end of session. However, the OAHP received another $2 million General Funds.  We see nothing in the bill for funding the Climate Fund for the current biennium.   

• Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board 6-Year Limitation: HB 5040 (Limits expenditures of lottery funds from the Watershed Conservation Grant Fund for local grant expenditures by the Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board for a six-year period beginning July 1, 2025.) Info mtg. & Public hearing Feb. 25-26. Work Session June 2 where it passed the Subcommittee and passed Full Ways and Means on June 6 . Now headed to both chambers for a vote.  LFO Recommendation  

• Oregon Dept. of Transportation (ODOT):  SB 5541 info hearing 3/03-6, public hearing 3/11. The League signed on to a letter in support of increased transit funding. The Joint Committee on Transportation ended its work on May 23rd but a new committee (Joint Committee on Transportation Reinvestment) has taken over in hopes of coming to agreement on a comprehensive package before the end of session. On June 6, notice was given that a proposed package will be heard next week. This budget will await those actions. 

• 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.  

• Lottery Bonds: SB 5531: an average debt capacity of $564 million in each Biennium. Public hearing May 9 and May 16..  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.  

• 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

Cuts to NOAA (the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) will affect Oregon coastal communities per this article in Columbia Insight. “Lower catch limits for fish and compromised maritime safety are just some of the ways Trump’s proposed budget could weaken the Pacific Northwest. In the Pacific Northwest, cuts to NOAA are likely to negatively impact everyone from fishers and crabbers to rural communities responding to climate change. Cuts to NOAA are also likely to make it harder to track and respond to environmental harms, including climate change impacts, as well as threats to the health of our region’s fisheries and the safety of the food it produces.”

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.

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 conversations from 2025 to 2027. A public hearing was held May 19. The League signed on to testimony in support. A work session was held May 29 where the bill passed committee in a partisan vote. The bill passed the House floor (34/18 with 2 excused) and now is headed to the Senate chamber for a vote. 

The Oregon Coastal Management Program (OCMP) is currently developing its 2026-2030 Program Enhancement Assessment and Strategy. Draft Strategy The OCMP has selected to focus on wetlands, coastal hazards, and ocean resources in this 2026-2030 planning horizon. See the Draft Assessment and Strategy and provide feedback during the comment period of May 12 - June 12, 2025. The draft 2026-2030 Program Enhancement Assessment and Strategy can be found on their Public Comment webpage. Please provide comments on or before June 12. Send comments:  E-mail Comments: coastal.policy@dlcd.oregon.gov   Written Comments: OCMP-DLCD, 635 Capitol St. NE, Suite 150, Salem, OR 97301-2540.   

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. The bill has a public hearing and possible work session for June 9 in Senate Rules. An A3 amendment is posted.

DEPT. OF GEOLOGY AND MINERAL INDUSTRIES (DOGAMI)

By Joan Fryxell

The Grassy-Mountain Gold Project Technical Review Team will meet 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 will meet in North Bend June 11, from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. The public may attend in person or via Zoom. Click here to download the meeting agenda and materials. 

FORESTRY

The Board of Forestry met June 4 and 5 per this press release. May 30:  Today, the Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) deployed 14 firefighters to Alberta, Canada, four firefighters to Alaska, three to Minnesota, and one to Florida. With fire season beginning in some parts of the state, this will be the agency’s last big out-of-state resource push until the rainy fall returns in Oregon. ODF is continuing to sign mutual aid contracts with states around the country as each needs help during their specific fire seasons.

GOVERNANCE

HB 3569 , a bill that would 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 Senate Rules on June 5 and now goes to the Senate floor for a vote.  The League continues to have discussions with Legislative Leadership and the Governor’s office on these RACs bills, explaining our concerns. 

Because the League is often engaged in rulemaking, we regularly comment on legislation that would affect changes in Oregon’s current Administrative Rules.  We have provided testimony in opposition to HB 2692, a bill that would 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.  From Leader Bowman’s office: “HB 2454 changes the statutory authority related to audits and audit reviews from the Legislative Fiscal Office to the Legislative Audit Officer (LAO) and authorizes the LAO to hire necessary staff to carry out assigned functions. The LAO and his/her staff will be housed under the new Legislative Performance Oversight and Government Accountability Office. The bill does substitute LFO for the LAO on a number of responsibilities.  LFO will continue fiscal analyses and other duties, while audits and oversight will be housed under the LAO.”

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 document includes questions received from agencies since the Governor’s letter. This 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 is set for June with an invitation to the League to continue to participate.

See also the Governance section of this Legislative Report. 

LAND USE & HOUSING

By Sandra U. Bishop/Peggy Lynch

HB 2647 passed the House floor and was assigned to the Senate Housing and Development Committee where it passed the committee with the A 5 amendment, passed the Senate and has returned to the House floor for concurrence. 

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 (already sitting in Ways and Means) but know there might be limited dollars this session so called out that link in our letter.   The -1 amendment to HB 3939 was adopted and the bill moved to 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 of which can now be used for housing production, all within the urban growth boundaries. It provides revenue to the state from the sale of the land, and it also provides revenue to our cities because the land becomes taxable for property taxes five years after purchase.  The bill was sent to Revenue where a public hearing was held on May 15 and a work session was held May 27. The A6 amendment was adopted and the bill sent to Ways and Means.

HB 2138, the Governor’s follow up on the middle housing bill has a work session along with the Housing agency’s budget bill on June 10. “The measure expands and streamlines middle housing requirements, applies them to more jurisdictions and certain unincorporated areas, clarifies definitions, and sets new deadlines for local governments to update land use regulations accordingly. It removes private covenants restricting middle housing or accessory dwelling units, eases traffic analysis requirements for small middle housing developments, and allows density bonuses for projects that include accessible or affordable units. The measure revises and simplifies the expedited land division process, limiting public notice and appeals, and requires local governments to process certain partitions as expedited if requested. It allows single room occupancies to be developed in greater numbers where multiunit housing is allowed, with capped parking requirements. It also directs the Land Conservation and Development Commission to adopt rules by 2028.” The League engaged on elements of this bill over the summer but chose to stay silent due to some of the provisions in the bill.  

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

RECYCLING

The Recycling Modernization Act that the League supported in 2021 is reaping rewards.  Expanded options are coming July 1. Here is a DEQ flyer to help.   

STATE LAND BOARD (SLB)

The State Land Board will meet on Tuesday, June 10, 2025 at 11:00 a.m. at the Shutter Creek Facility in North Bend.  Among the agenda items are: 

• Appoint the Oregon Department of State Lands Director.  (The SLB will meet in executive session on June 9th to consider this appointment.) 

• Begin rulemaking for undersea cables in Oregon’s territorial sea. 

• Acquire an 80-acre parcel of Bureau of Land Management (BLM) land in La Pine. 

• Authorize a permanent easement on an existing freeway overpass in Portland’s Rose Quarter. 

• Authorize the sale of and release of 274 acres of subsurface rights currently owned by the Department of Administrative Services (DAS) in Morrow County.

• The Land Board will also hear an update on bills the Department is tracking in the 2025 legislative session, as well as a guest presentation from the Department of Geology and Mineral Industries on geologic carbon sequestration.

TRANSPORTATION

The latest transportation funding proposal was revealed June 4th by a group of Democratic lawmakers.  Per the Oregonian article, it would “significantly boost funding for public transit and climate-friendly pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure.” See a flyer briefly describing it.

June 6, the House and Senate Republicans released their legislative concept (bill) to fund the transportation budget for 2025.   

Rep. Susan McLain, Co-Chair of the Transportation Reinvestment Committee, has announced a schedule for hearings on a proposed 2025 transportation plan.  

The hearing schedule for HB 2025 includes:

Monday, June 9, 5 p.m.Informational Hearing 

Tuesday, June 10, 5 p.m. Public Hearing: Anchor projects and ODOT accountability

Wednesday, June 11, 4 p.m. Public Hearing: Transit, rail, bike, and pedestrian safety

Thursday, June 12, 4 p.m. Public Hearing: Operations, maintenance, and preservation

From Rep. Shelly Boshart Davis: “The bill, which sounds like it will be officially introduced on Monday will be HB 2025 and seems to try to bridge the Democrats’ initial plan, with this other one from this week that proposed a 100% increase in the gas tax to bring the tax to $.80/gallon (highest in the nation!), a 400% increase in the tax on workers' wages, car sales taxes, and big hikes on title and registration fees, all to fund empty buses, bike lanes, and costly climate initiatives.” 

WATER

By Peggy Lynch

A slate of water bills are being considered per this article in the Oregon Capital Chronicle.  In an effort to modernize and streamline how state officials allocate what’s left of Oregon’s ground and surface waters, lawmakers are considering a slate of bills meant to get resource agencies collaborating on permitting reform, data collection and “management” rather than “regulation.”  The status of the bills covered range from one awaiting the Governor’s signature to the many sitting in Rules Committees where work groups negotiate their content to those sitting in Ways and Means where they may or may not be funded.  Due to capacity issues, the League has not engaged in many of these bills.  

HB 2169 had a work session on June 3 in Ways and Means Natural Resources Subcommittee. 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. Full Ways and Means passed the bill on June 6 so it now goes to both chambers for a vote. 

HB 2947 also had a work session on June 3. “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. Full Ways and Means passed the bill on June 6 so it now goes to both chambers for a vote. 

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, had a work session in Jt. Ways and Means Subcommittee on Natural Resources on May 29th.  It was noted that funding for this pilot will be provided by the Deschutes River Conservancy.  The bill passed and was sent to Full Ways and Means where it passed on June 6 and now goes to both chambers for a vote.

LWV Deschutes County submitted a letter in support of SB 427, a water rights transfer bill meant to protect instream water flows. A work session was held April 8 in Natural Resources and Wildfire, then the bill was sent to Senate Rules. SB 1153, an alternate bill provided with help from the Governor’s office had a work session April 8 where the bill was sent to Senate Rules.  After weeks of negotiations, a public hearing is set for June 3 with a work session held June 5 where no action was taken so a second work session is set for June 9 on SB 1153. A -10 amendment is now proposed.  The June 3rd hearing   included presentations by the large work group that developed the proposed legislation. “Directs the Water Resources Department to consider whether certain water right transfers will result in a loss of in-stream habitat for sensitive, threatened or endangered aquatic species in stream reaches not protected by an existing water right or contribute to water quality impairment in water quality limited streams.”

Water Right Process Improvements (HB 3342).  A - 4 amendment was adopted and the bill passed the House.  Amended by the A 8 amendment, it passed the Senate.  On May 29th the House concurred with the Senate amendment and passed the House floor and is now awaiting the Governor’s signature.

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. House Rules had a public hearing April 30.  A work session scheduled for May 12 has been cancelled.  A number of amendments have been offered.  The controversy seems to be around timelines for testing—how often—and what exactly gets tested.  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.

League members may want to check the U. S. Drought Monitor, a map that is updated every Thursday. An Abnormally Dry designation has increased  in NE and NW Oregon and now we also see our first level of Drought (Moderate) in some of those areas (over 8% of Oregon is in moderate drought (D1) and over 35% is abnormally dry (D0)). 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

Along with the transportation package, wildfire funding has been a challenge for the legislature. The Governor has weighed in on the concept of taking at least a part of the “kicker” to fund wildfire: lawmakers have an option if they can agree on a better use for the kicker money. With a two-thirds supermajority (meaning at least two Senate Republicans and four House Republicans would need to approve along with all legislative Democrats.) vote in each chamber, they can opt to suspend the refund. That’s happened once since the policy was enacted in the late 70s. 

Because our Rural Fire Protection Associations (RFPAs) are seeing a huge increase in their fire fees, Rep. Owens has offered the following: “I introduced HB 3349 and HB 3350 to ensure our RFPAs have access to the tools they need. These bills propose establishing a dedicated funding stream to help RFPAs obtain gear from the Oregon Department of Forestry and better access federal resources. Importantly, this support does not change their volunteer status but simply gives them the resources to be more effective and safe while serving our communities.” 

Then the House Leadership decided to move SB 83, which would repeal the State Wildfire Hazard Map and accompanying statues related to it, to House Rules at a Work Session on May 20.  It seems that the bill is now being used as trade bait to find funding for wildfire according to a news release from Sen. David Brock Smith.  

SB 75 A, removes the wildfire hazard map as a guide for allowing ADUs and requiring higher building codes in rural areas. The bill was moved to House Rules on May 22nd by the House Committee on Climate, Energy and Environment where it is likely to stay while negotiations continue on wildfire funding.   

The Oregon Capital Insider provides information on the Dept. of Forestry’s budget and what’s happening at the federal level. The League heard a report from ODF staff from a meeting with the USForest Service:  The agency is down 1,600 staff nationwide.  Currently, they can't work for USFS for 5 years after.  That issue is being worked on.  Because they may need to bring people back this summer!!  In 2024 the USFS had 44 Incident Management Teams.  They are down to 37.  These are leadership groups "running/management" for fires. They also have issues with "purchase cards"...credit cards used to purchase food/shelter/misc. equipment for fires.  AND there are support people who have been let go.  Others have chosen to take early retirement. 

Here is a short report on status of the bills mentioned last week:

The Omnibus wildfire funding bill, HB 3940A, had a robust Public Hearing before the House Committee on Revenue on May 1. Legislative Revenue staff provided a table to help understand the various elements of the bill.  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. The bill has a provision related to increasing the bottle deposit to help pay for wildfire funding. This provision was widely opposed, but another concept has been floated where the unclaimed deposits (now used to help pay for the collection system) would be instead used for wildfire funding. This bill is still part of the wildfire funding conversation.  

SB 1177 is still before the Senate Committee on Finance and Revenue. It had a public hearing on April 7. This bill 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 also remains before the Senate Committee on 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 the 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 the House Committee on Revenue. The League has supported a severance tax in past sessions and provided testimony at the hearing.

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 and had a work session on May 20 in the House Committee on Judiciary where the A 10 amendment  was adopted. The Speaker sent the bill to Ways and Means. 

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.

SB 1051, which transfers the authority to appoint a State Forester from the State Board of Forestry to the Governor, subject to Senate confirmation, is scheduled for a Work Session June 11 in the Senate Rules Committee where amendments may be considered.  

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.