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Back to All Legislative Reports Social Policy Legislative Report - Week of 2/27 Social Policy Team Coordinator: Jean Pierce • After School and Summer Care: Katie Riley • Behavioral Health: Trish Garner • Criminal Justice/Juvenile Justice: Marge Easley / Sharron Noon • Education: Jean Pierce / Stephanie Engle • Equal Rights for All Ballot Measure: Jean Pierce Kyra Aguon • Gender-Related Concerns, Reproductive Health, Age Discrimination: Trish Garner • Gun Safety & Gun Issues, Rights for Incarcerated People: Marge Easley • Hate and Bias Crimes: Claudia Keith/ Becky Gladstone /rhyen enger • Health Care: Christa Danielsen • Housing: Debbie Aiona and Nancy Donovan Gun Safety Criminal Justice Human Services Housing Gun Safety By Marge Easley As implementation of Measure 114 (permit-to-purchase and high-capacity magazine ban) remains in limbo awaiting court decisions, a bill has just been introduced by several Republican legislators that would, in effect, allow counties to opt out of enforcing the measure. HB 3445 gives a county the authorization to adopt an ordinance to make Measure 114’s permit-to-purchase requirements optional for county sheriffs, police chiefs, gun dealers, and county residents. Although the bill will likely fail to progress and has not yet been referred to a committee, we will keep you informed of its progress. SB 993 , sponsored by Senator Brian Boquist and referred to the Senate Judiciary, is an interesting bill that we will be keeping an eye on. It creates the crimes of pointing a firearm at another person and unlawful carrying of a handgun, increases penalties for crimes of criminal trespass while in possession of a firearm, and directs the Oregon State Police to maintain a database of those convicted of crimes related to firearms. Meanwhile, gun sales continue to soar in Oregon. Here are some alarming facts from a recent article in 247wallst.com : “ The FBI conducted an estimated 55,581 background checks related to firearm sales in Oregon in January 2023, up 88.7% from the same period in 2022. Adjusting for population, this comes out to about 13.1 background checks for every 1,000 people, the most among states.” Criminal Justice By Marge Easley & Karen Nibler The League submitted supportive testimony on two bills, both heard on February 27 in the House Judiciary, related to programs at Coffee Creek Correctional Facility. HB 2535 establishes a doula program for pregnant and postpartum adults in custody that would provide an array of doula services overseen by an onsite pregnancy coordinator. The bill also prohibits shackling during labor, childbirth, or postpartum recovery. HB 2731 authorizes the long-term continuation of the Family Preservation Project under the auspices of the Oregon Justice Commission (OJC) and the Department of Corrections. This program, supported by the League in previous sessions, promotes family connections during incarceration and is a lifeline for inmates and their children. The League submitted testimony on HB 2327 , which was heard on March 2 in the House Judiciary Committee. The bill permits county juvenile departments to provide preventive services for children under 12 who engage in delinquent behavior. The League is pleased that another criminal justice bill we have supported is moving forward: SB 529 , relating to alternative incarceration programs for those suffering from addiction disorders, passed the Senate on January 22 and is now awaiting referral to a House committee. The Senate Judiciary scheduled SB 519 A for a hearing on March 2 on an amendment. The bill related to juvenile delinquency records and expunction will stipulate the process within the juvenile system. The amendment proposes requirements for the destruction of records and possible damages for confidentiality violations. The League did not testify on the legalities in this bill but supports expunction of juvenile records. SB 763 is a related bill that has opposition from the District Attorneys Association and has not moved forward. Human Services By Karen Nibler Senate Human Services took testimony on March 27 from many citizens on the need for food programs through the Department of Human Services . SB 609 , SB 610 and SB 856 covered higher education graduate students, immigrants from Asian countries and Pacific Islanders, who expressed the need for the food programs. The Human Services Ways and Means Subcommittee will consider the costs and the decisions in the Department of Human Services Budget process. Housing By Nancy Donovan and Debbie Aiona Significant strides are being made to address Governor Kotek’s executive order declaring housing and homelessness a state emergency. A bipartisan and bicameral process is in action, and bills are being passed on near unanimous votes. Legislators are meeting more frequently than originally scheduled. HB 2001-11 Oregon Housing and Community Services Governor’s Budget The Oregon Legislature is moving quickly to address urgent homeless and housing priorities. On 2/28, the House Committee on Housing and Homeless passed HB 2001-11. The estimated $200 million dollar package will fund the Governor’s Homeless State of Emergency, prevent more people from becoming unhoused, make affordable housing a top priority for the state, and much more. The bill is headed to Ways and Means, and lawmakers aim to pass the final package by mid-March in response to the current housing and homeless crisis facing Oregonians. A complete list with descriptions of the bill’s 11 amendments can be found at: HB 2001-11 Metro Regional Multi-Agency Coordination Group On Friday, February 24, Governor Kotek convened the first meeting of the Metro Regional Multi-Agency Coordination Group. This group includes representatives from local jurisdictions, public housing authorities, local homelessness agencies, rapid rehousing service providers, shelter developers and operators, landlord associations and behavioral health providers. Its formation came out of the governor’s declaration ( EO 23-02 ), of a homeless state of emergency. MAC groups also will be established in other regions: 1) Central Oregon, 2) Eugene, Springfield, and Lane County, 3) Medford, Ashland, and Jackson County, and 4) Salem, Marion, and Polk Counties. The MAC groups will provide planning, coordination, and operational leadership and be responsible for working with landlords and unsheltered people to move them into housing stability. They will work with Oregon Housing and Community Services and the Office of Emergency Management to meet the following goals by January 10, 2024: Prevent 8,750 households from becoming homeless statewide; Add 600 low-barrier shelter beds in emergency areas; and Rehouse at least 1,200 unsheltered households in emergency areas. This work depends on the Legislature passing the governor’s proposed funding package. SB 976 - Mortgage Interest Deduction Oregon’s largest housing subsidy, the Mortgage Interest Deduction, costs the state about $1 billion per biennium in reduced revenue. Benefits primarily go to wealthier homeowners who live in urban areas. SB 976 would place limits on the deduction by prohibiting its use for second homes and reducing the amount a household can deduct based on income. The resulting increase in state revenue would be placed in a newly created Oregon Housing Opportunity Account. Resources in the account would flow through Oregon Housing and Community Services to promote affordable homeownership and prevent homelessness. Write your senators and encourage them to schedule a hearing on this common sense proposal.

Back to Legislative Report Education Legislative Report - Week of 1/30 By Anne Nesse Senate Education Committee heard two bills of significance this week. The first was about the use of Corporate Tax Kicker (not personal income tax kicker), and the second was about virtual and brick and mortar public charter schools. SB521 , public hearing was held on 1/31,“For purposes of implementing Article IX, section 14 (3), of the Oregon Constitution, if revenues received by the General Fund from the corporate income and excise taxes during the biennium exceed the amount estimated to be received from such taxes for the biennium by two percent or more, the Legislative Assembly shall appropriate an amount equal to the total amount of the excess [to the State School Fund established by ORS 327.008 for apportionment as provided in ORS 327.008] to provide additional funding for kindergarten through grade 12 public education.” And as Sen. Dembrow explains this change in law, would allow us to use these funds for many one time expenditures: like better ventilation systems, air conditioning, other long overdue infrastructure repairs, summer learning programs, or inservice education of our K-12 instructors. SB767 , public hearing was held on 2/2, l imit ing “the scope by which public charter schools may conduct operations in a school district that is not a sponsor of the public charter school”. This Bill presented a complex picture of public charter schools that are near small school districts, or near boundaries of a specific school district. The Bill, as was stated, requires more discussion and amendments. It was apparent from the testimony, that we are approaching a time when “equity in public education” is competing with “school choice in public education”? We are facing a major discussion among parents, for the rights of their individual child, how we include special needs children, and how to solve that problem within the public school model? At least two testifiers expressed their anger at the current public school system in Oregon: including students using drugs within the school population, student violence within the school population, and teachers being sometimes overworked with large class sizes in addition to low pay and lack of monetary support in general. House Education Committee heard one significant public hearing on pay increases HB2690 , “requiring school districts to pay certified educator salary of not less than $60,000 per year or, if certified educator provides education to students with individualized education program or who are enrolled in special education, not less than $63,000 per year”. Kendall Mason from OEA gave a thorough presentation on how low educational pay in general is throughout Oregon, being the 31st in the nation. And the fact that 60% of state funds for education now rely on the much more volatile income tax, and property taxes. Business managers from school districts testified that this Bill presents monetary challenges, and could easily lead to elimination of many staff positions, defeating the purpose of the Bill. It was pointed out in the hearing that the Governor’s current budget could not fund this Bill, leading to an increased ask of up to 9.9 Billion dollars. House Committee on Early Childhood Education dealt primarily with human services legislation this week.

Back to All Legislative Reports Natural Resources Legislative Report - Week of 3/24 Natural Resources Team Coordinator: Peggy Lynch Coastal Issues: Christine Moffitt, Peggy Lynch Columbia River Treaty: Philip Thor Dept. of Geology and Mineral Industries: Joan Fryxell Emergency Management: Rebecca Gladstone Forestry: Josie Koehne Elliott State Research Forest: Peggy Lynch Northwest Energy Coalition: Robin Tokmakian Oregon Dept. of Fish and Wildlife: Melanie Moon Oregon Health Authority Drinking Water Advisory Committee: Sandra Bishop Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board: Water: Peggy Lynch Wildfire: Carolyn Mayers Ways and Means Natural Resource Budgets/Revenue: Peggy Lynch Please see Natural Resources Overview here . Jump to a topic: Air Quality Agriculture Budgets/Revenue Climate Coastal Dept. of Environmental Quality (DEQ) Department of State Lands (DSL) Elliott State Research Forest (ESRF) Emergency Services Forestry (ODF) Governance Land Use & Housing Water Wetlands Wildfire AIR QUALITY SB 726 requires the owner or operator of a municipal solid waste landfill to conduct surface emissions monitoring and report data as specified in the Act. LWVOR supports. A possible work session is set for March 26 in the Senate Committee On Energy and Environment . AGRICULTURE By Sandra Bishop HB 2647 would allow cities to bring land within the Urban Growth Boundary (UGB) for industrial use. We will likely oppose this proposal unless it is made clear that this bill does not preclude review and adherence to statewide land use planning goals and laws. A public hearing is scheduled 3/31 in the House Housing & Homelessness Committee. A work session is scheduled 4/7. HB 3928 would allow counties to supersede all statewide land use planning laws to site housing on rural lands. The League will likely oppose this bill. This proposal seems to be taking advantage of the panic around the very real need for more housing units in Oregon. It does not appear to be a well-thought-out approach to providing additional available and affordable housing, but rather an attempt to relegate all land use planning decisions related to citing housing in rural areas to counties. This would in essence preclude or circumvent statewide land use planning laws and goals that have been very effective at achieving a balance between urbanization and protecting farm and forest land. This bill is scheduled for a public hearing 3/31 and work session 4/7 in the House Housing & Homelessness Committee. HB 3496 requires the Development of Land Conservation and Development (DLCD) to write guidelines for citing childcare facilities to be used by city and county governments, including recommendations for childcare as a home occupation. Childcare as a home occupation may be compatible in some rural settings, but may not be healthy in proximity to certain agricultural or forestry operations. We are monitoring this bill and look forward to reviewing recommendations that DLCD staff bring forward. The need for more childcare centers should not be used to weaken protections for maintaining high value agricultural lands. Work session is scheduled 3/27 in the House Early Childhood and Human Service Committee. The Land Conservation and Development Commission (LCDC) meeting on March 20th included a public hearing on rulemaking for solar siting in eastern Oregon. The rules are required to implement HB 3409 (2023 session), specifically to reduce conflicts in siting solar projects. Staff presented a rulemaking update and answered questions from commissioners. Questions raised by commissioners included questions about the use of herbicides and whether or not other contaminants have been a problem on land-based solar projects. There was one report of a Klamath farmer losing organic certification attributed to a solar project. In answer to a question, staff clarified that any requirement for bonding for retirement of solar projects would be covered in statute, not this rulemaking. Public testimony stressed the need to protect high value lands and farmers. The importance of restoration of land back to tillable soil at the end-of-life of a project was pointed out. Concern for water rights was brought up. A farmer or rancher should not lose water rights from lack of use because the land is utilized by a solar project. Proximity to UGB was argued from both perspectives – why would you want to surround a city with solar, thus limiting future UGB expansion or forcing leapfrog development? On the other hand, a social justice issue could be raised as to why solar projects should be cited on more rural lands further from an UGB. It was made explicit that under any goal exception the zoning should remain. Citing of solar should not result in zone change to industrial. No action was taken. The rules will be considered for adoption by July 1st, 2025. The final meeting of the Rules Advisory Committee will be April 4th. The public comment period ends April 11th. Proposed rule amendments to the Oregon Administrative Rule (OAR) Chapter 660 divisions 4, 6, 23, and 33, pertaining to Goal Exceptions, Forest Lands, Goal 5, and Agricultural Lands. Submit comments to: denise.johnson@dlcd.oregon.gov , gordon.howard@dlcd.oregon.gov , jon.jinings@dlcd.oregon.gov , adam.tate@dlcd.oregon.gov SB 78 – Replacement dwelling bill, will have a possible work session scheduled on April 8 in the Senate Committee On Natural Resources and Wildfire . SB 77 – Home occupation reform bill which the League supports, and SB 788 , a bill that would exempt some Eastern Oregon counties from certain land use laws, which we opposed did not get a work session. LWVOR testified in support o f SB 77 and SB 78 , and in opposition to SB 788 . Oregonlive provided comprehensive coverage of the debates around these bills. BUDGETS/REVENUE By Peggy Lynch The Co-Chairs of Ways and Means provided their framework for the 2025-27 state budget. Note on the last page the potential effect of federal budget cuts. This Oregonlive article suggests some of the most painful cuts. The Joint Committee On Ways and Means Subcommittee On Capital Construction met on March 21st and received a report from the State Treasurer, including the 2025 bonding capacity: “$2.22 Billion Issuance For Each Biennium, Or $1.11 Billion Annually” . We note that this capacity is based on the Sept. 2024 Revenue Forecast. Also, there is a recommendation that bond sales be scattered throughout the biennium instead of waiting until the last quarter of the biennium. However, that means that the cost of debt service will have to be calculated into the 2025-27 budget. But scattering the sales can also provide the legislature with a pullback of those sales should the economy not support the ability of the state to back those bonds. The Dept. of Administrative Services (DAS) on behalf of the Governor reported on the Governor’s bond requests in her 2025-27 budget. A complete list is available here . Following are the budget bills we are watching in Natural Resources: Dept. of Agriculture: SB 5502 Info mtgs. March 24 and 25 with public hearing March 26. Meeting Materials Dept. of Agriculture Fees: SB 5503 Info mtgs. March 24 and 25 with public hearing March 26. Columbia River Gorge Commission: SB 5508 Info mtg. and public hearing March 13 DEQ: SB 5520 . Governor’s budget DEQ Fact Sheet tentative info mtgs. April 7-9, public hearing April 10 Oregon Dept. of Energy: SB 5518 info hearing 2/10, Meeting Materials , public hearing 2/11 Oregon Dept. of Energy Fees: SB 5519 info hearing 2/10, public hearing 2/11 Oregon Dept. of Fish and Wildlife: HB 5009 , tentative public hearings Mar. 31 & Apr. 1-2; Oregon Dept. of Forestry: SB 5521 . Info hearing March 10 & 11. Public hearing March 12. Meeting Materials (See Wildfire section for more information.) Dept. of Geology and Mineral Industries: HB 5010 ; Public hearing Feb. 5-6; Meeting materials ; LWVOR testimony ; Aggregate industry testified against the staffing and fee increases. LWVOR points out that KPM #4 , mine inspections, has consistently NOT met the small 20% target so, if staffing is needed to meet that target AND fees increased to pay for them, we will continue to support. 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 work session is set for March 25. HB 2785 modifying fees for DOGAMI is scheduled for a work session April 2nd. 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 Land Use Board of Appeals: SB 5529 ; Public hearing Feb. 27; LWVOR testimony . SB 817 is a bill to request a minor fee increase (Passed the Senate Mar. 11. Referred to Agriculture, Land Use, Natural Resources, and Water. ) Oregon State Marine Board: HB 5021 ; Public hearing Feb. 17 Meeting Materials 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. OPRD will need additional revenue sources for the 2027-29 biennium. Dept. of State Lands: SB 5539 Info hearing March 17. public hearing March 19. Meeting Materials . LWVOR testimony in support. 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 ( Public hearing March 31; Work session April 7 ) and HB 2803 (Public hearing March 31; Work session set for April 7) . Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board: HB 5039 . Info mtg. & Public hearing Feb. 25-27 LWVOR testimony . Meeting Materials 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 Oregon Business Development Dept.: HB 5024 ; Info mtgs. 3/12, 13 & 17. Public Hearing 3/18 Oregon Dept. of Emergency Management: SB 5517 Office of the Governor: SB 5523 Oregon State Fire Marshal: SB 5538 info hearing 2/19, public hearing 2/20. Dept. of Transportation: SB 5541 info hearing 3/03-6, public hearing 3/11 Dept. of Administrative Services: HB 5002 info hearings 3/03-5, public hearing 3/06. Meeting Materials 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 Lottery Bonds: SB 5531 : an average debt capacity of $564 million in each Biennium. Public hearing in April. Emergency Board: HB 5006 This bill will be a vehicle to accept testimony from the public during six community meetings around the state from March 22 ending April 25 on the public’s priorities for the 2025-27 budget. General Obligation Bonds, etc.: SB 5505 : an average debt capacity of $2.22 billion per Biennium. Public hearing in April. 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.) CLIMATE By Claudia Keith and Team See the Climate Emergency section of this Legislative Report. T here are overlaps with this Natural Resources Report. We encourage you to read both sections. COASTAL A work session is set for March 26 for the Eelgrass Action Bill (HB 3580) , a bill for kelp and eel grass conservation. The League signed on to a letter in support. of HB 3580 . A work session is also scheduled on March 26 on a bill to protect Rocky Habitat ( HB 3587 ). Here is a one-pager: Rocky Habitat Stewardship Bill (HB 3587) . The League also signed on to a letter in support. We asked for funding for a staffer in the Dept. of Land Development and Conservation budget to continue to address rocky habitat, an element of the Territorial Sea Plan which the League has supported as elements were added and updated over the years. DEPT. OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY (DEQ) By Peggy Lynch The League supports SB 830 , a bill that modifies provisions of the on-site septic system loan program to allow for grants. It also allows for the program to consider mobile home parks in need of septic upgrades. The bill passed the full Senate March 6 and has been assigned to the House Committee On Climate, Energy, and Environment . Here is the Onsite Wastewater Management Program 2025 Rulemaking webpage . Because of the League’s work on SB 391 (2021) and additional bills in 2023, a League member served on the rules advisory committee to address sewer availability and accessory dwelling unit (ADU) issues. On Feb. 26 the advisory committee approved the Fiscal Impact Statement. A public comment period is expected in May. You are welcome to Sign up for email updates about this rulemaking via GovDelivery . The League again served on an annual rulemaking advisory committee on water quality fee increases. A meeting was held on Feb. 25th where the committee agreed to forward their recommendation for the allowed annual 3% fee increase to the DEQ Director. To learn more about this rulemaking and the advisory committee you can view the rulemaking web page at: Water Quality Fees 2025 . DEPT. OF STATE LANDS (DSL) DSL is seeking comments on a proposed sale of state-owned land located on the south shore of the western side of Hayden Island in Multnomah County. The 45-day comment period is open from March 5 – April 19. ELLIOTT STATE RESEARCH FOREST (ESRF) The Dept. of State Lands is seeking comments on the proposed Elliott State Research Forest Operations Plan. Click here to view or download the proposed plan, project overview map, and appendices. Click here to view only the proposed plan (PDF) The 45-day comment period is open until 5 p.m. on March 31. Here is a more complete notice of the plan with opportunities for virtual public meetings. EMERGENCY SERVICES By Rebecca Gladstone The League spoke and filed testimony on HB 2581 in support of a statute change, substituting the word “seismic” with “hazards”, to coordinate coverage efforts through the State Resiliency Officer. The bill has passed the House. The Senate Committee On Veterans, Emergency Management, Federal and World Affairs passed and is headed to the Senate floor. FORESTRY (ODF) By Josie Koehne The League will continue to follow SB 1051 , assigned to the Senate Rules Committee and which transfers the authority to appoint a State Forester from the State Board of Forestry to the Governor. A public hearing is set for March 24. HB 3103 , a bill that would d irect the State Forester to establish “sustainable” harvest levels for harvesting timber on state forestland and develop a timber inventory model to inform sustainable harvest levels while ignoring the court affirmed “greatest permanent value” was heard on March 3rd in the House Committee On Agriculture, Land Use, Natural Resources, and Water . The League OPPOSED . A work session is scheduled for March 31. See also the Wildfire section of this report below and the separate Climate section. GOVERNANCE 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. After legislation is passed, agencies are required to implement those laws. That action often requires rulemaking to clarify the details around that implementation. But the League is concerned when legislators “get a second bite at the apple” by relitigating the legislation when rulemaking is only meant to implement, not change policies. 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. The League will also attend a separate rules process discussion being led by the Dept. of Land Conservation and Development. See the Land Use section for more information on this issue. We continue to watch a series of bills related to rulemaking which we might oppose: HB 2255 , HB 2303 , HB 2402 and HB 2427 . We are also 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. We may sign on to a letter explaining our concerns to legislative leadership. 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 . LAND USE & HOUSING By Sandra Bishop/Peggy Lynch The Land Conservation and Development Commission (LCDC) met on March 20-21 . The meeting on March 20th included a joint meeting with the Community Involvement Advisory Committee (CIAC). Discussion among commissioners and advisory committee members focused on the Community Engagement Guidelines (old title: Public Participation Guidelines). Staff explained the purpose is mainly to modernize the language. The Guidelines are a work plan or program for Goal 1 (Citizen Involvement). Some language is being changed to align with the Strategic Plan. It was noted that timely delivery of information and opportunity for involvement is very important. Commission members asked about the racial equity framework and asked if there was also consideration for geographic equity. One commissioner pointed out there seems to be a disparity between large well-organized organizations, usually based in urban areas, and the ad hoc groups more likely to occur in rural areas. Staff assured commissioners that points of interaction should be available to all. The staff will align with best practices and use creativity to support opportunity for involvement. Socio-economic status was mentioned as one of the conditions to consider when looking at how to create equitable involvement opportunities. Staff is creating educational material to explain what are local government obligations under Goal I (Citizen Involvement). The materials will be available on the website. A motion was passed by the Commission to accept the 2025-2027 CIAC Work Plan with an updated version of the Community Engagement Guidelines (staff will work on revisions with CIAC members and bring back to the commission). Business Oregon’s Infrastructure bill, HB 3031 had a public hearing on Feb. 26 in the House Committee On Housing and Homelessness . The League supports this important funding bill. LWVOR testimony . Governor’s news release . A -2 amendment was adopted and the bill was sent to Ways and Means. Bills we are following: HB 2138 : Expands allowable middle housing and expands middle housing requirements to include urban unincorporated lands, filed at the request of the Governor. A public hearing was held on March 3rd in House Committee On Housing and Homelessness where a -1 amendment is posted as a “gut and stuff” for the bill. The Governor testified in support of the bill, but received concerns about the provision to allow for easier demolition of historic buildings and has stated that such a provision will be removed in the next amendment. Also not included was a provision that the League had objected to that would have exempted courtyards from cottage cluster development. At this time, the League is not planning to testify on this bill. Another public hearing will be held March 26 and a work session is scheduled for April 2nd. HB 3145 : Allows the Housing and Community Services Department to use Local Innovation and Fast Track Housing Program Fund moneys for factory-built housing. A work session is scheduled for March 24. HB 2950 : A bill to update Goal One and Public Participation is being sponsored by Oregon’s American Planning Association. The League is interested in the bill, but has some concerns. We understand there will be an amendment proffered. Scheduled for a Work Session March 31st in the House Committee On Agriculture, Land Use, Natural Resources, and Water . Because of the requirement to do rulemaking, the bill, if passed by the Committee, will be sent to Ways and Means. HB 3013 : Details the process by which a permit or zone change that is based on provisions of a comprehensive plan or land use regulation that fail to gain acknowledgment is voided and any resulting improvements or uses are removed or revoked. LWVOR supports with -1 amendment. The bill was not scheduled for a work session. HB 2316 : Allows designation of Home Start Lands to be used for housing. These lands are currently a variety of state-owned lands scattered around the state. A public hearing is scheduled for March 26 and a work session on April 2nd. HB 2400 : Allows the owner of property outside an urban growth boundary to site an additional dwelling on the property for occupancy by a relative of the owner. A public hearing was held Feb. 10. No work session was scheduled. HB 2422 : Requires that lands zoned to allow density of one or fewer dwellings per acre to be considered a rural use. A public hearing was held Feb. 10. No work session was scheduled. HB 3062 : Requires local governments to map sensitive uses as part of a comprehensive plan. A public hearing is scheduled for April 1 and a work session on April 3. SB 462 : Requires the Oregon Business Development Department to establish an education course for land use planners for local governments, special districts and state agencies. LWVOR supports educational efforts but there are other training opportunities so this proposal might be redundant. A public hearing was held on Feb. 19 in the Senate Committee On Housing and Development . No work session was scheduled. See also the Agriculture section of this report and the Housing Report in the Social Policy section of this Legislative Report. WATER By Peggy Lynch Bills we are following in the House Committee On Agriculture, Land Use, Natural Resources, and Water : Deschutes Basin Water Bank Authority ( HB 3806 ). Work Session scheduled for March 31. Water Right Process Improvements ( HB 3342 ) . Work Session scheduled for April 7. Contested Case Process Improvements ( HB 3544 ). An other public hearing will be held April 2 and a work session is set for April 7. Place-Based Water Planning ( HB 3116 ) Work Session scheduled for March 31 . League supports. Chewaucan Basin Collaborative ( HB 3114 ) Work Session scheduled for March 26. Harney Basin Groundwater Management ( HB 3800 ) Public hearing set for March 26 and Work Session for April 7. 3/24: Water Conservation, Efficiency, and Partial Forfeiture Protection (TBD) Still awaiting a bill number. 3/31: Water Right, Dam Safety, and Well Related Fees ( HB 2803 , HB 2808 ) League supports. Needed to provide current service level staffing at WRD. Public hearing scheduled for March 31 and Work Session for April 7 on both bills. 4/2: Water Rights and Public Interest ( HB 3501 ) Work Session set for April 7. Other water bills we are following: HB 3525 is related to tenants’ right to well water testing. The League submitted testimony in support. Work session set for March 26. HB 3526 would require well water test reporting in property sales. The League supported this concept in past sessions and did again this session. Work session set for March 26 . HB 3364 makes changes to the grants programs at the Water Resources Dept. Testimony provided comments and concerns with agreement that all parties would continue to work on finding agreement on an amendment. Work session set for March 31. HB 3419 is the major broad set of water policy changes that is now described by the various amendments posted since this is really a “gut and stuff” bill! The committee Co-Chairs announced that more amendments are expected. Per Rep. Owens: the -2 and -3 amendments on HB 3419 will NOT move. No work session was scheduled. HB 2988 : Instructs the Water Resources Department to take certain actions related to aquifer recharge and aquifer storage and recovery. A work session is scheduled for April 7. HB 3573 , a bill that addresses funding for a variety of water measurement strategies. The League supports. No work session was scheduled. LWV Deschutes County submitted a letter in support of SB 427 , a water rights transfer bill meant to protect instream water flows. The Governor has provided an alternate bill that may have more of a chance of passage. Possible work session scheduled for March 27. HB 3106 is the Oregon Water Data Portal funding bill for which the League provided testimony in support. A work session is scheduled for March 31st in House Committee On Agriculture, Land Use, Natural Resources, and Water where a -1 amendment was shared that would create an entire multi-agency system for gathering the water data needed for good decision making. The League has yet to determine if this new proposal is good for Oregon. See the following presentations and presentations . The League has not weighed in on the amendment. The Co-Chairs of the House Committee On Agriculture, Land Use, Natural Resources, and Water are working on a broad package of water-related bills, the 2025 Water Package . There is a Water Caucus raising the awareness of the need to address Oregon’s water needs. League members may want to check the U. S. Drought Monitor , a map that is updated every Thursday. Here is a more complete website about drought in Oregon. We all need to pay attention to the potential for harmful algal blooms. “When in doubt, stay out.” V isit 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. House Bill 3314 , sponsored by state Reps. Rob Nosse and Mark Gamba, would direct about $1 million to Oregon State University to finish designing a channel that would cut through Ross Island. See coverage here. A work session is set for March 24. WETLANDS A new Rulemaking Advisory Committee has been formed related to Permitting and Mitigation in Oregon's Wetlands and Waters. WILDFIRE By Carolyn Mayers The League followed activity on a number of wildfire bills. March 18 brought a Public Hearing on HB 3666 -1 before the House Committee on Judiciary. This bill would require an electric public utility to apply for a wildfire safety certification, and allow a consumer-owned utility to apply for a wildfire safety certification. It aims to address inconsistencies in the current mitigation process undertaken by utilities. A Work Session is scheduled for April 1 . This article from the Oregon Capitol Chronicle describes recent tweaks to the bill meant to allay fears over the original bill relieving utilities of liability. The House Committee on Climate, Energy and Environment held a Work Session on March 20 on HB 3172 -2 , relating to home hardening grants. It was sent to Ways and Means with a do-pass recommendation. Later the same day, the Senate Committee on Natural Resources and Wildfire held a Work Session on SB 82 -2 which changes how grants are administered for the Oregon Conservation Corps, which does wildfire mitigation work. It also was sent to Ways and Means with a do-pass recommendation. The League or Oregon Cities has been closely following the Legislature’s work on trying to craft bills to try and implement some of the recommendations of the Wildfire Funding Workgroup. This helpful summary published March 21 succinctly describes this wildfire funding framework. Rep. Shelly Boshart Davis’ newsletter included the following: State Reps. John Lively and Bobby Levy have introduced a bipartisan proposal to fund wildfire prevention and suppression in Oregon that largely mirrors a set of recommendations that emerged from a task force that met on the topic over the last year. House Bill 3940 would create a 5-cent surcharge on bottles and cans to raise money for the Department of the State Fire Marshal, dedicate money raised by an insurance tax to pay for wildfire prevention and set aside money from the state’s reserves… ...The work group was tasked with finding at least $280 million a biennium to spend on wildfire mitigation and suppression, in the face of increasingly expensive wildfires. The 2024 wildfire season burned a record 1.9 million acres and fighting the blazes cost upwards of $350 million. The group estimated that in the 2025-2027 budget cycle: A 5-cent bottle fee would raise $200 million The insurance tax will raise $140 million A set-aside from the ending fund balance equal to .5% of general fund appropriations would raise $164 million Setting aside half of the expected 2025-27 transfer to the state rainy day fund would raise $299 million The bill also proposes to raise forest harvest taxes that pay for wildfire suppression and lower the fee grazing land owners pay for fire protection from the Oregon Department of Forestry. The League was pleased to see SB 85 , a bill that directs the State Fire Marshal to establish a neighborhood protection cooperative grant program, will have a public hearing on April 1 and a work session on April 3. Bills we are watching: Senate Bill 1051 , Governor Kotek is seeking the authority to choose the next State Forester. HB 3077 , a bill which would allow local government employees to volunteer for up to 30 days in a year to serve as volunteers in wildland fire suppression in emergency situations. A work session will be held March 27. SB 926 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. A work session is set for March 26. HB 3172 directs OSFM to establish a grant program to facilitate the retrofitting of dwellings and accessory structures (aka home hardening), to reduce vulnerability to wildfire. The bill was amended and passed the committee to Ways and Means. 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 , Governance , and Social Policy report sections.

Back to All Legislative Reports Climate Emergency Legislative Report - Week of 2/9 Climate Emergency Team Coordinator: Claudia Keith Coordinator: Claudia Keith Efficient and Resilient Buildings: vacant Energy Policy: Claudia Keith Environmental Justice: vacant Natural Climate Solution Forestry: Josie Koehne Agriculture: vacant Community Resilience & Emergency Management: see Governance LR: Rebecca Gladstone Transportation: see NR LR Joint Ways and Means - Budgets, Lawsuits, Green/Public Banking, Divestment/ESG: Claudia Keith Find additional Climate Change Advocacy volunteers in Natural Resources Please see Climate Emergency Overview here. Jump to a topic: Climate Emergency Highlights Climate Priorities Senate Committee on Energy and Environment House Committee on Climate, Energy, and Environment Oregon Treasury Climate Lawsuits/Our Children's Trust Highlights READ Make Polluters Pay Climate Superfund ACTION ALERT An Opportunity to engage in advocacy: please consider the many ways to advocate for Climate Superfund Cost Recovery Program ( SB 1541 ) and Fund for Oregon’s Resilience, Growth, and Energy ( SB 1526 ), both affecting major multiple million dollar new funding mechanisms to address climate change mitigation and or adaptation. Good news: Many Climate Emergency priority bills the league supports are likely to move from the first chamber by Feb 16 deadline, find details below. The deadline to schedule a work session is Monday 2/9. Climate Priority Bills The League may have testimony and/or join coalition letters. Make Polluters Pay (MPP) SB 1541 , SEE PH 2/5 and work session 2/10 , LWVOR submitted testimony – Creates the Climate Superfund Cost Recovery Program to assess financial impacts of greenhouse gas emissions and recover costs from responsible entities. Designates the Department of Land Conservation and Development to lead an interagency team, directs the Department of Environmental Quality to issue cost-recovery notices, and establishes a dedicated account to receive funds. The League has joined the Make Polluters Pay Campaign . MARK your calendars: An Action Alert was issued 2/3 inviting members to contact their legislators, submit testimony, sign a petition, and/or attend a Feb 16th lobby day regarding the Make Polluters Pay bill. This climate legislation is a national effort covered today by the New York Times , reporting that a number of other states are in the process of passing and/or implementing. Fund for Oregon’s Resilience, Growth, and Energy SB 1526 , SEE PH 2/4, possible work session 2/9, league testimony Creates financing tools, including a revolving loan fund, to provide more affordable, accessible long-term financing for clean energy and resilience infrastructure projects in Oregon. This is modeled on a number of other states’ legislation , some as ‘green’ banking non profits. Community-Based Power: Distributed Power Plants SB 1582 , SEE PH 2/9, possible work session 2/11 . Distributed power plants (or DPPs) bring together customer resources like rooftop solar, battery systems and smart thermostats to provide energy when and where it’s needed most. This bill would require electric companies to incorporate DPPs into their resource mix. Nuclear Study Bill HB 4046 . CEE PH 2/10 and Possible work session 2/12. Unlikely to move out of committee . Directs the ODOE State Department of Energy, subject to the availability of funding, to conduct a study on nuclear energy, including advanced nuclear reactors HB 4031 : HCEE PH 2/3 , Work session 2/10. Exempts an energy facility from needing a site certificate from the Energy Facility Siting Council if the energy facility produces power from a renewable energy source, qualifies for certain federal renewable energy tax credits and construction begins on or before December 31, 2028. HB 1597 SEE PH 2/4 , WK possibly 2/11. Makes a power provider disclose the costs to store the waste made from making electric power. SMS Senate Committee on Energy and Environment The committee heard testimony February 4 on 3 of the 5 bills it has been assigned: SB 1525 would e stablish the Blue Economy Task Force to study and report on economic development plans or strategies for the “blue” (coastal) economy and opportunities for the state to nurture sustainable blue economy businesses while preserving and protecting Oregon’s coastal ecosystems. It would authorize the Oregon Ocean Science Trust to create a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) entity to advance the trust’s mission. Chair Sollman testified in favor, as did a trust representative. The trust has distributed $2 million in competitive grant funding for high-impact research projects, but more research is needed. The 501(c)(3) would serve as a dedicated fund-raising arm of the trust—“technically clean, fiscally noncontroversial, and urgently needed.” The task force would be sunsetted on 12/31/2027 . The bill is starred for subsequent referral to Joint W&M. SB 1526 , the FORGE Act, would require the Oregon Department of Energy (ODOE) to apply for grant moneys from the State Agency Program Fund to cover the costs and expenses of carrying out pre-startup activities and forming a nonprofit entity. Chair Sollman supported, saying the bill would create a carefully-phased framework for Oregon to explore this funding model while maintaining fiscal discipline and legislative oversight. Amendments are coming which would add a labor representative to the founding board, confirm that the board would be independent and not overseen by ODOE, massage language on behalf of MUDs and PUDs. The League supported the bill in written testimony . Support also came from OEC, S2 Strategies, Beneficial State Bank, League of Oregon Cities, NW Native Chamber, Renewable Hydrogen Alliance, Nature Conservancy; all stressed benefits for rural and underinvested communities. The BlueGreen Alliance is neutral now but will support with the proposed changes. The Cascade Policy Institute opposed the bill on grounds that it would duplicate private sector initiatives in Oregon. They are also concerned about allowing the board to use OBDD’s bonding authority. SB 1597 would require an electric utility to disclose to its customers the costs of storing the waste produced by an energy facility in generating electricity. Sen. Frederick: Amendments are coming to specify that this bill targets nuclear waste, not renewable energy waste. Oregon voters have said they don’t want to approve another nuclear plant until they know where the waste will go and how much it will cost. Renewable Northwest will support with the promised amendments. House Committee on Climate, Energy and Environment Work sessions scheduled for HB 4029 and HB 4031 were moved to Tuesday 2/10 . Other bills we are following: Possible Work sessions: • HB 4029 - Requires a solar energy contractor or person that installs a solar energy system to have a license appropriate for the scope of work the solar energy contractor or person will perform. (Carried over from 2/5) • HB 4031 - Exempts an energy facility from needing a site certificate from the Energy Facility Siting Council if the energy facility produces power from a renewable energy source, qualifies for certain federal renewable energy tax credits and construction begins on or before December 31, 2028 . (Carried over from 2/5) • HB 4144 - Requires producers of batteries or battery-containing products to join a battery producer responsibility organization and implement a battery producer responsibility program for the collection and recycling of batteries. • HB 4080 - Allows a retail electricity consumer to install and use portable solar photovoltaic energy devices with up to a total maximum generating capacity of 1,200 watts. Public hearings: • HB 4077 - Authorizes a public utility, upon approval by PUC, to issue bonds and securitize debt for costs and expenses incurred or to be incurred by the public utility associated with a self-insurance or captive insurance program. (Carried over from 2/5) • HB 4046 - Directs ODOE, subject to the availability of funding, to conduct a study on nuclear energy, including advanced nuclear reactors. • HB 4030 - Exempts packaging for certain berries and meat, poultry, fish and seafood from producer responsibility requirements for packaging, paper and food serviceware. • HB 4060 - Exempts sales to purchasers with facilities totaling more than one million square feet from a prohibition on sales of certain fluorescent lamps until 1/1/2030 . Oregon Treasury & Oregon Divest New 2025 Treasury : Climate-Positive Investing : Invested for Oregon Report Tracking Net zero climate positive investment strategies . Oregon State Treasury should engage or divest from companies fueling a new era of resource conflicts. (Divest Oregon ORG) Climate Lawsuits/Our Children’s Trust There are a number of active federal lawsuits. Climate Litigation Jan 30 Updates Another source: Columbia University Law - Sabin Climate DB lists 97 lawsuits , (active and dismissed) mentioning Oregon. Other Cornell: NEW REPORT : a bold vision fo r climate jobs In Oregon Oregon Gov. Kotek to create statewide data center advisory committe e - OPB VOLUNTEERS NEEDED : What is your passion related to Climate Emergency ? You can help. V olunteers are needed. The short legislative session begins in January of 2026. Many State Agency Boards and Commissions meet regularly year-round and need monitoring. If any area of climate or natural resources is of interest to you, please contact Peggy Lynch, Natural Resources Coordinator, or Claudia Keith Climate Emergency at peggylynchor@gmail.com Or climatepolicy@lwvor.org . Training will be offered. Interested in reading additional reports? Please see our Governance , Revenue , Natural Resources , and Social Policy report section

Back to All Legislative Reports Social Policy Legislative Report - Week of 3/24 Social Policy Team Coordinator: Jean Pierce • After School and Summer Care: Katie Riley • Behavioral Health: Trish Garner • Criminal Justice/Juvenile Justice: Marge Easley / Sharron Noon • Education: Jean Pierce / Stephanie Engle • Equal Rights for All Ballot Measure: Jean Pierce Kyra Aguon • Gender-Related Concerns, Reproductive Health, Age Discrimination: Trish Garner • Gun Safety & Gun Issues, Rights for Incarcerated People: Marge Easley • Hate and Bias Crimes: Claudia Keith/ Becky Gladstone /rhyen enger • Health Care: Christa Danielsen • Housing: Debbie Aiona and Nancy Donovan Note: Education reports after January, 2024, are included in Social policy reports. Education reports prior to February, 2024, can be found HERE . Please see the Legislation Tracker for 2025 Social Policy bills . Jump to topic: After School and Summer Behavioral Health Civil Commitment Education Gun Policy Healthcare Housing Legislation Immigration Revenue After School and Summer By Katie Riley There are several bills that are dealing with afterschool and summer care. On Monday, March 17th, the League visited legislators to ask that HB 3039 and HB 2007 which both concern summer learning, include a differentiation of care during non-school time from summer school for both funding and data reporting purposes. The offices that were visited included those for Senators Lieber, Sollman, and Bonham and Representatives Ruiz and Sanchez. Those visits were selected due to their leadership positions on party caucuses and/or committees that determine budget allocations. We also talked to legislative sponsoring offices for SB 876 (Sen. Dick Anderson) and HB 3162 (Rep. Jami Cate), both of whom propose funding for after school care. SB 876 has passed out of committee and will need to be voted on by the Senate before it can be sent to the House for consideration. HB 3162 has not received a committee hearing so it may not progress further. The House Committee on Education was scheduled to have a hearing on Wednesday, March 19th on HB 3039 and HB 2007 but only HB 2007 had a hearing. Both bills have had amendments submitted which help to improve the focus on expanded learning to include the possibility of after school care during the summer. Senator Sollman and Representative Ruiz who authored HB 2007 with Representative Fahey testified. Time was limited so only a few community members were able to testify and most supported the bill with the new amendment submitted by Representative Susan McLain. LWVOR submitted written testimony for both bills encouraging further amendment to differentiate care during after school hours from summer school. Without separate data, it will be impossible to determine the impact of each component. It is expected that the HB 3039 and HB 2007 may be combined. Since HB 3039 is one of the Governor's priority bills, legislators are working hard to address problems before the bill is passed out of committee. A work session is scheduled in the committee for Monday, March 24th. Behavioral Health By Stephanie Aller The House Higher Education and Workforce Development Committee held a public hearing and work session on HB3129 (Higher Education Behavioral Health Workforce Expansion Fund.) LWVOR submitted testimony earlier in support of this bill. The committee adopted an amendment to the bill which includes a minimum service requirement of at least two years for student recipients. It also increased the amount appropriated for the bill from $17,900,000 to $25,700,000. The bill passed the committee on March 18 and was referred to the Joint Committee on Ways and Means. Civil Commitment By Patricia Garner SB 171 / HB 2467 : A significant amendment to these bills is anticipated to be filed by the Forensic Behavioral Health Work Group chaired by Representative Jason Kropf. The primary proponent of the legislation is the National Alliance on Mental Illness of Oregon (NAMI). Current law provides that a person can be civilly committed if that person is dangerous to self or others, but importantly, dangerousness to self or others is not defined. This ambiguity has created significant barriers to civil commitment. This LC attempts to remedy this ambiguity. It provides that dangerousness to self / others takes place when a person is engaged in or is threatening to engage in behavior that resulted in or was likely to result in physical harm to self /another, and it is reasonably foreseeable that due to their mental disorder, they will engage in behavior that presents a risk of harm to self/others in the near future. Importantly, “near future” is specifically defined as a period of time that is reasonably foreseeable, but no more than 14 days. “Physical harm” is also clarified as physical contact that results in injury to another, and serious physical harm places a person at a “non-speculative” risk of death, impairment of health or bodily organs, including impairment or deterioration of brain function due to untreated psychiatric conditions. In deciding whether someone should be committed, the court is also specifically authorized to consider whether that person has insight into their mental illness and their ability to follow a treatment plan. This latter factor relates to anosognosia, a neurological condition where a person is unable to recognize her or his own illness, which is common in diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease, traumatic brain injuries, strokes, schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. (See Judiciary Committee Hearing at 54:15 minutes). The prevalence of anosognosia in mental illness means that many people are not just avoiding treatment, but rather they do not apprehend they even have a mental illness. The LC also specifies several factors that can be used when a person is subject to commitment because of danger to self. Some of these factors include recent overt acts attempting to cause serious physical harm to self, recent threats to inflict this harm, the context of such acts or threats, and any past behavior resulting from a mental disorder that caused physical harm to self and past patterns of deterioration that contributed to prior involuntary hospitalizations. Dangerousness to others generally follows this format, but also recent destructive acts against property that were reasonably likely to place others at risk of injury HB 2015 – Oregon Residential Services Legislation This bill is currently a placeholder but should shortly be amended to require the Oregon Health Authority to study and make recommendations (9-25 and 9-26) to the Legislature about a range of issues related to residential treatment facilities and homes. The areas for review are detailed. For example, they include considerations that staffing costs for a facility should not change when the acuity of an individual changes, the workforce needs to be paid a professional wage, whether and how to support discharge from residential levels of placement, and how to create one license and set of rules for Transition Aged Youth Residential Treatment Homes that serve people 17.5 to 24 years of age. Education By Jean Pierce Recently, the Trump administration sent a “ Dear Colleague ” letter pressuring educational administrators not to “embrace pervasive and repugnant race-based preferences”. This was accompanied by a FAQ sheet. In addition, there is an Executive Order threatening cuts to essential programs if schools honor standards of diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA). So on March 13th Oregon’s Attorney General, Dan Rayfield, joined 14 other state attorneys general to provide guidance regarding what public schools can do to honor the law. They note that “nothing in the ‘Dear Colleague’ letter or FAQ changes existing law and well-established legal principles that encourage—and even require—schools to promote educational opportunity for students of all backgrounds.” This week the administration issued an Executive Order closing the Department of Education. While the administration insists that it will continue funding student loans, Pell Grants, funding for special needs students, and competitive grantmaking, still no plan has been suggested for how that might happen. The Education Law Center has a helpful tool showing how much federal funding for K-12 education each state is receiving for FY 2025. The total for Oregon is more than $433 Million. This includes close to $200 million for Title 1 (funding for educating low income students) and more than $170 million for IDEA (funding education of students with special needs). Legislation which advanced this week SB 1098 , which prohibits discrimination when selecting or retaining school library materials, textbooks or instructional materials or when developing and implementing a curriculum was passed unamended with a partisan vote, by the Senate Education Committee. LWVOR submitted testimony for the bill. HB2997 , which directs the Higher Education Coordinating Commission to establish a grant program to expand access to populations which are under-represented in colleges and universities, was passed with a partisan vote by the House Committee on Higher Education and Workforce Development with an amendment to appropriate $5 million. LWVOR submitted testimony for the bill. HB 3182 , which directs the Higher Education Coordinating Commission to award grants to nonprofit organizations providing affordable housing support to low-income students. was passed 6 to 1 with minor amendments by the House Committee on Higher Education and Workforce Development. LWVOR submitted testimony for the bill. HB 3183 , which would appropriate money to the Higher Education Coordinating Commission to provide no-cost, low-cost textbooks and course materials across Oregon’s colleges and universities, was passed 6 to 1 by the House Committee on Higher Education and Workforce Development with an amendment lowering the amount appropriated from $4.5 million to $2 million. LWVOR submitted testimony for the bill. Gun Policy By Marge Easley Six gun policy bills are now making their way through the legislative process. HB 3075 , heard on March 17 in House Judiciary, contains details for implementing the firearm permitting requirement in Measure 114 (2022). The committee received over 1000 pieces of testimony on the bill, including testimony from the League, and emotions ran high during oral testimony in the packed hearing room. A work session is scheduled for April 2. HB 3076 , heard on March 20 in House Judiciary, establishes a gun dealer licensing program in Oregon. League testimony stated that a state system is needed to curtail illegal guns that are used in crimes, often obtained through straw purchases and gun shop thefts. Oversight is currently under the direction of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), but the agency is woefully underfunded, and inspections are a rarity. A work session on the bill is scheduled for April 2. The League is also following four additional gun policy bills that are scheduled for an omnibus hearing and possible work sessions in the Senate Judiciary on April 7. SB 696 bans rapid-fire devices that convert semi-automatic weapons to the nearly full-automatic. SB 697 raises the age to purchase military-style weapons like AR-15s from age 18 to 21. SB 698 expands the types of public buildings that are authorized to ban firearms, even for holders of concealed handgun licenses (CHLs). SB 429 creates a 72-hour waiting period for the purchase of a firearm. Healthcare By Christa Danielson HB 2010-A : The League submitted testimon y for this bill, which extends the funding for the state portion of Medicaid. The bill has passed both chambers and has been signed by the President of the Senate as well as the Speaker of the House. It will be heading to the Governor’s desk for consideration of signature. Housing By Nancy Donovan and Debbie Aiona The Senate Committee on Housing and Development will hold another public hearing on SB 722 on March 26. The bill would prohibit residential landlords from software and occupancy control, and would apply rent caps for younger properties. This bill would help prevent displacement by prohibiting landlords of multifamily housing from using Artificial Intelligence (AI) software to inflate rents or occupancy rates. This unethical practice is the subject of national attention . Attorneys General in eight states, including Oregon, have joined the Justice Department in an antitrust suit to disallow this method of sharing and aligning non-public information to drive up rents. The bill also would reduce the current 15-year exemption for new construction from our statewide rent stabilization statute down to 7 years. This change would provide reasonable rent stabilization protection for an additional 40,000 housing units and between 80,000 to 100,000 Oregonians. Oregon renters are the 6th most cost burdened in the nation, and our eviction crisis is growing with more than 27,000 cases filed last year. Eighty-eight percent of evictions are because tenants cannot afford Oregon’s high rents. Studies show that rent stabilization policies help keep tenants stably housed and reduce evictions. The League provided testimony in support of SB 722 . The House Committee on Housing and Homelessness will hold a public hearing on HB 2964 on March 26. It would direct Oregon Housing and Community Services (OHCS) to provide grants and loans for predevelopment costs for new affordable housing. OHCS would have the responsibility to administer a grant and loan program for predevelopment costs for new affordable housing for low-income households to rent or own. OHCS would integrate this program into its existing Predevelopment Loan Fund with monies from the General Fund. Properties would be developed with affordability restrictions to ensure that they remain affordable. Oregon's population growth has outpaced housing construction leading to a severe shortage of affordable properties. This bill will give our state’s lower income households an opportunity to live in stable, new and affordable housing. The League provided testimony in support o f HB 2964 . Immigration By Becky Gladstone and Claudia Keith Bill # Description Policy Committee Status $* Chief Sponsors + Comments SB 149 Immigration Study SCJ PH & WS 4/2 Y Sen Jama DHS SB 599A Immigration status: Discrimination in Real Estate transactions Floor Floor vote 3/24 Sen Campos Carry over SB 611 Food for All Oregonians - for undocumented SC HS - JWM PH 3/25, Work Sess 4/1 Y Sen Campos Rep Ruiz SB 703 A bipartisan immigration status update funding bill SCJ PH 3/19 WS 3/26 6 Sen Reynolds, Reps Neron, Ruiz, Smith G Testimony SB 1119 To prohibit employers from engaging in unfair immigration-related practices. SCLAB PH 3/27, Work Sess 4/1 Sen. Taylor SB 1140 Prohibits requirements that employees speak only English in workplace unless business necessity SCLAB PH 3/27, Work Sess 4/1 Sen. Taylor HB 2548 Agricultural Workforce Labor Standards Board. HC LWPS PH 3/12 WS 4/2 Reps Valderrama, Nelson , Munoz League Testimony HB 2976 Funding for interpretation of indigenous languages. HC ECHS wk Ses 3/25 Rep Hartman HB2788 Funding to nonprofits to assist w lawful permanent resident status/legal aid - HC ECHS - JWM dead Reps Neron, Ruiz, Sen Reynolds * likely end of session Reconcilation Bill HB 2586 Nonresident tuition exemption for asylum seekers. Sen Ed 3/12 Reps Hudson, Sen Campos House vote 36 v 18 HB 2543 Funds for universal representation and gives funds to Oregon State Bar for legal immigration matters HC Jud ? 15 Rep Valderrama, Sen Manning Jr, Reps Walters, Andersen, McLain, Sen Campos DAS - see sb 703 HB3193 Farm Worker Relief Fund HC LWPS Wk Ses 3/24 10 Rep Marsh, Sen Pham, Rep Valderrama OHA HB 5002 Oregon Worker Relief Fund JCWM-GG ? 7 Das We are considering joining a coalition that has recently formed to support a number of 2025 bills affecting many agricultural workers and other immigrants. There may be League alerts on this topic later this session. (refer to Immigration LR) Revenue By Peggy Lynch The Co-Chairs of Ways and Means provided their framework for the 2025-27 state budget. Note on the last page the potential effect of federal budget cuts. This Oregonlive article suggests some of the most painful cuts. The Joint Committee On Ways and Means Subcommittee On Capital Construction met on March 21st and received a report from the State Treasurer, including the 2025 bonding capacity: “$2.22 Billion Issuance For Each Biennium, Or $1.11 Billion Annually” . We note that this capacity is based on the Sept. 2024 Revenue Forecast. Also, there is a recommendation that bond sales be scattered throughout the biennium instead of waiting until the last quarter of the biennium. However, that means that the cost of debt service will have to be calculated into the 2025-27 budget. But scattering the sales can also provide the legislature with a pullback of those sales should the economy not support the ability of the state to back those bonds. The Dept. of Administrative Services (DAS) on behalf of the Governor reported on the Governor’s bond requests in her 2025-27 budget. A complete list is available here . Interested in reading additional reports? Please see our Climate Emergency , Governance , and Natural Resources report sections.

Back to All Legislative Reports Social Policy Legislative Report - Week of 3/10 Social Policy Team Coordinator: Jean Pierce • After School and Summer Care: Katie Riley • Behavioral Health: Trish Garner • Criminal Justice/Juvenile Justice: Marge Easley / Sharron Noon • Education: Jean Pierce / Stephanie Engle • Equal Rights for All Ballot Measure: Jean Pierce Kyra Aguon • Gender-Related Concerns, Reproductive Health, Age Discrimination: Trish Garner • Gun Safety & Gun Issues, Rights for Incarcerated People: Marge Easley • Hate and Bias Crimes: Claudia Keith/ Becky Gladstone /rhyen enger • Health Care: Christa Danielsen • Housing: Debbie Aiona and Nancy Donovan Note: Education reports after January, 2024, are included in Social policy reports. Education reports prior to February, 2024, can be found HERE . Please see the Legislation Tracker for 2025 Social Policy bills . Jump to topic: Behavioral Health Early Learning and Child Care Education Housing Public Safety Behavioral Health By Stephanie Aller The House Behavioral Health and Health Care Committee will have a public hearing for HB 2059 on March 18. HB 2059 directs the Oregon Health Authority to create a unit dedicated to developing behavioral health facilities sufficient to serve the needs of each trauma system in the state. The Joint Committee on Addiction and Community Safety Response will have a public hearing on bills relating to youth substance use disorder on March 12. HB 2502 would require a collaborative study, led by the Alcohol and Drug Policy Commission, focused on increasing school-based substance use prevention and intervention programs. The bill requires the development of a comprehensive plan and the distribution of grants to recovery schools. The Senate Committee on Health Care has scheduled a work session for SB 538 on March 13. This bill would allow parents to be paid for their in-home care of children with extremely high behavioral health or medical needs. Early Learning and Child Care By Katie Riley During the week of March 3rd, the Joint Committee on Ways & Means on Education heard informational reports from the Department of Early Learning and Care (DELC). The reports were extensive and covered 3 1/2 days of the committee's schedule followed by the other 1/2 of a committee meeting devoted to public testimony. DELC is asking for significant increases in funding for its programs. All public testimony was supportive, including testimony submitted by LWVOR for the SB 5514 funding bill. Our testimony particularly prioritized funding for Employment Related Day Care (ERDC) which subsidizes child care of people at 200% or below the federal poverty level who need child care to work or go to school. The ERDC waitlist went from over 8,500 in December 2024 to a current level of 10,000. Its increase over the past two year is partially accounted for by a change in priorities adopted by previous legislation which prioritizes people receiving TANF (food stamps) to jump to the beginning of the list. The LWVOR board has approved the positions resulting from the Caring for Our Children update and expansion of the 1989 child care study. These positions are now available for LWVOR to use in testimony. SB 896 has been submitted for funding afterschool grant programs but it is unclear how it will align with the Governor's budget. The Governor's bill, HB 3039 for summer and after school care is expected to be submitted with a funding amount attached on March 17. We do not know the amount that will be associated with it. It is expected that the grants associated with the bill will be processed by the Oregon Department of Education (ODE) to school districts based on those most in need, similar to last year's process. It is predicted that the funds will mostly cover costs for summer school and contracts for afterschool care by community based organizations will be awarded by school districts. More details to follow. Education By Jean Pierce The March 3rd Education Legislative Report noted that an American Institute for Research (AIR) report commissioned by the Oregon Government recommended an increase of more than $5000 per student in order to bring Oregon’s educational outcomes up to an adequate level. As of fall, 2024, 545,088 students are enrolled in K-12 public schools in the state. This means that close to three billion in additional education funding would be required to help the state hit its performance targets of adequacy. In her 2025-2027 budget proposal, Oregon Governor Tina Kotek proposed $11.36 billion for the State School Fund, which finances K-12 public education. This represents an increase of more than 600 million, which potentially could be used to help the state make some progress towards its goals. At the same time, our legislators are trying to analyze how a number of recent actions taken by the federal administration will affect our education funding. On March 3rd, Linda McMahon was confirmed as the Federal Secretary of Education. It has been widely reported that the President would like to eliminate the Department of Education, but that would take an act of Congress, which is not likely. Nevertheless, McMahon takes seriously her task of drastically cutting federal spending in education. Currently, federal funding accounts for more than $1 billion of Oregon’s annual education budget. McMahon has told the U.S. Senate Committee on Health Education Labor and Pensions that federal funding would continue for Title I programs for low-income school districts and for the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. However, at this point, with federal cuts in jobs, agencies, and office space, it is unclear how that funding will be administered. Further, funding cuts for these programs and others, such as free and reduced lunches, has been threatened if schools do not eliminate Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives. In postsecondary education, Title IV (financial aid for students in higher education) and student loans appear to be contingent on universities taking steps to rescind DEI programs. The loss of financial support for higher education students would be devastating, considering the fact that they need help meeting not only the high cost of fees and tuition but also the basic needs of food, housing, transportation, and childcare. Over 50% of undergraduates in the country receive student loans from the federal government. Oregon’s universities are already feeling the impact of federal cutbacks, with the loss of research grants On top of these concerns, Legislators in Oregon have a constitutional mandate to balance the state budget. So cuts in federal funding to other programs – i.e. Medicaid, which services one third of the state’s population, may require increased state funding for healthcare, which further jeopardizes funding for education. Housing By Nancy Donovan and Debbie Aiona SB 973 would provide protections to applicants and new tenants by requiring landlords to notify them of the date when a property’s affordability restrictions may end. It will extend the notice requirements from 20 months to 30 months. Unfortunately, Oregon’s publicly-supported affordable housing is not guaranteed to be permanent. By being notified in advance, families and others will have more time to try to find stable housing they can afford. The loss of publicly-supported housing threatens to undo progress we have made in addressing our state’s housing crisis. Passage of this bill will reduce the risk of housing instability, and the possibility of homelessness. The League submitted testimony in support of SB 973. Oregon Housing and Community Services (OHCS) studied the preservation of affordable rental housing in 2023 and created an Affordable Housing Preservation Strategy Framework. The report explains that the state focuses on assisting with maintenance of the physical condition and financial stability of affordable units in return for extending time limits on rent restrictions. They also work to renew federal rent assistance contracts applying to specific properties and preserve affordable manufactured home parks. According to the framework, they estimate that between 2023 and 2033 more than 5,800 units will lose affordability restrictions and many will require recapitalization and rehabilitation. At similar risk are another 5,000 units owned by housing authorities and non-profits. More than 3,100 units with federal rent assistance could require additional subsidy to extend or renew their contracts. It likely will take around $1billion to preserve them all. OHCS provides a dashboard where you can find information specific to your community as well as statewide data. Public Safety By Karen Nibler The House Judiciary Committee listened to testimony on HB 2614 which introduced amendments to the operation of the newly formed Oregon Public Defense Commission. SB 337 (2023) placed the new agency under the Executive Branch for administrative functions. Judges and attorneys have reported a high turnover rate among defense attorneys. The Oregon District Attorney Association supports the independence of the defense attorney association and participates in settlement conferences to resolve cases. The Oregon Criminal Defense Lawyers Association expressed the need to recruit and train new lawyers. High caseloads were described as problematic but the facilitation process varied among county courts. Interested in reading additional reports? Please see our Climate Emergency , Governance , and Natural Resources report sections.

Back to All Legislative Reports Governance Internships Legislative Report - Week of 5/22 Governance Team Coordinator: Becky Gladstone and Chris Cobey Artificial Intelligence: Lindsey Washburn Campaign Finance Reform: Norman Turrill Conflicts of Interest/Legislative Ethics: Chris Cobey CEI - Critical Energy Infrastructure : Nikki Mandell and Laura Rogers Cybersecurity Privacy, Election Issues, Electronic Portal Advisory Board: Becky Gladstone Election Systems: Barbara Klein Emergency Preparedness: Cate Arnold Immigration, Refugee, and Asylum: Claudia Keith Redistricting: Norman Turrill, Chris Cobey State Audit Working Group: Sheila Golden Voting Rights of Incarcerated People: Marge Easley Jump to a topic: Campaign Finance Redistricting Cybersecurity and Legislative Delays Rights of Incarcerated People Ethics Issues Election Methods By Norman Turrill, Governance Coordinator, and Team Campaign Finance No bills on campaign finance have yet been scheduled for a hearing and are unlikely to be scheduled considering the walkout in the Senate. For campaign finance reform, the League wants true reform without loopholes for large special interest organizations. Redistricting People Not Politicians has started collecting signatures on IP 14 petitions downloadable from its website. Thousands of signatures have been collected, but more donations are needed. Cybersecurity and Legislative Delays By Rebecca Gladstone Sine die is technically imminent as the Speaker invoked House Rule 8.15(6) and the Senate President, Senate Rule 8.16 on May 23, a full month before the projected final session date, June 25. This reduces the 72-hour advance public hearing notice and 48 hours for all other meetings to 24-hours. It is hard to know what we can effectively influence with no news of the Senate walkout abating. We are standing by, watching carefully. Please contact your State Senator and Representative to encourage them to support these bills for cybersecurity and election software updates ( outdated software is a security risk) : HB 2490 : This cyber omnibus bill awaits second and third Senate floor readings, scheduled and subject to change. The League urges maximum protection of public health, safety, and the environment. Defending our critical infrastructures is at stake ( our testimony ). SB 167 includes election software updates. Outdated software is a cybersecurity risk. See our testimony in support, 2023 and 2019: “These aging computer programs are like the roof starting to leak. We see evidence of strain and do not want to wait further to begin remedial work from scratch in 2021” - League testimony , HB 2234 (2019). HB 2052 : This Attorney General’s Data Broker bill was assigned to W&Ms Transportation and Economic Development on May 22. League testimony in support was filed before the current -7 amendments. We are also concerned that these cybersecurity bills stopped for lack of a Senate quorum. HB 2107 A was re- rescheduled for Senate floor reading on May 30, after passing in the House, 34 to 25. See earlier reports for this Oregon Health Authority extension of automatic voter registration. HB 2806 , relating to public meetings and cybersecurity, was re- rescheduled to May 30 and 31, with dates subject to change. See our testimony . HB 2049 : is not yet assigned to a W&Ms subcommittee, referred March 3 Do-Pass with amendments, A-Engrossed. See our testimony in support. HB 3127 : We are following this “TikTok” bill, relating to the security of state assets. Was re- rescheduled for May 30 & 31, dates subject to change. SB 619 A : This Attorney General’s Data Broker bill had a May 24 work session in W&Ms Public Safety, no vote published. It passed Sen. Judiciary April 3, went to W&Ms April 12, with Do Pass with amendments by prior reference. See our testimony . SB 1073 A was referred to W&Ms April 10, to establish a state Chief Privacy Officer (CPO). See our supportive testimony including related bills and the hearing video , details in previous reports. Not yet assigned to a subcommittee. __________________ SB 510 Enrolled : The Senate President has signed this Public Records Advocate and Council funding bill, after passing from the House floor May 23, 45 ayes, 1 excused, and the Senate floor April 17, 28 ayes, 1 excused. HB 2112 Enrolled is an updated public records law, with League support, see our testimony . SB 216 Enrolled : We are pleased to see enrollment of this bill to protect personal data in health care business with public agencies. CURRENT CYBER NEWS: Curry CO computer system ‘starting from scratch’ after ransomware attack , OPB, May 15, 2023 Oregon’s Curry CO determined to move forward after ransomware attack , OPB, May 19, 2023 Vermont Cybersecurity Council to Extend Protection Beyond State Gov , GovTech.com , May 15, 2023 Cyberattacks on City and Municipal Governments , Cyber Defense Magazine, May 17, 2023 Utah cyber audit finds shortfalls across state , Statescoop.com , May 19, 2023 Organizations reporting cyber resilience are hardly resilient: Study , CSO Online, May 18, 2023 Oregon leads $2.5 million multi-state settlement with EyeMed over data breach affected millions nationwide . KTVZ.Com May 17, 2023 A different kind of ransomware demand: Donate to charity to get your data back , Cyberscoop.com , May 18, 2023 Dallas says it 'will likely take weeks to get back to full functionality' after ransomware attack , City of Dallas, TX, The Record, May 18, 2023 Rights of Incarcerated People By Marge Easley Adults in custody will now be afforded more educational opportunities with the House passage of SB 270 Enrolled on May 23. The bill authorizes the Department of Corrections (DOC) to enter into agreements with any community college or post-secondary academic program to offer instruction to adults in custody, as long as enrollment is consistent with DOC administrative rules and federal Pell Grant regulations. Ethics Issues By Chris Cobey HB 2038 A : Requires statement of economic interest to include certain information about sources of income for business in which public official or candidate, or member of household of public official or candidate, is officer, holds directorship or does business under if source of income has legislative or administrative interest and 10 percent or more of total gross annual income of business comes from that source of income. Prohibits candidate or principal campaign committee of candidate from expending campaign moneys for professional services rendered by certain businesses required to be listed on candidate's statement of economic interest. Creates exceptions. 5/23: House Rules work session scheduled. SB 168 B : Expressly prohibits public employees, while on job during working hours or while otherwise working in official capacity, from promoting or opposing appointment, nomination or election of public officials. 5/19: From House Rules work session 5/18; recommendation: Do Pass with amendments and be printed B-engrossed; 5/22: House second reading. SB 661 Enrolled : Prohibits any lobbyist from serving as chairperson of interim committees, or certain legislative work groups, or legislative task forces. Provides exceptions. 5/16: Passed House, 57-0-2-1; 5/18: Awaiting Governor’s signature.. Election Methods By Barbara Klein HB 2004 A (a Ranked Choice Voting bill) was scheduled for the 3 rd reading and voted on by the House members on May 23, 2023. The bill passed (35 yea, 25 nay), and was sent to the Senate. The details of the -2 amendment were summarized in the governance area of the previous LWVOR Legislative Report. The RCV coalition supporting HB 2004 A met with members and leadership of the Oregon Association of County Clerks on May 24. LWVOR took part in that meeting with praise for the clerks, and recognizing our shared interests in protecting the vote. LWVOR shared with the clerks our view that the RCV system protects the voice of voters in several ways. As Sine Die was declared imminent, and a walkout of Senate members continuing, it is unclear (but doubtful) if the bill will be voted on in this session. More input from the clerks was sought in consideration of a short-session bill early next year. Briefly discussed was the RCV initiative, IP 27 , which would expand the provisions and offices covered by the current bill above. Since our previous report, IP 26 (constitutional amendment by All Oregon Votes) received a certified title , “Amends Constitution: Changes election processes. All voters/candidates for certain partisan offices participate in same nomination procedure.” (This is similar to the certified ballot title for IP 16, which All Oregon Votes appealed to the Supreme Court, but which the Court approved without change. IP 16 is not yet listed as withdrawn. There is nothing further to report on two additional election reform ballot initiatives: IP 11 (measure on statewide STAR -Score Then Automatic Runoff voting) and IP 19 , from Oregon Election Reform Coalition (which is a Final Five Open Primary, using RCV or STAR in the general). LWVOR supports IP 19, now by way of a new League position on Open Primaries adopted by concurrence at our May 2023 convention. VOLUNTEERS NEEDED. Worthy causes go unaddressed for lack of League volunteers. If you see a need and can offer your expertise, please contact our staff at lwvor@lwvor.org .

Back to All Legislative Reports Natural Resources Legislative Report - Week of 6/29 Natural Resources Team Coordinator: Peggy Lynch Coastal Issues: Christine Moffitt, Peggy Lynch Columbia River Treaty: Philip Thor Dept. of Geology and Mineral Industries: Joan Fryxell Emergency Management: Rebecca Gladstone Forestry: Josie Koehne Elliott State Research Forest: Peggy Lynch Northwest Energy Coalition: Robin Tokmakian Oregon Dept. of Fish and Wildlife: Melanie Moon Oregon Health Authority Drinking Water Advisory Committee: Sandra Bishop Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board: Water: Peggy Lynch Wildfire: Carolyn Mayers Ways and Means Natural Resource Budgets/Revenue: Peggy Lynch 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 Hanford Land Use & Housing Oregon Dept. of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) Oregon Parks and Recreation Department (OPRD) Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board (OWEB) Regional Solutions State Land Board Water Weather Wetlands Wildfire Intro The League of Women Voters of the United States believes that natural resources should be managed as interrelated parts of life-supporting ecosystems. Resources should be conserved and protected to assure their future availability. Pollution of these resources should be controlled in order to preserve the physical, chemical and biological integrity of ecosystems and to protect public health. This April 5th opinion piece in the Oregonian points out how we can all work together to support the League’s vision. Timber wars. Salmon wars. Water wars. For decades, Oregon’s natural resources have been framed as a series of conflicts. They don’t have to be. In a state as geographically and politically diverse as Oregon, foundations, nonprofit organizations and communities can help us find our way out of conflict by working in the radical middle — the space where most Oregonians already agree. …90% of voters across political parties agree that we have a moral responsibility to protect natural areas and habitat for the plants, fish and wildlife. …77% agree that clean air, clean water and undeveloped open spaces are critical to keeping Oregon’s economy strong. The League can continue to be a voice for these voters—supporting the good work of various community groups AND our state agencies who help protect these values. Join us! Now is the time when these agencies develop their budgets and propose legislation for the 2027 session. Your voices are critical to helping realize the LWVUS vision. Oregonians appreciate the continuing work of LWVUS as the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) reverses a critical public policy: The Endangerment Finding: On February 12, 2026, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) reversed its 2009 Endangerment Finding, which had allowed the agency to regulate greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. This is a devastating decision as GHG emissions are the leading cause of climate change. See the Governance section below, related to permitting processes and 4 agencies’ explanation of their processes for addressing permit applications. The Governor is focusing on resiliency and has a Plan for a Resilient Oregon. The League has engaged in these issues in the past and, with the multiple crises facing Oregon, a Plan is a great idea! See the Revenue section of this Legislative Report and sections of other Legislative Reports. AGRICULTURE 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. There are new nitrate monitoring rules per this March 19 OPB article . Here’s a March 31 st article from Your Oregon News (originally published by the Oregon Capital Chronicle) that “ Tech giant Amazon will pay $20.5 million to settle with northeast Oregonians living with contaminated groundwater in exchange for no admission of guilt in the polluting.” The June 17 Emergency Board approved expenditure limitation of $2 million to address groundwater data gaps in the LUBGWA area. The money comes from an EPA-awarded grant. BUDGETS/REVENUE Peggy Lynch Here are all 746 pages of the 2025-27 Legislative Adopted Budget. The document is searchable. The Natural Resources agencies section starts on page 494. The Emergency Board was allotted monies during the long session to deal with client changes and wildfire or other emergencies occurring between now and the 2027 session. They may also meet during the next Legislative Days. The League continues to work with state agencies and the Governor’s Office as they develop their 2027-29 budgets. Here’s some budget guidance that agencies have received: 2027-29 Budget Guidance: Governor's Letter and CFO 2027-29 Budget POP Guidance . Bottom line: The Governor has asked state agencies to provide a “neutral” budget. If they want to add a program or staff, they need to find a program or staff to remove from their budget request. The exception is if the request helps implement the Governor’s recent Executive Orders. You can contact the agency you want to engage with as they work to provide proposals to the Governor. Many agencies now have their draft budget documents on their websites. 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 The Department of Land Conservation and Development is asking LCDC to initiate a rulemaking process to develop new rules under Goal 16: Estuarine Resources, Goal 17: Coastal Shorelands, and Goal 18: Beaches and Dunes related to the use of coastal shoreline stabilization measures directed by Senate Bill (SB) 504 (2025). Agenda and materials for the Land Conservation and Development Commission Meetings June 25-26, 2026. Coastal shoreline stabilization rulemaking webpage . West Coast Offshore Wind needs better planning as reported in this article from Jefferson Radio. Update of the Territorial Sea Plan : The Department of Land Conservation and Development is asking the Land Conservation and Development Commission to initiate a rulemaking process to amend Parts One and Two of the Territorial Sea Plan.  The Territorial Sea Plan rulemaking webpage will host the information and materials in support of the LCDC rulemaking effort. Information will also be posted on the Oregon Ocean Information website as it pertains to OPAC meetings. Good news : The critical ocean monitoring system will continue after the federal government originally asked that the equipment be pulled and the system dismantled. 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) The Environmental Quality Commission will hold its next regular meeting on July 9-10, in Astoria and via Zoom. Materials for the meeting, including links to staff reports, will be available closer to meeting date on the meeting agenda webpage . DEPT. OF GEOLOGY AND MINERAL INDUSTRIES (DOGAMI) Joan Fryxell What is DOGAMI? Great 5 minute video . Will there be a “Big One”? The Cascadia Seismic Imaging Experiment cruise in 2021provided a report released in Science Advances in late 2025, “ This is the first time we have a clear picture of a subduction zone caught in the act of dying.” See March 10 Oregonlive article that suggests “… the plate is ripping apart piece by piece, creating smaller microplates and new boundaries,”. 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 in processing permit applications, particularly in Eastern Oregon. According to a June 22 article in the Statesman Journal: A Canadian mining company has resurrected plans for a copper, gold and silver mine located just outside the Opal Creek Wilderness and about 10 miles northwest of Detroit,…. Ameriwest Critical Metals , based in British Columbia, purchased mining claims known as the Bornite Project in November 2025 and is working through early stages of what could become an underground mine producing 1,000 tons of copper per day. The mine would sit along Cedar Creek and any pollution could flow into the Little North Santiam and North Santiam River — the drinking water source for Salem, Stayton and other towns. Bornite is a sulfide mineral, so acid mine water will be an issue, Here is the link to the LWVOR Hard Rock Mining Study, done in 2018. DEPT. OF STATE LANDS At the June 9 th State Land Board meeting, the agency presented a draft of their 2027-29 budget and Policy Option Packages. See page 126 of the meeting packet . DRINKING WATER ADVISORY COMMITTEE (DWAC) Sandra U. Bishop The League has a standing seat on DWAC. T he Environmental Protection Agency flags microplastics and pharmaceuticals in drinking water per this OPB article . ELLIOTT STATE RESEARCH FOREST (ESRF) The ESRF Board met May 13. Click here to download the meeting agenda and materials . Here is the YouTube recording of the meeting. OPB provided an article May 28 th about progress on the Habitat Conservation Plan: A long-running effort to turn a coastal Oregon forest into a living laboratory took a major step forward this week, as federal officials approved two key wildlife protection plans tied to the Elliott State Research Forest. The Elliott State Research Forest Board of Directors met virtually March 11. Click here to download the meeting agenda and materials . The Habitat Conservation Plan has been federally approved so the first timber sale (268 acres of thinning) was completed at the end of March. By thinning, this area will provide better habitat for endangered species and improve fire protection. The $1 million grant will move the Elliott toward a fiscally sustainable management system. FORESTRY (ODF) Josie Koehne Here is the proposed ODF 2027-29 Budget and POPS (Policy Option Packages) document. As of June 15, all Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) districts are in fire season. SB 1590 A : Prohibits public bodies from assisting the federal government with privatization of certain federally owned lands. This was signed into law Nationwide, we are concerned about our public lands. This article in the Oregon Capital Chronicle shares what might happen under the Congressional Review Act. KPTV shared a story about potential increased logging in Oregon forests. Besides western Oregon lands, per KLCC , northeast Oregon federal forests are also a part of the discussion. Should timber sales go forward, there will be a need for federal staff and new capacity for Oregon mills to process the logs. GOVERNANCE Peggy Lynch LWVOR continues to follow permitting processes. On June 15 th , the House Rules Committee invited 4 agencies to share their permitting processes: Dept. of State Lands ; Dept. of Environmental Quality ; Dept. of Geology and Mineral Industries . The League engages in these processes in our two-fold focus on public engagement and protecting the environment while supporting a positive economy. LWVOR provided Comments on HB 4020 (2026). HANFORD An article in the Oregon Capital Chronicle explains concerns around potential cuts to the Hanford Cleanup: Cuts that Republicans in the U.S. House are seeking to the nuclear cleanup at Washington’s Hanford site would go deeper than steep reductions the Trump administration proposed. Hanford’s fiscal 2026 budget is almost $3.3 billion. The Trump administration wants to chop that by roughly $400 million. The GOP-controlled House wants to subtract another $55 million. The Republican-dominated Senate has yet to unveil its proposal. The combined proposed cuts translate to a $2.77 billion Hanford budget for the 2027 federal fiscal year, which begins in October, according to the House Appropriations Committee’s proposed budget for the U.S. Department of Energy. Casey Sixkiller, director of Washington’s ecology department, said in a statement that the proposed cuts would “delay critical progress at our nation’s most complex nuclear cleanup site, threatening the Columbia River and communities across the region.” LAND USE & HOUSING Peggy Lynch On June 16, the House Interim Committee On Housing and Homelessness received an abbreviated report on the expanded ability of cities to swap Urban Growth Boundary lands that may have problems about development with lands more readily serviceable. The League warns of caution as cities consider this option. The Land Conservation and Development Commission will meet June 25-26 in Salem. agenda and meeting materials . Rulemaking, housing and data centers are on the agenda Here is a link to the data center Staff briefing . From the Capital Press March 10: A lawmaker is shelving a controversial proposal ( SB 1586 2026) to increase Oregon’s competitiveness in computer chip manufacturing by allowing the industrial conversion of farmland outside Hillsboro. Sen. Janeen Sollman, D-Hillsboro, ..“decided not to advance the bill” during this year’s short legislative session, but said there’s still a need to boost employment in the state and will “look forward to continuing that work.” The League submitted strong testimony in opposition. Data Centers have become a major political issue in Oregon and around the U.S. Governor Kotek has established a Data Center Advisory Committee . League members are monitoring, not just how they are related to land use, but water and energy use and tax consequences. Look for legislation in 2027. Building homes near jobs, stores and transit saves public dollars, a paper by Pew Trust partners. This is a view that LWVOR continues to support and why Oregon’s land use planning program is so valuable. See also the Housing Report in the Social Policy section of this Legislative Report. OREGON DEPT. OF FISH AND WILDLIFE (ODFW) Melanie Moon On April 9, Oregon signed into law the historic HB 4134 , increasing Oregon’s statewide transient lodging tax by 1.25% (from 1.5% to 2.75%) to create a dedicated, long-term funding source for wildlife, conservation, and habitat programs. HB 4134 is projected to generate roughly $37 million to $38 million in revenue per year. Oregon Fish & Wildlife proposes in their 27-29 budget that the new revenue be directed towards a variety of environmental, recreational, and coexistence programs including: Recovering Oregon’s Wildlife Fund: Roughly $27.4 million goes directly toward implementing the state’s science-based State Wildlife Action Plan to conserve at-risk species and their habitats. Wildlife Coexistence Protection: Approximately $4.3 million is allocated to enforce anti-poaching laws, manage invasive species, fund wildlife rehabilitation centers, and compensate ranchers who experience livestock losses due to wolves. Community-Based Conservation: Nearly $5.8 million supports outdoor stewardship programs, wildfire risk reduction through the Oregon Conservation Corps, and the Oregon Conservation and Recreation Grants Fund. ODFW presents the budget to the Governor on June 26, 2026. Here is the ODFW Budget webpage . The Governor will consider the agency’s budget proposal before submitting her budget to the legislature. News from ODFW: The State Wildlife Action Plan (SWAP) has been approved by the federal government. The League provided comments on the SWAP before it was adopted by ODFW. On June 18, ODFW learned of a sudden loss of funding for the Columbia River SAFE Program . OREGON PARKS AND RECREATION DEPT (OPRD) Jim Buck The 2026 session provided funds to purchase Abiqua Falls : As the Oregon Legislature wrapped up its short session earlier this month, a bipartisan group of lawmakers celebrated a small win: securing the funds to buy Abiqua Falls . The 92-foot waterfall, found just outside Silverton, has for nearly a century been owned by the Mount Angel Abbey, a local Benedictine order that in February put the land on the market . But while the abbey has allowed public access for hikers, it hasn’t been maintaining the area. Both the road and the trail to the waterfall are notoriously treacherous. The cost to make this a safe state park will be a challenge, especially since our State Parks Dept. is facing funding challenges without this addition. The League is working with others to address the fiscal crisis at OPRD. Oregonlive provided an article on ways they are nibbling around the edges. The League studied Oregon Parks in 1998: Oregon State Parks, Part 1 (PDF, 7 pgs) Oregon State Parks, Part 2 (PDF, 9 pgs) . Partners are serving on a Work Group with the hope of some solutions in 2027. OREGON WATERSHED ENHANCEMENT BOARD (OWEB) As shared in the last legislative report,the Oregon Environmental Restoration Council (OERC)—a part of OWEB--has the OERC’s 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. Administrative Rules have been adopted. Here are the next meeting dates where the first round of allocations will be considered. Part of the guidance being used is implementation of the Governor’s Executive Order 25-26 . The Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board website is hosting the natural resource agencies’ website . Towards the bottom of the page is a link to the background memo for workshops held in March. 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: STATE LAND BOARD Peggy Lynch The State Land Board meets regularly. Their next meetings (tentative) are October 13, and December 8. Watch a livestream of the meeting or recordings of past meetings on their YouTube channel. Here’s the agenda from the April 14 th meeting where the Board adopted new rules related to Waterway Leases, etc. although the new pricing won’t go into effect until July 2027. They also received the annual report om the South Slough. League members are actively involved in this first national estuarine reserve and LWVOR has supported this facility since its inception. Here’s the agenda for the June 9 th meeting. Among the issues were approval of the sale of Hayden Island filled lands to ODOT and approval of the Department of Forestry budget request. The Department of State Lands (DSL) budget for 2027-29 was presented. The Land Board authorized the DSL Director to submit and certify an Agency Request Budget since the Governor also has a voice and vote on the DSL budget submission to the legislature in her Governor’s Budget. Also of note was approval to initiate Division 95 rulemaking between the Dept. of Land Conservation and Development (DLCD) and DSL under the State Agency Coordination program. Most Agency Coordination agreements have not been renewed since the 1990s, and this is the first of many of these agreements to be considered between agencies and with the leadership of DLCD. WATER Drought 2026: 10 simple tips to save water at home this summer. On June 17, the Joint Emergency Board met and approved grant requests and reports per the list of Meeting Materials . Among the funding approvals was a request for $1 million for the Well Abandonment, Repair and Replacement Fund (WARRF). In 2025, the Department received an additional $1.18 million and re-opened the WARRF program in fall 2025. Between December 3, 2025, and May 11 , 2026, the Department received more than 50 applications, awarded over $640,000 to 21 homeowners, and is processing an additional 18 applications. The average WARRF cost is $28,500 per well. At the current pace, all funds are expected to be fully committed by the end of May 2026. LWVOR supported this Fund and was pleased to see the E-Board’s actions. The Oregon Water Resources Dept. (OWRD) needs to update some rules due to statute change but we are considering other improvements to Division 250 (water distribution), 260 (civil penalties in other than well construction) (exempt uses) and 300 (definitions—really the overlapping definitions with the other rules). We are interested in what suggestions you and others have in terms of how the rules could be improved for clarity and consistency in application. Website for this potential rulemaking . A Rules Advisory Committee may begin work this fall. You can contact OWRD if you are interested in serving. Here is a paper on the Waste of Water. And another with definitions of waste in other Western States. On June 15, the House Interim Committee On Agriculture, Land Use, Natural Resources, and Water received presentations from the Oregon Climatologist , OWRD , OWRD (2) and DEQ (reuse). Also on June 15, the Senate Interim Committee On Energy and Environment received two reports : (1) Addendum: (2) from Anders Carlson, President, Oregon Glaciers. The focus of the report from 2003-2023. Some of us have 50-year memories. The loss is extensive and very sad. This is the latest OWRD Water and Drought Report—June 15. They do a report every week. You can sign up to receive it. The Water Resources Commission met June 11-12. Here are the staff reports including a report on the Integrated Water Resources Strategy (IWRS), Drought, Geologic Carbon Sequestration issues and a 2027-29 budget and legislative update. Per an April 9 Oregonlive article : The state recorded its lowest amount of liquid water in snowpack ever measured on April 1, joining seven other Western states in a crisis that experts say will worsen throughout spring and summer. Need for water by data centers is a concern in many commu nities. Oregonlive on April 6 covers needs by Google in The Dalles. ***The Deschutes County League provided comments to OWRD on the Deschutes groundwater mitigation program and a proposed Legislative Concept for the 2027 session. 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. T o 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 . The Caucus is holding in-person meetings in Salem before the 2027 session to develop an agenda for the 2027 session. 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 seventeen counties and the Burns Paiute Tribe in 2026 ( map ) with Wasco and Josephine counties under consideration . Here is a more complete website about drought in Oregon. According to the U.S. Drought Monitor (USDM) , as of 6/9, 84% of Oregon is in some form of drought, with 44% of the state in severe (D2) to extreme drought (D3). Current drought conditions on the USDM are being driven by above-normal temperatures, persistent short- and long-term precipitation deficits, below-normal streamflow conditions, and well-below-normal snowpack. The expansion and introduction of extreme drought in Oregon reflects severe long-term moisture deficits in Oregon. To date, 17 Oregon counties and the Burns Paiute Tribe have received state drought declarations under ORS 536. Josephine and Wasco counties have recently requested declarations. Per a notice from OWRD on June 3rd: The Oregon Water Resources Department contracted with Oregon State University, University of Oregon, and the National Drought Mitigation Center at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, to undertake a Drought Vulnerability Assessment that examines drought frequency, intensity, and impacts across the state, along with policy and water justice considerations. The Assessment consists of four reports authored by researchers from the three universities. You can access the Assessment on the OWRD website. We all need to pay attention to the potential for harmful algal blooms ( HABs) . “When in doubt, stay out.” With the heat and drought, the danger is serious. 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 Extreme heat events are defined as any period of two or more consecutive days with unusually hot weather that is far above the average for that time and place. Oregon’s Five-Year Averages: 2006–2010: 12 Days 2021–2025: 22 Days From an Our Oregon News article of May 20: The Pacific Northwest has the best chance among all U.S. regions of having a hotter-than-average summer, the National Weather Service said May 21. Oregonlive article of April 20: “Since last April, the state of Oregon is in its fifth driest 12-month period on record, going back to 1895,” O’Neill said. “So it’s not just the snowpack we have to worry about. It’s that these drought conditions have been building.” Oregonlive April 13 article : After a weak La Niña winter in Oregon, odds are up for an El Niño summer . There’s a 61% chance El Niño conditions will emerge in May through July, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Climate Prediction Center . In the Pacific Northwest, that typically means a warmer, drier season. It could also mean a low snowpack this coming winter. Oregon Capital Chronicle April 6 article : Forecasters predict, prepare for increased drought and wildfire risk after NOAA climate outlook :While the Pacific Northwest west of the Cascades is known for its seemingly constant rain, much of Oregon is preparing for drought conditions and increased wildfire risk for the summer. Fish, wildfires, farmers and ranchers all are worried about the upcoming summer. Statesman Journal of March 9: This winter was tied for the warmest on record in Oregon, according to data released this week by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. December, January and February — meteorological winter — brought an average temperature of 38.7 degrees, which tied 1934 for the warmest season in records that date back to 1896. Oregon’s average winter temperature is 32.4 degrees. This season was barely warmer than 2015, which was 38.6 degrees. The record-warm temperatures help explain why there is historically little snow in the mountains. Currently, Oregon's snowpack is 29% of normal and essentially tied with 2015 for the worst snow season since 1981. Here’s a short video explaining El Nino. WETLANDS Pew research explains the value of coastal wetlands. WILDFIRE Carolyn Mayers Remember that 70% of wildfires are human caused. Be careful! On June 16, the Senate Interim Committee On Natural Resources and Wildfire heard from the new State Forester KC Kacey and Chief Ruiz Temple, the State Fire Marshal, who presented the following information: 3/4 of Oregon is projected to be at an elevated risk of potentially significant wildfire for July. In addition, the entire northwest is also under the same scenario which means help from other states will be less predictable, available. Extreme El Niño possible. Expect earlier and longer fire season. Compared to both 2015 and 2018. The Oregon Water Resources Dept. provided a report on drought. Oregon Dept. of Forestry provided this report . As of June 15, all Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) districts are in fire season. The Governor declared a state of emergency due to wildfire threats on June 16. Forecasters remain concerned that persistent dry conditions will lead to a peak Western wildfire season that starts early and stays busy despite recent precipitation. “Lack of snowpack and abnormal warmth over winter is a big concern because it could start us off early and rather quickly,” said Jim Wallmann, U.S. Forest Service wildfire meteorologist at the National Interagency Fire Center in Boise. “The positive, if I can say there is a positive, is that we are still early in the year and there is still potential for this spring to mitigate the worst of conditions where the summer could be closer to normal.” From the March 7 th Rogue Valley Times. The federal April report from The Alliance for Wildfire Resilience might be of interest. VOLUNTEERS NEEDED : What is your passion related to Natural Resources? You can help. Volunteers are needed. We particularly need help tracking legislation concerning: Oregon Dept. of Agriculture Air Quality (Dept. of Environmental Quality) Columbia River Gorge Commission Hanford Cleanup Recycling/Materials Management (Dept. of Environmental Quality) Toxic Control (I don't know what this means? Pesticides and Biocides was the study.) Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board Oregon Environmental Restoration Council Interested in reading additional reports? Please see our Climate Emergency , Revenue , Governance , and Social Policy report sections.

Back to All Legislative Reports Governance Internships Legislative Report - Week of 1/30 Governance Team Coordinator: Becky Gladstone and Chris Cobey Artificial Intelligence: Lindsey Washburn Campaign Finance Reform: Norman Turrill Conflicts of Interest/Legislative Ethics: Chris Cobey CEI - Critical Energy Infrastructure : Nikki Mandell and Laura Rogers Cybersecurity Privacy, Election Issues, Electronic Portal Advisory Board: Becky Gladstone Election Systems: Barbara Klein Emergency Preparedness: Cate Arnold Immigration, Refugee, and Asylum: Claudia Keith Redistricting: Norman Turrill, Chris Cobey State Audit Working Group: Sheila Golden Voting Rights of Incarcerated People: Marge Easley Campaign Finance Reform Redistricting Elections Rights of Incarcerated People Public Records Volunteers Needed By Norman Turrill, Governance Coordinator, and Team Campaign Finance Reform There have been no new bills filed and no public activity for CFR. Redistricting By Chris Cobey and Norman Turrill The People Not Politicians coalition, in which the LWV of Oregon is a leader, now has an office in Wilsonville and a campaign manager. It will circulate only IP 14 (only legislative redistricting) and will begin collecting petition signatures probably in February. Four bills related to redistricting have been filed in the Legislature, detailed in a previous LR. Elections By Tom Messenger SB 804 by Senator Manning emerged as a companion to SB 499 by Senator Weber to move the Presidential Primary to Super Tuesday. Rights of Incarcerated People By Marge Easley On January 30, the League delivered testimony in Senate Judiciary in strong support of SB 579, which would restore the right to vote to over 13,000 people in Oregon’s prisons and jails. The response to the many individuals who delivered persuasive testimony was heartening, as was the fact that a work session on the bill was scheduled for February 2. However, instead of a work session the bill was sent to Ways and Means, which means it may or may not resurface later in the session. The League has added our name to the Guaranteeing the Right to Vote’s endorsement list for the bill, and we will continue to work for its passage. Public Records Law By Rebecca Gladstone The League positions balance privacy and transparency needs. At an Oregon Public Records Advisory Council (PRAC) meeting last fall, we heard that a public records request denial might be considered in the public interest if it presents a conflict of interest for workload. We will be evaluating as the SoS budgets ask for increased staffing in response to this. We have always supported Elections Division staffing budget requests, based on services, not on defense from efforts “to complicate or undermine their work.” Last fall, as Oregon hit 3 million registered voters , Oregon election offices got unprecedented numbers of public records requests , mirrored nationally. Last week, the PRAC shared a wide-ranging roster of 33 proposed bills affecting public records law . Some, for example, may affect elections and League Vote411.org access to candidate and ballot measure filing information. We will be watching these for relevant League action, in some cases addressed in previous session versions. Extensive 2017 public records law work passed with our support: SB 2101 for exemptions ( our testimony ), SB 481 for public records access policy (our testimony ), and SB 106 for a Public Records Advocate and Council ( our testimony ). VOLUNTEERS NEEDED. Worthy causes go unaddressed for lack of League volunteers. If you see a need and can offer your expertise, please contact our staff at lwvor@lwvor.org .

Back to All Legislative Reports Natural Resources Legislative Report - Week of 2/12 Natural Resources Team Coordinator: Peggy Lynch Coastal Issues: Christine Moffitt, Peggy Lynch Columbia River Treaty: Philip Thor Dept. of Geology and Mineral Industries: Joan Fryxell Emergency Management: Rebecca Gladstone Forestry: Josie Koehne Elliott State Research Forest: Peggy Lynch Northwest Energy Coalition: Robin Tokmakian Oregon Dept. of Fish and Wildlife: Melanie Moon Oregon Health Authority Drinking Water Advisory Committee: Sandra Bishop Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board: Water: Peggy Lynch Wildfire: Carolyn Mayers Ways and Means Natural Resource Budgets/Revenue: Peggy Lynch Jump to a topic: Air Quality Budgets/Revenue Climate Coastal Issues Dept. of Environmental Quality (DEQ) Dept. of State Lands (DSL) Drinking Water Advisory Board Elliott State Research Forest Forestry Land Use and Housing Reduce/Recycle Water Wildfire Volunteers Needed By Peggy Lynch, Natural Resources Coordinator, and Team Air Quality The Dept. of Environmental Quality presented information on the status of our Title V air quality program fees after the significant increase adopted in 2023. Budgets/Revenue By Peggy Lynch The budget bills for the session have been filed. SB 5701 is the omnibus budget bill for 2024. It is currently populated with the items approved during the November and January Legislative Days. We know there are state agency adjustments that have been requested, as well as monies to be saved in case of emergencies (such as our summer wildfire season) and changing needs under the Oregon Health Authority and Dept. of Human Services before the 2025 session. Also added to this bill at the end of session will be this session’s revenue requests and adjustments. Look for bills sent to Ways and Means to be considered in the Ways and Means Subcommittees ONLY when they have been approved by the Ways and Means Co-Chairs and Senate and House Leadership. Many bills sent to Ways and Means will still be there at the end of session. HB 5201 and HB 5202 are the bonding bills. They had a public hearing on Feb. 16 in Ways and Means Capital Construction where a multitude of requests were shared in 2-minute testimonies. Like the budget bill, these bills will reflect changes and possible additions to the 2025 approved bonds. Bonding capacity remains the same: $65.8 million in remaining general obligation bond capacity and 27.4 million in remaining lottery bond capacity for the 2023-25 biennium. SB 5702 will be populated with new or increased fees adopted by state agencies since the 2025 session. HB 5203 and HB 5204 were also filed. One will be the “program change bill” to address miscellaneous changes to agency programs. The other is held in case it is needed. It may be used for containing revenue requests due to Measure 110 changes. The Joint Committee on Ways and Means met on Feb. 16th when they approved a list of grant requests and accepted an even longer list of reports. If the grants are awarded, they will need to be approved by the legislature in order to be spent. The reports are used to help the legislature follow up on bills passed and/or agencies funded in past sessions. For budget wonks, the Oregon Legislative Fiscal Office has published its 2023-25 Legislatively Adopted Budget Detailed Analysis , which provides 632 pages of agency program descriptions; analysis of revenue sources and relationships; discussions of budget environment; and review of budget decisions made by the Legislative Assembly for the 2023-25 biennium. This document will be updated after the 2024 session. The agency budget process for 2025-27 is beginning. Look for presentations to agency Boards and Commissions soon. Quarterly revenue forecasts will be provided on May 29 and August 28. Then the November 20 th forecast will be the basis of the Governor’s Recommended Budget to be presented on December 1 st . Personal income taxpayers can determine the amount of their kicker using a “What’s My Kicker?” calculator available on Revenue Online . To use the calculator, taxpayers will need to enter their name, Social Security Number, and filing status for 2022 and 2023. Taxpayers may also hand-calculate the amount of their credit by multiplying their 2022 tax liability before any credits—line 22 on the 2022 Form OR-40—by 44.28 percent. January 29th was the first date to file 2023 tax returns. 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 By Christine Moffitt/Peggy Lynch In a surprise announcement as covered by the Oregonian , the federal government finalized two offshore wind energy areas that will allow leases to be sold off the coast of Coos Bay and Brookings. The League provided comments on HB 4080-1 that would both address union labor IF offshore wind projects happen on our South Coast and create a robust public engagement process before any projects are approved. HB 4080 A was moved to Ways and Means on Feb. 14 th . Important to the League will be financing the public engagement by the Dept. of Land Conservation and Development’s Coastal Program as required by the bill. The League signed on to a letter in support of HB 4132 , Marine Reserves. The bill is in Ways and Means. Currently, there is a fiscal request of just under $900 million for this biennium. Dept. of Environmental Quality (DEQ) By Peggy Lynch The League participated in an annual rules advisory committee meeting to consider increasing water quality program fees by 3%. The recommendation will be considered by the Environmental Quality Commission later this year. Among the items discussed were the efficiency of the agency’s permitting and the number of certified staff needed throughout Oregon to ensure the drinking water and wastewater permit requirements are met for the public health of all Oregonians. Dept. of State Lands (DSL) By Peggy Lynch The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is working with DSL to identify In Lieu lands (part of the 1,400 acres of lands owed the State of Oregon on statehood that have not yet been allotted to Oregon). Click here to view the BLM Proposed Classification Decision and a public notice that two forestland properties in Linn County that have been identified to meet the criteria for some of those In Lieu lands. Learn more and provide public comment through April 9, 2024. Drinking Water Advisory Committee By Sandra Bishop The Drinking Water Advisory Committee (DWAC) meeting was postponed to February 20 th . Agenda . Elliott State Research Forest (ESRF) By Peggy Lynch The State Land Board received a report (See information starting on page 133) on the plans for the ESRF under Dept. of State Lands (DSL) management. The Land Board approved the plan. The Ways and Means Subcommittee on Natural Resources will receive a request on Feb. 19 th from DSL asking that the $4.1 million that had been set aside for the former proposed separate ESRF state agency to instead be added to the DSL budget as the managers of the ESRF. Also at the Ways and Means meeting, Oregon State University will provide context and concerns regarding their future role in the ESRF. In the meantime, work is continuing on the eventual adoption of a Habitat Conservation Plan and a Forest Management Plan for the forest. Visit DSL's Elliott webpage to learn more . A recommendation with structural governance may be before the State Land Board on April 9. If approved, look for appointments to the new ESRF Board at their June 11 tth meeting. Forestry (ODF) The Oregon Dept. of Forestry is holding community conversations in February as they do strategic planning. The public is encouraged to participate. On Feb. 23 rd the Board of Forestry will have a special meeting on Post-Disturbance Harvest Rulemaking. Agenda . There are several bills this session around funding wildfire. For information on the various bills, see the Wildfire section of this report below. Land Use & Housing By Peggy Lynch A -9 amendment was adopted into the Governor’s land use/housing bill, SB 1537 , and sent to Ways and Means. One major element of contention was that urban growth boundaries could be expanded without using the current process. The acreage in the amendment reduced that expansion acreage by one-third. Much of the money in the original bill was removed as was the climate/housing electrification section. However, SB 1530 A also passed out of committee and included some of the money that had been included in SB 1537. A news release by the Senate President explains the elements of both bills. As part of the effort to provide infrastructure so housing can actually be built, the League supported HB 4134 A that includes a list of infrastructure projects in small towns around Oregon to be funded with a promise of new housing, especially for middle income Oregonians. Additionally, HB 4128 A was amended and also moved to Ways and Means. The League is concerned that HB 4128A lists monetary grant awards to certain cities for water infrastructure without clarity on what projects will be funded. We look forward to the Ways and Means recommendations on spending for specific infrastructure projects that can help housing development, especially affordable housing development. The Citizen Involvement Advisory Committee is recruiting for a new member from Oregon’s Third Congressional District. Applications are due by March 18, 9 a.m. Follow the work of the Oregon Housing Needs Analysis (OHNA) Rulemaking Committee on the department’s Housing Rulemaking webpage . And watch their meetings on the department’s YouTube channel. See also the Housing Report in the Social Policy section of this Legislative Report. Reduce/Recycle By Camille Freitag The League weighed in again this year on a Right to Repair bill, SB 1596 . We also joined others in support of the bill. The bill was amended and will be on the Senate Chamber floor on Feb. 19 th . Water By Peggy Lynch The amended HB 4128 sent to Ways and Means includes an allocation of $3 million to be added to the Water Well Abandonment, Repair and Replacement Fund . The League was engaged in helping create this fund in 2021. The Dept. of Environmental Quality updated the legislature on their Water Data Portal Project. The League is supportive of this project that will create a database of water and infrastructure from nine of our state water agencies. We hope Leaguers will engage with the Oregon Water Resources Dept. as they consider changes to Oregon’s groundwater rules. This slide deck was presented at their last rules advisory committee meeting. A written public comment period will open March 1 st through June 1 st . Regional meetings will be held April 4 th in Bend, April 18 in La Grande, May 16 in Central Point and May 21 st in Salem, with the Salem meeting being available virtually as well as in person. The Department of State Lands is creating a new statewide program, Abandoned and Derelict Vessels (ADV), to address hazardous vessels across Oregon. They want your feedback on the proposed program framework. Share your input by Friday, March 8th! See the proposed framework for the ADV program here (PDF) . The League has supported the creation of this program and the funding needed to remove these hazardous vessels from Oregon’s waterways. OWRD anticipates releasing a draft of the updated Integrated Water Resources Strategy (IWRS) for public review and comment in March. An updated draft should be available for a second public comment opportunity in May. The Oregon Water Resources Commission will hear public testimony and consider adoption of the 2024 IWRS at their September meeting. For more information about this process, please visit the IWRS page on their website. The League hopes members will engage since we were actively engaged in the original legislation and in the first two IWRS documents. As a result of that work, our state water agencies have been funded to a greater degree than ever before. We all need to pay attention to the potential for harmful algal blooms. “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. League members may want to check the U. S. Drought Monitor , a map that is updated every Thursday. Governor Kotek has signed drought declarations under ORS 536 for the counties of Crook, Jefferson, Grant, Deschutes, Wasco, Harney, Sherman, Lake, Jackson, Gilliam, Douglas, Lincoln and Morrow counties. Wildfire By Carolyn Mayers The League continues to monitor several wildfire funding bills this session. A work session was held on February 13 by the Senate Committee on Natural Resources and Wildfire to discuss Senator Golden’s bill, SB 1511 . This bill focuses on grant funding for community resilience programs, and standardizing homeowner risk mitigation measures as part of an exploration into potentially reducing insurance rates. The League testified in support of the bill. It passed the committee unanimously with a do-pass recommendation and was referred to Ways and Means because of the $5 million General Fund request. Shortly thereafter, the House Committee on Revenue held a Public Hearing on HB 4133 , Senator Steiner and Representative Marsh’s wildfire funding bill, which proposes changes in the harvest tax and forest protection districts, and creates a Large Wildfire fund in the Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF). Another of the bill’s sponsors, Senator Lynn Findley, spoke first about the difficulties of rangeland landowners being able to afford the current rates for protection. He proposed that they need a long-term solution to the funding model, not a “one-time band-aid”. Senator Steiner walked the committee through the details of how the bill evolved and why, and how what they were presenting would be contained in a forthcoming amendment (which was still not available at the time of this report). She also emphasized that she saw this as the beginning of a process and that the work would continue after the session. Doug Grafe, the Governor’s Wildfire Director, followed and provided general information on the wildfire crisis and the differences between the current funding structure and the proposed structure. The Committee Chair, Representative Nathanson, asked about whether a long-term solution is needed, and Senator Steiner said there would be further discussions after session addressing both, rates and policy. This was followed by public testimony, most of which was neutral. The hearing was continued to February 14, at which time Senator Golden testified. One of his points was that if any bill ends up reducing the share of the burden the timber industry pays towards addressing wildfire, the conversation with voters about a new property tax will be more difficult. To continue with a busy February 13, Representative Evans spoke before the House Committee on Rules at a Public Hearing on his wildfire funding bills, HJR 201 and HB 4075 . The end result of these bills would be the establishment of a public safety funding authority to help fund wildfire and other public safety issues by imposing up to $.25/1,000 of property tax. Requiring a Constitutional amendment, this would have to be approved by the voters. Chief Ruiz-Temple of the Department of the State Fire Marshal, and Mike Shaw, of ODF, both testified on the bill, taking neutral positions but emphasizing the need for a funding solution. Other testimony included opposition from the League of Oregon Cities and the Association of Oregon Counties. A work session scheduled for February 14, for Representative Marsh’s bill on prescribed fire liability and home hardening, HB 4016-1 , before the House Committee on Climate, Energy and the Environment, was moved to February 19. Finally, Senator Golden’s wildfire funding bill, SB 1593 , has an amendment to fund a STUDY on his proposed imposition of a timber severance tax, as opposed to the actual imposition of said tax. There will be a Public Hearing before the Senate Committee on Finance and Revenue on February 20. The League will provide testimony in support of the study of changing to a severance tax to provide more money to both the state and to the counties where timber is harvested. The League is so concerned with wildfire funding needs that we signed on to a budget request for additional monies to the State Fire Marshal’s Office and the Dept. of Forestry to address Community Wildfire Protection and Landscape Resiliency. 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.

Back to All Legislative Reports Natural Resources Legislative Report - Week of 5/26 Natural Resources Team Coordinator: Peggy Lynch Coastal Issues: Christine Moffitt, Peggy Lynch Columbia River Treaty: Philip Thor Dept. of Geology and Mineral Industries: Joan Fryxell Emergency Management: Rebecca Gladstone Forestry: Josie Koehne Elliott State Research Forest: Peggy Lynch Northwest Energy Coalition: Robin Tokmakian Oregon Dept. of Fish and Wildlife: Melanie Moon Oregon Health Authority Drinking Water Advisory Committee: Sandra Bishop Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board: Water: Peggy Lynch Wildfire: Carolyn Mayers Ways and Means Natural Resource Budgets/Revenue: Peggy Lynch Please see Natural Resources Overview here . Jump to a topic: Agriculture Air Quality Bottle Bill Update Budgets/Revenue Climate Coastal Issues Dept. of Environmental Quality (DEQ) Department of Geology and Mineral Industries (DOGAMI) Governance Land Use & Housing Transportatio n Water Wetlands Wildfire AGRICULTURE By Sandra U. Bishop Farm Stand Rules Advisory Committee REPORT OAR 660-033-0130: Regarding farm stands in exclusive farm use (EFU) zones and agri-tourism The first meeting of the Farm Stand Rulemaking Advisory Committee (RAC) was held on May 16th. Staff introduced the topics and areas of endeavor that will be considered by the RAC. The online meeting was 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. This rulemaking process was initiated by the Land Conservation and Development Commission (LCDC) in March 2025 with the intention to clarify the Oregon Administrative Rules for farm stands and related uses on lands zoned EFU. The charge of the RAC is to explore five areas or topics identified by the legislative agri-tourism group: 1. Primary Use Test (percentage of income from farm products), 2. Promotional activities outside and inside farm stand structures, 3. Activities that promote the sale of farm products, the farm operation itself, or agriculture (such as on-farm education), 4. Prepared foods with a direct tie to the farm operation or the local agricultural region, and 5. Impact on neighboring farms. This is Phase 1 of the Farm Stand Rulemaking. After the conclusion of this rulemaking process, DLCD will recommend a work plan for phases of OAR changes to address agri-tourism and other commercial events, use of soils reports, replacement dwellings and non-farm dwellings. 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. The next RAC meeting is Tuesday June 3rd. Rulemaking webpage AIR QUALITY The House Climate, Energy, and Environment committee voted 9-1 (Osborne) to move an amended version of SB 726 A to the House floor with a do pass recommendation. The Senate engrossed version 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 , adopted with no discussion, would limit the bill's application to a landfill located in Benton County (e.g., Coffin Butte). The two Reps. Levy voted "courtesy yes" and said they will oppose the bill on the House floor. Per the fiscal note, the advanced technology specified in the bill would cost local governments about $5,000 per monitoring event, or $20,000 annually per landfill. " Counties report that there are five publicly owned landfills in Lane, Lake, Klamath, Crook, and Marion counties that are currently in DEQ’s highest tier of monitoring and would be subject to the expanded methane monitoring requirements. However, there are numerous publicly owned or municipal solid waste landfills across Oregon, and...those subject to the new standards may incur additional costs if required to conduct follow-up monitoring within 10 days of detecting an exceedance ." One can assume that this fiscal note is the reason for the amendment to limit this regulation to Benton County. 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, is now awaiting the Governor’s signature. BUDGETS/REVENUE By Peggy Lynch Following are the budget bills we are watching in Natural Resources. After passage by the Full Ways and Means Committee, the bills go to each chamber for a final vote and then on to the Governor. These agency budgets are moving quickly now that the Co-Chairs know the revenue they have to spend: Dept. of Agriculture: SB 5502 Info mtgs. March 24 and 25 with public hearing March 26. Meeting Materials Of critical importance is their request for a new IT system—ONE ODA--one of the many IT bonding requests this session. Dept. of Agriculture Fees: SB 5503 Info mtgs. March 24 and 25 with public hearing March 26. Work Session May 22 on both. Meeting Materials on SB 5502. Meeting Materials on SB 5503. And five other bills related to department’s various fee increases. 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. Now to the House chambers for a final vote and on to the Governor for her signature. Dept. of Environmental Quality: SB 5520 . Governor’s budget DEQ Fact Sheet Meeting Materials . info mtgs. April 7-9, public hearing April 16. League testimony . The budget bill had a work session on May 21. LFO Recommendation and Meeting Materials Oregon Dept. of Energy: SB 5518 info hearing 2/10, Meeting Materials , public hearing 2/11. Both SB 5518 and SB 5519 will have work sessions on May 20. April 28: Natural Resources Subcommittee info hearing on Department of Energy - Grid Resilience. Meeting materials Oregon Dept. of Energy Fees: SB 5519 info hearing 2/10, public hearing 2/11 Work Session on both bills held May 20: Meeting Materials . Bills passed Full Ways and Means and are now headed to the chamber floors for a vote. Among the good news is that the Oregon Climate Action Commission is being provided with one full time permanent staffer. Oregon Dept. of Fish and Wildlife: HB 5009 , public hearings Mar. 31 & Apr. 1-2; Meeting Materials , Apr. 3 ODFW Hatchery Assessment; See also the April 15 informational meeting on the Private Forest Accord and Aquatic and Invasive Species. 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. Work Session on HB 5009 on May 28, along with HB 2342 A Relating to fees concerning wildlife, HB 2343 A Relating to the Columbia Basin endorsement and HB 2345 Relating to Oregon hatcheries. Oregon Dept. of Forestry: SB 5521 . info hearing March 10 & 11. Public hearing March 12. Meeting Materials ; See the April 15 informational meeting on the Private Forest Accord. (See the Forestry and Wildfire sections for more information.) Work Session set for May 27. LFO Recommendation Dept. of Geology and Mineral Industries (DOGAMI): HB 5010 Public hearing Feb. 5-6; Meeting materials LWVOR testimony Aggregate industry testified against the staffing and fee increases. LWVOR points out that KPM #4 , mine inspections has consistently NOT met the small 20% target so, if staffing is needed to meet that target AND fees increased to pay for them, we will continue to support. 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. The League will continue to be involved in SB 836 because we need DOGAMI staff to do more than 14% inspections of mining operations. A public hearing was held on May 19 and the League provided verbal testimony on the proposed amendment (not posted). We are concerned that it will not fund the mine inspections we had hoped, but industry negotiated the amendment that received enough favorable opinions by legislators so we expect to see it pass the committee. A Work Session is scheduled May 28. The Dept. of State Lands budget ( SB 5539 ) passed Full Ways and Means, the Senate chamber and now awaits a vote in the House chamber. Budget Report . LWVOR testimony in support. 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 Land Use Board of Appeals: SB 5529 Public hearing Feb. 27 LWVOR testimony . The bill had a work session and passed Full Ways and Means on May 23. SB 817 is a bill to request a minor fee increase. It has passed the legislature. The budget assumed passage of the bill and included the income in the approved budget. 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. The bills as recommended passed Full Ways and Means on May 16 and now go to the chamber floors. HB 5021, HB 2558 and HB 2982 all passed the House chamber and move to the Senate. 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. 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 now go to the House chamber for approval. 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.) Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board: HB 5039 . Info mtg. & Public hearing Feb. 25-27 LWVOR testimony . Meeting Materials 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 Oregon Business Development Dept.: HB 5024 Info mtgs. 3/12, 13 & 17. Public Hring 3/18. Additional informational meetings: Held April 7 and April 22. Oregon Dept. of Emergency Management: SB 5517 info hearing 4/7&8. Public hearing 4/09; Work Session May 21. LFO Recommendation . Also worked were SB 234 (LFO Recommendation) and SB 826 (LFO Recommendation) SB 826 transfers duties, functions, and powers from the State Chief Information Officer regarding the Oregon Statewide Communication Interoperability Plan (OSCIP) to the Oregon Department of Emergency Management (ODEM). Office of the Governor: SB 5523 LFO meeting materials . April 28 Public hearing. Work Session May 28. Oregon State Fire Marshal: SB 5538 info hearing 2/19, public hearing 2/20. 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. See below for more information on the latest plans to address ODOT’s revenue needs. Dept. of Administrative Services: HB 5002 info hearings 3/03-5, public hearing 3/06. Meeting Materials Work Session May 29. 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 @ 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. 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 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 is scheduled for May 29. 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, They invite your feedback during the comment period of May 12 - June 12, 2025. The draft 2026-2030 Program Enhancement Assessment and Strategy can be found on our 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 is sitting in Senate Rules while negotiations continue. The League supports SB 830 , a bill that modifies provisions of the on-site septic system loan program to allow for grants. It also allows for the program to consider mobile home parks in need of septic upgrades. The bill is awaiting the Governor’s signature. DEPT. OF GEOLOGY AND MINERAL INDUSTRIES (DOGAMI) By Joan Fryxell Here is the Mineral Land Regulation and Reclamation (MLRR) spring newsletter . See above for information about their budget and potential fee increases. GOVERNANCE A number of bills related to agency rulemaking and the role of the legislature, many of which are listed below, are getting work sessions. The League and others have concerns about many of these bills. The legislature’s job is to set policy. The agencies are responsible for implementing that policy. That action often requires rulemaking to clarify the details around that implementation. But the League is concerned when legislators “get a second bite at the apple” by relitigating the legislation when rulemaking is only meant to implement, not change policies or facilitate an agency’s mission. Blurring those lines is problematic. HB 3569 , a bill that would require a Chief Sponsor (legislator) of a bill to be a part of a rules advisory committee for legislation they had a hand in passing, passed the House and now goes to Senate Rules. A public hearing is scheduled for May 28. 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 was sent to Ways and Means. The bill creates a new Audits Officer (with possible additional staff). The Jt. Audits Committee would hire the Officer. It is unclear that, if funded, what the relationship will be with the Secretary of State’s Audit Division and the work of the Legislative Fiscal Office staff. 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. 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 is set for May 28. 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 . Sadly, a work session is scheduled for May 28 in House Rules. 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 amendmen t and now goes to the Senate floor. HB 3921 is a similar bill in that it would allow by law land swaps for City of Roseburg/Douglas County per this preliminary staff analysis . The bill is awaiting the Governor’s signature. 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 is set for May 27. If it passes Revenue, it has a subsequent referral to Ways and Means. The new Housing Affordability and Production Office (HAPO) has a website . Their proposed policies and procedures to be used when the office becomes live July 1. Interested parties are encouraged to provide feedback by email to dlcd.hapo@dlcd.oregon.gov before the end of the business day on May 30. See also the Housing Report in the Social Policy section of this Legislative Report. TRANSPORTATION Here is a good article on the latest negotiations around a 2025 transportation package and a memo from the Co-Chairs of the new Joint Committee on Transportation Reinvestment: Their memo comes a day after most House and Senate Republicans announced their support for an opposing plan that would cut funding for bike and pedestrian safety and public transit to provide more funding for roads and bridges. Not included in the Republican plan were four Republicans who have worked with Democrats to hash out details: Reps. Jeff Helfrich of Hood River and Kevin Mannix of Salem, and Sens. Bruce Starr of Dundee and Suzanne Weber of Tillamook, the Oregonian/OregonLive reported. Gorsek and McLain provided few details in their two-page memo to lawmakers, but draft language is expected in the coming days. The Joint Committee on Transportation Reinvestment, which they co-chair, will hold its first meeting on Tuesday. Lawmakers plan to establish a workgroup to create a new program that would eventually replace the Climate Protection Program. Gorsek and McLain’s memo said they envision dedicating credits generated by gas and diesel polluters toward the state highway fund, with other credits used for wildfire mitigation, community-based nonprofits and transit programs. WATER By Peggy Lynch Bills we are following: Water Right Process Improvements ( HB 3342 ) . A - 4 amendment was adopted and the bill passed the House. Amended by the A 8 amendment, it awaits a vote on the Senate floor. 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. LWV Deschutes County submitted a letter in support of SB 427 , a water rights transfer bill meant to protect instream water flows. Possible work session scheduled for April 8. SB 1153 , an alternate bill provided with help from the Governor’s office, may have more of a chance of passage. It had a public hearing on March 25 with a work session April 8. These bills were moved to Senate Rules without recommendation as to passage to allow for further conversation. League members may want to check the U. S. Drought Monitor , a map that is updated every Thursday. Here is a more complete website about drought in Oregon. We all need to pay attention to the potential for harmful algal blooms. “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. As the weather gets warmer and more people and animals visit Oregon’s water bodies, it is important to watch for potentially deadly algal blooms. 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. WETLANDS The League participated in a rulemaking on Removal-Fill Program Fees earlier this year. After review by the Dept. of Justice and comments received, adjustments to the proposed rules will be shared on May 1st. The Dept. of State Lands will be hosting a second comment period from May 1 – 31, as well as two public hearings online. Please find a PDF copy of the notice on the DSL website here. A new Rulemaking Advisory Committee has been formed related to Permitting and Mitigation in Oregon's Wetlands and Waters. 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 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. The Oregon Capital Insider provides information on the Dept. of Forestry’s budget and what’s happening at the federal level. Here is a short report on status of the bills mentioned last week: SB 860A The bill would allow the State Fire Marshal and an agency to take actions for fire protection and makes changes related to the Governor's Fire Service Policy Council. Passed both chambers and awaiting the Governor’s signature. SB 861 , a measure which would include grant funds, reimbursements, and moneys received from judgements and settlements as funds in the State Fire Marshal Mobilization Fund passed both chambers and is awaiting the Governor’s signature . It requires that the Department of the State Fire Marshal submit a report to the Joint Committee on Ways and Means on the amounts in the fund and expenditures from the fund on or before March 31 of each odd numbered year. SB 85A directs the State Fire Marshal to establish a neighborhood protection cooperative grant program to help communities collectively reduce their wildfire risk. It is awaiting the Governor’s signature. SB 75 A , removes the wildfire hazard map as a guide for allowing ADUs and requiring higher building codes in rural areas. The bill passed the House Committee and is headed to the House floor. 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. 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 and the bill moved to the House floor. SB 1051 , which transfers the authority to appoint a State Forester from the State Board of Forestry to the Governor, subject to Senate confirmation, remains in the Senate Rules Committee. 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. 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.

Back to Legislative Report Education Legislative Report - Week of 6/26 Education Update By Anne Nesse Budgets for Early Childhood Education, ‘Child Tax Credit Bill’, K-12 biennial budget, Birth to Grade 12 Educational Literacy Bill, make historical investments in 2023. The following paragraphs are explanations Bills the League has been interested in and supporting throughout the session, headed toward passage into law the week of June 20-25, now that a quorum exists in the Senate: A number of legislators from the Joint Ways and Means Committee that approved HB 3198-B ,the Literacy Bill for passage, June 20, stressed that continuous follow up by our legislative body was necessary for the effectiveness of any statewide program like this. ‘This Early Literacy for Success Bill is just the beginning of a hopefully successful effort to teach reading that is proven to be successful for all students, designed for working with all young peoples’ ages, abilities, and backgrounds.’ The League submitted written support for this Bill on April 3, in House Education. A Capitol Chronicle article here gives you examples of districts in our state that may be presently using unapproved methods of reading instruction. The large budget requested for this program ($140M), reflected the fact that any new statewide standards will have difficulties with implementation, if we do not have enough, or sufficiently trained staff. This Bill passed in the Senate on 6/25, funded with a lesser amount of $90M. The ‘Child Tax Credit Bill’, HB 3235-B , passed in the Senate on 6/25, will help somewhat to relieve childhood poverty in our state. The amount of the refundable tax credit and income limits were reduced from the original Bill. This Bill in its original form was supported by the League in written and oral testimony on February 27. The Joint Committee on Tax Expenditures unanimously passed the scaled down version of this Bill last Tuesday, June 20, establishing a $1,000 tax credit per year, for those children and families living in severe poverty, at an approximate cost of $37.5M. HB 2656-B sponsored by Rep. Nathanson, passed in the Senate 6/22, and was of interest to the League. The Bill allows an opt-out statewide survey of student answers to critical questions, that can help legislators and administrators make better decisions in the future, and allocate funds where needed.The survey will be administered yearly throughout the state, and is designed ‘to improve the health and well-being of all students in this state and to help them succeed.’ SB 283-B , passed in the Senate 6/23. It is an omnibus Bill, beginning to address the workforce shortages in public education, that are happening everywhere in the nation. The League was represented on one committee for this Bill. This Bill begins to establish a statewide data system on the educational workforce. It directs Teacher Standards and Practices Commission to develop a plan to establish and maintain a statewide portal for jobs in education. It includes bargaining agreements, for pay for planning time, and lunch periods. It requires each public education provider to encourage members of educational workforce to participate in surveys related to the educational workforce. It prescribes increased pay requirements, for additional percentage of wage to licensed educators and classified school employees who provide significant special education support. It directs DOE to establish and maintain Safe School Culture Grant program to develop network of instructors certified in nonviolent crisis intervention methods. It establishes just cause requirement for classified school employees related to dismissal, demotion and discipline. It establishes Task Force on Substitute Teachers. The total biennial State School Fund Budget was raised to an historic $10.2 Billion, as reported in our last newsletter. And paired with other revenues to a total of $15.3 Billion, an overall 12.3% increase. Oregon moved closer to giving free school breakfasts and lunches for all students, to help childhood hunger, increase learning, and avoid discrimination. This concept was something the League’s action team was supportive of during the session. The Oregon Food Bank was coordinating this effort, and this was announced in a recent press release here . SB 91-B , passed in the Senate on 6/23. It helps to pay families who care for highly disabled children at home, who cannot be educated at school, utilizing Federal matching funds. A Capitol Chronicle article explains the legislative support for this Bill here . SB 531-A , tried to establish a Summer and After-School Learning and Enrichment Grant Program, similar to what was designed to work during school closures during Covid. This directed DOE to administer a grant program. Money would come from the General Fund, but this Bill did not succeed in passage. We are not currently sure whether, or how, this grant program might be included into the total budget of this summer or the next school year, in relation to the Literacy Bill? Three Bills that the League testified on this session involving education, did not make it past their first hearing: SB 854 required a curriculum to be designed statewide, concerning climate change, adaptable to grades K-12, within all subject areas, with input from DOE, DEQ, OHA, and interested stakeholders within each school district. This received front page news in the Oregonian, as well as a large amount of positive testimony from students and teachers. However, because it was interpreted to be mandatory, this will have to wait until possibly several pilot projects, or a study Bill is designed? HB 2601 , required our State Treasurer to exit from certain carbon-intensive investments, subject to fiduciary duties. to develop a plan to protect state investments from risks related to climate change, and to issue periodic reports on actual and planned progress towards completion of the duties imposed under the Act. Divest Oregon was the Coalition that presented much of the testimony, as well as a thorough data report from Rep. Pham and Sen. Golden. The League’s testimony also emphasized the non-partisanship of this Bill. HB 2750 , prohibited charging of fees as a condition of participating in interscholastic activities (including requiring participation in fundraising activities). It authorized use of moneys in Statewide Education Initiatives Account for costs incurred by school districts and public charter schools as result of this prohibition. The League’s written and oral testimony emphasized this could allow for more types of interscholastic activities in public school, allowing for increased equity in education. Here is a summary of what Early Childhood Education received in the budget bill from the Joint Ways and Means Committee: $55 M for Facilities $23 M for Employment related Day Care $10 M for Birth to 5 Literacy Programs $18.6 M for Early Intervention/Early Childhood Special Educatio Here is a summary of what was included in the final funding Bill SB 5506-1 the “Christmas Tree Bill” for education: Department of Early Learning and Care (DELC): $5 M for technical assistance $1.7 M for Imagination Library Program Oregon Department of Education: 42.4 M Lottery $600,000 to replace state IT system $5 M Black Studies Success Plan $1.5 M for migrant/multilingual instruction team $100 M School Capital Improvement Matching funds $15 M for connecting Oregon Schools broadband grants Higher Education Coordinating Commission: $20 M Oregon Conservation Corps OSU, $250,000 Climate Service After School Care By Katie Riley SB 531 - Summer and After School Care – This bill would have provided funding for school-age kids this summer. Last year a similar bill provided $50 million and served thousands of low-income kids. This year’s bill received a hearing and was referred to W&Ms, however, it did not get assigned to a W&Ms subcommittee. It never had a work session or a funding recommendation. Schools were given extra money for summer school and could spend some of that money for extended care, depending on the school district. SB 858 – Children’s Service Districts – The bill would have provided citizens with the ability to gather signatures to have local ballot measures to form children’s service districts. A public hearing was held in Senate Finance and Revenue, but a work session was never scheduled. The bill was opposed by the League of Oregon Cities (mayors) and the Association of Oregon Counties.

Back to All Legislative Reports Social Policy Legislative Report - Week of 6/29 Social Policy Team Coordinator: Jean Pierce • After School and Summer Care: Katie Riley • Behavioral Health: Trish Garner • Criminal Justice/Juvenile Justice: Marge Easley / Sharron Noon • Education: Jean Pierce / Stephanie Engle • Equal Rights for All Ballot Measure: Jean Pierce Kyra Aguon • Gender-Related Concerns, Reproductive Health, Age Discrimination: Trish Garner • Gun Safety & Gun Issues, Rights for Incarcerated People: Marge Easley • Hate and Bias Crimes: Claudia Keith/ Becky Gladstone /rhyen enger • Health Care: Christa Danielsen • Housing: Debbie Aiona and Nancy Donovan Note: Education reports after January, 2024, are included in Social policy reports. Education reports prior to February, 2024, can be found HERE . Please see the Legislation Tracker for 2026 Social Policy bills . Jump to topic: Criminal Justice Education Gun Policy Housing Immigration Criminal Justice By Marge Easley On June 15 and 16, the Senate and House Interim Committees on Judiciary held informational hearings that touched on alternatives to incarceration and a focus on Community-Engaged Long-Term Corrections Planning, a concept that had its roots in 2013 as a way to move toward a more community-centered approach to public safety rather than building new prisons. Increased attention on mental health and addiction treatment as well as early release programs have proved successful in curtailing recidivism and promoting re-entry, but expansion of these programs is hampered by mandatory minimum sentencing laws. Also discussed were the long-term budgetary challenges of serving an aging population of adults in custody (AIC) with significant healthcare needs, exacerbated by drug use and lack of prior medical care. Antiquated prisons are not set up for current health care needs, and a revamping of the entire healthcare system at the Oregon Department of Corrections is now underway. Education Jean Pierce Performance Growth Targets for K-12 The Oregon Department of Education (ODE) shared Performance Growth Targets which it developed in partial response to SB 141 (2025), which requires school districts to measure student outcomes. Legislators, as well as representatives from the Coalition of Oregon School Administrators, the Oregon Education Association, and the Oregon School Boards Association expressed concern that these appear to be very ambitious goals – particularly for 8 th grade math - though no path has been proposed to reach these targets. No money has been appropriated for a statewide system that would drive the growth in math. This concern was highlighted in a subsequent presentation, which noted that Early Literacy Grants to school districts were tied to an increase of only 1 percentage point in 3 rd grade ELA, which was the largest annual increase since 2022. However, It was noted that these grants did not target the lowest proficiency schools. ODE is trying to reassure districts that if they fail to meet the targets, they will receive support, rather than punishment. High Cost Disability Educational Service Grants The House Education Committee heard a presentation about high cost disability grants, which are supporting education service needs for students with autism, health impairments, intellectual disabilities, emotional behavior disabilities, and other conditions requiring intense education. Most of the districts receiving these funds are located in the western part of the state. In the 2024-25 school year, 7,145 students in Oregon needed support that cost more than $30,000 and 782 of these required educational services exceeding $100,000. The number of students requiring these services has increased seven-fold since 2005. Combined with inflation, a shortage of qualified staff, and insufficient federal funding, local districts have been struggling to cover the gap with discretionary funding. Attendance The Senate Education Committee heard an update from ODE regarding their study of attendance codes. SB 315 (2025) directed ODE to submit a report to the Legislative Assembly and the State Board of Education summarizing the review, the recommendations, and best practices of recording attendance, summarizing the common coding system developed, and recommending any additional changes in administrative rules and additional legislation by May 31, 2026. Rather than proposing specific solutions, it appears that ODE has just discovered how multifaceted the problem is, and that rules and policies will need to be flexible enough to address cultural restrictions of tribes, civil rights of special needs students, and other barriers that vary throughout the state. The current compulsory attendance policies do not take into account these nuances, and districts are interpreting the requirements differently in order to fit their populations. It appears that there needs to be a system of reporting absences that pinpoints the reasons so that policy makers will know why students are missing school and how districts can address the needs. Recommendations from ODE include: Repeal the current compulsory attendance policies and adopt revisit attendance laws. Adopt common attendance codes through the State Board of Education rulemaking process Review the rule which requires schools to drop students after missing 10 consecutive school days. Review and make recommendations to implement a statewide attendance framework Establish statewide training and a uniform process for implementing adopted attendance codes. Instructional Time In 2023, a study published by Pew Research Center reported that Oregon required students to attend school for less than 170 days, while the national average was 180. Since 2025,OAR 581-015-2590 requires schools to be in session for a minimum of 220 days of actual classroom instruction, with up to five days of temporary closure due to extraordinary conditions counting toward the 220 days. This week the Senate Education Committee heard a report concerning how ODE is currently implementing the Governor’s Executive Order requiring the State Board to adopt temporary Rules regarding instructional time. These rules stated: Districts and charter schools are prohibited from further reducing instructional time in the 2025-26 school year and moving forward If time was reduced in 25-26 or 26-27, it must be restored no later than the start of the 27-28 school year The public will be made aware if time is not restored Waivers for instructional time requirements are strictly limited to declared national or state disasters or public health emergencies. At least 95 out of 196 districts must submit a plan by July 15 telling how they will restore time. If they decide not to restore the time, they must justify their decision by September 15. It was noted that – with limited funding, districts may be forced to reduce the staff, thereby increasing the student/teacher ratio in order to pay for increased time in session. Funding K-12 Education The Legislative Policy and Research Office created an excellent slide deck describing how Cost Modeling is handled in Oregon by a Professional Judgment Panel (PJP). The presentation included analyses from the American Institutes for Research evaluation citing a number of ways in which Oregon’s use of PJPs falls short of best practices. Approaching the issue from another perspective, an interim study group has been charged with examining the property tax system in Oregon. The goal is to create a more equitable system of school funding. Higher Education The Joint Emergency Board approved $7.5 million- half of the moneys allocated by the Higher Education Coordinating Committee to help keep Southern Oregon University operating through the next fiscal year. The remaining $7.5 million could be released this fall. Over the last 15 years, SOU has experienced long-term deficits due to factors such as low enrollment and high costs. They have largely exhausted their general fund, and are currently operating at a deficit despite implementing two rounds of budget reductions. The $15 M will help them stabilize their finances while they implement a Vitality Plan which proposes saving $20M by streamlining operations, flexible course delivery, etc. This plan is intended to put the university on a path to develop cash reserves without additional state funding. Some of the legislators acknowledged that SOU’s problems are a symptom of a broader issue – Oregon is underfunding its public institutions of higher education. In fact, Oregon ranks 46 th in funding for students in four-year colleges and universities. Consequently, the state ranks 44 th in the country in the total average tuition cost for in-state public institutions. Gun Policy Marge Easley Measure 114 The Oregon Supreme Court is expected to rule any day now on the constitutionality of Measure 114, passed by voters in 2022 to require a permit to purchase a firearm and to ban high-capacity magazines. Stay tuned. Housing Nancy Donovan and Debbie Aiona Oregon Housing Alliance The League is an active member of the Oregon Housing Alliance, which brings together over 100 housing stakeholders to engage in solving housing issues to help people access safe, stable and affordable rental homes and homeownership. Currently, its leadership is in transition to hire a new Housing Alliance Director and a Housing Alliance Lobbyist by this September. Regular work will continue with steering committee and workgroup meetings, with key messages on upcoming legislative days and planned legislative meetings. The House Interim Committee on Housing and Homelessne ss heard presentations on several topics at its June 16 meeting. Highlights include: Affordable Housing Preservation : Amanda Saul, Portland Housing Bureau’s Housing Investment manager, provided an overview of challenges facing the Portland low-income housing market. Adding more units to the housing supply helps with overall affordability, but does not address the shortage at very low incomes. Affordability restrictions on approximately 1,250 units will be expiring over the next 10 years. Preservation of these units is critical to preventing further increases in homelessness. In Portland, there is a 35,950-unit surplus of regulated and market-rate housing affordable to households with incomes at 50 – 80 percent of Area Median Income (AMI). In contrast, there is a deficit of 18,950 units affordable to households earning 0 – 30 percent AMI. Increased operating expenses have made it challenging for housing providers to remain solvent. Tenants unable to pay rent, residents with serious behavioral health issues, and increased security needs are also factors contributing to the problem. Ms. Saul pointed to solutions at the local and state levels that are currently in use and others that could be implemented or expanded. Examples include rent assistance, energy efficiency upgrades, refinancing/restructuring of commercial debt, and set aside funds for preservation of existing regulated units. Rental Assistance: The Oregon Law Center, Community Action Programs, and Oregon Housing and Community Services department (OHCS) presented information on the magnitude of tenant evictions in Oregon, housing affordability, and rental assistance and eviction prevention services. This Oregon Law Center presentation documents the mismatch among housing costs, unit availability, and incomes, particularly among households with the lowest incomes. For every unit affordable to an extremely low-income household, there are 4.2 households competing for that home. Housing cost burden is the highest predictor of eviction and homelessness. For every $100 increase in rent, there is a nine percent increase in homelessness. The presentations incorporated information on effective measures that keep people in their homes, including eviction process reform, legal assistance for people facing eviction, and rent assistance. The Senate Committee on Housing and Development received updates and briefings at its June 16 meeting. Housing Production : OHCS updated the committee on statewide housing production progress. During the period between 2016 – 2020, about 12,850 average units per year were developed. During 2021 – 2025 time period, an average of 22,300 units were produced each year. In order to address the state’s housing affordability challenges, more affordable housing is needed, particularly units at the lowest end of the range. Financing low-income housing is complicated and requires a mix of equity, debt, and public investment. OHCS funded approximately 2,700 rental units/year since 2021. From 2016 – 2020, the number was 1,700 rental units/year. OHCS has also been instrumental in developing homeownership projects throughout the state. One in three projects is located in rural areas. Immigration Claudia Keith NOTE: LWVOR positions support federal immigration laws that provide efficient, equitable systems for immigrants to enter and thrive in the United States. Congress must take immediate action to pass common-sense, fair immigration policies that end the crisis at our borders, protect families from (LWVUS Resolution, 2020). Oregon is home to more than 400,000 immigrants — nearly 10% of the state’s population and 13% of its workforce. I. JUNE 2026 LEGISLATIVE DAYS & INTERIM COMMITTEE Oregon Legislative Days — June 15–17, 2026 Relevant interim committee hearings and meeting materials from the June 2026 Legislative Days: • House Interim Committee on Early Childhood and Human Services — expected to receive updates from the Oregon Department of Human Services (ODHS) on the Interagency Council on Immigrant and Refugee Coordination (ICIRC), implementation status of 2026 immigrant justice bills, and federal funding impacts on programs serving immigrant families. • Senate Interim Committee on Judiciary — likely to receive updates on ongoing federal-state litigation (see Section V), sanctuary law enforcement, and law enforcement accountability under HB 4138 (Law Enforcement Accountability and Visibility Act). • Joint Interim Committee on Ways & Means — monitoring impacts of federal Medicaid, SNAP, and Head Start cuts on immigrant and refugee populations. • House Interim Committee on Behavioral Health and Health Care — receiving updates on implementation of SB 1570 (Healthcare Without Fear Act) signed April 9, 2026. II. GOVERNOR KOTEK: EXECUTIVE ORDERS & STATE AGENCY Executive Order 26-04 Governor Tina Kotek signed Executive Order 26-04 , titled “Ensuring State Coordination for Immigrant and Refugee Communities to Promote Dignity and Safety”; on January 30, 2026 — one week after hosting a roundtable with community organizers and state officials on what her office characterized a “escalating and abusive”; federal immigration enforcement tactics. • The order established a formal Interagency Council on Immigrant and Refugee Coordination (ICIRC), led by the Office of Immigrant and Refugee Advancement (OIRA) within ODHS, and composed of the Governor and at least 10 state agency directors (education, health, housing, transportation, and others). • Mandate: Inventory current agency protocols related to immigration enforcement activity, identify opportunities to improve the state's coordinated response, and support communities impacted. • Timeline: The council was required to define objectives and develop a work plan by March 31, 2026, with plan implementation to begin by May 30, 2026. • ICIRC held its first meeting in mid-February 2026. OIRA Director Jessica Ventura indicated the council aimed to align and boost state programs supporting immigrants and refugees. Undercover License Plates — Denial to ICE (April–June 2026) According to the Oregon Capital Chronicle , Oregon DMV halted issuance of undercover license plates to all federal agencies effective April 15, 2026, following an internal review. On June 1, 2026, Governor Kotek formally ordered state transportation officials to cease providing undercover plates specifically to ICE agents, citing repeated violations of state and federal law. • The Oregon DMV stated: “We cannot expend state resources to assist in federal immigration enforcement”; • Existing unexpired undercover plates held by federal agencies may continue in use; the policy change affects new issuance only. • State and local law enforcement agencies have continued to receive undercover plates. • The Trump administration filed suit against Oregon (and Maine, Massachusetts, and Washington) in late May/early June 2026, alleging the policy is unconstitutional under the Supremacy Clause. • Constitutional law experts note this litigation could have broader implications for Oregon’s sanctuary law — if the federal government prevails, it may become harder for Oregon to withhold certain state services from federal agencies. Governor Kotek Signs 2026 Immigrant Justice Package Governor Kotek signed eight bills into law at a ceremony in Portland on April 9, 2026, joined by Democratic lawmakers, Portland Police Assistant Chief Brian Hughes, and advocates from PCUN Most of these laws took effect June 5, 2026. "In the preparation of this Immigration report, AI was used to summarize and synthesize background data. The final analysis, interpretations, and conclusions were reviewed, verified, and edited by the author to ensure accuracy and alignment with our organizational standards." Please see the Legislation Tracker for 2026 Social Policy bills for which the League submitted testimony. VOLUNTEERS NEEDED : What is your passion related to Social Policy? You can help. Volunteers are needed. We particularly need help tracking legislation concerning Basic Needs: Food Basic Needs: Income Juvenile Justice Public Safety Interested in reading additional reports? Please see our Climate Emergency , Governance , and Natural Resources , and Revenue report sections.

Back to Legislative Report Education Legislative Report - September Interim Jump to a topic: Higher Education Education Updates Higher Education By Jean Pierce With repayments of federal loans restarting this month, it is important for those who incurred student debt to access information addressing their questions and concerns. Borrowers need to be aware of different repayment plans as well as pathways to loan forgiveness, and recourse if they suspect fraud. LWVOR supported the implementation of SB 485 (2021) , which addresses licensing of ombuds helping graduates navigate student loans. This legislation is consistent with the Oregon League’s position that the State General Fund should give high priority to financial aid for students. Borrowers struggling with student loan debt are encouraged to contact the student loan ombuds at DFR.bankingproducthelp@dcbs.oregon.gov or 888-877-4894. We anticipate legislation addressing Oregon’s financial aid programs’ limitations could do more to promote equitable access to higher education. The House Interim Education heard testimony relating to the League’s position: “If state funding necessitates limiting access to community colleges, such limitation should consider equity as well as financial need.” The committee heard testimony describing the Oregon Promise Grant (OPG), which covers community college tuition costs for students entering those institutions directly from high school. Seventy percent of the awards granted have been to families which have been able to contribute only $2000 or less to the costs. League members can expect legislation addressing the following issues: OPGs are only available to students who enter community colleges immediately after graduating high school. This is a problem, since the average community college student age is 26-27. OPGs only cover winter and spring semesters if a student entered in the fall. This is a problem, since many students apply when they are laid off, which could be at any time during the year. Currently, because of university grants and the broader scope of state grants for university students, out-of-pocket costs are actually higher for students attending community colleges than for students attending other institutions which cost twice as much. Costs include housing, food, and transportation are not addressed by OPG. Education Updates By Anne Nesse “A few weeks ago the Census Bureau released the poverty figures. And nationally, child poverty more than doubled — the largest increase in more than 50 years”…from OCPP. Based on policy analysts at the Oregon Center for Public Policy (OCPP), Oregon calculated the same increase in poverty of families using a more complete measure of poverty today, “the United Way’s ALICE: Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed (ALICE) Index . Unlike the poverty line, ALICE takes into account all essentials: housing, child care, food, transportation, and more. It reflects what it actually takes to live and work in the modern economy. According to the most recent ALICE data, more than two in every five Oregonians live below that threshold.” The Human Services Committee met on 9/27/23 and included testimony on meeting needs of lower-income families with childcare needs and the official launch of the Dept. of Early Learning and Care (DELC). Alyssa Chatterjee and the operating manager introduced the new website . They have successfully launched $370M in grants and are now processing applications in 4 weeks, 84% of the time. As of November 4th, there will be a waitlist for ERDC (Employment Related Day Care). They are currently attempting to serve 14,000 families of lower incomes, with 4,000 families on the waitlist and a 52% caseload increase. There are special groups, TANF/TA/DVS (domestic violence survivors), who do not have to be on the waitlist and are given priority. Rep. Reynolds asked about how we were anticipating dealing with the increased demand and Rep. Hieb asked about prolonged phone wait times. Ms. Chatterjee stated she had notified the Budget Committee and that DELC was on track to increase the budget and decrease wait times so that hopefully no family would be turned away. House Education met on 9/27/23, addressing equity in education, health and mental health care, summer programs, as well as increasing outdoor time for students with volunteer programs, see meeting video . First on the agenda was Medicaid funding for special education and other Medicaid billable areas that no longer have limitations. This established the lack of licensed nursing practitioners in schools and the need to improve billing systems methods, along with establishing a more consistent statewide IEP system so all the health and mental health needs of our students can be better met. Measure 98 implementation was next, designed to increase graduation rates along with providing career and technical education (CTE). It was noted that although graduation rates were up to 93% in CTE programs, Oregon was still below most states on expenditures in CTE and 10X lower than Washington State. Summer learning program losses were presented by Parasa Chanrany of COSA (Coalition of Oregon School Administrators). She quantified the losses to half in a number of areas critical to providing equity for children and parents living with fewer resources. Finally Rep. Gomberg introduced The Cascade Head Biosphere Collaborative , which includes a volunteer group, encouraging more outdoor education, and is requesting funding for increased education about natural resources. The Joint Committee on Public Education Appropriations (JCPEA) met 9/8/23 and reviewed some issues the Dept. of Education faces concerning equity in education, within Oregon’s 197 school districts. See meeting materials and the meeting video . Find individual presentations by clicking on links inside the agenda, including the “Oregon School Budget 2024-25” and “what our goals in K-12 education are.” This meeting included Post-Secondary Education, as well as the Early Learning System. An Overview of the Quality Education Model, with Melissa Goff, Education Policy Advisor from the Office of the Governor, was presented. Let’s end this report with something positive in education, because some parents may soon be asking about their student’s lower test scores in reading and math. Local teachers may be questioning their profession by striking. There are current questions circulating at the Dept. of Education and the Legislature on what best represents the requirements that our students should meet for an Oregon High School Diploma. So take a moment and look back to 1969, when Mr. Rogers testified to a Federal Senate SubCommittee on Communications for increased funding. The poem he wrote with the kid’s help at the end is particularly endearing.

Back to All Legislative Reports Natural Resources Legislative Report - Week of 6/23 Natural Resources Team Coordinator: Peggy Lynch Coastal Issues: Christine Moffitt, Peggy Lynch Columbia River Treaty: Philip Thor Dept. of Geology and Mineral Industries: Joan Fryxell Emergency Management: Rebecca Gladstone Forestry: Josie Koehne Elliott State Research Forest: Peggy Lynch Northwest Energy Coalition: Robin Tokmakian Oregon Dept. of Fish and Wildlife: Melanie Moon Oregon Health Authority Drinking Water Advisory Committee: Sandra Bishop Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board: Water: Peggy Lynch Wildfire: Carolyn Mayers Ways and Means Natural Resource Budgets/Revenue: Peggy Lynch Please see Natural Resources Overview here . Jump to a topic: Agriculture Air Quality Budgets/Revenue Climate Coastal Issues Dept. of Environmental Quality (DEQ) Department of Geology and Mineral Industries (DOGAMI) Elliott State Research Forest (ESRF) Forestry (ODF) Governance Land Use & Housing Transportation Water Wildfire 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. OPPORTUNITY FOR PUBLIC COMMENT 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. A genda 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. SUMMER PREPARATION TIPS 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.

Back to Legislative Report Revenue Legislative Report - Week of 6/16 Revenue Team Coordinator: Peggy Lynch Please see Governance Overview here . Jump to a topic: Revenue Updates Revenue Updates By Natalie Briggs By Natalie Briggs HB 2321 Oregon House Bill 2321 seeks to study Oregon’s property tax system, with a focus on Ballot Measures 5 and 50. Ballot measure 5, passed in 1990, set limits on property taxes through a hybrid levy- and rate-based system originally intended to control rapidly increasing property tax costs. This was a departure from the previous property tax system, which relied on tax levies set by each district as a function of specific budget needs. Measure 50, passed in 1997, modified the system further by implementing permanent rates, reducing assessed value, and limiting annual property tax increases. Critics of measures 5 and 50 argue these changes to property tax policy in Oregon have resulted in inequitable taxation over time, with tax burdens shifting from high value to low value properties. Critics also argue these measures have imposed budget constraints on Oregon cities, requiring communities to rely on local levies instead. House bill 2321 and its amendments seek to generate a tax system review, with a focus on inequities and options to modernize Oregon’s tax system. Testimony provided during the June 5 work session on house bill 2321 was largely supportive. HB 3962 House Bill 3962 (introduced as HB 3962-14) changes local transient lodging tax regulations in Oregon by expanding how funds can be used. Since 2003, Oregon law has required 70% of new or increased transient lodging taxes to be spent on tourism, with 30% reserved for local discretionary spending. HB 3962 expands the use of restricted funds to allow spending on infrastructure and tourism-impacted services such as public safety services, and is widely supported by voters as a means to sustain city services. Amendment -14 adjusts revenue allocation, requiring that a minimum of 40% of net revenue from transient lodging taxes go toward funding tourism promotion or tourism-related facilities, with no more than 60% to be used on city or county services. HB 3962-14 will become operative on January 1, 2026. Interested in reading additional reports? Please see our Climate Emergency , Governance , Natural Resources , and Social Policy report sections.

Back to All Legislative Reports Social Policy Legislative Report - Week of 3/3 Social Policy Team Coordinator: Jean Pierce • After School and Summer Care: Katie Riley • Behavioral Health: Trish Garner • Criminal Justice/Juvenile Justice: Marge Easley / Sharron Noon • Education: Jean Pierce / Stephanie Engle • Equal Rights for All Ballot Measure: Jean Pierce Kyra Aguon • Gender-Related Concerns, Reproductive Health, Age Discrimination: Trish Garner • Gun Safety & Gun Issues, Rights for Incarcerated People: Marge Easley • Hate and Bias Crimes: Claudia Keith/ Becky Gladstone /rhyen enger • Health Care: Christa Danielsen • Housing: Debbie Aiona and Nancy Donovan Note: Education reports after January, 2024, are included in Social policy reports. Education reports prior to February, 2024, can be found HERE . Please see the Legislation Tracker for 2025 Social Policy bills . Jump to topic: Behavioral Health Education Gun Policy Healthcare Housing Behavioral Health By Stephanie Aller HB 2596 (School Psychologist Interstate Licensure Compact) was passed by the House and had its first reading in the Senate on February 25. The bill was referred to the Senate Committee on Education. The League presented testimony supporting a related bill, HB 3351 , which lets licensed counselors from other states work in Oregon. The League of Women Voters of Oregon submitted testimony in support of HB 3129 , the Higher Education Behavioral Health Workforce Expansion Fund. The bill will help to address the behavioral health workforce crisis by funding students and investing in faculty and program resources. The House Committee on Higher Education and Workforce Development held a public hearing on HB 3129 on February 25. Rep. Nosse, a chief sponsor of the bill, testified that many behavioral health educational programs at public institutions are at full capacity. They do not have the funding to expand enrollment. Other institutions would like to start new programs to train behavioral health providers but also lack funding. SB 527 is scheduled for a public hearing on March 13 before the Senate Committee on Early Childhood and Behavioral Health. The bill directs the Oregon Health Authority to start a grant program to establish behavioral health workforce training programs for high school students. Education By Jean Pierce On February 26, the Education Committees of both chambers met together to hear a presentation from authors of the American Institute for Research (AIR) report analyzing School Funding in Oregon. AIR has found that funding would need to be increased by $5074 per student if Oregon were to reach the level of adequate performance to which it aspires. But it is up to the legislature to determine whether that is the level they are willing to fund. They also noted that increasing funding to achieve equity is only the first step. The next step would be to analyze how some districts are doing more with less, with an eye to providing guidance for how schools and districts should use the resources provided in order to achieve better outcomes.. Specifically addressing special education funding, the authors of the AIR report noted that there was an increase of 21.5% in funding per student between 2018 and 2023, and yet that was only an increase of 4.3% in inflation-adjusted figures. Over that same time period - there was a 27.6% increase in students with moderate or high-cost disabilities and a 7.2% decrease in low-cost disabilities in the state. The one-size-fits all Special Education weight that is part of the State School Fund does not accommodate this shift. Oregon is one of only eight states which use a single weight. AIR recommends that our state use a system more like that of 21 other states which group categories into tiers according to the cost of services needed. In addition, the research group recommends eliminating the State School Fund cap on special education funding. They noted that 88% of school districts have exceeded the cap, but the waiver which is available to those districts covered only 30% of the amount of funding which they received for students under the cap. Accordingly, they reported that districts with more high-need students are receiving less money than needed. Further, since public schools are required to accommodate these students’ needs, they must make cuts in other programs. LWVO R submitted t estimony for SB 1098 , which prohibits discrimination when selecting or retaining school library materials, textbooks or instructional materials or when developing and implementing a curriculum. The League submitted testimony for HB 3182 , which directs the Higher Education Coordinating Commission to award grants to nonprofit organizations that provide affordable housing support to low-income students in higher education. This bill is addressing a serious problem in Oregon. A 2023 survey of Portland Community College students revealed that 56% were experiencing housing insecurity LWVOR submitted testimony for HB 3183 , which would appropriate money tothe Higher Education Coordinating Commission for purposes of the Open Educational Resources Program. The funds would continue to provide no-cost, low-cost textbooks and course materials across Oregon’s colleges and universities. This is a significant problem, since a 2022 survey of students at Oregon State University revealed that 61% had not purchased textbooks due to the cost. Gun Policy By Marge Easley The League has signed on to the legislative agenda of the Alliance for a Safe Oregon , which includes the following gun policy bills: HB 3076 : institutes state licensing of firearm dealers SB 696 : places a statewide ban on rapid-fire devices, such as bump stocks HB 3075 : allocates resources for Measure 114 implementation SB 1015 and HB 5014 : funds community violence intervention programs SB 697 : raises the minimum age from 18 to 21 to purchase a semi-automatic rifle SB 429 : requires a 72-hour waiting period before the transfer of a firearm SB 203 : strengthens Oregon’s Extreme Risk Protection Order (ERPO) law The Alliance will hold its Advocacy Day at the Capitol on March 4. A joint informational session of the House and Senate Judiciary Committees has been scheduled for the week of March 10, with hearings on several of the bills tentatively scheduled for March 17 and March 20. Links to League testimony on these bills will appear in upcoming Legislative Reports. Meanwhile, the Trump administration will have a significant impact on gun policy at the federal level, as was made clear by the issuance of the February 7th executive order on “Protecting Second Amendment Rights.” Newly named FBI Chief Kash Patel has also taken the reins of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), and a bill has been introduced in the House to eliminate the entire agency. Health Care by Christa Danielson HB 2010 A : LWVOR presented testimony for this bill, which funds the state portion of the Oregon Health Plan. The bill continues the assessments on health insurance and hospitals that have been in place for the last five years. One half of all children and one fourth of the population of Oregon have the Oregon Health Plan as their health insurance. The bill passed the House with bi-partisan support, and is currently in the Senate Committee on Health. Housing By Nancy Donovan and Debbie Aiona Governor Kotek’s Statewide Shelter System Proposal On February 24, Governor Kotek testified before the House Committee on Housing and Homelessness to present her proposal for a statewide shelter system. HB 3644 would create the system, which would be administered by Oregon Housing and Community Services (OHCS). The bill appropriates $218 million to reduce unsheltered homelessness and transition people into stable housing. It codifies the structure established by the Governor’s statewide housing emergency declared at the beginning of her term in office. The proposal is the product of a Sustainable Shelter Work Group created by the Governor and Representative Pam Marsh. The bill calls for dividing the state into regions. Each region will have a regional coordinator responsible for planning, funding, and services. OHCS will enter into five- or six-year agreements with each region. They will be required to submit an annual report outlining progress on their regional plans. The proposal would move Oregon away from one-time emergency funding for shelters towards a stable outcomes-based system. At least 70 percent of the funds would go towards low-barrier shelters with the remainder available for recovery-based shelters. Programs will be open seven days a week, 24 hours a day. In order to accommodate regional differences, shelters eligible for the program include congregate and non-congregate shelters, safe temporary emergency sites that meet health and safety standards for vehicular camping, and basic freestanding structures that are sound, weatherproof, and have locking doors. Interested in reading additional reports? Please see our Climate Emergency , Governance , and Natural Resources report sections.

Back to All Legislative Reports Governance Internships Legislative Report - Week of 2/6 Governance Team Coordinator: Becky Gladstone and Chris Cobey Artificial Intelligence: Lindsey Washburn Campaign Finance Reform: Norman Turrill Conflicts of Interest/Legislative Ethics: Chris Cobey CEI - Critical Energy Infrastructure : Nikki Mandell and Laura Rogers Cybersecurity Privacy, Election Issues, Electronic Portal Advisory Board: Becky Gladstone Election Systems: Barbara Klein Emergency Preparedness: Cate Arnold Immigration, Refugee, and Asylum: Claudia Keith Redistricting: Norman Turrill, Chris Cobey State Audit Working Group: Sheila Golden Voting Rights of Incarcerated People: Marge Easley Campaign Finance Reform Redistricting Elections Election Methods Rights of Incarcerated People Public Records Law By Norman Turrill, Governance Coordinator, and Team Campaign Finance Reform There have been no new bills filed and no public activity for CFR. Redistricting By Chris Cobey and Norman Turrill Nothing new this week. See previous LRs. Elections By Tom Messenger Both SB 804 by Senator Manning and SB 499 by Senator Weber would move the Presidential Primary to Super Tuesday. Things are in the works now to merge these two bills into one. Election Methods By Barbara Klein Based on LWVOR positions, the League has decided to support the Ranked Choice Voting (RCV) bill HB 2004 sponsored by Rep Rayfield, Fahey, Reynolds, Marsh, Senator Sollman; and regular sponsors, Rep Pham K, Senator Dembrow, and Golden, which is currently in House Rules. We will participate in coalition meetings and have approved use of the LWVOR logo for coalition efforts led by Coalition of Communities of Color and Oregon RCV. Rights of Incarcerated People By Marge Easley Prison work requirements and fair labor compensation remain topics of nationwide discussion. The ACLU published a study in June of 2022 entitled “Captive Workers: Exploitation of Incarcerated Workers,” that states in the introduction: “Our nation incarcerates over 1.2 million people in state and federal prisons, and two out of three of these incarcerated people are also workers… Incarcerated workers are under the complete control of their employers, and they have been stripped of even the most minimal protections against labor exploitation and abuse.” In Oregon, the passage last year of Measure 112, which repealed language in the state constitution allowing slavery and involuntary servitude, was a step in the right direction. However, incarcerated workers in Oregon continue to receive no wages. Instead, compensation is paid via the Performance Recognition and Award system, through which workers may receive points that may be converted to a monthly monetary award, translating to $8 to $82 per month. Thus, it is noteworthy when a February 7 Oregonian article (“Proposed bill would pay incarcerated workers minimum wage in Washington”) reports that Washington state lawmaker Rep. Tarra Simmons, who spent time in prison and was paid 42 cents an hour for her labor, just introduced a bill in the Washington Legislature called the “Real Labor, Real Wages Act,” to pay incarcerated workers minimum wage for doing their jobs. Passage will most likely be an uphill battle. According to the article, Colorado is the only state to pay minimum wage for incarcerated labor, while similar legislation has failed to pass in seven other states. Public Records Law By Rebecca Gladstone We resurrected testimony this week, along with our standing advisory comments from 2017 bills, all enrolled, for the most public records law reform seen in Oregon in thirty years: HB 2101 , HB 481 , and SB 106 . This week, Senate Rules Chair Lieber agreed with our urging, and after a hearing, instructed the group of lobbyists addressing Public Records Advisory Council (PRAC) issues to work together to pass solid improvements this session. We recommend watching this hearing video . SB 417 Public Records Requests. We support this detailed PRAC bill to increase efficiency in processing public records requests, considering fee waivers, defining “media”, waiving records request fees when made in the public interest, and considering malicious intent in placing requests. See our testimony . SB 510 : This companion bill to SB 417 would improve efficiency and calls for estimating costs and budgeting, and for sustainable funding for the PRAC. See our testimony in support . SB 160 There was firm opposition to this bill suggesting fee waivers, reducing fees by percentage for public records requests. We urged for attributes addressed in other bills to be considered here, or for the other bills to consider possible benefits from SB 160. See our testimony comments , not supporting or opposing. HB 3111 : This privacy protection bill exempts some personal information for some Oregonians. As we advocated for SB 293 Enrolled (2021), we urge for less piece-meal privacy protection. See our HB 3111 testimony in support, repeating our previous calls for improvements. SCR 1 : This Joint Resolution expresses support for our County Clerks and local elections officials, condemning violence and threats of violence, lacking specific proposals. We reiterated from our HB 4144 92022) testimony , that voting is a fundamental right of citizenship, including protection from harassment and intimidation, for all involved in the process. See our SCR 1 testimony . Informational hearings continue with public hearings being set for bills we support. We are comparing bill lists and collaborating with others, signing group letters. We welcome volunteers who can bring their expertise to watch hearings and share summary observation, learn the ropes and join our Action Team. VOLUNTEERS NEEDED. Worthy causes go unaddressed for lack of League volunteers. If you see a need and can offer your expertise, please contact our staff at lwvor@lwvor.org .

Back to All Legislative Reports Natural Resources Legislative Report - Week of 4/14 Natural Resources Team Coordinator: Peggy Lynch Coastal Issues: Christine Moffitt, Peggy Lynch Columbia River Treaty: Philip Thor Dept. of Geology and Mineral Industries: Joan Fryxell Emergency Management: Rebecca Gladstone Forestry: Josie Koehne Elliott State Research Forest: Peggy Lynch Northwest Energy Coalition: Robin Tokmakian Oregon Dept. of Fish and Wildlife: Melanie Moon Oregon Health Authority Drinking Water Advisory Committee: Sandra Bishop Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board: Water: Peggy Lynch Wildfire: Carolyn Mayers Ways and Means Natural Resource Budgets/Revenue: Peggy Lynch Please see Natural Resources Overview here . Jump to a topic: Air Quality Agriculture Bottle Bill Update Budgets/Revenue Climate Dept. of Environmental Quality (DEQ) Department of State Lands (DSL) Elliott State Research Forest (ESRF) Emergency Services Forestry (ODF) Governance Land Use & Housing Solid Waste Water Wetlands Wildfire AIR QUALITY SB 726 A requires the owner or operator of a municipal solid waste landfill to conduct surface emissions monitoring and report data as specified in the Act. LWVOR supports. The amended bill passed the Senate 17 to 10 with 3 excused and now heads to the House. Per the fiscal impact statement, the advanced technology specified in the bill would cost local governments operating certain large landfills approximately $5,000 per monitoring event, or $20,000 annually per landfill, but the bill doesn’t cost the state so it continues as a policy bill. AGRICULTURE By Sandra Bishop By Sandra Bishop HB 2647 passed out of committee with the -3 amendment to allow the city of Monmouth a land swap to remove and replace land to its UGB. It now heads to the House floor for a vote. HB 3921 is a similar bill in that it would allow by law land swaps for City of Roseburg/Douglas County per this preliminary staff analysis . The bill passed out of committee and heads to the House floor for a vote. HB 3928 would allow counties to supersede all statewide land use planning laws to site housing on rural lands. This bill died in committee. The Land Conservation and Development Commission (LCDC) meeting on March 20th included a public hearing on rulemaking for solar siting in eastern Oregon. The rules are required to implement HB 3409 (2023 session), specifically to reduce conflicts in siting solar projects. The rules will be considered for adoption by July 1st, 2025. The public comment period has been extended to April 30. Proposed rule amendments to the Oregon Administrative Rule (OAR) Chapter 660 divisions 4, 6, 23, and 33, pertaining to Goal Exceptions, Forest Lands, Goal 5, and Agricultural Lands. Submit comments to: denise.johnson@dlcd.oregon.gov gordon.howard@dlcd.oregon.gov jon.jinings@dlcd.oregon.gov adam.tate@dlcd.oregon.gov SB 78 – Replacement dwelling bill did not get a work session and has died in committee. LWVOR testified in support of SB 78 . Oregonlive had an article noting the lack of success in many of the “protect ag land” bills. SB 1129 requires the Land Conservation and Development Commission (LCDC) to amend rules on urban reserves, clarifying which lands should be given a lower priority. The -1 amendment was adopted and the bill is headed to the Senate floor for a vote. BOTTLE BILL UPDATE By Sandra Bishop SB 992 is the omnibus bottle bill. The -3 amendment replaced the original bill, was adopted and the bill now goes to the Senate floor for a vote. HB 3940 , the omnibus wildfire funding bill, passed out of committee after adopting the -1 amendment without recommendation as to passage and was referred to House Revenue by prior reference. The increased bottle bill fee, although contested, has stayed in the bill. BUDGETS/REVENUE By Peggy Lynch The Co-Chairs of Ways and Means provided their framework for the 2025-27 state budget. Note on the last page the potential effect of federal budget cuts. This Oregonlive article suggests some of the most painful cuts. Each day we learn of more and more federal funding that were assumed to be. Following are the budget bills we are watching in Natural Resources: Dept. of Agriculture: SB 5502 Info mtgs. March 24 and 25 with public hearing March 26. Meeting Materials Dept. of Agriculture Fees: SB 5503 Info mtgs. March 24 and 25 with public hearing March 26. Columbia River Gorge Commission: SB 5508 Info mtg. and public hearing March 13 Dept. of Environmental Quality: SB 5520 . Governor’s budget DEQ Fact Sheet Meeting Materials . info mtgs. April 7-9, public hearing April 16. The League will provide testimony. Oregon Dept. of Energy: SB 5518 info hearing 2/10, Meeting Materials , public hearing 2/11 Oregon Dept. of Energy Fees: SB 5519 info hearing 2/10, public hearing 2/11 Oregon Dept. of Fish and Wildlife: HB 5009 , public hearings Mar. 31 & Apr. 1-2; Meeting Materials , Apr. 3 ODFW Hatchery Assessment; Oregon Dept. of Forestry: SB 5521 . info hearing March 10 & 11. Public hearing March 12. Meeting Materials (See Wildfire section for more information.) Dept. of Geology and Mineral Industries: HB 5010 Public hearing Feb. 5-6; Meeting materials LWVOR testimony Aggregate industry testified against the staffing and fee increases. LWVOR points out that KPM #4 , mine inspections has consistently NOT met the small 20% target so, if staffing is needed to meet that target AND fees increased to pay for them, we will continue to support. 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. On March 25 the bill was moved to Senate Rules without recommendation. A performance audit was prepared. The League awaits the results. The League will continue to be involved in SB 836 because we need DOGAMI staff to do more than 14% inspections of mining operations. 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 Land Use Board of Appeals: SB 5529 Public hearing Feb. 27 LWVOR testimony . SB 817 is a bill to request a minor fee increase. It has passed the Senate. A public hearing is set on April 16 in the House Committee On Agriculture, Land Use, Natural Resources, and Water . Oregon State Marine Board: HB 5021 Public hearing Feb. 17 Meeting Materials 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. OPRD will need additional revenue sources for the 2027-29 biennium. Dept. of State Lands: SB 5539 Info hearing March 17. public hearing March 19. Meeting Materials . LWVOR testimony in support. 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.) Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board: HB 5039 . Info mtg. & P ublic hearing Feb. 25-27 LWVOR testimony . Meeting Materials 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. & P ublic hearing Feb. 25-26 Oregon Business Development Dept.: HB 5024 Info mtgs. 3/12, 13 & 17. Public Hearing 3/18 Oregon Dept. of Emergency Management: SB 5517 info hearing 4/7&8. Public hearing 4/09; Office of the Governor: SB 5523 Oregon State Fire Marshal: SB 5538 info hearing 2/19, public hearing 2/20. Dept. of Transportation: SB 5541 info hearing 3/03-6, public hearing 3/11. Here is an article from oregonlive reporting on the potential 2025 transportation package with proposed revenue sources. The League signed on to a letter in support of increased transit funding. Dept. of Administrative Services: HB 5002 info hearings 3/03-5, public hearing 3/06. Meeting Materials 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 Lottery Bonds: SB 5531 : an average debt capacity of $564 million in each Biennium. Public hearing in April. Emergency Board: HB 5006 This bill will be a vehicle to accept testimony from the public during six community meetings around the state from March 22 ending April 25 on the public’s priorities for the 2025-27 budget. General Obligation Bonds, etc.: SB 5505 : an average debt capacity of $2.22 billion per Biennium. Public hearing in April. 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.) CLIMATE By Claudia Keith and Team See the Climate Emergency section of this Legislative Report. T here are overlaps with this Natural Resources Report. We encourage you to read both sections. DEPT. OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY (DEQ) By Peggy Lynch The League supports SB 830 , a bill that m odifies provisions of the on-site septic system loan program to allow for grants. It also allows for the program to consider mobile home parks in need of septic upgrades. The bill p assed the full Senate unanimously. A public hearing is set for April 17 in the House Committee On Climate, Energy, and Environment . Here is the Onsite Wastewater Management Program 2025 Rulemaking webpage . Because of the League’s work on SB 391 (2021) and additional bills in 2023, a League member served on the rules advisory committee to address sewer availability and accessory dwelling unit (ADU) issues. On Feb. 26 the advisory committee approved the Fiscal Impact Statement. A public comment period is expected in May. You are welcome to Sign up for email updates about this rulemaking via GovDelivery . The League again served on an annual rulemaking advisory committee on water quality fee increases. A meeting was held on Feb. 25th where the committee agreed to forward their recommendation for the allowed annual 3% fee increase to the DEQ Director. To learn more about this rulemaking and the advisory committee you can view the rulemaking web page at: Water Quality Fees 2025 . DEPT. OF STATE LANDS (DSL) DSL is seeking comments on a proposed sale of state-owned land located on the south shore of the western side of Hayden Island in Multnomah County. The 45-day comment period is open from March 5 – April 19. ELLIOTT STATE RESEARCH FOREST (ESRF) SB 147 clarifies the management of the ESRF into the hands of the Dept. of State Lands and sets up a separate fund account for monies received to manage the forest. The - 3 amendment was adopted and the bill was sent to Ways and Means. The Joint Committee on Ways and Means Subcommittee on Natural Resources will have an informational meeting on the ESRF on April 17. EMERGENCY SERVICES By Rebecca Gladstone The League spoke and filed testimony on HB 2581 in support of a statute change, substituting the word “seismic” with “hazards”, to coordinate coverage efforts through the State Resiliency Officer. The bill has passed the House and is on the Senate floor, awaiting third reading. FORESTRY (ODF) By Josie Koehne The League will continue to follow SB 1051 , assigned to the Senate Rules Committee and which transfers the authority to appoint a State Forester from the State Board of Forestry to the Governor. A public hearing was held March 24. Because the bill is in Senate Rules, there is no current deadline for action on the bill. See also the Wildfire section of this report below and the separate Climate section. GOVERNANCE 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. After legislation is passed, agencies are required to implement those laws. That action often requires rulemaking to clarify the details around that implementation. But the League is concerned when legislators “get a second bite at the apple” by relitigating the legislation when rulemaking is only meant to implement, not change policies. 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. The League will continue to be engaged with potential meetings in May and June. We continue to watch a series of bills related to rulemaking which we might oppose: HB 2255 , HB 2303 , HB 2402 and HB 2427 . We are also 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. We may sign on to a letter explaining our concerns to legislative leadership. 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 . LAND USE & HOUSING By Sandra Bishop/Peggy Lynch 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. Other bills we are following: HB 2138 : Expands allowable middle housing and expands middle housing requirements to include urban unincorporated lands, filed at the request of the Governor. The -6 amendment was adopted and the bill was sent to Ways and Means. HB 2316 : Allows designation of Home Start Lands to be used for housing. These lands are currently a variety of state-owned lands scattered around the state. The -4 amendment was adopted and the bill was sent to Revenue with a subsequent referral to Ways and Means. HB 3062 : Requires local governments to map sensitive uses as part of a comprehensive plan. The bill died in committee. HB 3757 is having an “informational meeting” on April 21st in the House Committee On Housing and Homelessness . The bill is, we believe, dead, but there must have been some interest by the committee to learn more about the proposal to allow four additional housing units on rural lands. This could be a precursor for a bill to be considered in the 2026 session. See also the Agriculture section above and the Housing Report in the Social Policy section of this Legislative Report. SOLID WASTE HB 3794 : Task Force on Municipal Solid Waste in the Willamette Valley was sent to Ways and Means . The Gazette Times covered the back story . WATER By Peggy Lynch The League has been engaged for many years around the issue of exempt wells—their allowed water use and lack of measurement of that water. In particular we are concerned about those domestic wells that are allowed to use up to 5,000 gallons of water for personal use and can be used by three dwellings, so the usage can be up to 15,000 gallons. HB 3372 was amended by -5 amendment and passed out of committee on a 6 to3 vote. The League provided testimony in support of the original bill to study this issue. The amendment significantly changed the bill to allow 3,000 gallons of water to be used for commercial gardens. We asked that our testimony be removed from OLIS since it did not reflect the original bill. Bills we are following in the House Committee On Agriculture, Land Use, Natural Resources, and Water : Deschutes Basin Water Bank Authority ( HB 3806 ). A - 5 amendment was adopted and the bill sent to Ways and Means. Water Right Process Improvements ( HB 3342 ) . A - 4 amendment was adopted and the bill now goes to the House floor for a vote. Contested Case Process Improvements ( HB 3544 ). A - 5 amendment was adopted and the bill moves to Ways and Means. Place-Based Water Planning ( HB 3116 ) A - 6 amendment was adopted and the bill was sent to Ways and Means. League supports the original bill but has not engaged in the current proposed amendment. 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 Right, Dam Safety, and Well Related Fees ( HB 2803 League support . 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. HB 2808 League support (Bill moved to Ways and Means) 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. Other water bills we are following: HB 3525 is related to tenants’ right to well water testing. The League submitted testimony in support. The -6 amendment was adopted and the bill was moved to House Rules without recommendation for further discussion. HB 3526 would require well water test reporting in property sales. The League supported this concept in past sessions and did again this session , but the bill died in committee . HB 3364 makes changes to the grants programs at the Water Resources Dept. The - 4 amendment was adopted and the bill sent to the House floor for a vote. HB 2988 : Instructs the Water Resources Department to take certain actions related to aquifer recharge and aquifer storage and recovery. The -5 amendment was adopted and the bill sent to Ways and Means. The fiscal impact statement was incomplete but will be needed before it is considered for final passage. Many of these water bills were sent with “fiscal light” statements. LWV Deschutes County submitted a letter in support of SB 427 , a water rights transfer bill meant to protect instream water flows. Possible work session scheduled for April 8 . SB 1153 , an alternate bill provided with help from the Governor’s office, may have more of a chance of passage. It had a public hearing on March 25 with a work session April 8. These bills were moved to Senate Rules without recommendation as to passage to allow for further conversation. HB 3106 is the Oregon Water Data Portal funding bill for which the League provided testimony in support. The -5 amendment was adopted, and the bill was moved to Ways and Means without a complete fiscal impact statement that will be needed before the bill can be voted on. The League is VERY supportive of the portal and agencies working together. However, we are concerned about the cost of this expansion of the program. SB 1154 was amended by the -1 amendment and sent to Senate Rules without recommendation as to passage in a 4 to 1 vote. An article in the Oregon Capital Chronicle explains the bill and its controversy: The updated Groundwater Quality Protection Act would establish thresholds for contaminants that automatically qualify them as critical groundwater management areas. It would also create a new designation for “groundwater areas of concern,” where contaminants are detected but a threshold for declaring the area in critical condition hasn’t quite been met. The Oregon Health Authority would be in charge of informing the public and helping with testing and providing safe drinking water; the Oregon Water Resources Department would be in charge of regulating water flows and rights; the Oregon Department of Agriculture would take on agricultural polluters and mitigating farm pollution; the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality would take on any changes needed to protect groundwater through industrial water permitting; and other agencies would be involved as needed, according to Ferrari. League members may want to check the U. S. Drought Monitor , a map that is updated every Thursday. Here is a more complete website about drought in Oregon. The good news is currently Oregon is NOT in drought! We all need to pay attention to the potential for harmful algal blooms. “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 WETLANDS A new Rulemaking Advisory Committee has been formed related to Permitting and Mitigation in Oregon's Wetlands and Waters. WILDFIRE By Carolyn Mayers A fast-moving week in wildfire legislation began April 7 with a Public Hearing on SB 1177 before the Senate Committee on Finance and Revenue. 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, about half of what is expected to be the average ongoing cost per year of funding wildfire. Tax Fairness Oregon testified in favor of the bill. Next, this same committee heard SJR 11 , which 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. HB 3666 had a Work Session before the House Committee on Judiciary, also on April 7. This bill would establish wildfire mitigation actions and an accompanying certification for electric utilities in an attempt to standardize their approach. It was referred to the Rules Committee. April 8, the Senate Committee on Natural Resources and Wildfire held a Work Session on SB 83 , which would, once again, repeal the State Wildfire Hazard map. This would result in the many changes to current statutes, since references to the map would have to be removed, and would have far reaching consequences including establishing standards for building codes and defensible space which can be adopted by municipalities, changing the definition and mapping of the wildland urban interface, and many other areas. The -9 Amendment was adopted and the bill was sent to the floor with a do-pass recommendation. This article from The Statesman Journal offers further insights. At the same meeting, the -2 Amendment to SB 85 , was adopted, and the bill was sent to the floor with a do-pass recommendation. This bill directs the State Fire Marshal to establish a neighborhood protection cooperative grant program to help communities collectively reduce their wildfire risk. The League supports this bill as an extension of the work done in previous sessions. HB 3940 , the omnibus wildfire funding bill, passed out of committee after adopting the -1 amendment without recommendation as to passage and was referred to House Revenue by prior reference. HB 3947 : Increases the amount of the estimate of revenues that will be received from General Fund revenue sources other than corporate income and excise taxes for the biennium beginning July 1, 2023. The bill died in committee. SB 75 A , which defines “high wildfire hazard area for purposes of developing an accessory dwelling unit on lands zoned rural residential, or a replacement building on lands zoned for resource uses, was passed unanimously by the Senate and moves to the House. There are two harvest tax bills being heard in House Revenue on April 17: HB 2072 Extends certain taxes on the privilege of harvesting merchantable forest products on forestlands. HB 3489 Imposes a severance tax on owners of timber harvested from public or private forestland. The Legislative Revenue Office will begin the hearing by providing a staff report on the legislation. The League has supported a severance tax in past sessions. Bills we are watching: Senate Bill 1051 , Governor Kotek is seeking the authority to choose the next State Forester. The Board of Forestry will begin the recruitment process at its April 23rd Board meeting. SB 926 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. The -3 amendment was adopted and the bill in a 4-2 vote was passed to the Senate floor. VOLUNTEERS NEEDED : What is your passion related to Natural Resources? You can help. V olunteers 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. 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 , Governance , and Social Policy report sections.

Back to All Legislative Reports Natural Resources Legislative Report - Week of 6/16 Natural Resources Team Coordinator: Peggy Lynch Coastal Issues: Christine Moffitt, Peggy Lynch Columbia River Treaty: Philip Thor Dept. of Geology and Mineral Industries: Joan Fryxell Emergency Management: Rebecca Gladstone Forestry: Josie Koehne Elliott State Research Forest: Peggy Lynch Northwest Energy Coalition: Robin Tokmakian Oregon Dept. of Fish and Wildlife: Melanie Moon Oregon Health Authority Drinking Water Advisory Committee: Sandra Bishop Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board: Water: Peggy Lynch Wildfire: Carolyn Mayers Ways and Means Natural Resource Budgets/Revenue: Peggy Lynch Please see Natural Resources Overview here . Jump to a topic: Air Quality Budgets/Revenue Climate Coastal Issues Dept. of Environmental Quality (DEQ) Department of Geology and Mineral Industries (DOGAMI) Elliott State Research Forest (ESRF) Forestry Governance Land Use & Housing State Land Board (SLB) Transportation Water Wildfire 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). 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 has been assigned to the Ways and Means Capital Construction Subcommittee. 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 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 Awaiting the Governor’s signature. Dept. of Environmental Quality: SB 5520 League testimony . LFO Recommendation and Meeting Materials Awaiting a vote on the House floor. Oregon Dept. of Energy: SB 5518 and Oregon Dept. of Energy Fees: SB 5519 Meeting Materials . Passed the House June 13. Now awaiting 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 Full Ways and Means on June 6 and now head to chamber floors. HB 5009 passed the House floor June 13. 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 ; LFO Recommendation Passed Full and and Means on June 13. Headed for chamber votes as is HB 2072, Harvest Tax, LFO Recommendation . Dept. of Geology and Mineral Industries (DOGAMI): HB 5010 LFO Recommendation . Passed Full Ways and Means on June 6, passed the House floor and now headed to the Senate for a vote. 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. Here is the LFO Recommendation for SB 836. It too passed Full Ways and Means and will go to the chamber floors. Dept. of Land Conservation and Development: SB 5528 LWVOR testimony . The budget passed Full Ways and Means on June 13 and now heads to the chambers for votes. 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 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 are awaiting the Governor’s signature. 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 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 . Awaiting the Governor’s signature. LFO budget recommendation for SB 147. Awaiting the Governor’s signature. 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 passed Full Ways and Means. passed the House. Now headed to the Senate chamber. LFO Recommendation . There is a bill related to contracting rules ( SB 838 B ) which is waiting Senate concurrence of House amendments. 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 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) and the bills are headed to Full Ways and Means. 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 . Passed the House June 13. Now headed to the Senate for a vote. LFO Recommendation 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 budget for ODOT has now been assigned to the Capital Construction Ways and Means Subcommittee. Separately, HB 2025 is the comprehensive Transportation ReInvestment Package (TRIP) and it is being worked in a new committee: Joint Committee on Transportation Reinvestment . 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 been assigned to the Capital Construction Ways and Means Subcommittee. 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. 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 Coastal Program meetings on Offshore Wind Energy, Ocean Acidification and the Ocean Science Trust coming soon. OPPORTUNITY FOR PUBLIC COMMENT 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 conversations from 2025 to 2027. 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 Rules Committee for a public hearing June 17. 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. The Governor’s office provided this slide show to help explain the policy implications. After the public hearing, they moved the work session to June 10. It seems that there is still division and supporters of the original bill aren’t happy with the amendment while some of the opposition may be neutral on the amendment. There have obviously been MANY work group meetings. This Oregon Capital Chronicle article helps explain the controversy. The bill passed out of Senate Rules on a party line (3/2) vote and now goes to the Senate floor. DEPT. OF GEOLOGY AND MINERAL INDUSTRIES (DOGAMI) By Joan Fryxell The Oregon Department of Geology and Mineral Industries has released multiple new reports in the first part of 2025. Open-File Report O-25-01: Earthquake and Tsunami Impact Analysis for the Oregon Coast. This report is the final in a series of evaluations of the potential impacts of a Cascadia Subduction Zone (CSZ) earthquake and accompanying tsunami affecting communities and parks along the length of the Oregon Coast. The analyses presented here update previous countywide studies completed by the Oregon Department of Geology and Mineral Industries (DOGAMI) between 2020 and 2023. This new report can be accessed at: https://www.oregon.gov/dogami/pubs/Pages/ofr/p-O-25-01.aspx . Open-File Report O-25-02: Ecola State Park Landslide Risk Analysis, Clatsop County, Oregon. Landslide hazards have been an issue at Ecola State Park since its designation in 1932. The purpose of this project is to evaluate the current and future landslide susceptibility and risk within and surrounding Ecola to assist the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department (OPRD) in making decisions to reduce landslide risk, with an emphasis on roadways. This report can be accessed at: https://www.oregon.gov/dogami/pubs/Pages/ofr/p-O-25-02.aspx . Open-File Report O-25-03: Landslide Inventory Map of Western Hood River County, Oregon. Landslides are one of the most widespread and damaging natural hazards in Oregon. This map is an inventory of existing landslides in the study area and is one of the essential data layers used to delineate regional landslide susceptibility. This landslide inventory is not regulatory, and revisions can happen when new information regarding landslides is found or when new landslides occur. This new report can be accessed at: https://www.oregon.gov/dogami/pubs/Pages/ofr/p-O-25-03.aspx . Open-File Report O-25-04: Beaches and Dunes of Clatsop County, Oregon: 1975 to 2022. New lidar-based mapping along the Clatsop County coast provides updated spatial extents of beach and dune features exposed to existing and future storm-induced wave erosion, runup, overtopping, and coastal flooding. Side-by-side comparisons between 1975 and the latest mapping of beach and dune feature highlight important spatial changes in coastal geomorphology that have taken place. This new report can be accessed at: https://www.oregon.gov/dogami/pubs/Pages/ofr/p-O-25-04.aspx . Open-File Report O-25-05: Path Distance Tsunami Modeling for Oregon Tsunami-Hazard Zones. The Oregon Coast is threatened by tsunamis originating from megathrust earthquakes on the Cascadia Subduction Zone as well as from distant earthquake sources, the nearest being Alaska. This GIS data release includes path distance evacuation modeling for all five local Cascadia and two Alaska distant tsunami inundation scenarios. These data are the basis for undertaking tsunami evacuation modeling. The new report can be accessed at: https://www.oregon.gov/dogami/pubs/Pages/ofr/p-O-25-05.aspx . Special Paper 55: Multitemporal LIDAR Analysis of Pre- and Post-Eagle Creek Fire Debris Flows, Western Columbia River Gorge, Hood River and Multnomah Counties, Oregon. The paper presents an evaluation of debris flows both prior to and post-2017 Eagle Creek Fire in the Columbia River Gorge. The paper also presents a method for evaluation of debris flows using multitemporal light detection and ranging (lidar). The intended audiences for this paper include those in government, industry, academia, and the public who are interested in debris-flow hazards prefire and postfire in western Oregon. The new report can be accessed at: https://www.oregon.gov/dogami/pubs/Pages/sp/SP-55.aspx . The Grassy-Mountain Gold Project Technical Review Team will meet June 16th. Information can be found at: https://www.oregon.gov/dogami/mlrr/Pages/Calico-GrassyMtn_projectDocuments.aspx . 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 had a Work Session June 11 in the Senate Rules Committee where -4 amendment was adopted and the bill has moved the the Senate floor for a vote. 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. 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 was 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 2138 , the Governor’s follow up on a middle housing bill had a work session along with the Housing agency’s budget bill on June 10 and passed Full Ways and Means Committee on June 13. LFO Recommendation 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. 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 Full Ways and Means on June 13. 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 (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 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. STATE LAND BOARD (SLB) The SLB met June 10, but did NOT appoint a new Director. They have scheduled an executive meeting on June 16 to interview the two finalists and then will call a special meeting to appoint the new Director. TRANSPORTATION HB 2025 is the comprehensive Transportation ReInvestment Package (TRIP) which is being worked in a new committee: Joint Committee on Transportation Reinvestment . The League signed on to a letter in support of increased transit funding. Rep. McLain, Co-Chair, said she would share information by the first of the coming week. Written testimony was taken thru Saturday. You can listen to the hearings from last week: Informational meeting on House Bill 2025 Public hearing on ODOT Accountability and Anchor Projects Public hearing on Transit, Active Transportation, and Rail Public hearing on Maintenance, Operations, and Safety Republican legislators have proposed House Bill 3982 a no-new-taxes alternative that prioritizes real infrastructure needs without increasing costs for families. It will be interesting to see if any portion of this bill is included in amendments to HB 2025 in order to pass a final bill with bipartisan support. The House bill doesn’t include alternative transportation elements. The proposed 2025 Transportation Plan, 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.” WATER By Peggy Lynch From Rep. Ken Helm: The beta version of the pilot portal for the Oregon Water Data Portal is live and ready for testing. The pilot portal is accessible at https://www.oregonwaterdata.org/ . This project is about improving access to data and information to help users make water and water infrastructure decisions and was funded by the Legislature in 2021 and 2023. The concept of a water data portal was initially described in the implementation portion of Oregon’s 2017 Integrated Water Resources Strategy (IWRS) and Oregon’s 100-year Water Vision . The League has supported funding of the Portal and and engaged in the IWRS and Water Vision. This Oregon water data pilot portal was developed through a collaboration with multiple Oregon agencies, Oregon State University, and the Internet of Water Coalition based on the experience and knowledge of this group as well as the input and questions the team has received through various engagements. The objective of this initial pilot portal is to test functionality using limited data and will evolve over the next six months as data are added and improvements are made based on user feedback. The team will continue to build their understanding about user needs and experiences through this pilot portal phase. Users can provide feedback about the beta version of the pilot portal by completing a survey or emailing OWDP@deq.oregon.gov . Changes to the pilot portal will be made intermittently from input received during the beta testing until June 2025, as resources allow. HB 2169 had a work session on June 3 in the 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. The bill sits in 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. A work session was held June 9 on SB 1153 where the -10 amendment was adopted and the bill passed on a party line vote 3/2. Water Right Process Improvements ( HB 3342 ). A - 4 amendment was adopted and the bill 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. SUMMER PREPARATION TIPS 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 “The tick of the clock is really loud right now,” Sen. Jeff Golden, an Ashland Democrat and staunch advocate for fire funding, said last week. That quote from this Oregon Live article sums up perfectly the current landscape for wildfire funding at the Oregon Legislature. In the face of uncertainties around staffing as the result of cuts to some of federal agencies, and a looming session’s end with no clear funding solution in sight, there is a real sense of dread around the wildfire community. The federal situation is outlined in this OPB article . Adding to the growing pessimism is the recent forecast from the weather folks at the Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) that this fire season will likely be a very challenging one, with the entire state as well as the entire Northwest region expected to be a high risk for large wildfires by August 1. This is a month earlier than usual, and that prediction comes when the aforementioned federal cuts are delaying the process of getting all the personnel ready for the season - a season that is already underway. As of Thursday, June 12, ODF’s dashboard showed there were 36 wildfires burning in the state, with 3 classified as “large” and one already requiring the Governor to invoke the Emergency Conflagration Act. In that fire, the Rowena fire between the Dalles and Mosier, there have been over 40 homes burned. Details from the Oregon Department of the fire Marshal may be found here . One fact that amplifies these fears of personnel shortages for the upcoming season is the fact announced by ODF recently that 1,600 “red-carded” federal employees, meaning they are fire-qualified and mobilized to handle incident management and some fire suppression duties when resources are strained, will not be fielded this season. When last season was, at one point an all hands on deck situation with ZERO personnel available to send to new fires, that 1,600 fewer fire fighters seems ominous. There has been very little movement with bills related to wildfire in the past week. Tangentially related to wildfire is SB 1051 , which would transfer the power to appoint the State Forester to the Governor from the Board of Forestry. A Work Session on this bill was held on June 11 before the Senate Rule Committee at which the -4 amendment was approved and the bill was sent to the floor with a do-pass recommendation. SB 83 , which would repeal the State Wildfire Hazard Map and accompanying statues related to it, remains in House Rules where it has been since 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. Speaker Fahey responded by arguing that if lawmakers are going to repeal requirements for how Oregonians in high-risk areas must harden their home against wildfire, then she wants to see dedicated funding to support alternative fire prevention efforts. “It’s not about holding anything hostage. It’s about holding ourselves accountable to delivering that funding mechanism,” she said. “You can’t take something away without a plan for what’s replacing it.” saying that, repealing the map without a plan to provide funding for these lands is irresponsible. SB 75 A , removes the wildfire hazard map as a guide for allowing ADUs and requiring higher building codes in rural areas is also still in House Rules where it was sent May 22nd . It is likely to stay there while negotiations continue on wildfire funding. 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. Rep. E. Werner Reschke has 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 M target. He has 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”. Speaker Fahey has said she expects the House Revenue Committee to unveil a plan to fund wildfire soon. 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 House Revenue Committee will have a public hearing on June 16. 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. 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. 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.” HB 3349 had an A-2 amendment and an LFO Recommendation of $1 million placed in a new Rangeland Protection Association Fund in Joint Ways and Means Natural Resources Subcommittee on June 11. The amended bill passed the Subcommittee to Full Ways and Means 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.