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Back to All Legislative Reports Natural Resources Legislative Report - Week of 3/4 Natural Resources Team Coordinator: Peggy Lynch Agriculture/Goal 3 Land Use: Sandra U. Bishop 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: Budgets/Revenue Climate Coastal Issues Dept. of State Lands (DSL) Elliott State Research Forest Forestry Land Use and Housing Reduce/Recycle Water Wildfire Volunteers Needed By Peggy Lynch, Natural Resources Coordinator, and Team Budgets/Revenue By Peggy Lynch SB 5701 , the omnibus budget bill for 2024 was amended at the end of the session. The League was pleased with the breadth of programs funded as well as the policy bills that were also funded. But there were disappointments, too. Scan the amended bill for items of interest to you. Included in the amendments were eleven budget notes : instructions to agencies to collaborate on projects, to report back on how monies were spent and to study issues such as how to fund wildfire programs. HB 5201 and HB 5202 are the bonding bills and were amended as well. F ees adopted by state agencies since the 2025 session were approved in SB 5702 . SB 1501 was the “program change bill”, used to address miscellaneous changes to agency programs. 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. Climate By Claudia Keith and Team The Climate Emergency section of this Legislative Report overlaps with this Natural Resources Report. We encourage you to read both sections. Coastal Issues By Christine Moffitt/Peggy Lynch HB 5201 as amended in Section 5 (2) increases the uses of the bond monies that have been deposited in the Oregon Business Development Department Coos Bay Channel Fund in previous sessions not only to “deepen and widen the Coos Bay Federal Navigation Channel” but also “for the design, engineering, permitting and land acquisition efforts related to the Pacific Coast Intermodal Port project.“ Oregon has a pilot mapping tool to better understand carbon storage in Oregon estuaries, in hope of s upporting long-term goals to preserve them. Dept. of State Lands (DSL) By Peggy Lynch DSL has a new website: Oregon.gov/DSL The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is working with DSL to identify In Lieu lands (part of the 1,400 acres of land still owed Oregon on statehood). Click here to view the BLM Proposed Classification Decision , and a public notice that two forestland properties in Linn County have been identified for some of those In Lieu lands. Learn more . Provide public comment through April 9th . Elliott State Research Forest (ESRF) By Peggy Lynch Work is continuing on eventual adoption of a Habitat Conservation Plan and a Forest Management Plan for ESRF. 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. The $4 million that had been allocated to the ESRF Authority was transferred to DSL in the omnibus budget bill, SB 5701. Forestry (ODF) By Josie Koehne The Board of Forestry met March 6 and 7. State Forester Cal Mukumoto has recommended staying the course on the Habitat Conservation Plan per Board packet .pages 116-118. On Thursday, March 7, State Forester Cal Mukumoto proposed passage of the recommended state Western Habitation Conservation Plan (HCP). Everyone acknowledged the great amount of passionate public testimony that has already been heard on both sides - in support and in opposition - to the plan over the past five years. Public comments were made about the harm that will be done to the logging community with less timber harvest on western state forest land and stated that more mills will close. Arguments in support centered on the necessity to meet the federal requirement to preserve habitat for endangered species and avoid potential lawsuits. Delay in starting over (up to 4 years) and evaluating other HCP options will further endanger protected species and other wildlife. You can watch the meeting and read more in this OPB article . Part of the challenge in making this decision is that certain western Oregon counties and local jurisdictions have relied on the timber harvest income and have not increased their local property taxes or found other economic development opportunities to plan for this income loss. There have been discussions at the legislature around how to increase that revenue ever since the severance tax was eliminated, leaving only the Forest Products Harvest Tax and greatly reducing harvest revenue. We can expect this discussion to continue in 2025. There are a number of bills this session around funding ODF and fighting wildfire with some bills increasing timber harvest revenue without increasing the actual harvest. For information on the various bills, s ee the Wildfire section of this report below. Land Use & Housing By Peggy Lynch The Climate Friendly and Equitable Communities rules adopted by the Land Conservation and Development Commission were appealed to the Oregon Court of Appeals and a ruling was handed down on March 6 th . Most elements of the rules were upheld. HB 4026 passed and is awaiting the Governor’s signature. The bill determines that urban growth boundary decisions cannot be voted on and are “administrative” in nature. The bill is retroactive, so the measure will stop a vote in North Plains this May, although we expect that it is possible this legislation may be challenged in court. The “relating to elections” clause of the bill allowed the legislature to “gut and stuff” the bill with this provision. The League provided testimony and is concerned that “ the amendment would take away voters’ rights to the referendum process. Furthermore, changing the constitutional referendum process and making the amendment retroactive are likely to be unconstitutional and invite a lawsuit. “ 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 passed both chambers and is awaiting the Governor’s signature. DEQ is conducting rulemaking to clarify and implement HB 3220 (2023) , which updates and makes necessary changes to the statewide electronics recycling program, Oregon E-Cycles. To learn more about this rulemaking and the advisory committee please visit the Oregon E-Cycles rulemaking web page . The meeting agenda and materials for the sixth Recycling Modernization Act Rulemaking Advisory Committee has been posted on the Recycling 2024 website. The meeting will be held 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., March 14. To attend please Register via Zoom . DEQ staff will be providing updates about previously- presented rule concepts and will be introducing new topics about: defining limited-sort facilities, commingled materials and reload facilities, outbound contamination rates and certification for out-of-state commingled recycling processing facilities. Water By Peggy Lynch The Oregon Water Resources Dept. (OWRD) announced that the draft of Oregon’s Integrated Water Resources Strategy (IWRS) is accepting initial public review and comment, March 5 through April 5. An updated draft is then anticipated to 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 2012 and 2017 IWRS documents. This new draft takes an entirely new slant from the current IWRS. It will be important that the original documents not be invalidated but instead enhanced by this proposal. OWRD has announced revised groundwater allocation rules . The department is providing multiple opportunities to engage. OWRD will be hosting informational sessions before each public hearing where staff will review the proposed rules. Public comments will not be accepted at the information sessions but will be accepted at the public hearings following each session . For more context, please see the background information , informational flyer , and Frequently Asked Questions . The omnibus budget bill, SB 5701, included an allocation of $1 million General Fund added to the Water Well Abandonment, Repair and Replacement Fund . The League was engaged in helping create this fund in 2021 and supports this allocation. Wildfire By Carolyn Mayers Things have wound down for the 2024 Short Session of the Legislature, during which hopes for a solution to the lack of sustainable funding for wildfire programs were officially dashed. The League continued following Representative Marsh/Senator Steiner’s HB 4133 , the last of the three bills which attempted to address the wildfire funding issue. It had been scheduled for a Work Session before the Joint Subcommittee on Capital Construction, but was pulled at the 11th hour due to a technical issue with the funding structure, and is dead. The Capital Chronicle published this article on March 7, with a summary of the fates of most of the wildfire-related bills, including the other two funding bills which had already failed. OPB also covered this story. For the Oregon Dept. of Forestry, a major issue is cash flow since, when they fight fires, the money for contractors goes out, but reimbursement from FEMA and others often takes months or years. Some other wildfire-related bills succeeded. Representative Marsh’s Prescribed Fire Liability and Home Hardening Grant Program bill passed. Also, two bills which address taxes on wildfire victims both passed. The first, SB 1520 , allows wildfire victims to take income tax subtractions for settlements and judgements related to wildfire damages, as well as attorneys’ fees. SB 1545 allows counties to offer a property tax break to wildfire victims who rebuild their homes. Among highlights in SB5701 , the Budget Reconciliation Bill, $8 million was allocated for the Department of the State Fire Marshal to support prepositioning, readiness response, and cash flow constraints for the 2024 fire season. Also, a Budget Note was included, which directs the Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) and the Department of the State Fire Marshal to convene a facilitated workgroup to collaborative on finding sustainable wildfire funding solutions with stakeholders representing a broad swath of interests, in a clear recognition that this remains a high-priority, difficult issue. The money ODF received was really a fund shift, so there is $10 million from the General Fund for landscape resilience, but it was just money allocated in 2023 that had been placed in a different fund. SB 1552 , Sections 40-42, allocated $300, 000 for a study of forestry workforce. Advocated by the Association of Oregon Loggers, the study is to be inclusive of many groups, including youth groups, currently involved in workforce training and forestry experiences. 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.

Back to All Legislative Reports Natural Resources Legislative Report - Sine Die - Week of August 11 Natural Resources Team Coordinator: Peggy Lynch Agriculture/Goal 3 Land Use: Sandra U. Bishop 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 Budgets/Revenue Climate Coastal Issues Dept. of Environmental Quality (DEQ ) Dept. of Geology and Mineral Industries (DOGAMI) Dept. of State Lands Drinking Water Advisory Committee (DWAC) Elliott State Research Forest (ESRF) Emergency Services Forestry (ODF) Governance Land Use & Housing Oregon Dept. of Fish and Wildlife Oregon Parks and Recreation Dept. (OPRD) Recycling Regional Solutions State Land Board State Lands/Waterways Taxes Transportation Water Weather Wetlands Wildfire There were 3,467 bills introduced with 704 passed, including agency budget bills. The League had volunteers covering a variety of areas, but never as many as there are issues being discussed! The League did provide testimony on 147 bills . The Governor had until Aug. 8 th to sign passed legislation, let them take effect without signing or vetoing. The Governor provided this news release with her final decisions. She vetoed a couple of bills and provided “signing letters” for 17 bills. Your natural resources volunteers addressed issues around agriculture, wildfire and water, as well as agency budgets. We worked with our coalition partners at the Oregon Conservation Network (OCN) on both policy and budget bills. OCN provides legislators with a “Hot List” of bills OCN groups are following—supporting, opposing or having concerns. A new group, the Oregon Ocean Alliance , provided a coordinated voice for ocean and coastal issues. We are a member of the Oregon Housing Alliance , where the natural resources volunteers follow land use, infrastructure and environmental policies while our Social Policy volunteers follow other housing issues. The League determines our Priorities at the beginning of the session. The Legislative Policy and Research Office (LPRO) provided a 20-page review of Natural Resource legislation for 2025. Below are summaries of the work our volunteers have done this session. But the work continues between sessions as we follow natural resource boards and commissions and follow rulemaking to implement the policies passed during session. You can find their meetings schedules on each agency’s website. The nonpartisan Legislative Revenue Office did a preliminary analysis and determined that Oregon could lose out on roughly $972 million in the two-year budget period that began in July based on various federal tax changes that will flow down to the state. Oregonlive provided a good article of explanation. We now await the Aug. 27 th Revenue Forecast from the State Economist who will also need to consider the effects of tariffs, proposed federal budget cuts and other federal actions as well as state economic news to provide on-going guidance for the legislature. Look for the possibility of more special sessions in the future to rebalance the state budget. AGRICULTURE A lot of proposals were under discussion this session to make changes to, or simply ignore provisions of Oregon’s land use law. More than two dozen bills were introduced with the potential to change what activities are allowed or restricted on farm land in Oregon. No legislation passed this session to change existing uses allowed on high value farm and forest lands in the state. Early in session the League gave testimony in support of two bills and opposed one measure proposing such changes. By mid-March it seemed clear that no other agricultural land-related bills were likely to move this session. SB 788 – proposed to exempt some eastern Oregon counties from existing land use laws governing the use of farm and forest lands for weddings and other events. The League submitted testimony in opposition. SB 77 – to clarify what home based businesses are allowed on farm and forest land. The League presented testimony in support. SB 78 – a comprehensive proposal to specify a maximum size for replacement of a farm dwelling. The League submitted testimony in support. All three of these bills died in the Senate Natural Resources & Wildfire Committee upon adjournment. One result of the plethora of bills proposing changes in use of farm and forest land was encouragement from the governor for interested parties and organizations to identify issues related to businesses and activities allowed on farm land in conjunction with agricultural operations. This led to the Oregon Department of Land Conservation and Development (DLCD) undertaking Farm Stand Rulemaking to clarify existing administrative rules and potentially surface recommendations for legislative changes to farm and forest land use laws if needed. OAR 660-033-0130: Regarding farm stands in exclusive farm use (EFU) zones and agri-tourism On July 25 th at the request of Governor Tina Kotek the rulemaking process to clarify allowable uses associated with farm stands and related uses on agricultural lands zoned EFU was “ paused ”. The carefully tailored rules process coordinated by DLCD apparently is no match for a social media campaign that resulted in more than 2,000 emails and phone calls flooding the governor’s office. Erroneous facts including statements that the rules on farm stand uses would go into effect on Sept 1 st contributed to the frenzy and flurry of protests. Regardless of the public uproar, the purpose of the rulemaking is to clarify what types of activities are allowed under a farm stand permit in Oregon; to protect farmers and agricultural operations by making it clear when and if a use is allowed, whether or not a permit is needed, and, if so, what type of permit. This rulemaking would only apply to new farm stands and would not affect agritourism and other activities already allowed on farmland. This rulemaking process was initiated in March 2025. DLCD appointed a 20-member Farm Stand Rulemaking Advisory Committee (RAC) . The charge of the RAC was to explore five areas or topics identified by a legislative agritourism work group formed after HB 3133 , expansion of allowable sales and uses related to farmstands on EFU land, failed to move in the 2025 session of the Oregon legislature. (See the 2025 Farm Stand Rulemaking Fact Sheet ) Lively, informative, in-depth discussion from a wide variety of perspectives took place at the RAC meetings covering: 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. The first of five anticipated RAC meetings was held on May 16 th . Four subsequent 3-hour RAC meetings were held in June and July. One final meeting of the RAC was anticipated in August or early September. The online meetings were live-streamed and recorded and may be viewed on the DLCD Youtube channel . The official public hearing on proposed rules was expected to be held at the September 25-26 Land Conservation and Development Commission (LCDC) meeting. The public comment period for this rulemaking originally set to close on October 5th was extended to Nov 5 th 2025 with the expectation that final rule adoption would take place at the December 4-5, 2025 LCDC meeting. It is now unclear what the rulemaking schedule will be since rulemaking has been suspended. DLCD staff described this process as Phase 1 of the Farm Stand Rulemaking. After the conclusion of this rulemaking at the end of 2025, it was expected that DLCD would recommend a work plan for additional phases of Oregon Administrative Rule (OAR) changes to address agritourism and other commercial events, use of soils reports, replacement dwellings and non-farm dwellings. Contact Hilary Foote at hilary.foote@dlcd.oregon.gov with any questions about the RAC or the larger project . Rulemaking Webpage AIR QUALITY The League signed on to a letter in opposition to HB 2642 , a bill that seeks to divest the authority to administer vehicle emission testing away from the Department of Environmental Quality, to the private sector. The bill did not pass. Bottle Bill By Sandra U. Bishop SB 992 , the omnibus bill making changes in Oregon’s beverage container deposit and redemption system passed into law and has been signed by the Governor. The new changes will allow modifications in the operation of redemption centers and adjustments to the responsibilities of small and large retail stores to redeem containers. Any changes are expected to make it easier for frequent redeemers (those individuals who redeem containers on a daily or near daily basis) and give some relief to retail stores, especially in the inner-city area of Portland, through the use of Alternative Redemption Centers and implementation of a faster-turnaround accounting system for redeemed containers. Although most changes are applicable only to Portland, some provisions will permeate the bottle bill system statewide. Retailers will be allowed to limit the hours required to redeem: from 8am to 6pm if the business is operating during those hours. A winery may refuse to redeem containers of a type or brand they do not sell. A proposal to include wine bottles in the deposit and redemption system failed. A bill to increase use of reusable beverage containers also failed. Stakeholders are expected to be brought together every three years or so to continue to make suggestions for improvements to the redemption system. As early as next year stakeholders may again review the operation of redemption centers including issues such as drug use and overdose deaths in proximity of redemption centers, land use and public notification issues. The League has always supported the bottle bill and continues to support the most appropriate, effective, and environmentally sound recycling and recovery of beverage container materials. There was a flurry of activity around HB 3940 , a bill to fund wildfire issues, because it originally included a proposal to increase the bottle deposit to provide for that funding. That provision was quickly removed from the bill. (See below under Wildfire for more info on the bill.) BUDGETS/REVENUE By Peggy Lynch Here is the 2025-27 Legislatively Adopted Budget 3-page summary . In between legislative sessions, the Emergency Board (E-Board) can meet when called to expend monies provided to them (See HB 5006 .) The Co-Chairs of the E-Board (Senate President and Speaker of the House) are designated to be able to call a meeting. They will continue to review federal actions. Oregon will likely bring in fewer tax dollars, spend more money on administrative tasks and receive billions less in federal funding. Rep. Gomberg provided some concerning information about the potential loss of federal funding here in Oregon: Thrown into uncertainty was the Oregon Health Plan. State figures show 33.5% of Oregonians are on the state’s Medicaid program. About 14% of Oregon’s annual education budget comes from the federal government, amounting to more than $1 billion each year. And 17,500 preschool children are enrolled in Head Start . A March 28 th press release from Senate President Wagner shared more data on federal losses. Then from bloomberglaw.com : Included in the budget request is a $2.46 billion cut for the EPA’s clean and drinking water state revolving loan funds. The program “has been heavily earmarked by the Congress for projects that are ultimately not repaid into the program and bypass states’ interest and planning,” according to the request. This could mean a 17 percent cut to the clean water programs and a 12 percent cut to DEQ funding. Cuts to NOAA (the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) will affect Oregon coastal communities per this article in Columbia Insight. Attorney General Dan Rayfield has added a federal litigation tracker to the “Federal Oversight” tab of his website. Check it out here . Each long session the Governor provides a statewide biennial budget (GRB) with individual agency budget requests. Her budget was due by Dec. 1, 2024. For natural resource agency budgets, start on page 141 of the web document. The Governor proposes; the Legislature disposes. It wasn’t long into the new U. S. President’s term when monies from the federal government were being cancelled, making Oregon legislators nervous regarding providing Oregonians important state services. The State Debt Policy Advisory Commission meets annually to provide advice on bonding capacity: The State’s General Fund revenues are forecasted to provide for $8.9 billion of new General Fund debt capacity for the upcoming four biennia, with an average debt capacity of $2.22 billion per Biennium and Lottery bonds were recommended at an average debt capacity of $564 million in each Biennium. The SDPA Commission will meet again before the February 2026 session. The February 2025 forecast reduced the December forecast by $500 million. The Joint Committee On Ways and Means took action on March 14 on five bills to rebalance the 2023-25 budget. Then Oregon’s Joint Ways and Means Co-Chairs introduced their 2025-2027 Biennium Budget Framework on March 19th. The federal “Big Beautiful Bill” (HR 1) will cut money from Medicaid and SNAP. Oregon legislators began worrying about how Oregon was going to continue to help Oregonians with healthcare and food insufficiency. The May 14 Forecast Summary noted that available resources were down $755.7 million. The muted outlook also affects non-General Fund revenues such as the Corporate Activity Tax, Lottery and Marijuana Taxes. Corporate Activity Tax revenues in 2025-27 have declined $44.4 million from the previous forecast. Lottery earnings are revised downward by $36.7 million due mostly to weaker-than-expected Video Lottery sales. Marijuana tax revenues are also adjusted modestly, down $7.6 million from Q1. The slide presentation . A personal "kicker" of $1,639.1 million is projected for 2025. Corporate tax revenue of $915.9 million is projected to be dedicated to K-12 education. The final calculation will be announced in November 2025. Planning for 2026: The co-chairs left unspent about 22% of general obligation bond capacity and 15% of lottery revenue bonds, which theoretically leaves some flexibility for lawmakers to make investments in next year’s short session. Agency Budgets The League’s Natural Resource Team provided testimony on many of the 14 natural resource agency budgets. To learn more about their content, look for the LFO Recommendation posted for each budget. More info is listed below under each agency. Following are the budget bills we watched in Natural Resources. Go to each bill’s “Overview” and select “Analysis” to find the Budget Report: Dept. of Agriculture: SB 5502 Dept. of Agriculture Fees: SB 5503 . At the end of session, the request for an information technology project, OneODA, to modernize IT agencywide and migrate from Apple to Microsoft was also funded. Highlights of DEQ’s Legislatively Approved Budget include: Restoration of Water Quality positions that would have been eliminated due to shortfalls of federal funds. These positions will now be funded through the General Fund. Protection against cuts to currently filled General Fund positions. Authorization of essential fee increases in the Air Contaminant Discharge, Greenhouse Gas Reporting, and Water Quality programs. Creation of new positions, using existing funds, in the Cleaner Air Oregon, Materials Management, Water Quality Grants, and Fuel Tank Seismic Stability programs. Establishment of an additional Environmental Law Specialist position for the Office of Compliance and Enforcement. Creation of three additional positions for the Climate Protection Program, focused on developing new regulations to prevent emissions leakage from energy-intensive and trade-exposed industries. Oregon Dept. of Energy: SB 5518 and Oregon Dept. of Energy Fees: SB 5519 Meeting Materials . The good news is that the Oregon Climate Action Commission is being provided with one fulltime permanent staffer. Oregon Dept. of Fish and Wildlife: HB 5009 ( LFO Recommendation ). HB 2977 would have increased the Transient Lodging Tax (TLT) that is collected at lodging establishments, from 1.5% to 2.75% total. (See TAXES below.) The bill passed the House floor, but did not make it out of the Senate. A 1.25% increase in the TLT: Revenue Impact Statement Provides the list of uses for the income: Fiscal Impact Statement . Of interest was the conversation around future legislator actions that might change or add to the use of this new revenue. We expect this bill to return in 2026 or 2027. Oregon Dept. of Forestry: SB 5521 . The Governor signed the budget bill but also shared a signing letter to clarify the distribution of the monies allocated to the Private Forest Accord and the link to the pending Habitat Conservation Plan. LFO Recommendation . HB 2072 , Harvest Tax LFO Recommendation . HB 3940 increased the Harvest Tax and provided additional resources to the agency. Dept. of Geology and Mineral Industries (DOGAMI): HB 5010 LFO Recommendation . Meeting materials LWVOR testimony LWVOR support ed SB 836 , a bill that significantly increases permit fees for mining related activities. Here is the LFO Recommendation for SB 836. Dept. of Land Conservation and Development: SB 5528 LWVOR testimony . LFO Recommendation Land Use Board of Appeals : SB 5529 LWVOR testimony , that included: We are pleased that the Governor included this work as POP 500 in the LUBA budget. This budget request was one of the recommendations of the Governor’s Housing Production Advisory Committee that received almost unanimous approval. We hope this Committee will also approve. The Governor signed, but also sent a signing letter to Legislative Leadership since the budget did NOT include the money for the IT modernization so needed by this agency. Oregon State Parks and Recreation Dept.: HB 5026 Meeting Materials LWVOR testimony in part to address comments by the Legislative Fiscal Office. LFO Recommendation . The Legislative Fiscal Office notes : During the November 2024 meeting of the Oregon Parks and Recreation Commission, the Department provided an update outlining concerns for the long-term sustainability of OPRD’s operational funding. The Department asserted that the largest known challenge for the 2025-27 biennium is addressing the gap between projected operational revenues and anticipated expenditures. Throughout this biennium as well as the next, OPRD’s operational budget is dependent on an existing beginning balance. This means the current level of expenditures, given projected revenues, is unsustainable for the long-term. While the dedicated programs remain sustainable, operational expenditures are outpacing Lottery Funds and non-dedicated Other Funds revenues used to support agency. The League will engage with these budget issues before the 2027 legislative session. Dept. of State Lands: SB 5539 LWVOR testimony in support. The agency asked for $10 million General Funds as, hopefully, final bridge financing to continue to stand up the Elliott State Research Forest, hire staff and work toward self-funding in the future. Also, $10 million in Common School Funds (CSF) was authorized to be transferred to the Dept. of Geology and Mineral Industries for a Carbon Sequestration pilot with the intent that such a project will reap financial rewards to the CSF as well as help Oregon address climate change. LFO Recommendation Water Resources Dept.: SB 5543 LWVOR testimony . And the fee bills: support HB 2808 and support HB 2803 OWRD Budget Summary . Although the Governor signed these bills, she provided a signing letter for both SB 5543 and HB 2803: HB 2803 and SB 5543 Signing Letter .pdf Download PDF • 953KB Recognizing the resource constraints, however, I am directing the agency to work with my staff to prioritize its efforts in a manner that is achievable and most likely to advance the State's water management goals to meet in-stream and out-of-stream needs . Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board : HB 5039 . LWVOR testimony . LFO Recommendation See page 8 of this recent Director's Report for a copy of the Legislatively Adopted Budget (LAB). Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board 6-Year Limitation: HB 5040 LFO Recommendation 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. Dept. of Transportation: SB 5541 LFO Recommendation The budget assumes passage of a transportation funding bill that generates sufficient revenue to support restoration of a majority of the ODOT’s Operations and Maintenance positions that would otherwise be eliminated due to the State Highway Fund revenue shortfall. HB 2025 , the comprehensive Transportation ReInvestment Package (TRIP) did not pass so 483 ODOT positions and some programs were announced as cuts on July 7—with last work date of July 31. With the special session on Aug. 29, the Governor asked that the last date be extended to Sept. 15 in case new funding is agreed to. The League signed on to a letter in support of increased transit funding in HB 2025. 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 LFO Recommendation Legislators provided testimony on their need for increased staffing and support for the departments mentioned above. Staff provided testimony on their need for fulltime employment and a work/life balance. A number of staff are only hired for the legislative sessions. The workload for our “citizen legislature” has increased tremendously—not only dealing with bills during session, but constituent services year-round. Among the changes funded 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 is also money to contract for a review of salaries and number of staff needed by legislators. Sen. McLane supported an amendment to increase staff that did not pass. There was a discussion and assumption that having more information by the February session will help in any staffing increase change decisions. Lottery Bonds: SB 5531 : Lottery Revenue continues to be heavily dependent on video gaming, which is reliant on access to bars, restaurants and gaming facilities and showing signs of weakness vs expectations. Projected Lottery Revenue provides $2.25 billion of new Lottery Revenue debt capacity for the upcoming four Biennia, with an average debt capacity of $564 million in each Biennium over the forecast period. The Staff Measure Summary provides a complete list of projects. The amendment provides clarity on how the bonds should be spent. 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 were over $2 billion in requests for a variety of projects around Oregon with only $442.7 million of net lottery bond proceeds authorized to be spent on 45 projects. General Obligation Bonds, etc.: SB 5505 : an average debt capacity of $2.22 billion per Biennium. Budget Report SB 5505 , with the -2 amendment , allocated bonding authority to the list of projects to be funded by these bonds. Six-Year Limitation/Bonds: SB 5506 is a bill that 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. Budget Report . Senate Bill 5530 is a revenue allocation bill which directs funding levels for specific purposes as outlined in Oregon statute. The budget report, with more detailed information, can be found here . Emergency Board: HB 5006 , with the -1 amendment was populated with an amount for the Emergency Board to spend at will and amounts in Special Purpose Appropriations (SPAs) if needed when the legislature is not in session as well as a long list of other expenditures. There were also a few Budget Notes directing agencies to report back to the legislature on the legislature’s directions related to spending and other actions directed by the legislature. HB 5006 is the end-of-session (Christmas Tree) bill. Budget Report 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 LWV Coos County Volunteers & Peggy Lynch The Oregon International Port of Coos Bay received funds from several bills to support the proposed Pacific Coast Intermodal Port (PCIP) project. The project plans include deepening and widening the Federal navigation channel, construction of a container shipping terminal on the North Spit of Coos Bay, and the rehabilitation of the 130-mile class 3 rail line from Coos Bay to Eugene. HB 5006 , the end of session “Christmas tree” bill, included authorization to issue $100 million of general obligation bonds for the Coos Bay Channel Modification project. The accompanying SB 5505 outlined specific requirements to be met before bonds could be issued. Listed were completion of the environmental impact statement for the project and the issuance of the final record of decision through the National Environmental Policy Act. Additionally, it requires that the Port, or a private entity engaged in a public- private partnership with the port, to have received a US Department of Transportation Railroad Rehabilitation and Improvement Financing loan through the Build America Bureau for at least $1 billion, or to have secured equivalent levels of alternative funding through other federal grants or loans. HB 5006 also includes an additional $20 million in the Oregon Business Development Department budget for the port to support the federal navigation channel modification project. (This is the last of the funds that were authorized in 2007 to be deposited in the Coos Bay Channel Fund established by section 15, chapter 746, Oregon Laws 2007. Initially this money was for dredging but in 2024, HB 5201, revised language to the allowable use of lottery bond funds set in place by section 15, chapter 746, of Oregon Laws 2007. This change in language allows funds to be used for the design, engineering, permitting, and land acquisition efforts related to the Pacific Coast Intermodal Port.) Finally, HB 5024 appropriated $5 million of general funds to the Oregon Business Development Department for the Coos Bay federal navigation modifications. SB 5531 provided funds for port development and established a new Container Port Improvement Fund for the purpose of providing grants for capital improvement projects to ensure that Oregon ports can continue to provide container service. $20 million of lottery bonds will be deposited in this fund for Portland’s Terminal 6 project and, potentially, other Ports along the Columbia River, with the stipulation that the Port of Portland has executed an agreement with an entity to operate the terminal. SB 5531 also authorizes the State Treasurer to issue lottery bonds, not to exceed $32.7 million, to fund Oregon’s share of the Columbia River channel deepening project. This includes a limit of $750,000 for the associated studies and ecosystem restoration projects. Since the session, the electrical supply to the railroad swing bridge over the bay into North Bend was severed recently. When the bridge was inspected, the railroad inspector found significant other safety issues and has said it cannot reopen until it is upgraded to its “original operating condition. At the July port commission meeting the railroad supervisor estimated needing $5-10 million to make this happen. KVAL news story The port has this on their web site. The port’s railroad operations are well over budget. They anticipated an average of 650 car loads/month for 2025 and are nowhere near that. The April 2025 year to date general fund shortfall for port operations is $452,000. The Port has $22 million in outstanding debt, with $1.4 million in debt payments anticipated for FY2025/26. The principal payment for the Terminal One property, (the old Georgia Pacific mill site in upper Coos Bay) is estimated at $530,000–$550,000 and has been deferred to FY 2026/27 per discussions with Business Oregon. The port did not get funds in the past session for dredging the entrance to the Charleston boat basin which is in an unsafe state. SB 361 was slated to provide funds for many Oregon ports to use for dredging. It did not pass. The US Army Corps of Engineers will dredge their portion of the entrance channel (currently happening) but the port has requested a $350,000 loan from Business Oregon’s Port Revolving Fund to pay for dredging their portion of the channel. (The loan had not been finalized at the July port commission meeting). The port is currently working on a new strategic business plan, required by the State. Business Oregon gave them $50,000 to do this. They contracted with a firm in Idaho, Points Consulting, who has been interviewing “key stake holders”. The fee for this work is $73,000. They are holding a noon “town hall” meeting on August 20. The Coos Bay League team requested a meeting and will meet with them on that morning. Neither HB 3580 eelgrass stabilization LWVOR signed letter of support nor HB 3587A Protection of Rocky Habitat LWVOR signed letter of support ( fiscal impact statement ) were funded this session. To help these bills get funded, LWVOR sent an Action Alert . The Governor has vetoed SB 1047 , a bill that would have required Curry County and the Water Resources Department to expedite review of applications for use on specified lands. See veto letter here. Oregon’s offshore wind energy areas are being pulled by the federal government per this article by OPB: “While the decision by BOEM to rescind the two Oregon Wind Energy Areas they identified last year takes the process for offshore wind development back a step, it does not preclude offshore wind indefinitely,” Although Wednesday’s action (July 30) by the Trump administration means there are no federally designated areas where offshore wind development would be allowed, the roadmap is set to be completed by mid-2026. 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. DLCD has a website on this project. OPPORTUNITY FOR PUBLIC COMMENT The Oregon Coastal Management Program (OCMP), housed within the Department of Land Conservation and Development (DLCD), is hosting a series of virtual workshops to engage communities in the development of management plans for eight newly designated rocky habitats. These plans, informed by coastal communities, will provide a framework to support activities within the designated sites. The sites are located near Cannon Beach, Tillamook, Depoe Bay, Bandon, and Port Orford. To learn more, go to the Rocky Habitat Meetings Page . In February at the Dept. of Land Development and Conservation budget hearing, we asked for funding for a staffer to continue to address rocky habitat, an element of the Territorial Sea Plan which the League has supported. Ocean Policy Advisory Council Meeting, October 29: The OPAC will meet for a virtual meeting of the Council. Meeting information will be made available via the Oregon Ocean Information website closer to the meeting date. Contact: Andy.Lanier@dlcd.oregon.gov DEPT. OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY (DEQ) By Peggy Lynch SB 1154 was filed by the Governor to address potential groundwater/nitrate issues in Oregon. This Oregon Capital Chronicle article helps explain the controversy. The bill does NOT deal with the Morrow/Umatilla Groundwater Management Area (LUBGWNA). This article shares the frustration with the weakness some see in the bill because of lack of clear enforcement mechanisms. The Governor announced signing of this bill and its importance to Oregonians , while also providing a signing letter to clarify the relationship between SB 1154 and the LUBGWMA. The League support ed 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 has been signed by the Governor. The League participated in rulemaking related to onsite septic issues. Staff briefed the Environmental Quality Commission at their July 11 meeting: Onsite Wastewater Management Program 2025 Rulemaking . Adoption is expected at their September meeting. See the Onsite Wastewater Management Program 2025 Rulemaking webpage for details. The League served on an annual rulemaking advisory committee on water quality fee increases. The committee forwarded their recommendation for the allowed annual 3% fee increase to the DEQ Director, who approved the fee increase on July 22nd. You can view the rulemaking web page at: Water Quality Fees 2025 . DEPT. OF GEOLOGY AND MINERAL INDUSTRIES (DOGAMI) By Joan Fryxell The League provided testimony on the DOGAMI budget, including support for the Geologic Carbon Sequestration Pilot. On Jan. 28th, the House Committee on Climate, Energy and Environment received a presentation on the proposed pilot project on Geologic Carbon Sequestration Potential in Oregon. Follow up materials were provided. The Dept. of State Lands budget ( SB 5539 ) included up to $10 million to be transferred to DOGAMI to begin work on a project in NE Oregon on carbon sequestration. The hope is that it will be on Common School Fund lands and will provide a return on investment over time. The League provided testimony in support of 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 Governor signed the bill into law. The League continues to follow the Calico Resources proposed Grassy Mountain gold mine near Vale in Malheur County. The Trump Administration listed the Grassy Mountain Gold Mine Project . The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is responsible for part of the permitting. Per an article by OPB: The U.S. Bureau of Land Management announced Friday that the public can provide input on the project’s environmental impact statement on the agency’s website (click the green ‘Participate Now’ button) until Sept. 8. DEPT. OF STATE LANDS By Peggy Lynch The Director of DSL published a proposed increase in permit fees for Removal/Fill program: “ Oregon’s Removal-Fill Law helps protect wetlands and waters by requiring permits to remove or add materials in wetlands, rivers, streams, lakes, and other waters of the state .” A League member served on the rulemaking advisory committee . The new fees may go into effect Jan. 1. DRINKING WATER ADVISORY COMMITTEE (DWAC) By Sandra U. Bishop The League has a standing seat on DWAC . July 16 – Salem in-person & via Zoom; approx. 24 people attended. New Member: Craig Harper from the Network of Oregon Watershed Councils is now filling the Watershed Council position on the committee that has been vacant for some time. He is from Medford and sits on the Rogue River Water Council. Background: Oregon Drinking Water Services (DWS) administers and enforces drinking water quality standards for public water systems in the state of Oregon. There are approximately 2,500 federally regulated Public Water Systems (PWS) in Oregon, and approximately 800 state regulated systems. PWSs in the state range in size from large municipal systems like Portland Water Bureau or Eugene Water & Electric Board to very small systems with 4 to 14 connections. The Drinking Water Advisory Committee (DWAC) is a statutory advisory committee of technical, industry and public interest members meeting quarterly with Oregon Health Authority DWS staff for reviews and updates on water quality and compliance issues, public access to timely information and other issues related to the safety of public water systems in Oregon. Points of discussion: Changes at the federal level will result in less funding for water quality, including source water protection. State funding is expected to stay stable for the time being. Three to five years from now no one knows. Regulatory requirements are also changing. PFAS chemical monitoring is ongoing. Federal rules are expected to be finalized at the end of the year. It is expected that the 2027 date for initial monitoring of entry points to water distribution systems will be retained. PFAS detection is rare in Oregon water systems and is closely monitored. Consumer Confidence Reports (CCR) are required to be sent to consumers in any PWS serving over 10,000 people. Changes need to be incorporated to adopt changes made to federal CCR requirements. A CCR is required to be sent to consumers twice a year for large systems. These are the reports on water quality and any violations or threats to drinking water that utilities send to customers. Deep drawdowns of Lookout Point and Green Peter dams in 2023 and 2024 created water quality issues for PWSs. There are concerns with the extreme turbidity and potential disruption to PWS function. DWS staff reported that a process is underway to revise the halt criteria. DWS staff is making recommendations to the Corp. Deep drawdowns of reservoirs in the Willamette Valley hydro system are expected to continue for flood control and under court order since 2023 to improve fish passage of spring Chinook and winter steelhead. Interactive GIS Maps for water system and source water protection have been improved. These maps are available to the public as well as water system operators. One of the main purposes of the maps is to show Oregon Drinking Water Advisories (any advisory for risk to consumers). The interactive maps also show boundaries for Oregon Public Water Systems with automatic wildfire updates showing proximity of fire and evacuation areas. These exciting and useful new maps are maintained by the Oregon DEQ’s Drinking Water Protection group and may be accessed via the DWS website . The next DWAC meeting will be in October 2025. ELLIOTT STATE RESEARCH FOREST (ESRF) SB 147 clarifies that the management of the ESRF is now in the hands of the Dept. of State Lands and sets up a separate fund account for monies received to manage the forest. LFO budget recommendation for SB 147. ESRF website On May 28, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced a Record of Decision and the issuance of an Endangered Species Act incidental take permit for the HCP for the next 80 years. The Elliott State Research Forest Board of Directors met virtually July 9. Click here to download the meeting agenda and materials . EMERGENCY SERVICES By Rebecca Gladstone HB 2581 : The League spoke and filed testimony in support of a statute change, substituting the word “seismic” with “hazards”, to coordinate coverage efforts through the State Resiliency Officer. The bill has been signed by the Governor. FORESTRY By Josie Koehne HB 3103 would have required the State Forester to manage and set harvest levels for cutting timber on state forestland at least every 10 years, after conducting a timber inventory. The State Forester would have required funding to carry out these duties. Testimony in opposition voiced concerns about anyone being able to sue ODF for failure to meet timber harvest levels and that timber harvest levels trumped all the other values state forests provide Oregonians. The bill died in Ways and Means. The League provided testimony in opposition. Comments of Climate Change and Carbon Plan Implementation testimony on Jan.4, 2025 HB 2072 Harvest Tax Comments on Feb. 3 2025 HB 3489 Timber Severance Tax with Referral Request on April 21, 2025 HB 3489-1 The timber tax bill we advocated for died in committee after a public hearing on April 24th, 2025 SB 1051 transfers the authority to appoint a State Forester from the State Board of Forestry to the Governor, subject to Senate confirmation. 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 was signed by the Governor; however she also issued a signing letter that addressed some of the issues of concern to the League. The League provided testimony with our concerns and opposition to the bill. We provided testimony in opposition to HB 2692 , a bill that would create complicated and cumbersome processes for agencies to implement legislation with their rulemaking procedures. The bill did not pass. The Governor has provided Rulemaking Guidance to state agencies. See also the Governance section of this Legislative Report. LAND USE & HOUSING By Peggy Lynch On July 1, the new Housing Accountability and Production Office (HAPO) officially opened to assist local governments and developers to meet housing production goals, per this press release . “ The office will bolster Oregon’s housing production by creating a more predictable regulatory environment for builders and supporting local governments in meeting their housing goals, ” says Governor Kotek. Their website . The Governor has announced signing of a number of housing bills, some of which are listed below: HB 2138 , the Governor’s follow up on middle housing bill, has been signed by the Governor. 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 is 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 . LFO Recommendation 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 support ed with -1 amendment. The bill did not pass. Infrastructure We also supported Business Oregon’s Infrastructure bill ( Governor’s news release ), HB 3031 A where we were hoping for $100 million in the new Housing Infrastructure Project Fund. SB 5531 includes authorization for $10 million in lottery bond proceeds for deposit into the fund. HB 5006 includes $1.2 million Lottery Funds for program administration and $1 dollar in Other Funds expenditure limitation for expenditures from the fund, with a budget note directing the Oregon Business Development Dept. to report to the Ways and Means Committee during the February 2026 legislative session on program implementation and project recommendations. From Rep. Gomberg: In their annual infrastructure report, the American Society of Engineers (ASCE) details $10.1 billion in total drinking water needs, $8.2 billion in total wastewater needs, 28% of roads are in poor or fair condition, and 170 high-hazard dams. ( ASCE Report Card ) The League provided testimony in support of HB 3939 , a bill that would have provided a list of infrastructure projects to fund for smaller Oregon cities so they can build more housing. Although this bill did not pass, some of the projects listed were funded in HB 5006 or SB 5531. See also the Housing Report in the Social Policy section of this Legislative Report. OREGON DEPT. OF FISH AND WILDLIFE (ODFW) By Melanie Moon The League provided comments to ODFW on their update of Oregon’s State Wildlife Action Plan. ODFW SWAP LWVOR Comments.docx .pdf Download PDF • 84KB ODFW will incorporate public comments and submit a final draft SWAP to the Fish and Wildlife Commission for review and approval at their August 15 meeting in Salem. These documents present updated information for all sections of Oregon’s State Wildlife Action Plan. Website: https://dfw.state.or.us/SWAP-Revision/ Although the Governor signed HB 3932 , a bill that prohibits a person from taking a beaver on waters or watersheds that are classified in a certain manner or on public land that is within the watersheds or within 200 feet of the ordinary high water mark of the waters. she provided a signing letter of concern related to the role of Oregon’s Boards and Commissions with a caution to the legislature about these disparate roles. OREGON PARKS AND RECREATION DEPT. (OPRD) OPPORTUNITY FOR PUBLIC COMMENT The League encourages you to participate in a survey to provide input on the potential 2027 budget shortfall for this agency. The Central Oregon Daily provides this article . OREGON WATERSHED ENHANCEMENT BOARD (OWEB) (Lucie La Bonte): Director's Report for the July 22-23 OWEB meeting. This information includes a report on the 2025-27 budget. RECYCLING On Feb. 21, the Dept. of Environmental Quality announced approval of the Producer Responsibility Organization program plan and advanced the Plastic Pollution and Recycling Modernization Act. The Act was supported by the League which sees this as a major advancement to addressing plastic pollution in Oregon. Expanded options are coming July 1. RECYCLING TIPS Here is a DEQ flyer to help consumers make recycling decisions Update: The Act is being sued by wholesalers per this article in the Oregon Capital Chronicle. Look for additional information as the lawsuit moves forward. REGIONAL SOLUTIONS OPPORTUNITY FOR PUBLIC COMMENT 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. Regional Coordinators, who are embedded in their communities and represent the Governor in the field, work with Advisory Committees and Teams to ensure effective state government support to local partners and serve as a conduit between the Governor and local communities . If you know anyone who may benefit from these publications, please direct them to this signup page . The public is welcome to attend virtually or in person. Go to the program website and to the region to find the agendas and meeting materials posted a few days before the meetings. Public Comment is usually scheduled. The League supported the 2014 legislation that formally adopted this program—first started as a Governor’s program many years before. Upcoming Regional Solutions Advisory Committee (RSAC) Meetings: • Central (Crook, Deschutes, and Jefferson Counties) August 15, 12-2pm • South-Valley/Mid-Coast (Benton, Lane, Lincoln, and Linn Counties) September 17, 1-3pm • Southern (Jackson and Josephine Counties) September 17, 1-3pm • South Coast (Coos, Curry, and Douglas Counties) September 19, 1-3pm • Northeast (Baker, Union, and Wallowa Counties) September 23, 2-4pm • Greater Eastern (Gilliam, Grant, Harney, Malheur, Morrow, Umatilla, and Wheeler Counties) September 25, 1-3pm • Mid-Valley (Marion, Polk, and Yamhill Counties) October 9, 1:30-3:30pm (Aug. 14 th mtg. was cancelled.) STATE LAND BOARD By Peggy Lynch The State Land Board appointed Kaitlin Lovell of Colton, Ore. as the Oregon Department of State Lands Director during a special 30-minute virtual meeting on July 9 th . Per this Oregon Capital Chronicle article: A scientist and lawyer, Lovell has led habitat protection and restoration efforts for the Portland Bureau of Environmental Services since 2007. Her work includes oversight of environmental regulation, permitting, and land use. Recent focus has included developing a publicly owned and managed mitigation bank in Portland and establishing a financing strategy for critical environmental projects. The Board will also consider appointing Deputy Director Bill Ryan as interim director and setting a bond amount for the position, as required by statute. Appointment confirmed by the Land Board. The new Director is now traveling around the state to learn about issues for which the department has responsibility. She traveled to Corvallis last week and will be at the coast next week. STATE LANDS/WATERWAYS OPPORTUNITY FOR PUBLIC COMMENT Comment Opportunity: Leases, Licenses, and Registrations on Oregon-owned Waterways: The Oregon Department of State Lands (DSL) is seeking comments on proposed changes to administrative rules (OAR 141-082) to achieve sustainable operations in managing waterway authorizations for marinas, ports, docks, floating homes, and more, as well as implement best management practices to protect the health and safety of waterways. The comment period is open from July 1 - August 15, 2025 (closes at 5 p.m. Pacific). Here is the public notice with details of the changes. TAXES There were a number of bills considered related to the Transient Lodging Tax (TLT). Current data . The Oregon Dept. of Revenue did a 2025 comprehensive report for the legislators. Currently, at least 65% of the tax must be spent on tourism. HB 3962 with the -2 amendment would have allowed (not required) local governments to use more of the income for infrastructure and public safety. Conservationists, with HB 2977 and amendments would add a % for conservation programs, anti-poaching efforts, the Wolf Compensation Fund and invasive species control. That additional money would have gone to a special Fund at the Oregon Dept. of Fish and Wildlife. Neither bill passed but we expect to see them again in 2026 or 2027. TRANSPORTATION The Governor has called a special session of the legislature to address funding shortfalls at the Oregon Dept. of Transportation (ODOT) and counties and cities (fund share is 50/30/20) Per this Oregonlive article . Because it raised taxes, HB 2025 needed a 3/5 majority to pass—18 of 30 Senators, 36 of 60 Representatives. Governor’s August 7 transportation funding proposal . Two perspectives on ODOT funding from July 27 Oregonlive editorials: Rep. Christine Drazan and Rep. Susan McLain Since the proposed 2025 Transportation Plan did not pass, it is unclear if this political action committee “No Gas Hikes’ per this OPB article will also object to whatever might be passed in the special session. “ 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 referendum would require at least 78,115 signatures, equal to 4% of the people who cast a ballot in the 2022 gubernatorial election.” HB 2025 was the comprehensive Transportation ReInvestment Package (TRIP) assigned to the Joint Committee on Transportation Reinvestment . The League signed on to a letter in support of increased transit funding. The Oregon Capital Chronicle provided a view of the fate of the bill. The bill was sent back to committee where the A28 amendment was adopted. The Statesman Journal provided an article . The bill did not have the votes to pass so the Governor tried one last bill to at least try to provide money only to ODOT. (HB 2025 would have shared the revenue: 50% to ODOT, 30% to counties and 20% to cities for transportation expenses.) It did not receive a favorable reception and the bill died. The Governor then authorized a reduction of ODOT staff as of July 7, effective July 31. (ODOT currently has about 4,700 employees.) To be clear, local governments may also be cutting transportation and transit staff due to the failure to pass a comprehensive bill. WATER By Peggy Lynch The League provided our first natural resources area testimony in support of HB 2168 on Jan. 22 nd at the House Agriculture, Land Use, Natural Resources, and Water Committee. The bill requested $5 million for the on-site septic loan program, another $5 million for the Well Water Repair and Replacement Fund and monies to help the Oregon State Extension Service reach out to potential recipients. Although the bill died in Ways and Means, we did see $1 million added to the Well Fund in the end of session bill. SB 830 , that the League also supported , allows for grants in the on-site septic program and extent the opportunities to low-income mobile home parks with failing septic systems. This bill has been signed by the Governor. HB 2803 : Increases certain fees related to water. LWVOR supported. The bill was amended and reduced the fee increase. It was needed to provide current service level staffing at WRD. (See the Governor’s signing letter on this and the WRD budget bill, SB 5543 above.) LWV Deschutes County submitted a letter in support of SB 427 , a water rights transfer bill meant to protect instream water flows. SB 1153 , an alternate bill provided with help from the Governor’s office, had months of work group sessions among the various interests, but, in the end, the bill did not pass . From the July 9 th article of the Capital Press, Governor Kotek is looking to continue to work on this issue: Despite the failure of the bill getting done this session, we do need to stay on this topic. We have to manage our water differently. We have to identify ways to update our water rights transfer process,” she said during a recent roundtable interview. HB 3106 is the Oregon Water Data Portal funding bill for which the League provided testimony in support. The pilot portal is accessible here. The bill did not pass, but the project continues. 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 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! (The average city water user is under 100 gallons/day.) The League provided testimony in support of HB 3372 to study this issue. However, it turns out the bill was yet another of the water bills that were amended and was NOT a study bill. 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. We learned to wait until after a public hearing to understand the true purpose of water bills this session before providing testimony. HB 3525 is related to tenants’ right to well water testing. The League submitted testimony in support. The bill was amended multiple times and passed. At least we have a beginning policy related to testing of domestic wells on rental properties. The Senate Rules Committee adopted a B 11 amendment that addresses a conflict with SB 1154 , a bill that updates Oregon groundwater regulations by strengthening and modernizing the state’s Groundwater Quality Protection Act . The Governor announced signing of both these bills and their importance to Oregonians. 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 it did not pass. The Governor added “water” as her environmental priority this session as reported in this Oregon Capital Chronicle article.: “ Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek and her natural resources adviser Geoff Huntington consider water quality and availability a top priority this legislative session .” “ Huntington said the governor’s office will back a package of bills that gives state agencies more statutory authority to manage water allocations and regulations in Oregon. The Co-Chairs of the House Committee On Agriculture, Land Use, Natural Resources, and Water worked on a broad package of water-related bills. There is a Water Caucus raising the awareness of the need to address Oregon’s water needs. Oregon's Integrated Water Resources Strategy (IWRS) provides a statewide inter-agency framework for better understanding and meeting Oregon's instream and out-of-stream water needs. Here is the IWRS website . Groundwater issues continue to be a focus in Oregon as much of our surface water is already allocated. This article by ProPublica shares the worldwide concerns regarding our over pumping of groundwater. As the federal government continues to “downsize”, we understand that EPA's Region 10 (located in Washington state, but also serving Oregon) staff is or will soon be down to 60 from 100 employees. SUMMER PREPARATION TIPS League members may want to check the U. S. Drought Monitor , a map that is updated every Thursday. Over 56% of Oregon is in moderate drought (D1), nearly 23% is in severe drought (D2), a small portion of northeastern Oregon is in extreme drought (D3), and the rest of the state is experiencing abnormally dry conditions. Governor Kotek has declared a drought in Baker ( Executive Order 25-12 ), Lincoln ( Executive Order 25-13 ) and Douglas, Morrow, and Union counties through Executive Order 25-18 ( here ) . Here is a more complete website about drought in Oregon. We all need to pay attention to the potential for harmful algal blooms (HABs). “When in doubt, stay out.” Visit the Harmful Algae Bloom website or call the Oregon Public Health Division toll-free information line at 877-290-6767 to learn if an advisory has been issued or lifted for a specific water body. Information on current advisories can be found on the OHA’s cyanobacteria bloom webpage at healthoregon.org/hab . The OHA has an online photo gallery to help community members identify signs of potentially harmful blooms. As the summer heats up, be aware of the signs of potentially deadly HABs to your pets as well as humans. WEATHER OregonLive reports a weaker Polar Vortex and more extreme weather according to Extreme Weather Europe, a website that tracks weather patterns around the globe. A weaker polar vortex would mean more snowfall and cold winter days than with a stronger polar vortex. Here’s another long range climate prediction . WETLANDS The League testified in opposition to SB 511 , a perennial salmon tax credit bill that would create a new program to allow private property owners to get a tax credit for salmon habitat on their property if allowed to be used by a developer to destroy wetlands in another area of Coos and Curry County. The bill did not pass. The League participated in a rulemaking on Removal-Fill Program Fees. Proposed rules may take effect Jan. 1, 2026. WILDFIRE By Carolyn Mayers The 2025 Long Session was like Groundhog Day for wildfire funding once again. In spite of much political wrangling and high hopes for meaningful progress, the session ended, yet again, with no long-term solution to the wildfire funding crisis. This, in spite of a Herculean effort by the Governor’s Wildfire Funding Workgroup, which offered 6 potential avenues to provide durable, equitable and feasible funding for this increasingly perilous situation. More about this Workgroup, which came to be known as the “Fire 35”, may be found here . In the face of what is predicted to be another extremely difficult wildfire season, it feels like a “Doomsday Clock” is ticking ever closer to midnight on our state when it comes to addressing wildfire. HB 3940 , the one wildfire funding bill that DID pass, ended up consisting of a tax on some oral nicotine products and using 20% of the interest on the Rainy Day Fund for wildfire mitigation, as well as other components per this article . This bill went through MANY iterations before Legislators landed on this idea. This article by OPB shares the limited funding from HB 3940 : there’s still no dedicated funding to fight large fires like the Cram Fire, which has burned nearly 100,000 acres in Central Oregon. For further details, see this report . Additional funds were provided for various wildfire related assistance in the Christmas tree bill, HB 5006, including: $24 million for ODF wildfire severity in a Special Purpose Appropriation (SPA) to be approved to spend by the Emergency Board on an as-needed basis. There was also $150 million in a SPA for natural disasters. Additionally, ODF received General Fund $20,019,831 as part of their agency budget ( SB 5521 ). The Oregon State Fire Marshal received General Fund $13,014 as part of their agency budget ( SB 5538 ). Other bills passed: SB 1051 , which transfers the power to appoint the State Forester to the Governor from the Board of Forestry. The introduction of this bill came after Cal Mukumoto, the former State Forester, resigned under mounting pressure at the beginning of the session. SB 85 , another bright spot in the session, which directs the State Fire Marshal to establish a neighborhood protection cooperative grant program. Also, the Department of Consumer and Business Services and the Department of the State Fire Marshal, in consultation with the State Forestry Department and the insurance industry, will evaluate and develop recommendations for community-based wildfire risk mitigation to reduce wildfire risks and increase insurance affordability and availability. SB 83 , which repeals the State Wildfire Hazard Map and accompanying statutes related to it. The back-and-forth saga of the ever-unpopular Wildfire Risk/Hazard map, is now over. It appears that immeasurable resources were wasted leading toward this long, involved, failed effort that yielded exactly … seemingly nothing, except ill-will. SB 75 , which removes the wildfire hazard map (since it was repealed) as a guide for allowing ADUs and requiring higher building codes in rural areas. SB 454 , which 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. HB 3349 , which provides Rural Fire Protection Association and equipment funding. SB 494 , which requires the Oregon Department of Administrative Services to study classification and compensation for forestry and wildland fire positions in state government. SB 860 , which allows 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. SB 861 , which includes grant funds, reimbursements, and moneys received from judgements and settlements as funds in the State Fire Marshal Mobilization Fund. Did not pass: HB 3984 A , regarding requiring certain public electric companies to pay any Federal taxes owed by recipients of settlements resulting from wildfires which were alleged to be caused by the utility. In addition, a study would be undertaken by the Public Utility Commission (PUC) to determine what other steps could be taken by utilities to ensure the safety of customers. The -10 amendment was adopted, and the bill passed the House but did not have time to go through the Senate. HB 3666 would have required the PUC to establish standards for wildfire mitigation actions and an accompanying certification for electric utilities in an attempt to standardize their approach. It did not advance. As expected, with the movement of HB 3940 as mentioned above, the following bills did not advance: SB 1177 would have established 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 have yielded approximately $170-180 million per year, or just over half of the aforementioned projected ongoing costs to fund wildfire mitigation and suppression. (The Governor had expressed interest in using only the amount of kicker that would go to large income earners for wildfire costs.) SJR 11 would have dedicated a fixed, to-be-determined percentage of net proceeds of the State Lottery to a wildfire fund created by the Legislature. Its passage would have meant an amendment to the Oregon Constitution, which would have to go to voters for approval. HB 3489 would have imposed 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. An update on the devastation of the Rowena Fire in the Gorge near the Dalles: According to an early OSFM report, Wasco County lost 56 homes (mostly manufactured homes with some stick built), 91 outbuildings, 18 vehicles, and 11 RVs. There were further damaged structures. Wasco County Emergency Management estimates that up to 50 percent of lost homes were un/underinsured, citing difficulties in insuring manufactured dwellings. At least two community water systems were impacted by the fire and at least one community septic system – in addition to many individual septic systems. The Governor’s Wildfire Programs Advisory Council (WPAC) met July 18. This article in the Oregon Capital Chronicle shares potential changes in the U.S. Forest Service offices where the Portland-based office may close. Oregonians have concerns about both the relocation and potential staffing cuts. 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 All Legislative Reports Natural Resources Legislative Report - Week of 5/5 Natural Resources Team Coordinator: Peggy Lynch Agriculture/Goal 3 Land Use: Sandra U. Bishop 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 Coastal Columbia River Gorge Dept. of Environmental Quality (DEQ) Department of Geology and Mineral Industries (DOGAMI) Forestry (ODF) Governance Land Use & Housing Transportation Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board (OWEB) 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 bill has been referred to the House Committee On Climate, Energy, and Environment where it had a public hearing on May 1 and a second hearing on May 6 for those who signed up but were unable to testify on May 1st. AGRICULTURE By Sandra U. Bishop SB 1129 A Requires Land Conservation and Development Commission (LCDC) to amend rules on urban reserves. The bill deals with prioritizing lands to be added to urban reserves. The bill passed the Senate, had a public hearing April 28th in House Committee on Housing & Homelessness and now has a work session set for May 5th. HB 3560 A Expands the areas where childcare centers are allowed to be sited. The nexus with farm and forest land is a provision in the bill to allow a county to impose reasonable conditions on establishing a family child care home in areas zoned for exclusive farm use, forest use, or mixed farm and forest use. The proposal would also move statutes governing the siting of childcare facilities to the chapter of Oregon Revised Statutes relating to comprehensive land use planning. The bill has passed the House, had a public hearing May 1st in Senate Committee on Early Childhood & Behavioral Health and now a work session set for May 6th. 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 passed the Senate and has been assigned to the House Committee On Climate, Energy, and Environment where it is scheduled for a public hearing on May 8 . This bill is Portland-centric and contains various changes to the bottle redemption centers in Portland to address problems and make it easier for those who return and redeem beverage containers on a daily or near daily basis. It also contains a provision that would allow a winery to refuse to redeem containers of a type or brand they do not sell. The League has not taken a position on the specific changes proposed in SB 992, but has always supported the bottle bill and continues to support the most appropriate, effective, and environmentally sound recycling and recovery of beverage container materials. 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. On Friday President Trump published a general outline of his proposed budget for the federal government (Oct. 1, 2025 to Sept. 30, 2026). The document assumes much of the funding for this fiscal year that he has held back will continue and a 22% additional cut in “discretionary spending”. We now need to see what our May 14th state revenue forecast will be. Then our legislators need to decide how much, if any of those federal cuts will be backfilled by state monies. This Oregonlive article suggests some of the most painful cuts. Each day we learn of more and more federal funding that was assumed to have been awarded and now may be cancelled. In some cases, these funds were reimbursements, meaning that the state or other entities have spent money and expected the federal government to pay them for all or a portion of that expense. Depending on the May 14th forecast and federal actions, many policy bills with costs will be left to die due to lack of available state revenue. League has been informed that, with the exception of three budgets, the other 11 natural resource agency budgets will be considered after May 14. Following are the budget bills we are watching in Natural Resources: Dept. of Agriculture: SB 5502 I nfo 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. Columbia River Gorge Commission: SB 5508 Info mtg. and public hearing March 13. Washington Legislature passed a slimmed down budget (27% cut). We expect Gov Ferguson to sign. A Work Session has been set in Oregon for SB 5508 on May 8. 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 Oregon Dept. of Energy: SB 5518 info hearing 2/10, Meeting Materials , public hearing 2/11. 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 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. 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.) 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. On March 25 the bill was moved to Senate Rules without recommendation. A performance audit was prepared. The League will continue to be involved in SB 836 because we need DOGAMI staff to do more than 14% inspections of mining operations. On 4/23 League did outreach to the Senate Rules Committee members with a history of LWVOR engagement with DOGAMI and explanation of our support for SB 836. The Dept. of State Lands budget ( SB 5539 ) included up to $10 million to be transferred to DOGAMI to begin work on a project in NE Oregon on carbon sequestration. The hope is that it will be on Common School Fund lands and will provide a return on investment over time. Separately, Ways and Means Natural Resources Subcommittee is to hear grant requests May 6. 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 was held on April 23 in the House Committee On Agriculture, Land Use, Natural Resources, and Water . Work session set for May 5. Oregon State Marine Board (OSMB): HB 5021 Public hearing Feb. 17 Meeting Materials See also the April 15 informational meeting on Aquatic and Invasive Species. Work Session set for May 7 along with 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 management in partnership with the Oregon Dept. of Fish and Wildlife. Here are the Legislative Fiscal Office recommendation for each of the three bills. 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 Info hearing March 17. public hearing March 19. Meeting Materials . LWVOR testimony in support. The Joint Committee on Ways and Means Subcommittee on Natural Resources will have an informational meeting on the Elliott State Research Forest on April 22. Meeting materials . Work Session set for April 30 for SB 5539 and for SB 147A, Elliott State Research Forest policy and funding bill. LFO 2025-27 budget recommendation . The League was pleased that many of our testimony requests were funded, but disappointed that POPs 500 and 502, both General Funds requests to help communities prepare land for housing and assistance with wetlands permit issues were not included. However there was increased staffing provided for the removal/fill program. LFO budget recommendation for SB 147. Both bills were moved out of committee and to Full Ways and Means. 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 Hearing 3/18. Additional informational meetings: Held April 7 and Scheduled April 22. Oregon Dept. of Emergency Management: SB 5517 info hearing 4/7&8. Public hearing 4/09; Office of the Governor: SB 5523 LFO meeting materials . April 28 Public hearing 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. 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. The Joint Committee on Transportation may begin having public hearings on elements of the 2025 transportation package starting May 12th. See below for more information on conflicting plans to address ODOT’s revenue needs. 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 Info hearings 4/29-30. Public hearing May 1st. Legislators provided testimony on their need for increased staffing and support for the departments mentioned above. Staff provided testimony on their need for full time employment and a work/life balance. A number of staff are only hired for the legislative sessions. The workload for our “citizen legislature” has increased tremendously—not only dealing with bills during session, but constituent services year-round. Lottery Bonds: SB 5531 : an average debt capacity of $564 million in each Biennium. Public hearing May 9. 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, will be 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 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 Ocean Policy Advisory Council Meeting, May 7. OPAC will meet virtually from 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Meeting information will be made available via the Oregon Ocean Information website . Contact: Andy.Lanier@dlcd.oregon.gov 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. A public hearing was held April 17 in the Hou se Committee On Climate, Energy, and Environment . The League then shared with each committee member our testimony in support of HB 2168 , a bill that would fund this grant and loan program. A work session was postponed. DEPT. OF GEOLOGY AND MINERAL INDUSTRIES (DOGAMI) The Trump Administration listed the Grassy Mountain Gold Mine Project on its Permitting Dashboard. The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is responsible for part of the permitting and a “ permitting timetable will be published for this project on or before May 16, 2025.” The state has permits that need to be addressed as well and have been working thru a consolidated permitting process the past few years. The League has been following this project and the permitting process. FORESTRY (ODF) By Josie Koehne The League provided testimony in support of HB 3489 , a timber severance tax bill that would help fund ODF, provide funding for wildfires and monies that would go to counties where timber is harvested. A public hearing was held on April 24 where the League supported also the -1 amendment proposed by the sponsor. The Legislative Revenue Office provided explanations of a variety of taxes on timber harvest before the hearing on HB 3489. The Board of Forestry April 23rd mtg. agenda is focused on a process for selecting a new State Forester. The Board wants to address their current role as appointee. However, they are aware of the Governor’s bill in the legislature. Here is the latest article from OPB on the recruitment. The League will continue to follow SB 1051 , assigned to the Senate Rules Committee, 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 On Thursday afternoon the League learned that 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, will have a Work Session Monday, May 5. We have been following bills related to changing processes around rules advisory committees and were surprised that this bill is getting a Work Session. Our partners, equally concerned that these implementing groups would relitigate the policies passed by the entire legislature, have reached out to the sponsors and to the Chair of the House Rules Committee to explain our concerns. Stay tuned. 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 or facilitate an agency’s mission. Separately, the League was invited to a conversation among state agency rules staff on addressing concerns of the Governor 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 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 U. Bishop/Peggy Lynch Regional Solutions provided a webinar on April 30th around housing. We will provide a link to the webinar in next week’s Legislative Report. HB 2647 passed the House floor and was assigned to the Senate Committee on Natural Resources and Wildfire. On April 29 it had a work session “solely for the purpose of moving it to another committee”. On May 2nd it was assigned to the Senate Housing and Development Committee—without recommendation as to passage. 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 the House and had a public hearing in the Senate Committee on Housing and Development on April 30 and a work session set for May 7. 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 with a subsequent referral to Ways and Means. See also the Agriculture section above and the Housing Report in the Social Policy section of this Legislative Report. TRANSPORTATION On April 30, Oregon House Republicans released their plan to provide funding for the Oregon Dept. of Transportation by reducing many programs. Oregon Democratic Transportation Co-Chairs released their plan the first part of April, a plan that includes increased taxes and fees. The Legislature has until the end of session to agree on a final plan that addresses the many varied transportation needs of Oregonians statewide. OREGON WATERSHED ENHANCEMENT BOARD (OWEB) By Lucie La Bonte Funding possibly zeroed out of President Trump’s Budget Proposal – FY 25 Pacific Coast Salmon Recovery Funds (PCSRF) could delay FY25 Award Process. Good news – PCSRF is often not in the President’s Budget and may be restored in Congress. OWEB is still working through the 21-24 awards, and they were big. Even without new FY 25 PCSRF funding available, OWEB would not likely see impacts for at least a year. The OR, WA, ID, CA and AK delegation is well aware of the funds, importance and working closely with other vulnerable Pacific State enterprises to advocate and plan. In the Legislature - OWEB is tracking bills with impacts and are down to two bills outside of OWEB budget bills: HB 3131 – 17.3 million Oregon Cultural Heritage and HB 3341 – 5 million Drinking Water Protection. These are being considered by Ways and Means and OWEB has no position on them because they were not in the Governor’s budget. There is no change in OWEB’s Budget Bills. They are still above permanent funds as presented in February. A work session on these bills has not yet been scheduled. WATER By Peggy Lynch Oregon's Integrated Water Resources Strategy (IWRS) provides a statewide inter-agency framework for better understanding and meeting Oregon's instream and out-of-stream water needs. Here is the IWRS website . Oregon's Water Resources Commission adopted the first IWRS in 2012 and the second in 2017. A League member served on the Policy Advisory Group for each. Oregon Revised Statute (536.220) was updated in 2023 to require that the IWRS is updated every 8 years.  Draft 2 is now available for Public Review and Comment. Please submit your written comments to WRD_DL_waterstrategy@water.oregon.gov on or before May 7, 2025. Bills we are following: Water Right Process Improvements ( HB 3342 ) . A - 4 amendment was adopted, and the bill passed the House. It has been assigned to the Senate Natural Resources and Wildfire, had a public hearing on April 29 and is set for a possible work session on May 6. 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 has a public hearing set for April 30 consider the A10 amendment that will extend the timeline for testing to 2027 in groundwater management areas The League has worked on the intent of this bill. Although narrowed, we are pleased to see this bill possibly move forward. A work session scheduled for May 1st was cancelled but rescheduled for May 7. HB 3364 makes changes to the grants programs at the Water Resources Dept. The bill passed the House floor, had a public hearing on April 24 in the Senate Committee on Natural Resources and Wildfire where a work session was held and the bill passed the committee so will now go to the Senate floor for a vote. LWV Deschutes County submitted a letter in support of SB 427 , a water rights transfer bill meant to protect instream water flows. A work session was held April 8. 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. 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. 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! However, the latest long-term forecast is for a hot (90 deg) May and a hot (100 deg) June! 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 rulemaking on Removal-Fill Program Fees earlier this year. After review by the Dept. of Justice and comments are 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 Many wildfire related bills saw some movement this week, though the future of, perhaps, the majority of them remains far from certain. SB 83 , which would repeal the State Wildfire Hazard Map and accompanying statues related to it, was passed unanimously by the Senate on April 24, and referred to the House Committee on Climate, Energy and Environment. A public hearing has been scheduled for May 6. Also headed to that Committee, and scheduled for Work Sessions on May 6 are SB 75 A , that, as amended, simply removes the wildfire hazard map as a guide for allowing ADUs and requiring higher building codes in rural areas; and SB 85A , which 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. 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. All eyes were on this hearing as wildfire season approaches and funding is shrouded in uncertainty. Oregon Department of Forestry and Oregon State Fire Marshal’s Office have stated the minimum annual amount needed for wildfire funding to address the growing wildfire crisis is around $280 million. It is quite unclear at present which of the several funding mechanisms in this bill, which were generated by the Wildfire Funding Workgroup, will move forward. Drawing the most attention in opposition was the provision to increase the bottle deposit. The other main issue was the need for rural fire district associations to find relief from the assessments they are expected to pay, especially for those in Eastern Oregon. Also in wildfire funding news, 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. 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 on April 23 and referred to the House Committee on Judiciary. 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. Finally, while the effects of Federal cuts on staffing and other areas of wildfire mitigation and suppression generally remain uncertain, it was announced recently by the Oregon Department of Emergency Management (OEM) that Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) grants funding has been ceased by FEMA. The BRIC grant program provided money to help communities prepare for natural disasters before they happen. This act will result in a loss of wildfire mitigation funding, along with many other needed preparedness actions. In addition, some funds already allocated will be withdrawn. OEM outlined the impact the April 4 announcement from FEMA canceling the fiscal year 2024 BRIC grant program has on Oregon in this April 24 announcement . This development adds to the urgency of finding viable and substantial wildfire funding solutions this session. Bills we are watching: Senate Bill 1051 , Governor Kotek is seeking the authority to choose the next State Forester. The Board of Forestry has begun the recruitment process. 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 All Legislative Reports Natural Resources Legislative Report - Week of 2/19 Natural Resources Team Coordinator: Peggy Lynch Agriculture/Goal 3 Land Use: Sandra U. Bishop 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: Budgets/Revenue Climate Coastal Issues Dept. of State Lands (DSL) Elliott State Research Forest Forestry Land Use and Housing Reduce/Recycle Water Wildfire Volunteers Needed By Peggy Lynch, Natural Resources Coordinator, and Team Budgets/Revenue By Peggy Lynch SB 5701 is the 2024 omnibus budget bill. It is currently populated with the items approved during the November and January Legislative Days. Budget requests are being considered as the Co-Chairs determine the money to be spent or saved. It has been reported that the cost for behavior health and community safety will be between $180 and $235 million. The main housing bills are expected to cost about $350 million. Legislators have shared that there may be another $1-2 billion funding requests to consider, but not enough revenue to allocate. Look for bills sent to Ways and Means (W&Ms) to be considered in their Subcommittees ONLY when they have been approved by the W&Ms Co-Chairs and Senate and House Leadership. We should see those bills posted to those Subcommittees this week and next. Many bills sent to W&Ms will still be there at the end of session. HB 5201 and HB 5202 are the bonding bills. Like General Fund requests, there are more bonding requests than money to allocate. The Feb. 16 public hearing in W&Ms Capital Construction was evidence of that fact. 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. SB 1562 with the -1 amendment has passed Senate Finance and Revenue. It increases the limit for making contributions into the Rainy Day Fund from 7.5% to 12.5% of General Fund revenue but leaves the contribution cap unchanged at 1% of General Fund appropriations. The Joint W&Ms met Feb. 23rd and approved a list of grant requests and reports. 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 . One concern is that mediocre returns and rapidly inflating payrolls are causing actuaries to predict that PERS will need about $6 billion in 2025-2027, hundreds of millions more than in the current biennium. Personal income taxpayers can determine their kicker amount using a “What’s My Kicker?” calculator on Revenue Online . Climate By Claudia Keith and Team See the Climate Emergency section for overlaps. We encourage you to read both sections. Coastal Issues By Christine Moffitt/Peggy Lynch HB 4080 A was moved to Ways and Means on Feb. 14 th related to offshore wind energy. Important to the League will be financing the public engagement in the Dept. of Land Conservation and Development’s (DLCD) Coastal Program as required by the bill. The League provided comments on HB 4080-1 and continues to advocate for funding for public engagement and staff at DLCD. On Feb. 22nd, “the Oregon Legislative Coastal Caucus has issued a resounding call for the federal Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) to address significant concerns before advancing offshore wind projects off the coast of Oregon. In a letter to BOEM Director Heidi Klein, the Caucus expressed extreme disappointment with BOEM's decision to finalize two Wind Energy Areas (WEAs) without adequately addressing the concerns of coastal communities, industries, and tribes.” The League signed on to a letter in support of HB 4132 , Marine Reserves. Currently there is a fiscal request of just under $900 M for this biennium. The bill is scheduled for a Feb. 26 th work session in W&Ms Natural Resources. Oregon’s Coos Bay Estuary is reported to be a “blue carbon”source that will help Oregon address climate change. That is no news to our local Coos Bay League who continue to advocate for this largest of Oregon’s estuaries. 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. Elliott State Research Forest (ESRF) By Peggy Lynch The League supports the $4.1 million that had been set aside in 2023 for the former proposed separate ESRF state agency to instead be added to the DSL budget as the managers of the ESRF. The League encourages you to listen to the one-hour Feb. 19 th Ways and Means Natural Resources Subcommittee meeting where a diverse set of groups provided testimony. LWVOR has been engaged in the Elliott discussion since 2014. Work is continuing on 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 the last of their community conversations on February 28th as they do strategic planning. The public is encouraged to participate. On Feb. 23 rd the Board of Forestry had a special meeting on Post-Disturbance Harvest Rulemaking. A number of bills this session are around funding wildfire. For information on the various bills, see the Wildfire section of this report below. Land Use & Housing By Peggy Lynch The major housing bills, SB 1537 and SB 1530 A , have been scheduled for a Work Session in the Ways and Means SubCommittee on Transportation and Economic Development. We understand that there may be some “technical fixes” in SB 1537 in W&Mw. A news release by the Senate President explains the elements of both bills. Also on the agenda is 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. We may see elements of HB 4128 A . 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 are hopeful that, if some of those projects are added to HB 4134, the criteria in HB 4134 will apply. The Citizen Involvement Advisory Committee is recruiting a new member from Oregon’s Third Congressional District. Applications are due by March 18, 9 a.m. Follow the Oregon Housing Needs Analysis (OHNA) Rulemaking Committee on the 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 joined others in support of the bill. The bill passed the Senate Chamber on Feb. 19 th and is headed to the House Committee on Business and Labor for a Feb. 26 th Public Hearing and Work Session. DEQ is conducting rulemaking to clarify and implement HB 3220 (2023) , which updates and makes necessary changes to the statewide electronics recycling program, Oregon E-Cycles. DEQ is holding its first meeting for the Oregon E-Cycles Rulemaking Advisory Committee on March 7 at 9 a.m. – noon. To attend this virtual meeting, please pre-register via the Zoom online platform . To learn more about this rulemaking and the advisory committee please visit the Oregon E-Cycles rulemaking web page . Water By Peggy Lynch The amended HB 4128 sent to Ways and Means includes a $3 million allocation to be added to the Water Well Abandonment, Repair and Replacement Fund . The League was engaged in helping create this fund in 2021 and supports this allocation. On Feb. 27, there will be an Informational Meeting on “Needs of Very Small Community Water Systems”. The League continues to advocate for clean, safe drinking water for all and the issues of trained staff as well as cost of repairs and upgrades are very real. On Feb. 22, in the House Committee on Housing and Homelessness, Rep. Hartman presented concepts to be considered in 2025, including a number of water related programs, many of which the League has advocated for in the past. 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 be open March 1 st - 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 available on the internet as well as in person. The Department of State Lands is creating a new statewide program (Abandoned and Derelict Vessels) to address hazardous vessels across Oregon. They want your feedback on the proposed program framework. Share your input by March 8th! See the proposed framework for the ADV program here (PDF). The League has supported 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 starting March 5th. An updated draft is then anticipated to 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 . The League hopes members will engage since we were actively engaged in the original legislation and in the first two IWRS documents. We understand this new draft takes an entirely new slant from the current IWRS. It will be important that the original documents not be invalidated but instead enhanced by this proposal. 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 week began with some welcome progress on at least one of the wildfire funding bills the League has been following. On February 19, the House Climate and Energy met and voted to send Rep Marsh’s omnibus wildfire bill, HB 4016-1 , on home hardening and prescribed fire liability, to the floor with a do-pass recommendation. The amendment removed the portion of this bill set up to fund wildfire smoke programs, eliminating the need to refer the bill to Ways and Means. It subsequently passed the House on Feb 21, referred to Senate Natural Resources and Wildfire, for Feb. 27 public hearing and Feb. 29 th work session. Next up was a Sen Vets, etc. mtg on emergency preparedness. Chief Mariana Ruiz-Temple, Dept of the State Fire Marshal (DFSM) gave a “State of the State” presentation on Oregon fire service and challenges faced. She referred to the fire service “crisis”. Among challenges are a decreasing volunteer pool, recruitment and retention problems, increasing homeless impacts including tent fires, growing wildfire event intensity and size, and firefighter behavioral health issues due to trauma and stress associated with job demands. A KTVZ study report recently released by Oregon State University reinforces current and future increase in wildfires, both geographically and in intensity, trending towards more fire on the “Westside”, west of the Cascades. The bad news is these fires have the capacity to become mega-fires due to the very factors that make them less frequent - seasonal moisture combined with lots of vegetative growth, which accumulates fuel for fires. Chief Ruiz-Temple was followed by the Row River Fire Response. This is a Rural Fire District established by community members in response to having NO fire protection DURING a fire that occurred in a neighborhood that burned 5 homes. They believe their successful public/private partnership could serve as a model for other communities around Oregon. A slide show describing their inspiring journey is worth a look, revealing a fire protection system gap. The League is following two bills, SB 1520 -2 and HB 4007 , relating to an income tax subtraction for settlements or judgments received by wildfire damage victims. Subtle differences between the two bills are being worked out in Sen Finance and Revenue and House Revenue. The impetus is that legal settlement and judgment proceeds are taxed at 70%, with the remaining 30% also being taxable income, and legal fees paid are not deductible. This results in homeowners hoping to rebuild being left with a small fraction of the initial reward, sometimes a little as 15%. California has passed similar legislation. To complicate things, Federal tax law in this area is also under review and the outcome will affect the final details of how these bills are implemented, since there is some overlap. On February 22, Sen Finance and Revenue adopted the SB 1520-2 amendment, which fixed some problems identified during public testimony, and sent it to the floor with a do pass recommendation. At this meeting, a SB 1545 work session was held, which would allow counties to offer a property tax break (using assessment from ’20-21) to owners of destroyed homes rebuilt after the 2020 wildfires. A Feb 26 work session is scheduled before the same Committee. The League has also observed some limited movement on the various wildfire funding bills. A good summary of their various stages may be found in this excellent Capital Chronicle Feb 22nd overview . Rep Evans’ public safety and wildfire funding bills, HJR 201 and HB 4075 , are “effectively dead”, according to the article, having received over 1,400 written comments, 99% opposing. Sen Golden’s wildfire funding bill, SB 1593 with amendment , would fund a study of the use of a severance tax to fund wildfire programs. (A severance tax applies to the value of trees harvested. A forest products harvest tax which Oregon currently has is levied on the volume of harvested timber.) That bill has a Feb. 28 th public hearing before Sen Finance and Revenue. The League will provide testimony in support of the proposed amendment. Sen. Steiner is also scheduled to share “Funding Wildfire Mitigation and Suppression” information. We can assume she will be discussing her HB 4133-3 bill, still in House Revenue. Last but certainly not least, the latest version of Rep Marsh and Sen Steiner’s bill, HB 4133 -3, was heard on Feb 22 before House Revenue. Sen Steiner and Doug Grafe, the Governor’s Wildfire and Military Advisor explained explained several bill changes. The first change relates to a split of funds raised by the measure between the General Fund and the Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) Large Fire Fund, which this bill would establish. The second, in a needed attempt to broaden the conversation, directs ODF and DSFM to work with stakeholders to develop options for sustainable funding for wildfire suppression and mitigation. It was noted that Rep Marsh and SenGolden, and various fire agencies, would most likely be at the table. This is, at least in part, in response to opposition/reservations voiced by several State firefighter organizations. Toward that end, Senator Steiner submitted this letter to presiding officers. The final change relates to a land reclassification moratorium which affects the rates landowners pay for fire protection while details continue to be ironed out. Ironically, several members of the Committee expressed their difficulties in understanding this complex bill which was, in theory, designed to make the wildfire funding model less complex. A Work Session was scheduled for February 26 before this Committee. 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. On Feb 28, there will be an informational meeting on the Wildfire Hazard Map in the House Committee on Climate, Energy and Environment. 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 4/10 Natural Resources Team Coordinator: Peggy Lynch Agriculture/Goal 3 Land Use: Sandra U. Bishop 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: Budget/Revenue Climate Coastal Issues Elliott State Research Forest Land Use/Housing Radioactive Waste Recycling Toxics Water Wildfire Natural Resources By Peggy Lynch, Natural Resources Coordinator, and Team Fun and games at the Capitol—and some bills passing out of chambers. After the Senate decided to hold all day sessions on April 10 and 11, that was extended to the entire week and the House joined in the marathon sessions. Bills were getting backed up and needed to get to the second chamber if they were to stay alive. The next deadlines are May 5 to schedule a Work Session and May 19 for the bill to move out of committee. Budgets/Revenue On April 6, the League provided testimony in support with comments on the Oregon Water Resources Dept. (OWRD) budget ( HB 5043 ). The Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board (OWEB) budget ( SB 5539 & SB 5540 ) wastentatively scheduled for April 17 and 18 with public testimony on the 18 th . Expect agency budgets for small agencies to see Work Sessions next: Marine Board, LUBA, Columbia River Gorge Commission (Washington State legislative session ends April 23 and the Oregon budget allocation needs to match equal funding for the Gorge Commission.). As we await the May 17 Revenue Forecast, here’s some food for thought from the U.S. Federal Reserve: “Staff members at the central bank, who brief policymakers before interest rate decisions, had long expected GDP growth to slow this year in the wake of the Fed’s fight against inflation. But last month they upped the odds of a downturn, according to the minutes of the Fed’s March 21-22 meeting . Their projection was for “a mild recession starting later this year, with a recovery over the subsequent two years,” according to the minutes, released Wednesday…. They estimated the economy would fully recover by 2025.” A series of public meetings will provide Oregonians with an opportunity to share their priorities for the state budget and HB 5006 , Emergency Board funding and other funding for 2023-25, including a virtual public meeting session on Friday, May 5, 5-7 p.m. Plan on no more than 2 minutes each! We await the May 17 Revenue Forecast that will be the guide for the final balanced budgets for 2023-25. 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 The League joined other groups concerned with HB 3382 policy and submitted a letter explaining the serious threat to our coastal planning that could reduce or remove the opportunity for future coastal NOAA grants. We need your voices to tell your legislators to Just Say NO! A newly updated DLCD Coastal Grants webpage now highlights the new Coastal Zone Management Habitat Protection and Restoration Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funding program being administered by OCMP/DLCD. The next solicitation for projects will be in May, 2023. The Land Conservation and Development Commission (LCDC) is considering the adoption of amendments to Part Three of the Oregon Territorial Sea Plan (TSP), the Rocky Habitat Management Strategy. A draft of the proposed rules is available on DLCD’s website. LCDC is scheduled to consider adoption of the new amendments during their April 20-21 meeting. Please contact Casaria Taylor, Casaria.taylor@dlcd.oregon.gov for further information. Address written comments to the Chair LCDC, care of Casaria Taylor via email. If you have questions, contact Andy Lanier at 503-206-2291, or email: Andy.Lanier@dlcd.oregon.gov . The agenda for LCDC’s April 20 meeting will be available on DLCD’s website . LWVOR has supported this work in the past. Elliott State Research Forest (ESRF) By Peggy Lynch A League member attended the ESRF prospective Board meeting on April 10. There was extensive discussion on the financial viability modeling by both the Dept. of State Lands (DSL) staff and separately Oregon State University staff. Work on the Habitat Conservation Plan has hit a bump around protection of riparian areas for the marbled murrelet, making the harvest levels less than expected. Timber harvesting in certain areas is where the funding for this new Authority gets its revenue. We may see an increase in a funding request from DSL for the 2023-25 session to address transition expenses. The group will meet in a retreat, April 17-18, to try to resolve these challenging issues. The website may provide more detailed information soon. The League did remind the Board of our continuing concern related to financial viability and hopes the Board can resolve the issue. Land Use/Housing By Peggy Lynch The League watched the hearing on SB 1087 , a bill that “appeared” unexpectedly in Senate Rules on April 8. The bill was filed on behalf of a farm in Lane County where they want to add a “café” on their Exclusive Farm Use (EFU)-zoned property. League members might want to read the testimony from 1,000 Friends since the request was to develop a 5,000-square-foot facility with outside seating and 25 parking spaces. The bill would set standards for the establishment of farm cafes on lands in Lane County zoned for exclusive farm use. It requires the Oregon Health Authority to review the land use compatibility statement before licensing a farm cafe. The bill also authorizes OHA to revoke, deny or suspend licenses upon certain violations of land use conditions. The overwhelming testimony filed was opposed to this bill. The League is concerned with the precedent that would be set by allowing this activity in Lane County as other counties could ask for the same use on their EFU lands in the future. LWVOR will wait to see if the bill has legs and may want to send opposition testimony to Rules Committee members if a Work Session is scheduled. Another bill of interest is HB 2659 , brought “at the request of Cities of Springfield, Happy Valley, Troutdale, Medford, Hillsboro and League of Oregon Cities”. The bill seeks relief from the Climate Friendly and Equitable Communities rules adopted by the Land Conservation and Development Commission (LCDC). The bill now sits in House Rules while, on April 20, LCDC will consider new temporary rules meant to address at least some of the concerns of those cities. A lawsuit is also pending on the adopted rules. We will see after April 20 if the parties can come to an agreement. You can read more about this issue on the LCDC website . HB 3414 with the -4 amendment would create a new Housing Accountability and Production Office in DLCD and also includes a Section 2 related to processing of variances under certain circumstances. Variances are used to address exceptions to a code’s “clear and objective standards”. It is unclear how this provision will change a community’s control over residential development. The bill was moved without recommendation as to passage, referred to House Rules, and then to Ways and Means. SB 70A would allow housing on acreage in Malheur County. The League provided testimony in opposition on Feb. 8. On April 3, the bill was moved without recommendation as to passage to Senate Rules. LWVOR still opposes it. There are a number of bills related to siting solar in Oregon. HB 3179A was sent “do pass” to the House chamber. See also the Housing Report in the Social Policy section of this Legislative Report. Radioactive Waste By Shirley Weathers Oregon Dept. of Energy staff has set the meeting of the RAC requested by the member representing Waste Management for 9a-12 noon on April 24. No details about what Waste Management will present at the meeting are available at this time beyond their initial request for the meeting back in February. In that, they indicated that they will seek consensus acceptance of a draft rule package of their own on the basis of their new proposed approach in lieu of submitting comments to the draft concepts currently before the RAC as developed by ODOE. The League will attend the virtual meeting. Reduce/Recycle By Kathy Moyd/Greg Martin SB 543A will have a public hearing on April 17 in House Climate, Energy and Environment and a Work Session on April 19. The bill would prohibit the use of polystyrene foam containers and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in sales of prepared food. The League provided testimony in support on Feb. 17. SB 542-7 , the Right to Repair bill, passed out of Committee to the Senate floor on April 4. The League provided testimony in support on Feb. 14. See the interesting OPB article on the bill. The House Climate, Energy and Environment Committee held a Work Session on SB 545A on April 17. The amended bill simply requires OHA to "adopt rules allowing for a restaurant to allow a consumer to fill a consumer-owned container with food." It also gives OHA an additional 6 months to adopt the rules (by June 30, 2024). (ODA was removed from the rulemaking mandate since the department adopted changes to the Retail Food Code in February.) The League provided testimony in support when it was heard in the Senate. Toxics By Paula Grisafi HB 3043 A has a public hearing scheduled on April 20 in Senate Energy and Environment. SB 546 A (toxic free cosmetics) was sent to W&Ms although there was NO fiscal for the 2023-25 session because, although the measure takes effect January 1, 2024, all substantive portions of the bill are not operative until January 1, 2027. SB 426 (toxic free schools) moved out of committee with the -2 amendment and was sent to W&Ms without clarity on the fiscal impact. Water By Peggy Lynch A major water bill, HB 3124 , was moved to House Rules without recommendation as to passage. The bill is a $250 million Drought Relief and Water Scarcity package. and includes some of the other bills we’ve seen this session. You can view the committee presentation here and Drought Relief and Water Security Slides and comprehensive explanations: Bipartisan Drought Relief and Water Security Package (BiDRAWS) . A “public comment” opportunity has been set in House Agriculture, Land Use, Agriculture and Water on April 18. The League will provide comments on the bill and its various elements, using our participation in the HB 5006 Work Group as our guide. A priority of the League is HB 3163A , a bill that renews the Place-Based Planning program with a Fund to help groups participate in this program, sent to W&Ms. The League participated in a Work Group last year to help develop program sideboards and provided testimony in support. HB 2238 would have authorized rulemaking to consider an increase in fees for the removal/fill program. The League supported the original bill. Instead the bill was amended and now just clarifies what DSL can do with personal belongings when they clean up sites on their property. The League is disappointed. We will continue to follow the bill in the Senate. 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 info line at 877-290-6767 to learn if an advisory has been issued or lifted for a specific water body. We have an on-going drought throughout Oregon and League members may want to check the U.S. Drought Monitor , a map that is updated every Thursday. California is looking better, but Oregon continues to have concerns. Governor Kotek has signed drought declarations for the counties of Crook, Jefferson, Grant and Deschutes. Wasco County has also requested a drought declaration. Wildfire By Carolyn Mayers The House Committee on Climate, Energy and Environment, on April 5, held an informational meeting on SB 82A , relating to insurance companies and consumer protections with regard to homeowners’ insurance and wildfire risk. Doug Grafe, Wildfire and Emergency Response Advisor to the Governor, gave a brief history of wildfire and its spread in terms of both geography and intensity, for context. This was followed by an overview of past and current wildfire related legislation. He outlined the intersection of SB 82A with SB 80A , the omnibus Wildfire Programs bill, and how the wildfire mitigation programs for homeowners and neighborhoods outlined therein, when taken advantage of, should figure into insurance company’s ratings calculations. The informational meeting was immediately followed by a SB 82 A Public Hearing. Andrew Stolfi, Director of the Oregon Department of Business and Consumer Service, (and State Insurance Commissioner), gave a bill overview, emphasizing it is primarily for the purpose of consumer protection and increased transparency. He also mentioned that as part of their work, an increase in payment limits under the FAIR Plan had been secured, a real win for homeowners in this high-risk pool. Next up was Senator Golden, who reiterated the need for insurance companies to consider homeowner and neighborhood mitigation measures when rating a policy or policies. He called it a “companion” to SB 509 A , which aims to scale out neighborhood collaboratives in order to help whole neighborhoods reduce risk. Also on April 5, there was an informational meeting before W&Ms on HB 5036 , about funding and spending authority for the new recently established Department of the State Fire Marshal, taking the place of the Office of the State Fire Marshal. Previously, this office operated as part of the Oregon State Police (OSP). One negative bit of information from the meeting was that funding for the continuation of wildfire Community Risk Reduction Programs, to be continued under SB 762, the original 2021 wildfire legislation, was to be cut from $75 million to $40 million. The Governor’s budget decreases or eliminates a number of wildfire related programs. On April 6, this same committee held a HB 5036 public hearing, with a number of speakers testifying in favor and lauding the work of the State Fire Marshal. Chair Mark Bennett, Wildfire Programs Advisory Council (WCAP), also lent his support, saying he was “…glad it’s no longer the bastard step-child…” of OSP. WCAP was scheduled to hold their next meeting on April 14 to discuss the wildfire hazard map and current legislation. This very interesting Oregon Live article outlines circumstances before and while the 2020 wildfires broke out, where State officials had a pointed discussion with public electrical utilities about considering Public Safety Power Shutoffs in light of the developing wind and wildfire situation. Finally, demonstrating the continuing benefits of the 2021 wildfire bill, SB 762 as “the gift that keeps on giving”, this KEZI article reports on new special, state of the art, wildfire fighting engines and tankers purchased for localities around the state by the Department of the Fire Marshal. VOLUNTEERS NEEDED: What is your passion related to Natural Resources? You can help. Volunteers are needed. The 2023 legislative session is halfway over. 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 1/27 Natural Resources Team Coordinator: Peggy Lynch Agriculture/Goal 3 Land Use: Sandra U. Bishop 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 Agriculture Budgets/Revenue Climate Coastal Issues Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) Department of State Lands (DSL) Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) Land Use & Housing Pesticides Recycling Water Wildfire Air Quality Bills we are watching: 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 to support. HB 3244 : Replaces the requirement that an owner or operator of a municipal solid waste incinerator conduct continuous monitoring or sampling of specified air contaminants with a requirement that the monitoring or sampling be conducted annually. LWVOR would oppose. The bill relates to the Reworld facility out of Keiser and League members have testified of their concerns in past years. Agriculture By Sandra Bishop How to protect productive agricultural ground and forests by determining what uses should and shouldn’t be allowed on private agricultural and forest land in the state is top of mind as the 2025 session of the Oregon Legislature gets underway. Senator Jeff Golden, chair of the Senate Committtee on Natural Resources and Wildfire , was first out the gate leading the charge on addressing issues related to the loss of agricultural land and forest land in Oregon. The first meeting of the Committee this session on January 21st was an informational presentation on the history, challenges and the need for legislation to address problems with incompatible uses and continued threats to the viability of agricultural and forest land. Speakers at this informational presentation included land use experts Hilary Foote, Farm/Forest Specialist with Oregon Department of Land Conservation and Development (DLCD) and Jim Johnson, Working Lands Policy Director, 1000 Friends of Oregon. Foote gave a concise, yet comprehensive history of Oregon land use laws related to farm and forest land. While acknowledging the importance of the agricultural and timber economies she put the preservation of high value resource land in a broader context; the reality of a finite land base and the Oregon values of conserving and using it wisely. Foote’s presentation was dense with facts and figures and specifics to help orient the members of the committee to look at the multifaceted consequences of the use of ag and forest land in the state. Co-benefits such as air, water, habitat, and sequestration of carbon are some of the factors to recognize when considering the conversion of agricultural and forest lands. (The DLCD report was linked in our last legislative report.) Jim Johnson, who retired in Nov 2024 after more than twenty years with the Oregon Department of Agriculture where he served as Land Use and Water Planning Coordinator, is an expert in farmland preservation and protection. As the new 1000 Friends of Oregon Working Lands Director, Johnson gave a presentation to the committee members with a realistic assessment of Oregon’s standing in the nation as being top in protecting farmland, but showing signs of weakening in that regard. He stressed the diversity of high-value crops produced in the state and the danger of the cumulative impact on ag land of not only the actual loss of farmland but the shadow conversion effect of impinging uses that adversely affect the ability to operate. He gave details such as conversion or loss of land by county, which reveals that renewable energy projects such as solar are a significant factor in land conversion. The third speaker in the information panel was a representative from the Oregon Farm Bureau who indicated OFB will advocate for increased agri-tourism, value-added activities such as events and direct-to-consumer activities. The statement was made that there will be opposition to any non-voluntary forfeiture of farmland. Chair Jeff Golden announced four specific Senate bills that will be considered by the committee: SB 78 – Replacement dwelling bill; SB 77 – home occupation reform bill; SB 73 – Spot zoning reform; and SB 79 – prohibits certain dwellings on resource lands. LWVOR will watch and may support with our strong positions on protection of Oregon’s valuable agricultural lands. Budgets/Revenue By Peggy Lynch From the State Debt Policy Advisory Commission on Jan. 16: The State’s General Fund revenues are forecasted to provide for $8.9 billion of new General Fund debt capacity for the upcoming four biennia, with an average debt capacity of $2.22 billion per Biennium. Lottery Revenue continues to be heavily dependent on video gaming, which is reliant on access to bars, restaurants and gaming facilities and showing signs of weakness vs expectations. Projected Lottery Revenue provides $2.25 billion of new Lottery Revenue debt capacity for the upcoming four Biennia, with an average debt capacity of $564 million in each Biennium over the forecast period. The Advisory Committee discussed the need to sell bonds over the 2-year budget period instead of at the end of the 2 years, which has been the practice recently. But that has consequences because of the timing of debt service costs reducing monies for other purposes in the session. If you want to learn how the Ways and Means Subcommittees work, including their policies and procedures, each will hold orientation meetings this week to provide members with guidance before they begin hearing individual agency budgets the week after. Following are the budget bills we are watching in Natural Resources: Dept. of Agriculture: SB 5502 Dept. of Agriculture Fees: SB 5503 Columbia River Gorge Commission: SB 5508 DEQ: SB 5520 . Governor’s budget DEQ Fact Sheet Public hearing tentative set for mid-March Oregon Dept. of Energy: SB 5518 Oregon Dept. of Energy Fees: SB 5519 Oregon Dept. of Fish and Wildlife: HB 5009 Oregon Dept. of Forestry: SB 5521 Dept. of Geology and Mineral Industries: HB 5010 Dept. of Land Conservation and Development: SB 5528 Governor’s budget DLCD Fact Sheet Public hearing Feb. 3-4; LCDC 1/24 presentation Land Use Board of Appeals: SB 5529 Oregon State Marine Board: HB 5021 Oregon State Parks and Recreation Dept.: HB 5026 Public hearing tentative set for March 8 Dept. of State Lands: SB 5539 Water Resources Dept.: SB 5543 Governor’s budget WRD Fact Sheet Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board: HB 5039 . Tentative public hearing Feb. 23-24 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. Oregon Business Development Dept.: HB 5024 Oregon Dept. of Emergency Management: SB 5517 Office of the Governor: SB 5523 Oregon State Fire Marshal: SB 5538 Dept. of Transportation: SB 5541 Dept. of Administrative Services: HB 5002 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 Emergency Board: HB 5006 General Obligation Bonds, etc.: SB 5505 : an average debt capacity of $2.22 billion per Biennium 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. The next Revenue Forecast will be Feb. 26th. The legislature will use that forecast to do a final rebalance of the 2023-25 budget. Then the May 14th forecast will be the basis for the legislature to determine the 2025-27 state budget. 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 It was good to read in Rep. Gomberg’s newsletter his support for issues mentioned in last week’s legislative report: “I will have a bill to better protect rocky nearshore habitat and our eelgrass meadows. I’m working to ensure funds already allocated to the Department of Fish and Wildlife for Marine Reserves are not diverted for other purposes. And I’m continuing to support marine science and research with funding for the Oregon Ocean Science Trust.” President Trump signed an Executive Order on Jan. 21: “We aren’t going to do the wind thing,” Trump said Monday. Minutes later he signed a sweeping order that seeks not only to stop new offshore wind lease sales but also to potentially “terminate or amend” existing leases. Oregon is continuing meetings on Offshore Wind. For more information, please visit the DLCD webpage here: Offshore Wind Roadmap . Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) By Peggy Lynch The House Committee on Climate, Energy and Environment had a presentation on the many programs of the DEQ on Jan. 21st. There was also a presentation on the Oregon Dept. of Energy (ODOE). As we have concerns about the current federal administration related to our environment, the Oregon Capital Chronicle provided this reminder : “In 2019, the Oregon Legislature passed House Bill 2250 , which requires that the Environmental Quality Department evaluate changes to federal environmental laws and determine whether the changes result in less protective measures than previously established federal standards. If new federal changes undermine established ones, the agency must inform the Oregon Environmental Quality Commission and recommend action to continue enforcing the previous standards.” Nitrates in the Lower Umatilla Basin worsened in the last 10 years as reported in an article by OPB. “Wednesday’s report documents tests at 33 wells monitored by DEQ across the large geographic area. The majority of those wells are for domestic use, though two are used for irrigation purposes and one is used for commercial business. Overall, the tests showed the nitrate problem has become notably worse in the past decade, even as Gov. Tina Kotek and other state officials in recent years have said they want to act on the problem .” 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 is serving on the rules advisory committee to address sewer availability and accessory dwelling unit (ADU) issues. There are two additional meetings set for Feb. 13 and 26. You are welcome to Sign up for email updates about this rulemaking via GovDelivery . 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 League will again serve on an annual rulemaking advisory committee on water quality fee increases. Department of Geoology and Mineral Industries (DOGAMI) By Peggy Lynch On Jan. 28th at 8a, the House Committee on Climate, Energy and Environment will receive a presentation on the proposed pilot project on Geologic Carbon Sequestration Potential in Oregon. Agenda. Department of State Lands (DSL) By Peggy Lynch The Director of DSL published a proposed increase in permit fees for Removal/Fill program: “Oregon’s Removal-Fill Law helps protect wetlands and waters by requiring permits to remove or add materials in wetlands, rivers, streams, lakes, and other waters of the state.” A League member served on the rulemaking advisory committee . “The statutory Common School Fund heavily subsidizes Oregon’s removal-fill permitting process .” “Visit the DSL website to see a draft of the proposed rules and program fees, all related materials from the rulemaking process, and the online comment form: www.oregon.gov/dsl/Pages/rulemaking.aspx . The comment deadline is February 17th at 5:00 p.m.” The next State Land Board meeting is Feb. 11. Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) By Josie Koehne SB 404 directs the State Board of Forestry to convey certain state forest lands to a county that determines that the county would secure the greatest permanent value of the lands to the county and requests conveyance. LWVOR will oppose See also the Wildfire section of this report below and the separate Climate section. Land Use & Housing By Peggy Lynch Both the House Housing and Senate Housing Committees have presentations on their agendas that members might find of interest on Jan. 27th. Unfortunately, both begin at 1p. However, it’s a good thing that the meetings are recorded and you can listen later! The following is a beginning list of land use (and housing-related) bills we are following: 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 may support. HB 3062 : Requires local governments to map sensitive uses as part of a comprehensive plan. LWVOR may support. HB 2138 : Expands allowable middle housing and expands middle housing requirements to include urban unincorporated lands. LWVOR may have comments. Some provisions we support; others not so much. HB 3145 : Allows the Housing and Community Services Department to use Local Innovation and Fast Track Housing Program Fund moneys for factory-built housing. LWVOR should support. Not sure if in our Housing portfolio or Land Use. HB 2316 : Allows designation of Home Start Lands to be used for housing. LWVOR will oppose. HB 2347 : Authorizes the Department of Land Conservation and Development to provide planning assistance for housing production to federally recognized Indian tribes and makes other technical changes to laws relating to land use planning. A -1 amendment will be considered at a public hearing on Feb. 5th in House Housing. 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. SB 525 : Amends expedited land division criteria and processes. LWVOR has concerns. May need to oppose. There is a bill to update Goal One and Public Participation being sponsored by Oregon’s American Planning Association that the League is interested in, but will need to review before taking a position. Awaiting a bill number. Pesticides HB 2679 directs the State Department of Agriculture to classify certain pesticides containing neonicotinoids as restricted-use. The League has supported a similar bill in past sessions. Recycling The Senate Energy and Environment Committee heard invited testimony on the extent and effects of microplastics in Oregon’s waterways and marine environment. Celeste Meiffren-Swango, state director of Environment Oregon, told the committee that her organization’s survey of 30 scenic rivers and lakes in Oregon found at least one form of microplastic in all 30. Microplastic fiber from textiles and clothing was the most prevalent form found in these waterways, some of which also contain large concentrations of tire particles. Microplastics can wind up in human hearts, livers, brains, and other body parts. We are only beginning to understand the health impacts. A slide presentation by Elise Granek , professor of environmental science and management at Portland State University, is a data-rich summary of PSU’s research on microplastic particles in the edible tissue of West Coast seafood species, including oysters, razor clams, pink shrimp, lamprey, Pacific herring, and other species. Salmon, lamprey, and razor clams in particular are culturally important to some Oregon tribes. Updates to Oregon’s Recycling Modernization Act ( SB 582 , 2021) that LWVOR supported , effective later this year, will help to reduce plastic pollution by making recycling easier for the public to use, expanding access to recycling services, and upgrading the facilities that sort recyclables. Producers and manufacturers of packaged items, paper products and food service ware will pay for many of these improvements. Consumers can also make a difference by choosing alternative products that use less plastic. On Jan. 27th, the Senate Committee on Energy and Environment will hear a report on Oregon’s Bottle Bill program. The League has been engaged in this program since its inception but we have no Recycling volunteer to follow this issue in 2025. Water By Peggy Lynch The League provided our first natural resources area testimony on HB 2168 on Wed. Jan. 22nd at the House Agriculture, Land Use, Natural Resources, and Water Committee, joining a wide group of interests supporting the programs. The bill requests $5 million for the on-site septic loan program, another $5 million for the Well Water Repair and Replacement Fund and monies to help the Oregon State Extension Service reach out to potential recipients. On Jan. 23rd the Senate Committee on Natural Resources and Wildfire held a discussion on “Foundational Information on Groundwater and Water Right Transfers Policy” with staff from the Governor’s Office. On Jan. 24th, Reps. Helm and Owens held three briefings on 1) Water Use Measurement and Reporting, 2) OWRD Funding Program Improvements (LC 3240), and 3) Water Right Transaction Process Improvements attended by a broad group of water interests, including LWVOR (over 50 attendees), to present potential legislation. More to come when bills are officially filed. HB 2988 : Instructs the Water Resources Department to take certain actions related to aquifer recharge and aquifer storage and recovery. HB 3108 : Requires the Water Resources Department to implement additional rules and requirements for the review of limited license applications for an aquifer storage and recovery permit HB 2803 : Increases certain fees related to water. LWVOR will support. Expect amendments. Needed to provide current service level staffing at WRD. Another bill, SB 830 , that the League will also support when posted, would allow for grants in the on-site septic program and extend the opportunities to low-income mobile home parks with failing septic systems. The League is proud to have been a part of advocating for many of these 2021-2024 Oregon Water Resources Dept. Investments . But there is more to do. The League has been invited to participate in discussions on a new Water Stewardship and Supply Initiative with its updated scope . LC 3542 has been filed, and this work will flesh out the proposed bill which “Directs the Water Resources Department to study the use of water resources in this state. Directs the department to report to committees or interim committees of the Legislative Assembly related to natural resources no later than September 15, 2026.” 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. Wildfire By Carolyn Mayers The League is excited to see SB 85 , a bill that directs the State Fire Marshal to establish a neighborhood protection cooperative grant program. We look forward to testifying when it is scheduled for a public hearing. We also are pleased to see HB 3172 related to home hardening. It provides policy direction and funding to the Oregon State Fire Marshal to establish the Wildfire Prepared Structure Program to provide financial incentives to individuals rebuilding after a wildfire, and to assist existing homeowners in the wildland urban interface (WUI) to retrofit current dwellings. Upgrades will reduce the likelihood of structural destruction during wildfires and protect our low income, vulnerable households. Monday Jan. 27: Senate Energy and Environment work session on SB 334 (Brock Smith), requiring the Dept. of Consumer and Business Services to study the financial impacts of wildfires. The bill is simply being moved to another committee on Monday. There will possibly be a future public hearing in that new committee. Tuesday, Jan. 28: Senate Natural Resources and Wildfire will have a presentation on wildfire insurance risk. Wednesday Jan. 29: Senate Finance and Revenue SB 545 , establishes an income tax credit for volunteer firefighters. The bill will be subsequently referred to the Committee on Tax Expenditures. Lastly, OPB shares information about a youth program to help with wildfire mitigation. 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 2/2 Natural Resources Team Coordinator: Peggy Lynch Agriculture/Goal 3 Land Use: Sandra U. Bishop 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 Dept. of Geology and Mineral Industries (DOGAMI) Drinking Water Advisory Committee (DWAC) Forestry (ODF) Governance Land Use & Housing Oregon Dept. of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) Oregon Parks and Recreation Dept. (OPRD) Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board (OWEB) Recycling Regional Solutions State Land Board Transportation Water Weather Wetlands Wildfire Intro It’s time! Information on the 2026 session is live ! Bills are posted and committee agendas are beginning to be posted. We encourage you to e-Subscribe to the bills you want to follow and the committees of interest. That means you will receive email notices of the bills you select and the committees you choose to follow. In a short session, it’s critical to know when the issues about which you want to follow are going to be heard/acted upon. Below you will find bills that our volunteers found of interest. You will need to look on OLIS to find the Committee to which the bills have been assigned—to be assigned on opening day Feb. 2. We will review all bills for a linkage to League positions to determine if we will provide testimony for or against. Of course, we also await the Feb. 4 th Revenue Forecast. The Full Ways and Means Committee will hold a public hearing from 5-8p on Feb. 3 rd . Individual League members are encouraged to participate, but remember that only our League President can speak on behalf of the League. See the Revenue section of this Legislative Report and sections of other Legislative Reports. AGRICULTURE By Sandra U. Bishop HB 4130 : Relating to farm use. As introduced, this bill relates to prepared farm products. This measure would seem to allow a greatly expanded variety of products to be produced and sold on farmland under the guise of clarifying the meaning of preparing farm products and by-products. Proposed changes would tie preparation of farm products or by-products to a newly defined farm unit (all parcels used for farming whether owned or leased) and to where a majority of the preparation occurs. Preparing products or by-products is defined as “… means but is not limited to cleaning, treating, cutting, sorting and packaging.” There is also a proposed language change regarding biofuel processing that would seem to open farmland for increased biofuel production. The League has concerns linked to our positions on the importance of agricultural lands for agriculture. HB 4153 : Relating to farm stores. This bill as introduced would eliminate farm stands and allow up to 10,000 square foot farm stores in permanent buildings selling products created in an enlarged region including areas of adjacent states. This would include undefined retail items allowed to take up to 25% of store space, and beverages and processed food for immediate consumption. Proposed definitions of agri-tourism range from specific allowables such as crop mazes and play structures to vague descriptors such as “… other seasonal or holiday events.” The language would seem to grant permission for any type of event. As written the proposed changes would put a burden on counties to determine any additional standards for siting farm stores. The permissive language “…may adopt sitting standards for farm stores…” is likely to leadto insufficient regulation or public accountability especially in counties that are severely underfunded and cannot afford to spend excessive staff time determining standards in individual cases of proposed farm store developments. The League has concerns linked to our positions on the importance of agricultural lands for agriculture. Public Hearing Feb. 4. The Oregon Department of Agriculture (ODA) accepted public comments on proposed rules for the Lower Umatilla Basin Groundwater Management Area ( LUBGWMA) . In an article by the Oregon Capital Chronicle, it was noted: In comments shared with the Oregon Department of Agriculture and the Oregon Board of Agriculture shortly before the new year, farm groups opposed to the rules told regulators they go too far, while others contended they don’t go far enough. The Oregon Health Authority since 2024 found that at least 634 domestic drinking water wells in the area contain unsafe levels of nitrate, some with nearly 10 times the federal limit for safe drinking water, and more than 420 show elevated levels that could lead to long-term health problems. Update: Here’s the 2025 Annual Report on the LUBGWMA. The plan outlines the state’s key strategies to reduce groundwater nitrate concentrations to less than 7 milligrams per liter (mg/L) in the area and protect public health in the immediate term. The report shares progress but also notes that it will take decades to reverse the damage done to the area’s groundwater supplies. BUDGETS/REVENUE Peggy Lynch As we await the Feb. 4 th Revenue Forecast, agencies were directed to reduce their spending as well as providing a list of potential cuts of up to 5% per agency per revenue source ( General Fund, Lottery Fund, Other Funds) and to provide a list of any new programs that were approved since 2021—all due to reduced revenue forecasts, federal legislation and actions. Here are the meeting materials submitted to LFO by the 14 natural resource agencies. League members have been meeting with legislators to advocate for important programs. We can support vacancy savings (not hiring for some authorized staffing or delaying hiring), but we want to maintain the position authority for this biennium. We also recognize that losing trained staff is costly in the long term since many staff need 6-12 months to be fully trained, especially for processing permits. Working in the natural resource world which is less than 3% of the state’s budget, each cut reduces the ability for Oregon to protect our air, land and water. See the Revenue section of this Legislative Report for in depth information. We encourage you to read ALL sections. CLIMATE Claudia Keith and Team See the Climate Emergency section of this Legislative Report. There are overlaps with this Natural Resources Report. We encourage you to read both sections. COASTAL ISSUES Christine Moffitt SB 1525 will establish the Blue Economy Task Force to study and report on Oregon’s blue economy sectors, existing economic development plans and strategies, and opportunities to support the growth of sustainable blue economy businesses while maintaining the health of Oregon’s coastal ecosystems. The measure also authorizes the Oregon Ocean Science Trust to create and maintain a nonprofit organization. HB 4097 : Authorizes the Oregon Ocean Science Trust to create and maintain a nonprofit organization. LWVOR can support this bill. Public Hearing is Feb. 2 nd . Work Session set for Feb. 4. Public Access Rulemaking has begun to clarify how local governments will address protection of public access to Oregon beaches. @ dlcd.oregon.gov with questions. More information is available at OregonOcean.Info/RockyHabitats . DEPT. OF GEOLOGY AND MINERAL INDUSTRIES (DOGAMI) The federal government approves Grassy Mt. Gold Mine according to OPB. The Grassy Mountain gold mine still needs multiple state permits before moving ahead. It would occupy nearly 470 acres of public land for the next decade, and then the site would undergo a four-year restoration period and 20 years of monitoring. If this project is approved, the City of Vale will see a temporary transformation as they seek housing and other services for workers. The latest on the Grassy Mt. Gold Mine Project per the Dept. of Environmental Quality’s Director's Report : Grassy Mountain Gold Mine Project: DEQ prepared four draft permits for the Grassy Mountain project, a proposed gold mine located in Malheur County approximately 22 miles south-southwest of Vale. Mining will be sub-surface, and gold will be extracted from the ore using a cyanide extraction process. DEQ permits regulate potential releases of contaminants to air, land, and water. DEQ has been working closely with the Department of Geology and Mineral Industries and other state agencies to develop draft permits, following a consolidated permitting process that is unique to chemical process mining. DEQ is currently working with DOGAMI on draft permit conditions related to the protection of groundwater resources and solid waste management in response to preliminary comments from the applicant. DOGAMI is accepting public comments through February 6, 2026, as outlined in the public notice , including related documents. The League has followed this project—the first chemical processing gold mine proposed for Oregon. A new streamlined permitting process has been used for this application. OPB provided an article . OPB also covered exploration of a lithium mine in Southeast Oregon. Here’s an article about the effects on sage grouse of these mining operations. DRINKING WATER ADVISORY COMMITTEE (DWAC) Sandra U. Bishop The League has a standing seat on DWAC. Interactive GIS Maps for water system and source water protection have been improved. These maps are available to the public as well as water system operators and are maintained by the Oregon DEQ’s Drinking Water Protection group and may be accessed via the DWS website . FORESTRY (ODF) Josie Koehne “Governor Kotek’s second executive order ( EO 25-26 ) directs state agencies to coordinate and integrate climate-resilient strategies into existing state programs that work with the state’s natural and working lands,and waters. Those lands include state-owned forests, grasslands, rangelands, farmlands, wetlands and urban parts, and open outdoor spaces.” See the OEC Nov 25 2025 article : “What Governor Kotek’s Executive Order Rollout Means for Oregon”. The executive order did not provide funding however, which will be exceptionally limited this session due to Oregon’s revenue shortfall resulting from the federal HR 1 with major funding cuts, and caused by Oregon’s rolling connection to federal tax law. The new State Forester, recently appointed by the Governor, is Kacey KC from Nevada , who will begin in her new position on March 1st. More info from a s tory in Oregonlive. The following is a list of bills we will be watching and possibly commenting on: HB 4004 : Provides that additional taxes otherwise imposed upon disqualification of land from certain forestland special assessment programs may not be collected if the disqualification is due to the suspension of reforestation requirements as a result of insects or disease. HB 4105 : Directs the State Forester to determine the available state forestland, establish sustainable harvest levels for harvesting timber on state forestland and manage available state forestland. Allows certain persons to seek a court order if the State Forester fails to establish sustainable harvest levels or manage available state forestland. LWVOR opposed a version of this bill in 2025 and will do so in 2026. HB 4056 : Appropriates moneys to the State Forestry Department to offset landowners’ costs of fire protection provided by the department. For the biennium ending June 30, 2027, out of the General Fund, the amount of $9,000,000, for the purpose of offsetting potential increases in landowner forest patrol assessments. SB 1590 : Prohibits public bodies from assisting the federal government with privatization of certain federally owned lands. GOVERNANCE By Peggy Lynch The Natural Resources Team often follows bills related to permitting processes. Among the bills we are following: HB 4019 : Requires certain agencies to base approval or denial of an application for a new permit on the rules and standards that are applicable at the time that the agency determines the application is complete. HB 4020 : Requires certain agencies to specify the authority justifying the denial of a permit application and provide the applicant a guide on how to contest the denial. HB 4084 : Establishes the Joint Permitting Council. (Governor’s bill) SB 1586 : Modifies the tax credit allowed for semiconductor research. Creates and amends certain programs offering tax breaks related to advanced manufacturing, enterprise zones and regionally significant industrial sites. Directs certain state agencies to establish deadlines within which the agency intends to process applications for permits and make the deadlines available to the public. Directs certain state agencies to publish a catalog of permits issued by the agency within 60 days after the effective date of the Act. LAND USE & HOUSING Peggy Lynch Bills we are watching: t HB 4113 : Requires the Department of Land Conservation and Development to study housing development opportunities conditioned upon land conservation. Directs the department to submit findings to the interim committees of the Legislative Assembly related to land use no later than September 15, 2027. HB 4035 : Expands eligibility for cities and Metro to amend their urban growth boundaries under temporary program. Authorizes the Land Conservation and Development Commission to issue grants to implement the commission’s duties. HB 4082 : Adds to a temporary UGB addition program an option for each city or Metro to also add to its urban growth boundary a site for manufactured dwelling parks, or for housing for older persons, that is affordable for households with incomes not more than 120 percent of area median income. Public Hearing Feb. 3. SB 1586 : Modifies the tax credit allowed for semiconductor research. Creates and amends certain programs offering tax breaks related to advanced manufacturing, enterprise zones and regionally significant industrial sites. Directs certain state agencies to establish deadlines within which the agency intends to process applications for permits and make the deadlines available to the public. Directs certain state agencies to publish a catalog of permits issued by the agency within 60 days after the effective date of the Act. Adds rural reserves in Washington County to Metro to be used for high technology and advanced manufacturing purposes. See more on this omnibus bill in the Revenue Legislative Report. The League has major concerns about sections of this bill. The 2025-27 Policy Agenda was approved by LCDC on Oct. 24. There will be seven rulemakings on Housing alone, including: Housing Rulemaking for HB 2138 and HB 2258 (2025) and Rulemaking to clarify and allow housing and other needed development outside of wetlands. The rulemaking would create an optional, alternative compliance pathway for wetlands resources when a city is preparing to annex lands from the urban growth boundary (UGB) to accommodate needed housing and economic development. See their Rulemaking page for more info on all the rules work being done by this agency. See also the Housing Report in the Social Policy section of this Legislative Report. OREGON DEPT. OF FISH AND WILDLIFE (ODFW) Melanie Moon HB 4134 is a bipartisan bill that would increase the state tax from 1.5% to 2.75% for transient visitors to Oregon including camping, hotels and vacation rentals. This 1.25% increase has the potential to raise tens of millions of dollars urgently needed by the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife to protect hundreds of imperiled species and the habitat that supports them. As an added benefit, this investment in wildlife and habitat would help protect clean drinking water and provide protection from drought and wildfires. LWVOR signed on to a letter in support . High Country News provides an article on this bill. Hearing Feb. 4. OREGON PARKS AND RECREATION DEPT (OPRD) Peggy Lynch The League is working with others to address the fiscal crisis at OPRD. Oregonlive provides an article on ways they are nibbling around the edges. But OPRD is responsible not only for our wonderful state parks, but also historical sites. Many need infrastructure repairs. There is a conversation around getting some amount of bonding to help with this maintenance, but also setting up a Task Force to study new long term operational funding options. The League studied Oregon Parks in 1998: Oregon State Parks, Part 1 (PDF, 7 pgs) Oregon State Parks, Part 2 (PDF, 9 pgs) . OREGON WATERSHED ENHANCEMENT BOARD (OWEB) The Oregon Environmental Restoration Council (OERC) held a virtual meeting on January 22. The agenda and meeting materials are available on OERC’s website. The Interim Ways and Means Committee approved an Other Funds expenditure limitation increase of $35 million to be included in the 2026 budget reconciliation bill. RECYCLING HB 4144 : Requires producers of batteries or battery-containing products to join a battery producer responsibility organization and implement a battery producer responsibility program for the collection and recycling of batteries. Public Hearing Feb. 2. REGIONAL SOLUTIONS The Regional Solutions Program : Within each of the 11 Regions, which are tied to Oregon’s federally designated Economic Development Districts, a Governor-appointed Advisory Committee sets Regional Priorities and a cross-functional Team of state agency staff works together to move projects forward. If you know anyone who may benefit from these publications, please direct them to this signup page . The public is welcome to attend virtually or in person. Go to the program website and to the region to find the agendas and meeting materials posted a few days before the meetings. Public Comment is usually scheduled. Upcoming Regional Solutions Advisory Committee (RSAC) Meetings: Regional Solutions: South Central (Klamath and Lake Counties) February 17th from 9:00am-11:00am Mid-Valley (Marion, Polk, and Yamhill Counties) March 12th from 1:30-3:30pm Southern (Jackson and Josephine Counties) March 25th from 12:00-2:00pm South Valley/Mid-Coast (Benton, Lane, Lincoln, and Linn Counties) March 26th from 1:00-3:00pm STATE LAND BOARD Peggy Lynch The State Land Board will meet Feb. 10. The agenda and meeting materials will be available soon. The League follows these meetings since the Governor, Secretary of State and State Treasurer comprise the Board membership. TRANSPORTATION (ODOT) Update Jan. 21: Referral vote on funding parts of HB 3991 (2025) may be held May 19 instead of November per this press release from Legislative Leadership. But a bill needs to be passed and signed by the Governor by Feb. 25 per the Oregon Secretary of State’s office per the Salem Reporter . See details in the January 26 Legislative Report. One critic’s funding answer . The Statesman Journal reported : The Oregon Department of Transportation faces a budget gap of $242 million for the 2025-2027 budget cycle, ODOT leaders told staff Dec. 23. "It’s a smaller gap, and while that’s good news, it’s still big enough to require service level cuts and future layoffs if we have to manage this on our own with existing revenue and within existing spending restrictions," ODOT director Kris Strickler and incoming interim director Lisa Sumption wrote in an email to staff . A press release from ODOT on Jan. 14 reports: Impacts of Funding Gap Isn’t Addressed. In the upcoming short session, legislators will be looking at a $297 million funding target to support ODOT’s operations beyond June 30, 2027. Without new resources for the current budget cycle, the agency estimates it would need to reduce its workforce by more than 1,000 positions, including eliminating570 vacant positions and laying off approximately 470 current employees. The House Transportation Committee shared their Committee LCs and the Senate Transportation Committee did the same for the 2026 session. KATU reminded Oregonians of the need for road maintenance. WATER Peggy Lynch Bills of concern: HB 4006 : Authorizes holders of certain Columbia River water rights to change the point of diversion or use the water right on land to which the right is not appurtenant, provided certain conditions are met. HB 4049 : Directs the Water Resources Commission to encourage and approve voluntary agreements between ground water users in the Greater Harney Valley Groundwater Area of Concern to achieve reasonably stable ground water levels League members may want to check the U. S. Drought Monitor , a map that is updated every Thursday. Governor Kotek has declared a drought in eight counties ( map ) . Here is a more complete website about drought in Oregon. We all need to pay attention to the potential for harmful algal blooms ( HABs) . “When in doubt, stay out.” Visit the Harmful Algae Bloom website or call the Oregon Public Health Division toll-free information line at 877-290-6767 to learn if an advisory has been issued or lifted for a specific water body. Information on current advisories can be found on the OHA’s cyanobacteria bloom webpage at healthoregon.org/hab . The OHA has an online photo gallery to help community members identify signs of potentially harmful blooms. WEATHER Snow pack on Mt. Hood per this Jan. 22 nd Oregonlive article : As of Wednesday, the snow water equivalent at Mount Hood stood at 10 inches, which represents the third-lowest total for this point in a water year since 1980. Here is a statewide map as of Jan. 25 th from the Natural Resources Conservation Service. KOIN provides concerns about next week’s rain in this Jan. 27 th article. WETLANDS Peggy Lynch SB 1584 : Directs the Department of State Lands, in consultation with the State Department of Fish and Wildlife, to develop a salmon credit pilot program to encourage the voluntary restoration of salmonid habitat in the Coquille and Coos watershed basins. Establishes the Salmon Credit Trust Fund. Directs the Department of State Lands and the State Department of Fish and Wildlife to consult with the United States Army Corps of Engineers to seek federal approval for a bank instrument and authorization of activities that occur in navigable waters of the United States. Becomes operative on the date that the federal authorization and bank instrument are approved. Provides that the Department of State Lands may not approve a salmon credit project on or after January 1 of the sixth year following federal approval. The League has opposed similar bills in the past, including SB 511 (2025). We will again oppose. Public Hearing Feb. 3. The League was pleased to learn that LWVUS provided comments on the proposed changes to the Waters of the U. S. (WOTUS) rules “Waters of the United States.” LWVUS believes that the changes would significantly impair water quality protections around the country and filed a comment letter . We shared these comments with the Oregon state agency directors who provided comments to the EPA and U. S. Army Corps of Engineers on the proposed changes to the Waters of the U. S. (WOTUS) rules. They were appreciative. WILDFIRE Carolyn Mayers Bills we are watching: SB 1540 : Requires an insurer that uses a catastrophe model or wildfire risk model to provide the Director of the Department of Consumer and Business Services a description of each model, along with related information, and an explanation of how the insurer uses the model in underwriting decisions. Specifies elements that an insurer must include in each model and requires the insurer to give a premium discount or adjustment, or other incentive, to a policy holder that demonstrates having undertaken a property-specific mitigation action or that a community-level mitigation action occurred in proximity to the policy holder’s property. SB 1551 : Invalidates deed restrictions and planned community governing documents prohibiting the removal of non-fire-hardened building materials or installation of fire-hardened building materials on residential properties. Public Hearing Feb. 3. Interested in reading additional reports? Please see our Climate Emergency , Revenue , Governance , and Social Policy report sections.

Back to All Legislative Reports Natural Resources Legislative Report - September Legislative Days Natural Resources Team Coordinator: Peggy Lynch Agriculture/Goal 3 Land Use: Sandra U. Bishop 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: Agriculture Budgets/Revenue Budgets/Revenue Climate Coastal Issues Columbia River Treaty Department of State Lands (DSL) Drinking Water Advisory Committee (DWAC) Elliott State Research Forest (ESRF) Forestry (ODF) Hanford Land Use & Housing Mining Nuclear Energy Pesticides Regional Solutions Septic Systems Transportation Water Wetlands Wildfire Volunteers Needed Natural Resources By Peggy Lynch, Natural Resources Coordinator and Team Agriculture During the Sept. Interim Days, there were many presentations related to the importance of agricultural lands. Agriculture is the second most important and most stable industry in Oregon. As part of an effort by Oregon farmers to educate legislators on their issues and concerns and loss of farmland, see the presentation to the Senate Natural Resources and Wildfire Committee and a presentation to the House Agriculture et al. Committee by Oregon Dept. of Agriculture’s Jim Johnson, as well as a presentation by Oregon farmers, a presentation by the American Farmland Trust, and a presentation about the Oregon Agricultural Heritage Program. The Land Conservation and Development Commission had a public hearing on Sept. 27 and will consider updating their Farm and Forest rules at their December meeting. The rules are meant to codify case law to help local governments administer land use applications. In an article in the Oregon Capitol Chronicle: In a recent analysis of data from the latest U.S. Census of Agriculture , Oregon State University Economics Professor Dan Bigelow found that the estimated value of Oregon farm real estate grew $10.7 billion between 2017 and 2022. That’s a 23% gain in just five years, and more than triple the 7% gain in total estimated farm real estate value nationwide. Although good news if you own that land, it creates a challenge for new farmers trying to buy farmland. Here are the top 20 Agricultural commodities in Oregon from the 2022 crop year. It is the diversity of Oregon’s crops that helps with the stability of the industry. Budgets/Revenue By Peggy Lynch The August 28th Revenue Forecast and recording noted that the available General Fund resources increased for the current 2023-25 biennium by $676 million relative to the March forecast. ( Here is a link to the 2023-25 Legislatively Adopted Budget after the 2024 session.) Most of this increase is due to tracking actual tax collections, with the remainder due to a stronger revenue outlook. With this increase, a “kicker” is possible again. The League was pleased that the last forecast report included a recognition of how the effects of climate change affects our revenue and expenses. Looking ahead to the 2025-27 biennium, available resources are revised lower by $66 million. The increase in earnings is not enough to fully offset the $987 million personal kicker that may be paid out in 2026. Of help for the k-12 school funding needs, the corporate kicker may provide over $880 million. A big change at the Office of Economic Analysis is the announcement of a new Chief Economist . This is a very important position beyond the quarterly revenue forecasts as noted in the article. Oregon’s one of a kind kicker law and the mixed rural/urban tech/agriculture/timber economies are challenging. We can only hope that fresh eyes will provide accurate data for our decision makers. Other data to consider: The effective tax rate has increased over the last decade, due to both policies (i.e. Measure 66) and rising incomes. The labor market is softer than it appears (harder to find new jobs). Recent layoffs and announcements in some key industry clusters are of concern because many of these jobs are higher paying than the state average. Wildfires are having significant location-specific losses on agricultural production. Eastern Oregon was hit especially hard. The Emergency Board met on Sept. 25th. Here is a synopsis of the actions taken and a video of the meeting. At the Senate Finance and Revenue Committee meeting on Sept. 24th (see the first 30 minutes), they received a presentation on the history of property tax reform in Oregon and the many efforts to take action related to the current law. It’s time to review the inequitable and unfairness of the implementation of both Measures 5 and 47/50 from the 1990s. Here is a good video on property taxes in Oregon. Cities and counties rely on property taxes for the services they provide. It’s possible that there will be conversations on property tax reform in 2025. The Oregonian provides some insight into that future conversation. Want to know more about Oregon state government’s financial condition? This report “provides important information regarding key economic and demographic indicators for Oregon’s financial status, such as revenues, expenditures, debt, and fiscal health.” The report covers a 10-year period ending June 30, 2023. Budgets 2025 By Peggy Lynch As of Sept. 1, agency request budgets (ARBs) should have been posted on agency websites. The Governor will now need to consider those requests in light of her priorities, the Aug. 28th Revenue Forecast, and any recommended revenue enhancements then provide the Governor’s Recommended Budget (GRB) by Dec. 2nd. The Governor proposes; the legislature disposes. There will be another Revenue Forecast Nov. 20, again in March and finally in May of 2025. The May 2025 Forecast will be the basis for the legislature to determine the 2025-27 state budget. The 14 natural resource agencies were given instructions to only ask for funding their Current Service Levels (CSL) and 1% more unless they received a special approval by the Governor’s office. There were new instructions related to the increase of percentages for services and supplies, of rent for those who rent from the state and increases in salaries. Also, a 5% vacancy savings was requested—holding approved positions open to save costs during the 2023-25 budget cycle. Most of the documents linked below include a full complement of CSL, new Policy Option Packages (POPs) and the required 10% reduction lists. Here are most of those ARBs: Dept. of Environmental Quality budget . Dept. of Geology and Mineral Industries budget . Dept. of Land Conservation and Development: The Policy Office has been leading the development of policy option packages (POPs) for the 2025-2027 legislative sessions. This presentation provides information and notes the inclusion of six new POPs out of the Governor’s Housing Production Framework. Dept. of State Lands budget . Oregon Dept. of Agriculture budget . Oregon Dept. of Energy budget presentation . Oregon Dept. of Fish and Wildlife budget . Oregon Dept. of Forestry budget . As of Sept. 27, there is $288.9 million in gross fire costs for 2024. Although we expect the federal government and others will eventually pay a great deal of those current costs, the bills need to be paid now. That means money will need to be found to cover those costs for the next 2-4 years. See the Emergency Board actions where these costs are beginning to be addressed. Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board budget . Oregon Water Resources Dept.: The full Agency Request Budget, policy option package narratives, and a summary, can be viewed on the Department's Budget and Legislative webpage. The State Debt Policy Advisory Commission will provide bonding guidance in January of 2025. 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 and Peggy Lynch The issue of offshore wind energy has dominated conversations at the coast. The League supports the concept of renewable energy but also supports our coastal estuaries. Advisory votes have been scheduled by both Coos and Curry counties ( article ). After much sharing of concerns by the local League, our coastal fishing industry, by our tribes (including one lawsuit ) and the environmental communities, on Sept. 27th the auction of leases off Coos and Curry Counties has been cancelled . However, discussions will continue and a new auction could be considered in the future. Here is the Dept. of Land Conservation and Development’s Coastal Division offshore wind website . The Port of Coos Bay has new leadership. The Port is still considering the container ship project, of concern to the League. You can choose to attend a Rocky Habitat Management Workshop series . Learn more about the OSU Coastal Futures Project . Or attend the Oct. 2nd Oregon Ocean Science Trust meeting. You can find Oregon’s Coastal Public Access Guide for Local Government Planners on the DLCD website. This guide provides local coastal governments a framework for planning for a community's public access program. Columbia River Treaty By Phillip Thor After an August 5th webinar where the U.S. and Canada shared their new agreement, the League signed a joint letter expressing concern that the amended Columbia River Treaty agreement didn't also include the concept of ecosystem function as part of the river's management. Soon after learning about the agreement, the federal government announced a Columbia Basin Restoration Initiative that addresses some of our concerns about the Treaty. Department of State Lands (DSL) By Peggy Lynch See Elliott State Research Forest below for the agency’s role in that issue. See the Wetlands section of this report for information on removal/fill fee rulemaking. The next State Land Board meeting is Oct. 15th. Drinking Water Advisory Committee (DWAC) By Sandra Bishop DWAC met July 17. Lead Service Line Inventory requirements & progress: Service line inventories are due October 16th. Technical help has been offered to public water systems (PWS) to complete this federally required reporting to identify any Lead Service Line to facilitate replacement. An inventory is required from all PWS in Oregon. Any PWS serving less than 10,000 people may access no-cost technical assistance if needed to complete an inventory. Federal funding is available to complete the inventories, and for planning and design work for replacement if needed. In Oregon there is no knowledge of any PWS ever having used a lead service line. Nor have any lead service lines been found. Oregon Health Authority Drinking Water Services managers are working closely with federal regulators for water systems to be allowed to use a lack of evidence (no lead lines in their records) as a record showing there are no lead services lines in the system. PFAS (polyfluoroalkyl-substances): A final federal rule from the EPA was announced on April 10th. PWS are to complete initial monitoring of any PFAS levels by 2027. Any exceedances of MCL (maximum containment levels) are to be addressed by 2029. The American Waterworks Association (AWWA) & Association of Metropolitan Water Agencies (AMWA) have challenged the EPA rule. There is also a possibility that the overturning of the Chevron Deference , which applies to all federal rule making, may come into play in these water association groups’ challenges of PFAS regulation. In Oregon there have been 25 PWS found to have measurable PFAS detected. Cleaning up these PWS is expected to be very costly. Federal funding may be available to remedy problems in systems exceeding allowable limits. (See also the section on Water in this report.) Consumer Confidence Reports: There has been a federal rule change in requirements for these once-a-year reports on water quality that are sent from water utilities to consumers. Changes are designed to make the reports more easily understandable, to improve the accuracy of reporting and to highlight any contamination violations. The reports are also required to provide a brief explanation of contaminants that may reasonably be expected to be found in drinking water (including bottled water) and include efforts the water system operators will be taking to prevent lead from entering the drinking water, as well as other quality control actions like corrosion control. The next DWAC meeting is Oct. 16. Elliott State Research Forest (ESRF) By Peggy Lynch The State Land Board met on June 11 to appoint the new ESRF Board and address the transition related to the new Board’s obligations. The new Board and information on the Forest Management Plan starts on page 87 of the Land Board packet . The new Elliott Board met on Sept. 12. Here is the Elliott Board meeting agenda and meeting materials . Carbon markets are being considered to help fund the ESRF per this article . The Dept. of State Lands will request funding in 2025 to continue management of the ESRF until limited timber harvest can begin—perhaps by 2026. From the Bird Conservation Oregon newsletter : It is expected that in 2025, after nearly a decade of inactivity, harvest activity will resume on the Elliott. When that happens it should be conducted in a manner that is far more protective of the Elliott’s mature forests and imperiled species, brings together historically conflicted stakeholders to work collaboratively on implementation, is driven by conservation and research rather than timber receipts, transcends decades of historic conflict. As the Elliott moves back into more active management, there will be opportunities for the public to weigh in on biennial operations plans and other management programs. Visit DSL's Elliott webpage to learn more . Forestry (ODF) By Josie Koehne Mike Wilson and Tyson Wepprich sought input and future direction from the Board of Forestry for the Western Oregon Forest Management Plan (FMP) which is based on the current state forest Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP) now under federal review. The FMP will reflect the computer modeling of various outcomes based on the many variables involved in forest management. Such management scenarios include emphasizing or weighting each of the following values: Adaptive capacity of forests Carbon sequestration and storage Forest division finances Economic opportunities Financial support for counties Harvest and inventory Habitat elements for wildlife These values can be factored into various modeling parameters and juggled in order to maximize the desired outcomes for managing forests for “greatest permanent value” for all Oregonians. In part, offering these options is in response to the Forest Trust Land Advisory Committee’s (FTLAC) objections to ODF’s Harvest Conservation Plan (HCP) for not maximizing timber harvest that provides a large portion of revenue for the timber-dependent counties (Clatsop, Tillamook, Coos and Washington counties primarily). FTLAC was represented in person at the Sept 6 board meeting. ODF used improved model metrics (growth and yield tables) to test run maximizing for revenue, timber stand metrics and harvest volumes at various timber ages, such as 72, 80 or 92 years (rotation age), or for net present value with discount rates or for steady revenues each year (even flow). ODF sought direction on which other modeling parameters to test out in order to meet desired state forest goals. John Sweet, representing the FTLAC was supportive of the effort, and asked for increased reforestation. He also requested that the model test to allow for the current annual timber volume of 185 million board feet (MMBF) with non-declining even flow timber production over the next 30 years and increasing timber production to 195, and then 205 MMBF. Other sources of revenues besides timber revenue for counties could be considered to even out revenues among counties. Combining county revenues for more even distribution was also discussed. The FTLAC counties said they are willing to maximize not just for immediate increased timber revenue, but wanted to see all the tradeoffs on the various scenarios. A facilitated discussion followed on the FMP modeling values among the board members and Trust counties. This first run of values to model focused on aiming to balance all tree age classes over time, and another focused on maximizing timber harvest (maximum Net Present Value) with no other constraints (uncollared) other than following HCP criteria. Other comments were to put some county revenue into investing in reforestation of unproductive forestland outside the protected Habitat Conservation Areas for future harvest. In November, these scenarios and their modeled outcomes will be reviewed and other choices will be made by the board. All in all, this meeting marked a turning point in improved trust between the timber counties and ODF working together with the board on their priorities using a facilitated discussion tool. There will be a report in April on the board's input. Discussion in June will follow with the scenario modeling incorporated into a revised Western Forest Management Plan. See also the Wildfire section of this report below. Hanford Waste Site Per the Oregon Dept. of Energy newsletter : The Oregon Department of Energy submitted comments to the U.S. Department of Energy regarding the draft Hanford Tri-Party Holistic Negotiations Agreement. The draft agreement outlines a new approach to treating and transporting certain tank waste at the Hanford Site. Oregon’s comments focus on three critical areas: solidifying tank waste before transport, the means of transport, and clarity on National Environmental Policy Act requirements. The Oregon Capital Chronicle noted: “A federal proposal to move radioactive nuclear waste from Washington through Oregon and onward to Utah and Texas via truck and rail has raised major concerns among Oregon officials and environmentalists. The proposal doesn’t yet detail a route, but critics have said it would most likely end up on major interstate highways through Oregon, or on a rail line through central Oregon along the Deschutes River, passing near areas like Bend and the Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs Reservation.” Streetroots also covered the issue . Land Use & Housing By Peggy Lynch The Governor’s Housing Advisor Matt Tschabold provided the Senate Housing and Development Committee with Governor Kotek’s vision for the 2025 session. Then the Dept. of Land Conservation and Development (DLCD) provided information on the work they have been doing and plan to do related to housing. The House Housing and Homelessness Committee also received a presentation on the Oregon Housing Needs Analysis (OHNA) project. Proponents of the Urban Growth Boundary (UGB) expansion section of SB 1537 (2024) shared how that process is going and which cities might be interested in using that provision. The Land Conservation and Development Commission met on Sept. 26 and 27. Those interested in the OHNA process should watch the second half of the Sept. 27th meeting on YouTube . The process moves required housing needs calculations from local governments to the state. The Office of Economic Analysis (OEA), under the Dept. of Administrative Services (DAS) does the forecasts with help from the Oregon Housing and Community Services (OHCS) and DLCD. The final methodology for calculating the various housing needs is due Jan. 1, 2025. They will provide a regional estimate of need, then allocate that need among the cities in each region and then will set production targets for each city. These are meant to be “aspirational targets”, to be used by cities to understand their housing needs for all residents. The hope is these targets will “empower local governments to take action”, using Housing Production Strategies . The information will provide the state and legislators with data on state housing funding needs. Instead of just looking at future needs, the calculations will include current needs—for homeless, workforce housing, market rate housing and others. They will take into consideration second homes and short-term rentals. The draft calculations indicate that at least 50% of the housing need in all regions will require government subsidies. Here is a staff presentation . The public can provide comments to the Department of Land Conservation and Development (DLCD) on the Oregon Housing Needs Analysis (OHNA) Draft Methodology between now and Oct. 4th. The Land Conservation and Development Commission will hold a public hearing on Oct. 25 before making a final decision in December. 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. The League has followed DLCD since its inception in the 1970s. We have supported their mission of helping local governments implement the 19 statewide land use planning goals. See page 23 of the Director's Report to see the growth in staffing at DLCD. Much of the growth has been since House Speaker and then Governor Kotek engaged in housing policies and their connection with Goal 10. The League has supported funding for infrastructure, needed to help building housing developments. Here is the 2024 infrastructure card . Finding funding for these projects will be a multi-year challenge. The Governor may ask for $100 million in General Funds in 2025 for Business Oregon to use as grants for projects. The federal government has provided millions of dollars for water and wastewater projects. But it’s not enough. And sometimes requires matching funds. The League has engaged in discussions on the criteria that should be used to select the projects to assure they will provide housing units as quickly as possible. The League provided testimony on HB 4026 (2024), a bill that would not allow initiative votes for UGB expansions—aimed directly on an initiative proposed for the North Plains UGB expansion. Our testimony was focused on the right of citizens to use the initiative process. A Judge allowed the vote to go forward. He upheld the right to hold the vote and citizens overwhelmingly rejected the HUGE UGB expansion. Now North Plains is revisiting their UGB plans. The League opposed Section 10 of SB 4 (2023) that allows the Governor to override our statewide land use planning program to allow a UGB expansion for the chips (semiconductor) industry. Recently, the League joined others in a letter to the Governor, asking that she NOT use that authority to expand into prime farmland in Washington County. However, the Governor selected 373 acres north of Hillsboro. There will be a public hearing on this action on Oct. 10. There is also a 20-day public comment period available. See also the Agriculture section of this report on the value of Oregon agriculture. See also the Housing Report in the Social Policy section of this Legislative Report. Mining The League has continued to follow the application for the Grassy Mountain Gold Mine near Vale. An interdisciplinary team of agencies met on September 12 on the proposed chemical process gold mine in Malheur County. The public notice and related documents are available. This is the first project using a consolidated permitting process where all permitting agencies are meeting together to process the permit applications. Nuclear Energy Small scale nuclear reactors are being considered to help provide power to the many data centers in Umatilla County. One of the chief blocks of these reactors in Oregon is Measure 7 (1980). In a pro-nuclear energy editorial, the libertarian think tank Cascade Policy Institute wrote that Oregon voters approved the measure in 1980 in the wake of the partial meltdown at Three Mile Island in Pennsylvania. The measure prevents the state from siting any nuclear power plants until the federal government licenses a waste depository. With the federal system in place today, nuclear power plants are effectively prohibited in Oregon. The League adopted a position in 1980 focused on assuring there was a plan to deal with waste storage: The League of Women Voters of Oregon believes that the nuclear power program must be managed to protect current and future generations and to maintain an environment beneficial to life. Technical uncertainties must be publicly recognized and planned for, Responsibility for establishing and maintaining a waste system must not be deferred to future generations, and Effective coordination among all levels of government - federal, state, local - and the private sector is imperative in planning and carrying out programs for transportation, waste storage, and safety, with responsibility and authority clearly designated. Pesticides By Paula Grisafi We look forward to seeing legislation in 2025 on control or banning of “NeoNics”: Neonicotinoid pesticides. Our Pesticides and Other Biocides Study will be a wonderful resource for legislators and advocates of the bill. Regional Solutions By Peggy Lynch The Governor has restarted the Regional Solutions Regional Advisory Committees with a: standardized charter (although each committee can amend the draft provided to them), compensation policy (to be sure that all Oregonians can afford to volunteer if assistance is needed), guidance policy for identifying regional priorities while also addressing the Governor’s priorities of housing production, community resilience and infrastructure In addition, each advisory committee gets to add up to two priorities of their own. Oregonians can sign up to attend the 11 regional meetings. They are held both in the regions and virtually. A public comment period is provided at the end of each meeting. The League has supported the concept of Regional Solutions, testifying in 2014 to pass legislation to formalize the program. We support the state agency team collaboration. The Regional Solutions website provides meeting agendas, meeting materials and other meeting information. We encourage local League member participation and engagement in these meetings. Septic Systems A League member will serve on a Dept. of Environmental Quality rules advisory committee to update onsite septic system rules. Do you have a septic system? EPA and its partners are making educational resources available to homeowners, local organizations, and government leaders to explain how septic systems work and how to properly maintain them. Maintaining septic systems is critical to protecting public health and ecosystems in small and rural towns across the country. Transportation With 2025 expected to be the year of Transportation, this August presentation in Hermiston might be of interest. This effort was last addressed in 2017. Thanks to Rep. Gomberg, here is a 5-minute video on ODOT’s funding challenge. And here’s an online interactive map that shows projects and their details throughout the state. In early February, the Joint Committee on Transportation (JCT) released a 2024-25 Beginning Conversation Draft Action Plan for the development of the expected 2025 State Transportation Funding Package. Water By Peggy Lynch New groundwater rules were adopted Sept. 12 ! The Oregon Water Resources Commission voted unanimously to adopt updates to Oregon’s groundwater allocation rules , marking a historic step in how the state manages and allocates groundwater. The adopted rule updates will go into effect upon filing with the Oregon Secretary of State. LWVOR and LWV Deschutes both provided testimony in support. The League hopes that the new rules will stop over appropriation of groundwater in the future, but there are concerns about future availability. A member of the League is serving on two rules advisory committees for the Water Resources Dept.: Place-Based Planning and Best Practices in Community Engagement . More information is on the linked websites. A panel provided information on PFAS, a class of manmade chemicals, also known as “forever chemicals” that have been discovered to be a health hazard, at the House Agriculture et al Committee. They are in many of our products, from clothes to fire fighting foam. See pages 28-29 of the slide deck for a list of public resources related to PFAS. The League continues to monitor the actions related to the Lower Umatilla Basin Groundwater Management Area. Like others , we are concerned about the latest Nitrate Reduction Plan . OPB also shared an article on this important public health issue. The Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board (OWEB) will be hosting an informational zoom webinar about the new Drinking Water Source Protection Grant Program in advance of opening the grant offering. The webinar will be hosted on Thursday, October 10 at 10:30 am. Please register in advance for the informational webinar. The League supported this program. Help save water and energy usage per the Environmental Protection Agency: To make it easy to find plumbing and irrigation products that are certified to save water and perform well, consumers and businesses can search for WaterSense labeled products . 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 Governor declared Jefferson County as a drought emergency through Executive Order 24-08 and has declared a drought in Lake County through Executive Order 24-26 , and directed state agencies to coordinate and prioritize assistance to the regions. 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 By Peggy Lynch The League supported HB 2238 (2023) to address the need to increase removal/fill permit fees to reduce the burden on the Common School Fund. As a result, the League has a member serving on the rules advisory committee . The League will also be supporting legislation to increase staffing at the Dept. of State Lands and the Dept. of Land Conservation and Development to provide assistance to local governments so they can more accurately address wetlands in their jurisdictions. Wildfire By Carolyn Mayers Leading up to the September Interim Legislative Session, the League has closely watched, with increasing concern, as a terrifying wildfire season has unfolded. Oregon has experienced its worst wildfire season on record, with nearly two million acres burned. This number presents nearly three times the 10-year average, and doubles the previous record set by the devastating 2020 season. Suppression costs are already at $288.9 million, obliterating the previous record, and over three times the 10-year average. And it is still ongoing, with several large fires still burning, and more expected. A constant drumbeat of how unsustainable this situation is was present during this interim session. Agencies laid out the dire situation during presentations from the Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF), and the Department of the Oregon State Fire Marshal (OSFM), detailed below. This Capital Chronicle article provides a brief overview. For a look at how this is straining ODF’s budget, read this article from KGW News , which goes into detail on what is planned to address the shortfall. The first meeting the League monitored was that of the Joint Emergency Board Interim Subcommittee on Public Safety, on September 23. Kyle Williams, Deputy Director of Fire Operations for ODF, described the circumstances that have led to this year’s unprecedented wildfire season. He relayed, after first anticipating a “normal” wildfire season, how our wet spring weather led to explosive growth of fire fuels and grasses, which was followed by early extreme heat and arid conditions, leading to perfect wildfire conditions. He further relayed how it is somewhat unusual to have more than one widespread dry lightning event per season. But this year there were 4 widespread dry lighting events, two in July one week apart, and two more in August, also one week apart. He also described how that, at one point, there were so many fires at once that “we ran out of people.” He was referring to the fact that all of the ODF incident management teams and other personnel, as well as additional firefighting support from other States and Federal agencies, were all “tapped out”. Williams was followed by Chief Mariana Ruiz-Temple of OSFM, who echoed his concerns. She described how her department responded to a record-breaking six “conflagrations” - the term used for mega-fires over 100,000 acres. The Legislative Fiscal Office (LFO) recommended that the board pay the requested $47.5 million to ODF, but with this workaround - using $20 million from the board's general fund and $20 million from a separate special allocation reserved for natural disaster emergencies. In its analysis , though, the LFO says ODF will need much more than $47.5 million in the coming months. The full Joint Emergency Board approved the request at their meeting on September 25th, accompanied by much angst expressed over the reactive manner in which wildfire funding is currently handled, and acknowledgement that more money will be needed at their December meeting. Later the same day was a meeting of the House Interim Committee on Emergency Management, General Government and Veterans. Kyle Williams of ODF, and Chief Ruiz-Temple presented much of the same information as at the previous meeting, with Williams adding that this may well be “our new normal”, and the State is not prepared to handle this new reality with the current funding or approach. He told the committee that this season, they “…fit 3 years-worth of fires into 3 months.”, and that their people were completely exhausted. Ruiz-Temple emphasized that while the Department’s pre-positioning and immediate response tactics helped save many residences, fires are starting earlier, are more in number, are growing more complex, lasting longer and destroying more property. She and Williams both stated that they try to remain hopeful, but that “Hope is not a plan.”, and solutions to the lack of adequate, sustainable funding to address the wildfire crisis must be found. There was also discussion of current shortages of firefighting personnel, and the factors that will exacerbate this problem in the future, such as the difficulty and danger of the work, which leads to problems with recruitment, and the upcoming “wave of retirements”. Chief Ruiz-Temple reiterated, “There wasn’t another firefighter in the system at the worst of it.”, meaning there were, at one point, no more available personnel if another fire had broken out. This OPB article highlights the shortage of firefighting personnel. Another point made by Chief Ruiz-Temple was how, in her view, “We are 20 years behind in this work.”, in reference to durable, sustainable funding, and workforce development. The Interim House Committee on Climate, Energy and Environment met next, and received an update on the Wildfire Programs Advisory Council from Doug Grafe, Military and Wildfire Advisor to Governor Kotek. He stated that the Council would deliver their Annual Report to the Legislature on October 11, and that the new Wildfire Hazard map would be completed by the beginning of the 2025 long session. He also noted the Council is appointing 10 new members this year. Grafe was followed by Kyle Williams of ODF, who gave yet another update on the 2024 wildfire season with many of the same highlights as previously reported. New details emerged, such as the fact that the previously mentioned dry lightning events yielded 6,100 lightning strikes and ignited over 100 fires. Chief Ruiz-Temple also summarized the wildfire season, adding the salient point that, “Wildfire is the one natural disaster we can mitigate.” She shared one bit of good news, relaying how up-staffing grants, which have been used to help local fire departments build staff and acquire equipment, helped reduce loss of structures and assets throughout the state. September 24th brought a meeting of the Interim Senate Committee on Natural Resources, and an update on the Wildfire Funding Workgroup , which was created by HB 5701, Budget Note 5 . This group was charged with convening a workgroup to find an equitable, affordable, durable, sustainable solution to the wildfire funding crisis. Presenting were Doug Grafe, Kyle Williams, and Travis Medema, Deputy Chief of OSFM. There was emphasis on how there was not likely to be one solution but some combination of approaches proposed, including money from the General Fund. Senator Jeff Golden suggested that, though it was part of the work groups’ discussions, he felt that unprecedented pressure on the General Fund made it unlikely that it would be part of the solution. Other avenues being explored are targeted fees, a reworking of existing funding to make it more equitable, and what was called “a broad approach”, which means exploring any and every idea that hasn’t been explored yet. The group has met three times and will meet in October, and deliver a progress report in December. In addition, Williams offered the sobering expectation that ODF anticipates there will likely be two more significant wildfire events this season based on conditions and weather forecasts. Deputy Chief Medema informed the committee that OSFM had 44 responses this season so far, a number he called “extremely unprecedented”. Later, on the 24th, the League listened in on a meeting of the Interim Senate Committee on Energy and Environment, at which Nolan Moser, Interim Executive Director of the Oregon Public Utility Commission, gave a presentation on Wildfire Mitigation and Rate Making. Moser detailed the effort this organization’s Safety Division is making toward wildfire mitigation, and what the associated costs, which will affect rates, are projected to be. All the details of that presentation may be found here . In other news, Doug Grafe reported that we have lost 49 residences and 124 additional structures across 19 different fires. These numbers might be updated by the end of the fire season. 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 October 13 Natural Resources Team Coordinator: Peggy Lynch Agriculture/Goal 3 Land Use: Sandra U. Bishop 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: Budgets/Revenue Climate Coastal Issues Dept. of Environmental Quality (DEQ ) Dept. of Geology and Mineral Industries (DOGAMI ) Dept. of State Lands (DSL) Drinking Water Advisory Committee (DWAC) Forestry (ODF) Hanford Land Use & Housing Oregon Dept. of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) Oregon Parks and Recreation Dept. (OPRD ) Revenue Regional Solutions Smith River State Land Board Tips for the Public Transportation Water Weather Wetlands Wildfire BUDGETS/REVENUE By Peggy Lynch Impacts of Fefderal Actions on Oregon: The House Climate, Energy and Environment Committee (Sept. 29 agenda and meeting materials ) had a great cost/loss general presentation as did the Oregon Dept. of Energy, the Dept. of Environmental Quality and the State Support Center. There are discussions on the Oregon Parks and Recreation Dept.’s budget crisis that the Oregon Coast Alliance is leading. From bloomberglaw.com : Included in the budget request is a $2.46 billion cut for the EPA’s clean and drinking water state revolving loan funds. The program “has been heavily earmarked by the Congress for projects that are ultimately not repaid into the program and bypass states’ interest and planning,” according to the request. This could mean a 17 percent cut to the clean water programs and a 12 percent cut to DEQ funding. Cuts to NOAA (the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) will affect Oregon coastal communities per this article in Columbia Insight. CLIMATE By Claudia Keith and Team Governor Kotek signed Executive Order 25-25 on Oct. 6 to accelerate the pace of renewable wind and solar project development in the state of Oregon before the clock runs out on critical federal clean energy tax credits. 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 Ocean Policy Advisory Council Meeting: The Territorial Sea Plan Offshore Wind Working Group will meet on October 15 from 8:30 am to 11:00 am. Meeting Registration: https://zoom.us/meeting/register/R1or3GLBTGCSXovWbiRYZQ Contact: Andy.Lanier@dlcd.oregon.gov Ocean Policy Advisory Council Meeting: The OPAC will meet on October 29 for a virtual meeting of the Council. Meeting information will be made available via the Oregon Ocean Information website closer to the meeting date. Contact: Andy.Lanier@dlcd.oregon.gov Ripple effects from Redfish Rocks Marine Reserve: New economic analysis reveals job and income generation. The League supports the marine reserve program so having a study showing the economic value of these reserves to both Oregon and the coastal area is great news: S upported an estimated total economic impact of approximately $982k and 20 jobs. A reminder related to the Port of Coos Bay bonds: HB 5006 included authorization to issue $100 million of general obligation bonds for the Coos Bay Channel Modification project. The accompanying SB 5505 outlined specific requirements to be met before bonds could be issued. Listed were completion of the environmental impact statement for the project and the issuance of the final record of decision through the National Environmental Policy Act. Additionally, it requires that the Oregon International Port of Coos Bay, or a private entity engaged in a public private partnership with the port, has closed on a Railroad Rehabilitation and Improvement Financing loan through the Build America Bureau within the United States Department of Transportation in the amount of at least $1 billion or has secured equivalent levels of alternative funding through other federal grants or loans. See this press release . There have been presentations on this project and the potential rail improvements needed. The Coos County League will hold another presentation on Nov. 19. Their Part 1 presentation was recorded. The Dept. of Land Conservation and Development has a website on offshore wind with public meetings continuing. DEPT. OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY (DEQ) By Peggy Lynch In a Press Release from Sept. 19, the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality submitted formal comments to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency fiercely opposing its proposal to revoke the Endangerment Finding and weaken motor vehicle emission standards. LWVUS comments. The League was pleased to see the Environmental Quality Commission adopted rules to implement important legislation from the 2023 legislative session related to accessory dwelling units (ADUs) and sewer availability through Senate Bills 835 and 931 . The League supported SB 835 and participated in the rules advisory committee that developed these rules. The League will again serve on an annual rulemaking advisory committee on water quality fee increases. DEPT. OF GEOLOGY AND MINERAL INDUSTRIES (DOGAMI) By Joan Fryxell The League continues to follow the Calico Resources proposed Grassy Mountain gold mine near Vale in Malheur County. The Trump Administration listed the Grassy Mountain Gold Mine Project as having a potential completion of federal action by the end of March 2026. But the state has permit authority, too. The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is responsible for part of the permitting. Here is a link to the agency’s website . DEPT. OF STATE LANDS By Peggy Lynch The agency has a role in addressing abandoned and derelict vessels in Oregon’s waters. OPB has a great article on the issue. DRINKING WATER ADVISORY COMMITTEE (DWAC) By Sandra U. Bishop The League has a standing seat on DWAC. Interactive Geographic Information System (GIS) Maps for water system and source water protection have been improved. These maps are available to the public as well as water system operators and are maintained by the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality’s Drinking Water Protection group and may be accessed via the Drinking Water Services website . The next DWAC meeting will be in October 2025. FORESTRY By Josie Koehne Last year the Board of Forestry met for a special meeting to decide on criteria for a computer model to test run different forest management scenarios for timber management on state forest lands. ECO Northwest was hired to evaluate the model under these four different objectives. In July of this year, the final report of Economic Analysis of ODF Western Oregon Forest Management Plan Scenarios was published. The model projected outcomes over a 30-year period assuming that the approved Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP) is in place. The intent of modeling of various scenarios is to show examples of the trade-offs between resources and outcomes under different implementation approaches. The model provides a scientific basis for management decisions, and the chosen plan will be incorporated into the Western Oregon Forest Management Plan (FMP) which is due to be approved by the Board by the end of this year. Each of the four scenarios modeled projects the outcomes to be expected for harvest intensity, rotation age, and revenue optimization: 30-Year Volume Target: Maintains a steady harvest volume for the first 30 years, followed by a non-declining even flow. Long Rotations: Emphasizes longer tree rotations that supports a balanced distribution of age classes across managed acres by year 70. Maximize Volume: Prioritizes harvest volume to maximize productivity over the long term, with fluctuations over time. Maximize Net Present Value (NPV): Focuses on generating the highest economic return using a 4% discount rate. Each scenario results in different patterns of timber products, harvest costs, harvest volume, revenue distribution, employment, and ecosystem services over the analysis period. The analysis discusses socioeconomic outcomes for both the 70-year permit term of the HCP and the long-term implications over a 150-year modeling timeframe. The report summarizes Key Findings for each of the categories above, but the report did not include a summary of their conclusions nor recommendations. Policy decisions will be left to the Board of Forestry. The newest member to the Board of Forestry is Alexi Lovechio of Ashland who joined in March. She serves as Forests and Ecosystem Services Program Manager with Ecotrust. On July 16, The Board of Forestry met in a special meeting to review the status of the recruitment of a new State Forester. In the interim, Kate Skinner has served as Interim State Forester since January following the resignation of Cal Mukamoto. The responsibility for the selection of the State Forester changed from the Board of Forestry to the Governor’s office with the passage of SB 1051 at the close of the session on June 27th . The Governor’s selection process is headed up by Chandra Ferrari, Governor Kotek’s Natural Resources Advisor, who served previously on the Board. Senior Natural Resource Policy Advisor Geoff Huntington kicked off the discussion and outlined the proposed recruitment process. They have hired a recruitment firm to rank the 6-8 candidates who will be reviewed and interviewed by the Governor starting October 6-13. The planned date for the Senate to confirm the Governor’s choice for State Forester is November 17. The Board can provide input on the recruitment process and reach out directly to potential candidates. The selection criteria are outlined in SB 1051 : “The State Forester must have organizational management experience and either of the following: (A) Executive experience and expertise overseeing forest and wildfire management on western forestlands; or (B) Operational experience and expertise overseeing forest and wildfire management on western forestlands.” The Board of Forestry expressed concerns about their role and authority once the Governor’s office has appointed the State Forester. They expressed concerns over having responsibility without authority, including the purpose of Board-developed performance measures related to the State Forester performance measures if the Board does not have the same authority, and having to trust the Governor’s Office to follow through with addressing the Board’s interests and concerns. On a separate note, here is an OPB article explaining that the Secure Rural Schools federal funding continues to be missing from the federal budget, creating a funding crisis in our former timber counties. HANFORD The League is concerned about potential changes to the Hanford nuclear cleanup per this article in the Oregon Capital Chronicle. LAND USE & HOUSING By Sandra U. Bishop/Peggy Lynch Oregon Housing Needs Analysis ( OHNA ) work: Draft rules were sent to the Sec of State Oct. 1 st . The last planned OHNA RAC is set for Oct. 29 th . Adoption of the rules should occur during the Dec.4-5 LCDC mtg. as they are statutorily due by Jan. 1, 2026. Public comments are due by November 7. press release . The League has been engaged in elements of this process since inception. We encourage individual League members to review the rules and provide personal comments. These rules are among the most significant changes in Goal 10, Housing, and Goal 14, Urbanization since the program’s inception. The Land Conservation and Development Commission (LCDC) met Sept. 25-26. Here is the meeting agenda and meeting materials . The Dept. of Land Conservation and Development (DLCD) has a YouTube Channel that provides videos of a variety of DLCD meetings and LCDC meetings. The DLCD Director announced a new interagency group (SHIP—State Housing Interagency Partnership) to work on housing and the agencies will be signing a Memorandum of Agreement in Oct. The Gov has instructed all agencies to cut back on travel (LCDC mtgs. will be back in Salem). DLCD will be using vacancy savings—rolling vacancies so they aren’t targeted by Ways and Means in the future--and slowing hiring. DLCD may comment to the federal government on the short timeline of only Oct. 6 th for local gov’ts. to comment on the Federal EIS on the Flood program. Public hearing on the 2025-27 Policy Agenda: There will be seven rulemakings on Housing alone! The League has not provided comments because the items on the agenda reflect our legislative work, with the exception that we have supported the Farm and Forest Modernization work that had been approved back in March. Most of the public testimony reflected a request to continue that work which included changes to address agritourism and other commercial events, use of soils reports, replacement dwellings and non-farm dwellings. Contact Hilary Foote at hilary.foote@dlcd.oregon.gov with any questions about the project. Rulemaking Webpage One other issue was brought up during general public comment: Public Comment on items not on the agenda at LCDC meetings is now scheduled at the end of their meetings. There was a request that the public comment period be moved back to the beginning of the mtg. Sept. 5 th Community Involvement Advisory Committee (CIAC) meeting: There is a video from the CIAC where on Sept. 5th they were given a presentation on the Draft Policy Agenda: https://youtu.be/sLcdV3jLjQI . The video is about 3 hours long, but the Draft Policy Agenda presentation begins at 1:15 and ends about 1:51. Local Officials Advisory Committee met Sept. 15 and received the same presentation. Other parts of the meeting included: SB 504 (coastal 2025), HB 2001 (2023--OHNA), HB 2258 (site development plans 2025) and HB 2138 (middle housing--legislation LWVOR worked on prior to session 2025). Afterward, they even did a presentation on the proposed wetlands rulemaking (related to addressing wetlands in proposed UGBs). That, too, was interesting. LWVOR supported DSL getting additional staff and funding to work on this issue and DLCD got $500k. The Senate Housing and Development Committee met: agenda . There was a presentation on the Oregon Housing Needs Analysis and an Urban Reserves presentation . House Housing had a presentation on implementation of SB 1537 (2024) related to the one-time Urban Growth Boundary (UGB) expansion portion of the bill. Three cities are considering it as of now: Bend (where the process is almost done!), Eagle Point and Bay City. Some presenters expressed concern with the narrow criteria. The League worked on this bill and supports the sideboards in the bill as this expansion opportunity was meant to sidestep larger acreage requests but was NOT meant to supersede the current UGB expansion process. However, some committee members expressed an interest in bringing legislation to the 2026 session that might sidestep the intent of SB 1537 so the League may need to engage. On July 1, the new Housing Accountability and Production Office (HAPO) officially opened to assist local governments and developers to meet housing production goals, per this press release . Their website . See also the Housing Report in the Social Policy section of this Legislative Report. OREGON DEPT. OF FISH AND WILDLIFE (ODFW) By Melanie Moon ODFW SWAP adopted August 15- see news release : The Commission approved a revised State Wildlife Action Plan (SWAP) today, a plan that serves as a roadmap for protecting Oregon's at-risk species and their habitats. The Plan incorporates the latest available information on species and presents recommended conservation actions to inform and prioritize conservation work for community members, private landowners, organizations, and agencies alike. The revision adds pollution as a new Key Conservation Issue, completes integration of the Oregon Nearshore Strategy, enhances information provided in the Conservation Toolbox to make conservation accessible to all Oregonians, and adds information on species newly identified as being at-risk. The Plan is meant to be used by natural resource partners and will eventually be fully web-enabled and accessible online to ensure that content is navigable . The League provided comments on the SWAP. Significant underfunding has severely impacted Oregon's State Wildlife Action Plan leading to a scaled-back conservation initiative, reduced monitoring of at-risk species, and an over-reliance on declining revenue from hunting and fishing licenses. ODFW has acknowledged this funding gap even as it adopted a revised SWAP. The present administration in Washington DC is proposing more cuts. A new state transient lodging tax (TLT), HB 2977 , was introduced in 2025 to ensure regular and robust funding for wildlife conservation programs. The bill passed the House floor, but did not make it out of the Senate. The League expects the bill to return in 2026 where we will consider supporting. Here is more information on the Transient Lodging Tax (TLT): Current data . The Oregon Dept. of Revenue did a 2025 comprehensive report for the legislators. Currently, at least 65% of the tax must be spent on tourism. HB 2977 would have added a separate percentage to the TLT focused on conservation. OREGON PARKS AND RECREATION DEPT (OPRD) By Peggy Lynch Director Lisa Sumption was recognized by the National Assn. of State Park Directors and her staff did a video congratulations. We are working with her and others to address OPRD’s revenue shortfall and maintenance needs. OPRD provided a budget one-pager and information on asset needs as we work to assure our Parks are open and maintained over time. The Legislative Fiscal Office notes : During the November 2024 meeting of the Oregon Parks and Recreation Commission, the Department provided an update outlining concerns for the long-term sustainability of OPRD’s operational funding. The Department asserted that the largest known challenge for the 2025-27 biennium is addressing the gap between projected operational revenues and anticipated expenditures. Throughout this biennium as well as the next, OPRD’s operational budget is dependent on an existing beginning balance. This means the current level of expenditures, given projected revenues, is unsustainable for the long-term. While the dedicated programs remain sustainable, operational expenditures are outpacing Lottery Funds and non-dedicated Other Funds revenues used to support agency. The League will engage with these budget issues before the 2027 legislative session. REGIONAL SOLUTIONS The Regional Solutions Program : Within each of the 11 Regions, which are tied to Oregon’s federally designated Economic Development Districts, a Governor-appointed Advisory Committee sets Regional Priorities and a cross-functional Team of state agency staff works together to move projects forward. If you know anyone who may benefit from these publications, please direct them to this signup page . The public is welcome to attend virtually or in person. Go to the program website and to the region to find the agendas and meeting materials posted a few days before the meetings. Public Comment is usually scheduled. Upcoming Regional Solutions Advisory Committee (RSAC) Meetings: Regional Solutions: Add latest mtgs. See July 2 nd LR for info) • Mid-Valley (Marion, Polk, and Yamhill Counties) October 9, 1:30-3:30pm (Aug. 14 th mtg. was cancelled.) *Central (Crook, Deschutes, and Jefferson Counties) October 10th from 2:00-4:00pm *Northeast (Baker, Union, and Wallowa Counties) October 14th from 2:00-4:00pm *South Coast (Coos, Curry, and Douglas Counties) December 3rd from 11:00am-1:00pm *North Coast (Clatsop, Columbia, and Tillamook Counties) December 10th from 3:00-5:00pm REVENUE By Peggy Lynch The House Climate, Energy and Environment Committee (See Sept. 29 agenda and meeting materials ) had a great cost/loss general presentation as did the Oregon Dept. of Energy, the Dept. of Environmental Quality and the State Support Center. There are discussions on the Oregon Parks and Recreation Dept.’s budget crisis that the Oregon Coast Alliance is leading. See the Revenue section of this Legislative Report for in depth information. We encourage you to read both sections. SMITH RIVER By Alyssa Babin The League again supported federal legislation to expand the Smith River Recreation Area. The North Fork of the Smith River has scenic, historic and recreational values. We have supported this effort in the past with approval from LWVUS. STATE LAND BOARD By Peggy Lynch The next State Land Board is Oct. 14 ( agenda ). The meeting will consider many topics the League follows: Elliott State Research Forest, Common School Fund Report, South Slough and Oregon Ocean Science Trust. They are hybrid meetings with physical location at the Dept. of State Lands in Salem. The League follows these meetings since the Governor, Secretary of State and State Treasurer comprise the Board membership. TRANSPORTATION The Governor announced that a Special Session would happen starting August 29 and continuing Sept. 1 “ for lawmakers to take up legislation to pay for basic road maintenance and operations at the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT), as well as address funding needs for local governments and transit districts.” HB 3991 increases a number of transportation taxes and fees and applies audit requirements to ODOT. It expands the OReGO road usage charge program and repeals the Oregon Transportation Commission toll program. ODOT will receive 50% of the funding, counties will receive 30%, and cities 20%. There is an estimate that the cost to each Oregonian would be about $2/month. HB 3992 appropriates $800,000 General Fund, reduces the Emergency Fund by a corresponding amount, and increases Other Funds expenditure limitation by $204.9 million. Other funds for the Secretary of State’s office (SOS) are sourced from assessments charged to state agencies for services and from revenues generated through HB 3991 . Since HB 3991 would raise taxes, it takes 18 Senators and 36 House members to vote yes. The House passed the bills on Sept. 1, with one Democrat voting no and one Republican voting yes. Since Senate Republicans were opposed to the bill and Sen. Chris Gorsek had a health emergency, the final vote in the Senate didn’t happen until Sept. 29 when the session ended—after both bills passed. See ODOT bills pass Senate per this press release . The bills were meant to be a stop gap measure so the 2026 Session may again try to pass a more comprehensive transportation plan. ODOT had about 200 employees leave or retire during all the chaos, and they are months behind in hiring winter temporary workers. Once the Governor signs HB 3991, Sen. Starr and Rep. Diehl have said they want to gather signatures to place the bill on the ballot for Oregonians to consider. The League will follow this effort since it could stop the needed ODOT funding provided in HB 3991. It is unclear if this political action committee , “No Gas Hikes’, formed after the 2025 regular legislative session, will move forward and try to put the special session legislation (HB 3991) on the ballot. The League would hope that the slimmed down bill will be allowed to stand. LWVOR asks that you “Think before you Ink” when any volunteers ask for your signature to get an item on the ballot. “ 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 referendum 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 Oregon's Integrated Water Resources Strategy (IWRS) provides a statewide inter-agency framework for better understanding and meeting Oregon's instream and out-of-stream water needs. Here is the IWRS website . 2025 Integrated Water Resources Strategy adopted ! Addressing Oregon’s water challenges is an all-hands endeavor – Oregonians are best served when agencies are working toward common goals. Those goals are articulated in the 2025 Integrated Water Resources Strategy (IWRS). Earlier this month, the Oregon Water Resources Commission adopted the 2025 IWRS, a roadmap for numerous agencies interacting with water to address these issues head-on through coordinated action. You can view the plan online at owrd.info/iwrs . The League again engaged in this Strategy and helped form the final document. Oregon State University continues to provide important information on water supply. Measuring mountain snowpack at strategically selected hotspots consistently outperforms broader basin-wide mapping in predicting water supply in the western United States, a new study found. Update: Look for a new version of SB 1153 to return in 2026 or 2027. LWV Deschutes County submitted a letter in support of SB 427 , a water rights transfer bill meant to protect instream water flows. SB 1153 , an alternate bill provided with help from the Governor’s office, had months of work group sessions among the various interests, but, in the end, the bill did not pass. From the July 9 th article of the Capital Press, Governor Kotek is looking to continue to work on this issue: Despite the failure of the bill getting done this session, we do need to stay on this topic. We have to manage our water differently. We have to identify ways to update our water rights transfer process,” she said during a recent roundtable interview. TIPS FOR THE PUBLIC League members may want to check the U. S. Drought Monitor , a map that is updated every Thursday. Over 42% of Oregon is in moderate drought (D1) and over 6% is in severe drought (D2) with the rest of the state experiencing abnormally dry condition. 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. As the summer heats up, be aware of the signs of potentially deadly HABs to your pets as well as humans. WEATHER The National Weather Service issued a La Niña watch, raising hopes the coming winter will fight stubborn drought conditions in the Northwest. The weather service’s Climate Prediction Center reported Aug. 14 that the odds slightly favor a La Niña forming by November and sticking around for December and January. A La Niña increases expectations that snow will accumulate in the mountains and melt into rivers for the irrigation season. La Niñas sometimes fizzle. A La Niña formed last winter, but the Washington snowpack was disappointing. Still, it’s the main guide for seasonal forecasts. Read more in this HillsboroNewsTimes article. KLCC also covered this important weather story. OregonLive reports a weaker Polar Vortex and more extreme weather according to Extreme Weather Europe, a website that tracks weather patterns around the globe. A weaker polar vortex would mean more snowfall and cold winter days than with a stronger polar vortex. Here’s another long range climate prediction . WETLANDS On Jan. 1 st , the fees for removal/fill permits will increase so that, within 5 years, the new fees will cover 80% of the cost, relieving the Common School Fund from most of those costs. A League member participated in the rulemaking related to this decision. The current fees paid by developers, property owners, and other permit applicants cover just 21%. On average, it costs $2.8 million every year to cover the remaining removal-fill permitting costs. WILDFIRE By Carolyn Mayers From the Senate Natural Resources and Wildfire Committee: The Oregon Dept. of Forestry reported an average number of wildfires and significantly fewer acres burned. (Current gross costs $127 million, but net--after reimbursements--of $54 million—if the federal government pays their costs.) Fire Marshal Chief Ruiz Temple emphasized how community wildfire preparedness, coupled with the rapid responses and landscape treatments, made all the difference in how they were able to have almost all the threatened structures in the Flat Fire saved from the fire. The Fire Marshal’s office was thrilled with that response. There have, to date, been no injuries to any ODF firefighters. The bill to establish mitigation protocols for utilities is going to come back in the short session. Several speakers expressed concerns about it being a “get out of jail free” card for utilities and that, if they get the certification, they won’t be held legally liable for damages. This legislation will be worked on to the point where it passes so utilities can standardize their practices. Fire season isn’t over. On Sept. 30, the Governor invoked yet another Emergency Conflagration—this time for the Moon Complex in Curry County. This marks the eighth time the Emergency Conflagration Act has been invoked by Governor Kotek in the 2025 wildfire season. The Governor’s Wildfire Programs Advisory Council (WPAC) met July 18 and will meet again Oct. 17. This article in the Oregon Capital Chronicle shares potential changes in the U.S. Forest Service offices where the Portland-based office may close. Oregonians have concerns about both the relocation and potential staffing cuts. 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 All Legislative Reports Natural Resources Legislative Report - Week of January 26 Natural Resources Team Coordinator: Peggy Lynch Agriculture/Goal 3 Land Use: Sandra U. Bishop 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 Dept. of Geology and Mineral Industries (DOGAMI) Drinking Water Advisory Committee (DWAC) Elliott State Research Forest (ESRF) Forestry (ODF) Hanford Land Use & Housing Oregon Dept. of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) Oregon Parks and Recreation Dept. (OPRD) Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board (OWEB) Regional Solutions State Land Board Transportation Water Weather Wetlands Wildfire Intro The Feb. 4 th Forecast will be the legislature’s guidance. See the Revenue section of this Legislative Report and sections of other Legislative Reports. The Natural Resource agencies have been implementing legislation passed in 2025 and previous legislative sessions. That means rulemaking where Oregonians can help clarify the intent of that legislation. Then we are all grappling with those potential budget cuts as shared in the last Legislative Report. Lastly, we cover some of the information from the recent Interim Legislative Days (Jan. 13-15). The House Interim Committee on Agriculture, Land Use, Natural Resources, and Water Committee: 1/13/2026 Meeting at 11:30 AM heard a presentation from the Governor’s Office on her recent Executive Orders. See more information about them and the proposed committee bills in the Meeting Materials . A recording of the meeting is also available. The same is true of all the committees, so please use this information as a guide for checking in on other committees of interest. The Salem Reporter provided a review of what to expect in 2026, including some areas of concern to the League related to permitting and land use. We want a vibrant economy with good jobs for Oregonians while also respecting the values Oregonians have supported for years. AGRICULTURE The Oregon Department of Agriculture (ODA) accepted public comments on proposed rules for the Lower Umatilla Basin Groundwater Management Area. In an article by the Oregon Capital Chronicle, it was noted: In comments shared with the Oregon Department of Agriculture and the Oregon Board of Agriculture shortly before the new year, farm groups opposed to the rules told regulators they go too far, while others contended they don’t go far enough. The Oregon Health Authority since 2024 found that at least 634 domestic drinking water wells in the area contain unsafe levels of nitrate, some with nearly 10 times the federal limit for safe drinking water, and more than 420 show elevated levels that could lead to long-term health problems. BUDGETS/REVENUE Peggy Lynch Soon after the 2025-27 Oregon budget passed, Congress passed H.R.1 (see Summary), a collection of tax cuts and program cuts. (See the Revenue section for more detail.) As we await the Feb. 4 th Revenue Forecast, agencies were directed to reduce their spending as well as to provide a list of potential cuts of up to 5% per agency per revenue source (General Fund, Lottery Fund, Other Funds) and to provide a list of any new programs that were approved since 2021—all due to reduced revenue forecasts, federal legislation and actions. Here are the meeting materials submitted to the Legislative Fiscal Office by the 14 natural resource agencies. In the last few months, the Governor and legislators have been reviewing those lists and learning more about the impact of H.R. 1 on programs vital to Oregonians. Working in the natural resource world which is less than 3% of the state’s budget, each cut reduces the ability for Oregon to protect our air, land and water. See the Revenue section of this Legislative Report for in depth information. We encourage you to read ALL sections. CLIMATE Claudia Keith and Team See the Climate Emergency section of this Legislative Report. There are overlaps with this Natural Resources Report. We encourage you to read both sections. COASTAL ISSUES Christine Moffitt The League of Women Voters of Coos County has been following the proposed Pacific Coast Intermodal Port (PCIP) project in Coos Bay. (See their public website .) An article by the Oregon Journalism Project provides an outside review of the project: “ For the past couple of months, the Oregon Journalism Project has examined the PCIP’s claims and its goals. That reporting, along with interviews of economists and transportation and supply chain experts, yields a starkly different conclusion than politicians have reached. Coos Bay’s location and the highly competitive nature of transportation markets, experts say, make it unlikely the project can succeed.” A presentation was allowed by advocates of the PCIP to the Senate Interim Committee On Veterans, Emergency Management, Federal and World Affairs on Jan. 14. League members were disappointed that only one point of view was shared and we provided legislators with a response to an email sent earlier by advocates. The Ocean Policy Advisory Council will meet virtually on January 29 from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. A draft meeting agenda and materials will be posted online soon at https://oregonocean.info/ . Register for the meeting here or contact: Andy.Lanier@dlcd.oregon.gov Public Access Rulemaking has begun to clarify how local governments will address protection of public access to Oregon beaches. OPPORTUNITY FOR ACTION The Oregon Coastal Management Program is Seeking Feedback on Seven Rocky Habitat Management Plans: The Oregon Department of Land Conservation and Development (DLCD) and the Oregon Coastal Management Program (OCMP) are currently developing management plans for rocky habitats that were designated in 2024. The Plans, informed by coastal communities, will provide a framework to support activities within Marine Conservation Areas, Marine Research Areas, and Marine Gardens near Cannon Beach, Netarts, Depoe Bay, and Port Orford. The new draft Plans can be found on the Oregon Ocean Information website . Please provide comments on or before February 2, 2026. The League supported the creation of these Rocky Habitats. Email comments to: tsp.comments@dlcd.oregon.gov with the title of the plan in the subject line. Mail comments to: ATTN: Andy Lanier, OCMP-DLCD, 635 Capitol St. NE, Suite 150, Salem, OR 97301-2540. Read the Draft Plans:  Ecola Point Marine Conservation Area Management Plan Chapman Point Marine Garden Management Plan Cape Lookout Marine Conservation Area Management Plan Fogarty Creek Marine Conservation Area Management Plan Cape Foulweather Complex Marine Conservation Area Management Plan Blacklock Point Marine Conservation Area Management Plan Cape Blanco Marine Conservation Area Management Plan Your feedback is important. OCMP is especially interested in feedback on: Chapter 2: Site Management Strategies Appendix H: Recommended Implementation Actions Table When commenting, please reference specific page numbers and section headers. You’re also welcome to suggest additional writing, graphics, images, or links that could enhance the Plan. This work is the result of a multi-year proposal and planning effort to designate new rocky habitats on the Oregon Coast. Marine Gardens are any intertidal and subtidal area that the State designates to protect ocean resources through public enjoyment, learning opportunities, public access, and by supporting ecological integrity. Marine Conservation Areas are sites designated to conserve the ecological integrity of the habitat. Marine Research Areas are sites designated to support scientific research, preserve natural ecosystems, and limit the collection of marine plants and animals. Please reach out to Andy Lanier, Marine Affairs Coordinator, Andy.Lanier@dlcd.oregon.gov with questions. More information is available at OregonOcean.Info/RockyHabitats . DEPT. OF GEOLOGY AND MINERAL INDUSTRIES (DOGAMI) OPPORTUNITY FOR ACTION The latest on the Grassy Mt. Gold Mine Project per the Dept. of Environmental Quality’s Director's Report : Grassy Mountain Gold Mine Project: DEQ prepared four draft permits for the Grassy Mountain project, a proposed gold mine located in Malheur County approximately 22 miles south-southwest of Vale. Mining will be sub-surface, and gold will be extracted from the ore using a cyanide extraction process. DEQ permits regulate potential releases of contaminants to air, land, and water. DEQ has been working closely with the Department of Geology and Mineral Industries and other state agencies to develop draft permits, following a consolidated permitting process that is unique to chemical process mining. DEQ is currently working with DOGAMI on draft permit conditions related to the protection of groundwater resources and solid waste management in response to preliminary comments from the applicant. DEQ expects to make draft permits available for public comment in early January 2026. DOGAMI and other state permitting agencies have issued draft permits for the Grassy Mountain gold mine project and will hold a public hearing for the draft permits on January 29 from 4:00 pm – 6:00 pm PST (5:00 pm – 7:00 pm MST) at the Vale Senior Citizens Center, 100 Longfellow St S, Vale, OR 97918. People can make comments in person at the hearing or submit written comments prior to February 6. DOGAMI is accepting public comments through February 6, 2026, as outlined in the public notice , including related documents. The League has followed this project—the first chemical processing gold mine proposed for Oregon. A new streamlined permitting process has been used for this application. OPB provided an article . More information can be found here . OPB also covered exploration of a lithium mine in Southeast Oregon. DRINKING WATER ADVISORY COMMITTEE (DWAC) Sandra U. Bishop The League has a standing seat on DWAC. Interactive GIS Maps for water system and source water protection have been improved. These maps are available to the public as well as water system operators and are maintained by the Oregon DEQ’s Drinking Water Protection group and may be accessed via the Drinking Water Services website . The next DWAC meeting is January 21. ELLIOTT STATE RESEARCH FOREST (ESRF) The Board had a 3-day retreat on Nov. 12-14. And a meeting on Jan. 14. The next meeting is set for March 11. FORESTRY (ODF) Josie Koehne Public comment period on the proposed rule-making for the Western Oregon State Forest Management Plan opened on Nov. 1 and will close at midnight on the Jan.31st. “The mission of the Western Oregon State Forest Management Plan (FMP) and Implementation Plans (IP) project is to implement the social, economic and environmental values required of state forests. The comment period will include written comments as well as comments collected from Rule-making hearings. The proposed change to this rule will replace the three current FMPs (Northwest Oregon, Southwest Oregon, and Elliott) with a single FMP for these forest lands. The State Forests Division is pursuing an alternative method for compliance with the federal Endangered Species Act by applying for incidental take permits from the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration – Fisheries. The incidental take permits will require the division to manage Oregon state forest lands in compliance with a habitat conservation plan. The League submitted comments on December 24. ODF is reviewing obligations under the Governor’s Executive Order 25-26 related to climate resilience. HANFORD For those who follow the activities at Hanford, here is a US Dept. of Energy newsletter with multiple articles. The League has positions on Hanford and has had volunteers covering this important facility. LAND USE & HOUSING Peggy Lynch LCDC Oregon Housing Needs Analysis (OHNA) Rules adopted at the LCDC Dec. 4 th mtg. They were statutorily due by Jan. 1, 2026. “ These rules shift Oregon’s housing planning framework from a narrow focus on land capacity toward a comprehensive system that emphasizes local actions to promote housing production, affordability, and choice. ” These rules are among the most significant changes in Goal 10, Housing, and Goal 14, Urbanization since the program’s inception. On Jan. 15, the Dept. of Administrative Services released OHNA Targets for 2026. The Housing Accountability and Production Office (HAPO) is scheduling a webinar on Jan. 28 from 1 - 2pm on the Local Residential Development Process Improvement Study. You can access the project website here and the meeting here . On Jan. 14, the House Housing Committee included Housing Legislative Concepts (LCs) (to become bills) and presentations on other bill proposals. Another LC of interest in the land use area is LC 205 as a result of a SB 1537 (2024) Urban Growth Boundary (UGB) Workgroup and the Governor’s LC 94 to provide expansion for senior housing and manufactured home parks. LC 222 is the Governor's Omnibus Housing bill with sections of interest to land use and to social policy. Included in Sen. Sollman’s Oregon Jobs Act (LC 237) as presented to the Senate Interim Committee On Commerce and General Government on Jan. 13, are many elements of concern to the League, including a substantial expansion of Hillsboro’s UGB. See the Meeting Materials for more expansive information on this LC and others. There is also tax policy and required rules and permit processing changes that could reduce revenue and place a substantial burden on Natural Resource agencies. OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN MORE ABOUT OREGON JOBS ACT January 30, 2026 5:00 - 6:00 PM: There will be an informative session, speaking against Senator Sollman's bill, featuring brief introductions, individual presentations, and Q&A. Address : United Church of Christ, 2032 College Way, Forest Grove RSVP: https://www.friendsofsmartgrowth.org/rsvp 6:30 PM: Senator Sollman's Joint Town Hall (across the street)Senator Janeen Sollman hosts Reps McLain, Sosa, and AG Rayfield. Address : Pacific University’s McCready Hall (in the Taylor‑Meade Performing Arts Center), 2043 College Way, Forest Grove The 2025-27 Policy Agenda 2025-27 Policy Agenda was approved by LCDC on Oct. 24. There will be seven rulemakings on Housing alone, including: Housing Rulemaking for HB 2138 and HB 2258 (2025) and Rulemaking to clarify and allow housing and other needed development outside of wetlands. The rulemaking would create an optional, alternative compliance pathway for wetlands resources when a city is preparing bill annex lands from the urban growth boundary (UGB) to accommodate needed housing and economic development. See their Rulemaking page for more info on all the rules work being done by this agency. See also the Housing Report in the Social Policy section of this Legislative Report. OREGON DEPT. OF FISH AND WILDLIFE (ODFW) Melanie Moon A new state transient lodging tax (TLT), HB 2977 , was introduced in 2025 to ensure regular and robust funding for wildlife conservation programs. The bill passed the House floor, but did not make it out of the Senate. HB 4134 will be introduced in 2026, now titled the 1.25% for Wildlife bill. LWVOR signed on to a letter in support . OPB provides an article on the legislation. Currently these are the bill’s sponsors: Chief Sponsors: Rep Helm, Owens, McLain, Walters; Sen Golden, Prozanski, Gorsek, Nash, Frederick Regular sponsors: Rep Grayber, Marsh, B Levy, Gamba, Munoz, Chotzen, Hai Pham, Finger McDonald, Nosse, Andersen, Fragala, Nelson; Sen Jama, Neron Misslin, Gelser-Blouin, Pham, Weber OREGON PARKS AND RECREATION DEPT (OPRD) Peggy Lynch 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. But OPRD is responsible not only for our wonderful state parks, but also for historical sites. Many need infrastructure repairs. There is a conversation around getting some amount of bonding to help with this maintenance, but also setting up a Task Force to study new long term operational funding options. The League studied Oregon Parks in 1998: Oregon State Parks, Part 1 (PDF, 7 pgs) Oregon State Parks, Part 2 (PDF, 9 pgs) . OREGON WATERSHED ENHANCEMENT BOARD (OWEB) The Oregon Environmental Restoration Council (OERC) held a virtual meeting on January 22. The agenda and meeting materials are available on 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. In 2024, Governor Kotek signed Senate Bill 1561 into law, creating the Oregon Environmental Restoration Fund (OERF or Fund), which will invest the proceeds of the settlement in projects and purposes that benefit Oregon’s environment and its communities. The Interim Ways and Means Committee approved an Other Funds expenditure limitation increase of $35 million to be included in the 2026 budget reconciliation bill. REGIONAL SOLUTIONS The Regional Solutions Program : Within each of the 11 Regions, which are tied to Oregon’s federally designated Economic Development Districts, a Governor-appointed Advisory Committee sets Regional Priorities and a cross-functional Team of state agency staff works together to move projects forward. If you know anyone who may benefit from these publications, please direct them to this signup page . The public is welcome to attend virtually or in person. Go to the program website and to the region to find the agendas and meeting materials posted a few days before the meetings. Public Comment is usually scheduled. Upcoming Regional Solutions Advisory Committee (RSAC) Meetings: Regional Solutions: Metro (Clackamas, Multnomah, and Washington Counties) January 30th from 11:00am-1:00pm Mid-Valley (Marion, Polk, and Yamhill Counties) March 12th from 1:30-3:30pm South Valley/Mid-Coast (Benton, Lane, Lincoln, and Linn Counties) March 26th from 1:00-3:00pm The Mid-Valley Regional Solutions RAC had a great set of presentations from a group of natural resource agencies at their Jan. 8 th meeting . See the meeting materials for Jan. 8 to see some of the presentations. STATE LAND BOARD Peggy Lynch The State Land Board met Dec. 3 rd ( agenda and meeting materials ). The League follows these meetings since the Governor, Secretary of State and State Treasurer comprise the Board membership. Included in the presentations as seen on YouTube were the annual report on wetlands and a report on the Elliott State Research Forest. TRANSPORTATION (ODOT) Movement between parties to solve the ODOT funding is happening per an article in Oregonlive on Jan. 17. On Jan. 7, the Governor suggested reallocating current ODOT funds, repealing HB 3991 (passed in last Sept.’s special session and currently being sent to the voters in Nov. 2026 for repeal) in 2026 and work on long term funding in 2027: The Statesman Journal reported : The Oregon Department of Transportation faces a budget gap of $242 million for the 2025-2027 budget cycle. ODOT director Kris Strickler and incoming interim director Lisa Sumption wrote in an email to staff, "It’s a smaller gap, and while that’s good news, it’s still big enough to require service level cuts and future layoffs if we have to manage this on our own with existing revenue and within existing spending restrictions." A press release from ODOT on Jan. 14 reports: Impacts of Funding Gap Isn’t Addressed. In the upcoming short session, legislators will be looking at a $297 million funding target to support ODOT’s operations beyond June 30, 2027. Without new resources for the current budget cycle, the agency estimates it would need to reduce its workforce by more than 1,000 positions, including eliminating 570 vacant positions and laying off approximately 470 current employees. The House Transportation Committee shared their Committee LCs and the Senate Transportation Committee did the same for the 2026 session. KATU reminds Oregonians of the need for road maintenance. WATER Peggy Lynch League members may want to check the U. S. Drought Monitor , a map that is updated every Thursday. Governor Kotek has declared a drought in eight counties ( map ). Here is a more complete website about drought in Oregon. We all need to pay attention to the potential for harmful algal blooms (HABs). “When in doubt, stay out.” Visit the Harmful Algae Bloom website or call the Oregon Public Health Division toll-free information line at 877-290-6767 to learn if an advisory has been issued or lifted for a specific water body. Information on current advisories can be found on the OHA’s cyanobacteria bloom webpage at healthoregon.org/hab . The OHA has an online photo gallery to help community members identify signs of potentially harmful blooms. WEATHER In a KOIN article : The days of La Niña are numbered. The climate phenomenon is expected to fade away in the next few months, making way for its counterpart to take over, national forecasters said on Thursday… Over the next few weeks or months, La Niña is expected to fade away. We’ll then be in a state that climate scientists describe as “ENSO neutral.” It’s not La Niña, it’s not El Niño – it’s La Nada. Whether we’re in a La Niña year, El Niño year, or neither is determined by sea surface temperatures near the equator over the Pacific Ocean. The temperature of the water and air above it can shift the position of the jet stream, which in turn impacts the types of weather observed on land. KLCC reports on our snowpack concerns: Nearly all of Oregon has less than 50% of its normal snowpack, with western and central Oregon having percentages largely in the 30s. That’s according to the latest data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. December was the warmest on record in Oregon, Washington and California, while Idaho had its second-warmest December, according to the National Centers for Environmental Information. WETLANDS Peggy Lynch Comments from Oregon state agencies were provided to the EPA and U. S. Army Corps of Engineers on the proposed changes to the Waters of the U. S. (WOTUS) rules . Upon reviewing this latest iteration of federal regulations proposing revisions to the definition of WOTUS, Oregon concludes this proposed rule is unnecessary and should be revoked. The existing “Revised Definition of 'Waters of the United States'; Conforming" that became effective on September 8, 2023, was revised to conform with the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in the case of Sackett v. EPA. The Conforming 2023 rule is consistent with the Supreme Court’s decision and should remain untouched. See the December 1, 2025 Legislative Report for details on one of the most significant changes in federal rules being considered relating to Waters of the U.S. (WOTUS). On Nov. 18 th , the EPA announced new proposed rules for implementing the Waters of the U.S., reducing 55 million acres of currently assumed wetlands—that protect drinking water and provide flood protection as well as giving a home to a variety of flora and fauna. WILDFIRE Carolyn Mayers The Oregon Legislature kicked off the week of January 12th with meetings offering a preview of what we can expect when the 2026 Short Session begins in earnest on February 2. The Senate Interim Committee on Natural Resources and Wildfire met January 14, and received updates from the Department of the State Fire Marshal (DFSM) and Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF). Various officials recapped the 2025 wildfire season, relaying that while - from an acres burned perspective - it was better than expected, it was much worse than an average year in terms of structure losses. It was emphasized that this aligns with increasing trends toward more fires burning close to and in communities, and an accompanying increased risk of urban conflagrations. This amplifies the need to address mitigation measures in these areas in particular. At the January 14 meeting, DFSM officials emphasized progress on defensible space assistance for homeowners, noting that 357 inspectors have been trained to carry out defensible space inspections and make recommendations to mitigate risk to one’s residence. This work came as part of SB 762 , the 2021 wildfire bill which created a path toward comprehensive community wildfire preparedness and resiliency. It was noted that a voluntary Oregon Defensible Space Code is under development, which can be adopted at the local level. That Code is expected to be rolled out later this year. Other highlights of the meeting included a lengthy update on efforts between DFSM, the Department of Consumer and Business Services (DBCS) and others following the passage of SB 85 during the 2025 session, aiming to tie homeowner and neighborhood level wildfire risk reduction work to factors insurance companies use to determine homeowner insurance rates. This Capital Chronicle article provides the details. This Legislative Concept, LC 182 , is modeled after a similar bill passed by the Colorado Legislature in 2025. In addition, Senator Sara Gelser-Blouin came before the committee to introduce her “Fire Hardened Homes Act”, LC 33 , which would prohibit Homeowner’s Associations from preventing residents within their jurisdiction from taking home hardening measures, such as replacing fences and siding with fire-resistant materials. Senator Golden appears to be poised to revisit the concept of a climate superfund bill, the Climate Superfund Cost Recovery Act. This and similar bills in several other states aim to extract funds to help cover the losses suffered as a result of climate change driven catastrophic events such as wildfires and floods. In 2025 the Senate Committee on Energy and Environment Wednesday decided not to advance a similar bill, SB 1187 . Finally, the Governor’s Wildfire Program Advisory Committee, WPAC, met on Friday, January 16, and discussed most of the items described above and more. They also covered the new Consolidated Wildland Fire Service announced by the US Department of the Interior recently. The jury is out on whether this is a meaningful change, and there appears to be some concern in the wildfire community that it appears to be looking to focus on suppression at a time when it becomes ever more evident how important mitigation efforts are. More about this initiative may be found here . Interested in reading additional reports? Please see our Climate Emergency , Revenue , Governance , and Social Policy report sections.

Back to All Legislative Reports Natural Resources Legislative Report - Week of 5/12 Natural Resources Team Coordinator: Peggy Lynch Agriculture/Goal 3 Land Use: Sandra U. Bishop 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 Geology and Mineral Industries (DOGAMI) Endangered Species Act Forestry (ODF) Governance Land Use & Housing Taxes Transportatio n 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 bill has been referred to the House Committee On Climate, Energy, and Environment where a work session is scheduled for May 20. Related to this bill is HB 3794 , a bill that would create a Task Force on Municipal Solid Waste in the Willamette Valley. The Coffin Butte landfill in Benton County has asked for an expansion. That local application has been recommended for disapproval by staff and the community has come out in force against the expansion in part related to methane issues, odor and other concerns. Counties in the Valley are concerned about where this waste should go if Coffin Butte is no longer available. AGRICULTURE By Sandra U. Bishop SB 1129 A Requires Land Conservation and Development Commission (LCDC) to amend rules on urban reserves. The bill deals with prioritizing lands to be added to urban reserves. The bill passed the Senate, had a public hearing and work session in House Committee on Housing & Homelessness and is headed to the House floor. HB 3560 A Expands the areas where childcare centers are allowed to be sited. The nexus with farm and forest land is a provision in the bill to allow a county to impose reasonable conditions on establishing a family child care home in areas zoned for exclusive farm use, forest use, or mixed farm and forest use. The proposal would also move statutes governing the siting of childcare facilities to the chapter of Oregon Revised Statutes relating to comprehensive land use planning. The bill has passed the House and the Senate Committee on Early Childhood & Behavioral Health passed the bill to the Senate floor. BOTTLE BILL UPDATE By Sandra 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, had a hearing in the House Committee on Climate, Energy and Environment on May 8th and is scheduled for a work session on May 13. The bill has already passed the Senate and, with the blessing of the Governor and a major push from the NW Grocery Retail Association and Oregon Beverage Recycling Cooperative (OBRC), the bill is expected to pass once it reaches the House floor. During the hearing, committee members raised the issue of drug use and overdose deaths in proximity of redemption centers and questioned whether such issues were being addressed in relation to the bill. Industry lobbyists testifying in support of the bill said they are aware of these types of problems in certain areas and that stakeholders will continue to review the operation of redemption centers. One of the goals of legislative changes in the bill is to move more beverage container redemption to the bag redemption system. Implementation of a faster-turnaround accounting system for redeemed containers will facilitate that. The bill also provides for a more transparent process with public notification before the siting of new redemption centers. The expectation is that stakeholders will be brought together every three years or so to make suggestions for improvements to the redemption system. Any future changes will likely also affect redemption centers in smaller cities around the state such as Medford. BUDGETS/REVENUE By Peggy Lynch We are all waiting for the May 14th Revenue Forecast from our State Economist Carl Riccadonna at the Office of Economic Analysis to be presented to the Senate Committee on Finance and Revenue at 8 a.m. The documents will not be released until they open the meeting, so, if you are watching ahead of time, you may need to “refresh” your computer connection in order to see the meeting materials. The Economist will provide a verbal presentation with slides as well as providing a more complete in-depth report on his view of the world, the U.S. and Oregon’s economic outlook for 2025-27. He will need to try to accurately forecast the revenue the state will receive by June of 2027 within 2% of the actual amount or yet another "kicker" will be available to Oregonians. Remember that the “kicker” is really money already paid in taxes, but, because the guess two years before wasn’t accurate, some of that money is returned to taxpayers in the form of a credit on their next taxes. (There is currently a forecasted “kicker” of about $1.6 million from this current 2023-25 biennium. That amount, based on the taxes you paid, will be calculated by Nov. 2025 to be a credit on your 2025 tax return.) There is still time for the current “kicker” to be used in whole or in part by the current legislature. But the political climate is such that any action is likely to fail. On the other hand, if the forecasted revenue for 2025-27 is less than forecasted as the state receives future quarterly forecasts, expect to see the potential for special sessions in order for Oregon to continue to have a balanced budget. That will mean cuts to programs that may, by the end of this session, be budgeted for, but adjusted to meet the reality of the revenue expected to be received. 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 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. Columbia River Gorge Commission: SB 5508 Info mtg. and public hearing March 13. A Work Session was held for SB 5508 and the bill was sent to the Full Ways and Means Committee. LFO Recommendation The total reduction to the Commission is about $1 million. 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 Oregon Dept. of Energy: SB 5518 info hearing 2/10, Meeting Materials , public hearing 2/11. 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 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. See also below under TAXES for a report on a proposed new tax to help fund conservation programs. 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.) 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. On March 25 the bill was moved to Senate Rules without recommendation. A performance audit was prepared. The League will continue to be involved in SB 836 because we need DOGAMI staff to do more than 14% inspections of mining operations. On 4/23 League did outreach to the Senate Rules Committee members with a history of LWVOR engagement with DOGAMI and explanation of our support for SB 836. The Dept. of State Lands budget ( SB 5539 ) included up to $10 million to be transferred to DOGAMI to begin work on a project in NE Oregon on carbon sequestration. The hope is that it will be on Common School Fund lands and will provide a return on investment over time. Separately, Ways and Means Natural Resources Subcommittee heard grant requests May 6. The $306k mine waste grant application was approved by the committee. The $330k geologic mapping grant application focusing on Baker County gold mines was approved by the committee. 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 and is headed for a vote in the House. Oregon State Marine Board (OSMB): HB 5021 Public hearing Feb. 17 Meeting Materials . Work Session held for HB 5021 along with 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 management in partnership with the Oregon Dept. of Fish and Wildlife. Here is the Legislative Fiscal Office recommendation for each of the three bills. The bills as recommended by LFO were passed to Full Ways and Means. 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 Info hearing March 17. public hearing March 19. Meeting Materials . LWVOR testimony in support. LFO 2025-27 budget recommendation . LFO budget recommendation for SB 147. Both bills were passed by Full Ways and Means and will go to the Senate and then House chambers 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; Office of the Governor: SB 5523 LFO meeting materials . April 28 Public hearing 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. 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. The Joint Committee on Transportation may begin having public hearings on elements of the 2025 transportation package starting the week of May 19th. See below for more information on conflicting plans to address ODOT’s revenue needs. 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 Info hearings 4/29-30. Public hearing May 1st. Legislators provided testimony on their need for increased staffing and support for the departments mentioned above. Staff provided testimony on their need for fulltime employment and a work/life balance. A number of staff are only hired for the legislative sessions. The workload for our “citizen legislature” has increased tremendously—not only dealing with bills during session, but constituent services year-round. Lottery Bonds: SB 5531 : an average debt capacity of $564 million in each Biennium. Public hearing May 9 @ 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. 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. 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 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. A public hearing was held April 17 in the House Committee On Climate, Energy, and Environment . The League then shared with each committee member our testimony in support of HB 2168 , a bill that would fund this grant and loan program. A work session on SB 830 is scheduled for May 13. DEPT. OF GEOLOGY AND MINERAL INDUSTRIES (DOGAMI) DOGAMI requested permission to apply for a couple of federal grants and were given permission. One would look at old mines in Oregon and recognize that mine waste often has useful and extractable minerals that were not of interest at the time of the original mining (and much of the environmental impact has already occurred). See next week’s report for details. The Trump Administration has listed the Grassy Mountain Gold Mine Project . The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is responsible for part of the permitting and a “ permitting timetable will be published for this project on or before May 16, 2025.” The state has permits that need to be addressed as well. They have been working thru a consolidated permitting process the past few years.The League has been following this project and the permitting process. ENDANGERED SPECIES ACT The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is threatening a critical underpinning of the federal Endangered Species Act (ESA) by proposing to remove the regulatory definition of "harm," an important term that is central to prohibiting activity that could impair the habitat of protected species under the ESA. Since the ESA was signed into law on Dec. 28, 1973, ninety-nine percent of all species listed have been saved from extinction, including the humpback whale, grizzly bear, and perhaps most famously, the bald eagle. Species like the marbled murrelet and northern spotted owl famously altered the course of conservation in Oregon and the Pacific Northwest, while near-threatened species like the snowy plover still struggle to survive in Oregon along the shores of saline Lake Abert, and on open areas of coastal shoreline in which vegetation is absent or sparse, like the Oregon Dunes. Removing the "harm" definition from the ESA would drastically undermine the law's habitat conservation reach — and could lead to devastating effects for fish and wildlife. The League of Women Voters of the U.S. " 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". Members may wish to make Comments which are due May 19th . FORESTRY (ODF) By Josie Koehne The Board of Forestry will hold a special meeting May 12 to discuss State Forester recruitment and selection of a recruitment search firm. 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. The League provided testimony in support of HB 3489 , a timber severance tax bill that would help fund ODF, provide funding for wildfires and monies that would go to counties where timber is harvested. A public hearing was held on April 24 where the League provided testimony for the -1 amendment proposed by the sponsor. The Legislative Revenue Office provided explanations of a variety of taxes on timber harvest before the hearing on HB 3489. See also the Wildfire section of this report below and the separate Climate section. GOVERNANCE On May 5th, 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, had a Work Session. Although the bill passed the Committee, League partners are filing a floor letter to encourage a No vote on the House floor. The League may engage if the bill goes to the Senate. 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 or facilitate an agency’s mission. 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. 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 U. Bishop/Peggy Lynch Regional Solutions provided a webinar on April 30th around housing. RSAC Housing Production Webinar Recording: Virtual Link Password: 6YJ+W8T! A slide show is also available. The new Housing Affordability and Production Office (HAPO) has a website with 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. HB 2647 passed the House floor and was assigned to the Senate Housing and Development Committee where it had a public hearing on May 7 and is scheduled for a work session on May 14. 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 the House, passed the Senate Committee on Housing and Development and is set to move to the Senate floor. 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 is set for May 15. If passed, it has a subsequent referral to Ways and Means. See also the Agriculture section above and the Housing Report in the Social Policy section of this Legislative Report. TAXES House Revenue held a public hearing on May 8th on a number of bills related to the Transient Lodging Tax (TLT). Current data . The Oregon Dept. of Revenue did a 2025 comprehensive report for the legislators. Currently, at least 65% of the tax must be spent on tourism. HB 3962 with the -2 amendment would allow local governments to use more of the income for infrastructure and public safety. 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. TRANSPORTATION The Oregon Transportation Commission met May 8. Here is a PowerPoint of bills that ODOT is following. On April 30, Oregon House Republicans released their plan to provide funding for the Oregon Dept. of Transportation by reducing many programs. House Republicans note an error in their ODOT funding plan. Legislators are awaiting a review of ODOT assigned to Republican Senator Bruce Starr. Oregon Democratic Transportation Co-Chairs released their plan the first part of April, a plan that includes increased taxes and fees. The Legislature has until the end of session to agree on a final plan that addresses the many varied transportation needs of Oregonians statewide. The latest word is hearings on the transportation bills won’t start until the week of May 19th. WATER By Peggy Lynch Oregon's Integrated Water Resources Strategy (IWRS) provides a statewide inter-agency framework for better understanding and meeting Oregon's instream and out-of-stream water needs. Here is the IWRS website . Oregon's Water Resources Commission adopted the first IWRS in 2012 and the second in 2017. A League member served on the Policy Advisory Group for each. Oregon Revised Statute (536.220) was updated in 2023 to require that the IWRS is updated every 8 years.  Draft 2 is now available for Public Review and Comment. Please submit your written comments to WRD_DL_waterstrategy@water.oregon.gov on or before May 12, 2025 . More concerns around federal funding from bloomberglaw.com : Included in the budget request is a $2.46 billion cut for the EPA’s clean and drinking water state revolving loan funds. The program “has been heavily earmarked by the Congress for projects that are ultimately not repaid into the program and bypass states’ interest and planning,” according to the request. This could mean a 17 percent cut to the clean water programs and a 12 percent to the overall DEQ budget. The League has followed the issue in Morrow and Umatilla Counties related to contaminated drinking water wells. On May 13, the Senate Committee on Natural Resources and Wildfire will receive a presentation on this important public health and safety issue. Bills we are following: Water Right Process Improvements ( HB 3342 ) . A - 4 amendment was adopted and the bill passed the House. It has been assigned to the Senate Natural Resources and Wildfire, had a public hearing on April 29 and a work session on May 6 where the A 8 amendment was adopted and the bill was sent to 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. HB 3364 makes changes to the grants programs at the Water Resources Dept. The bill passed both chambers and will be sent to the Governor to consider signing. 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 was 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. 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. 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. NW Oregon and down the Willamette Valley have slipped into “abnormally dry” category of drought and the latest long-term forecast is for a hot (90 deg) May and a hot (100 deg) June which may move more of Oregon into some drought category. 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 were 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 Another very difficult wildfire season looks to be on tap for 2025. It is expected, currently, that conditions will deteriorate to the point that all of Oregon will be at high risk for large wildfires by August 1, with the Eastside reaching that state by July 1. Coupled with a slowdown in getting staffing in place due to the current federal funding landscape, the season is likely to be extremely challenging not only for Oregon but the entire Northwestern United States. This, of course, affects how much assistance the State will receive during large conflagrations if all of our neighbors are struggling with the same challenges. Also, northwest Oregon appears to be at higher risk than usual this season and is generally less prepared than other regions. All this in the face of many stalled wildfire funding bills. This OPB article lays out some of the difficulties the region will face. This Oregon Capital Chronicle article reports the latest concerns by the Governor and others. The House Committee on Emergency Management, General Government and Veterans held a Work Session on May 6 and voted to send SB 860A to the floor with a do-pass recommendation. This bill would allow the State Fire Marshal and an agency to take actions for fire protection and it makes changes related to the Governor's Fire Service Policy Council. The committee also held a Work Session on 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. 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. It was also sent to the floor with a do-pass recommendation. A Work Session has been scheduled for SB 85A in the House Committee on Climate, Energy and Environment on May 15. This bill directs the State Fire Marshal to establish a neighborhood protection cooperative grant program to help communities collectively reduce their wildfire risk. SB 75 A , as amended, simply removes the wildfire hazard map as a guide for allowing ADUs and requiring higher building codes in rural areas will also have a work session on May 15. Also, SB 83 , which would repeal the State Wildfire Hazard Map and accompanying statues related to it, is scheduled for a Work Session before the same Committee on May 20. This article from the Oregon Capital Chronicle describes a potentially game changing agreement which has been reached between the Oregon Department of the State Fire Marshal and a non-profit to try and address rising insurance costs in the face of increasing wildfire risk by offering a defensible space certification process called Wildfire Prepared. 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. All eyes were on this hearing as wildfire season approaches and funding is shrouded in uncertainty. Oregon Department of Forestry and Oregon State Fire Marshal’s Office has stated the minimum annual need for wildfire funding to address the growing wildfire crisis is around $280 million. It is quite unclear at present which of the several funding mechanisms in this bill, that were generated by the Wildfire Funding Workgroup, will move forward. Drawing the most attention in opposition was the provision to increase the bottle deposit. The other main issue was the need for rural fire district associations to find relief from the assessments they are expected to pay, especially for those in Eastern Oregon. Also in wildfire funding news, 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. 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. See Forestry, above. 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 is scheduled for a public hearing on May 12 with a possible work session also on May 12—or May 20 in the House Committee on Judiciary. 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 All Legislative Reports Natural Resources Legislative Report - Week of 5/26 Natural Resources Team Coordinator: Peggy Lynch Agriculture/Goal 3 Land Use: Sandra U. Bishop 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 All Legislative Reports Natural Resources Legislative Report - Week of 1/16 Natural Resources Team Coordinator: Peggy Lynch Agriculture/Goal 3 Land Use: Sandra U. Bishop 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 AGRICULTURE AIR QUALITY BUDGETS/REVENUE CLIMATE COASTAL ISSUES DEQ DSL FORESTRY GOVERNANCE HANFORD LAND USE/HOUSING NWEC OWEB RECYCLING TRANSPORTATION WATER WILDFIRE VOLUNTEERS NEEDED Overview Bills have been filed, “first read” and assigned to committees. But this does not guarantee they will receive public hearings. That decision first rests with the Committee Chairs in consultation with their Vice Chairs. Final determination is always with Legislative Leadership. Filing deadline is Feb. 21 for most bills. AGRICULTURE Bills being reviewed by the League: SB 47 : Directs Environmental Quality Commission and Department of Agriculture to enter into a memorandum of understanding to allow the department to exercise exclusive jurisdiction over air quality laws, water quality laws and land quality laws that apply to agricultural lands, operations and equipment. HB 2121 : House version of SB 47. SB 399 : Would limit water use for confined animal feeding operations, known as CAFOs. HB 2667 : Would put a pause on all new CAFOs for the next several years. AIR QUALITY Our friends from Neighbors for Clean Air have set their 2023 agenda : Particulate Air Pollution. BUDGETS/REVENUE We are all awaiting Governor Kotek’s Governor’s Recommended Budget (GRB)—due by Feb. 1. The next Revenue Forecast is Feb. 22. The House Revenue Committee provided an overview/audio of Revenue issues. The meeting is worth listening to. CLIMATE By Claudia Keith and Team See Climate Report in the Climate Emergency section of this Legislative Report. There are overlaps with this Natural Resources Report. We encourage you to read both sections. HB 2236 : P rohibits governor and specific agencies from taking measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions unless authorized by Legislature. COASTAL ISSUES By Christine Moffitt Bills being reviewed by the League: HB 2190 (Relating to offshore wind). DEPT. OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY (DEQ) On January 19, the Environmental Quality Commission announced two finalists for consideration to become the new Director of the Dept. of Environmental Quality: Current Interim Director Leah Feldon and Jamie McLeod-Skinner, regional emergency coordinator with the Oregon Department of Human Services and is also founding partner and attorney with MS Sage Consulting in Central Oregon. The Commission will hold a special meeting in February for the Commission, staff and the public to engage before the Commission makes its decision. Bills being reviewed by the League: SB 47 : Directs Environmental Quality Commission and Department of Agriculture to enter into a memorandum of understanding to allow the department to exercise exclusive jurisdiction over air quality laws, water quality laws and land quality laws that apply to agricultural lands, operations and equipment. HB 2121 : House version of SB 47. DEPT. OF STATE LANDS (DSL) By Peggy Lynch Bill possibly supported by the League: HB 2238 : Fees related to removal or fill permit applications, wetland delineation reports and general authorizations. FORESTRY On February 7 from 1 – 4 p.m. there will be a virtual meeting open to the public to learn more about the Oregon Department of Forestry’s Forest Management Plan (FMP) and Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP). This meeting will provide an update on the FMP, the HCP, and the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) process. A proposed agenda and additional details will be provided closer to the meeting date. RSVP is requested; you can do so by clicking here. More information is available online at the Western Oregon State Forest Management Plan Website and the Western Oregon State Forest Habitat Conservation Plan Website . See “Wildfire” below for a report on the Oregon Wildfire Council. GOVERNANCE By Peggy Lynch Bills being reviewed by League members: HB 2480 : new or increased fees adopted by state agency do not become effective unless approved by three-fifths of each chamber of the Legislative Assembly. LWVOR opposes. SB 660 : No new/increase in agency fees unless approved by legislative assembly. LWVOR opposes. SB 43 : Requires agencies to post certain information about rulemaking on agency websites and a long list of other requirements. LWVOR opposes. HANFORD By Marylou Schnoes) The Oregon Hanford Cleanup Board will hold a virtual meeting on January 18. A full meeting agenda, including how to participate, and other meeting materials is available on their website . LAND USE/HOUSING By Peggy Lynch Bills being reviewed by League members: HB 2203 : Allows RVs used to provide security of farm use to be sited on lands zoned for EFU. Public Hearing 1/19. LWVOR has concerns around waste disposal, drinking water availability and other services. HB 2889 : Establishes Oregon Housing Needs Analysis within the Housing and Community Services Department. LWVOR supports. You can watch a presentation of this concept in the House Housing Committee on Jan. 17. SB 70 : A “correction” to SB 16 (2021 ), a bill that would have allowed 100 homes on farmland and which we opposed , but passed yet never implemented. At first glance, we will oppose SB 70 as well. HB 2211 : Redefines "historic home" to include dwellings built before 1974 for the purpose of serving as accessory dwelling unit to home newly constructed on rural residential lands. LWVOR opposes as we have in past sessions. HB 2749 : C hange the RR lot size for ADUs from 2 acres to 1 acre or 1/2 acre. LWVOR has concerns. HB 2758 : Change the RR lot size for ADUs from 2 acres to 1 acre or 1/2 acre. LWVOR has concerns SB 534 : Requires Oregon Facilities Authority to provide financing for infrastructure and predevelopment costs for moderate income housing. LWVOR may support. HB 2258 : Extends sunset of Oregon Industrial Site Readiness Program. LWVOR has supported this data-driven program. HB 2027 : Requires Housing and Community Services Department to study housing —a potential “gut and stuff” bill. Expect major amendments. HB 2202 : Prohibits counties from allowing use of certain new dwellings on resource lands as vacation occupancies. SB 580 : Relating to climate rules for land use planning. HB 2207 : Limits standing in appeals of land use decisions. HB 2260 : Relating to system development charges impacting housing . HB 2210 : Relating to parcel sizes of resource lands. HB 2487 : Allows lands zoned for exclusive farm use to be used for weddings or events east of the summit of the Cascade Range. HB 2659 : Requires LCDC to update rules adopted in response to the Governor's executive order on climate to address specific issues. HB 2406 : Directs Energy Facility Siting Council to adopt standards for siting, construction, operation and retirement of energy facilities that generate electricity from renewable energy sources, addressing impacts of energy facility's equipment waste recycling and disposal needs over lifetime of energy facility. HB 2989 : Directs ODOE & DLCD to convene work groups to examine barriers, opportunities and other issues related to renewable energy and transmission project siting in Oregon. SB 673 : Requires Deschutes County to approve certain applications to develop manufactured dwelling or recreational vehicle parks outside the urban growth boundary. LC 3914 is a redraft of HB 2701 (2021). It creates a pilot program under the bill and allocates $1.5 million into an Systems Development Charge fund. Pertains only to cities under 15,000 and small population counties. Allows a developer to build multi-family housing with a waiver of SDC’s provided the City agrees and the developer and subsequent owner enters into a covenant with the State whereby the rent cannot be increased above a statutory threshold for at least 10 years. With the agreement, the State reimburses the City or County for the full cost SDC’s. A bill ( HB 2659 ) for the City of Springfield regarding “Climate Friendly & Equitable Community” rules (not yet first read). The Citizen Involvement Advisory Committee (CIAC) is meeting Jan. 27. The agenda and meeting materials for a CIAC joint meeting with the Land Conservation and Development Commission are now available online. This is a hybrid, virtual and in-person meeting. See also the Housing Report in the Social Policy section of this Legislative Report. NORTHWEST ENERGY COALITION (NWEC) By Robin Tokmakian 2023 Priorities for NWEC: RE-Building Task Force: The RE-Building Task Force was established during last year’s legislative session by SB 1518 . The task force has been hard at work to determine how to reduce emissions from new and existing buildings in the state. The task force released a draft report earlier in December. Bills will be developed from the concepts considered by the task force and will be introduced when the legislative session starts in January. Clean Lighting Bill: Appliance Standard Awareness Project (ASAP) has proposed a bill to phase out the use of linear fluorescent lamps due to their mercury content . The bill would also result in energy savings and emissions reductions, and follows similar legislation recently adopted in California . Other things to keep an eye on: Portland General Electric Securitization Bill : We expect Portland General Electric to propose a bill around securitization. A bill draft that was shared with NWEC seeks to allow a utility, with the approval of the Oregon Public Utility Commission (OPUC), to issue bonds and securitize debt for costs and expenses associated with events subject to federal or state declaration of emergency (think fires or ice storms). PGE has been discussing the issue with many stakeholders and we expect the bill to come up early in the session. Oregon Siting Bill: As in Washington, there are many discussions in Oregon about clean energy siting. NW Energy Coalition has been, and will continue to, engage and assess any proposals that may arise from discussions. Oregon Budget : Congress’s passage of the Inflation Reduction Act and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act will provide a massive amount of new funding to the state of Oregon. There will no doubt be many discussions about how to allocate those new federal funds. OREGON WATERSHED ENHANCEMENT BOARD (OWEB) OWEB will hold a virtual 2-day meeting, on January 24 and 25 from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. The agenda and staff reports for the meeting are now available. RECYCLING By Kathy Moyd New: Zero Waste Package aims to reduce Oregon’s waste and includes these five bills: Right to Repair ( SB 542 ): Will reduce electronic waste and save people hundreds of dollars a year by allowing them to repair their own electronics. Styrofoam Phase Out ( SB 543 ) : Phases out the use of styrofoam in food to-go containers, as well as bans the use of highly carcinogenic PFAS chemicals in food packaging. Reduction of Single-Use Packaging ( SB 544 ): A bill that will require a 25% Reduction of Single-Use Packaging in 10 Years. Reusable Containers ( SB 545 ) : Updating Oregon law to allow for reusable containers to be used in the bulk section of the supermarket and for eating out. No New Permits for Chemical Recycling Plants : While the name might sound nice, chemical recycling leads to localized air pollution and is not healthy for people or the environment. Bill not yet filed. TRANSPORTATION T here will soon be new sidewalks, pedestrian crossings, curb ramps and more to make walking and rolling to school safer, easier and more accessible for all. ODOT Commissioners 1/12 approved 26 Safe Routes to School projects totaling $32.4 million, with a focus on under-resourced neighborhoods: all awardees are Title 1 schools (schools where 40% or more of the student population is low-income). WATER By Peggy Lynch An update to the Morrow/Umatilla County nitrate contamination issue: Morrow and Umatilla counties have long faced nitrate pollution in some people’s drinking water. The federal funding aims to establish a long-term fix. A follow up article with resident frustrations. Bills being reviewed by League members: HB 2647 : Harmful Algal Blooms. SB 399 : Limiting water for livestock use. HB 2813 : Relating to sources of drinking water. SB 710 : Relating to groundwater use decisions affecting surface water sources SB 553 : Requires Department of Environmental Quality to study water reuse. HB 2023 : Salmon Credits . LWVOR had concerns with this bill in 2021. HB 2248 : Requires Water Resources Department and Department of Environmental Quality to study impacts of wildfire on water quality of streams and tributaries. HB 2929 : Authorizes WRD to seek injunctive relief if person has engaged, or is about to engage, in activity that is or will be in violation of certain water laws. HB 2590 : Requires DEQ to study both requirements related to subsurface and alternative sewage disposal systems that create barriers to siting and construction of accessory dwelling units in areas outside urban growth boundary and solutions to eliminate barriers. HB 2988 : Establishes Community Benefiting Water Infrastructure Investment Program. HB 3002 : Requires LPRO to study water service rates and rate schedules. LWVOR is interested in this bill. We all need to pay attention to the potential for harmful algal blooms. A news release explains the signs you should note. “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. We have an on-going drought throughout Oregon and League members may want to check the U.S. Drought Monitor , a map that is updated every Thursday. Oregonians need to celebrate the early snowfall and the rain these past weeks. But we must hope that the snow stays on until well into May or June. WILDFIRE The Wildfire Programs Advisory Council was scheduled to meet Jan. 20. VOLUNTEERS NEEDED Above you can see the names of League volunteers who covered one or more issues. Volunteers are needed. What is your passion related to Natural Resources? You can help. If not actually serving on a rules advisory committee (RAC), you could simply monitor and report back on their work. The 2023 legislative session is at hand with over 2,000 bills already filed. Help! Natural Resource Agency Boards and Commissions meet regularly 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 3/6 Natural Resources Team Coordinator: Peggy Lynch Agriculture/Goal 3 Land Use: Sandra U. Bishop 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 Budgets/Revenue Climate Coastal Issues Land Use/Housing Recycling Water Wildfire By Peggy Lynch, Natural Resources Coordinator, and Team Policy bills that are priorities for committees are seeing public hearings—even work sessions—and going to chambers for votes or to Ways and Means to be funded by end of session--maybe. For now, most bills are bipartisan. But the session is beginning to heat up. All this amidst the very real limited revenue for anything other than current programs and a few Leadership and Governor priorities such as housing. The next important session date is March 17 when policy bills will need to be scheduled for a Work Session or they are dead for the session unless they are in Revenue, Rules, or a Joint Committee. Budgets/Revenue We provided testimony on the Oregon Dept. of Forestry (ODF) budget ( HB 5020 ), expressing concern that staffing for climate change issues around forest management and urban forestry weren’t included in the Governor’s budget. We also provided testimony on the Oregon Dept. of Energy (ODOE) budget ( HB 5016 ), requesting additional agency programs that were not included in the Governor’s budget. The League provided support for the Land Use Board of Appeals budget ( HB 2028 ) that was heard March 6. The Dept. of State Lands budget ( HB 5037 ) was heard Mar. 7 with public testimony on the 9 th . The League provided testimony in support. The Columbia River Gorge Commission budget will be heard March 13—both agency presentation and public testimony. The Oregon Dept. of Agriculture (ODA) budget ( HB 5002 and HB 5003 ) is scheduled for March 14-16. Public testimony on the 16 th . Oregon Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) budget ( SB 5509 ) week of March 20. Dept. of Environmental Quality (ODEQ) ( HB 5018 and HB 5019 ) week of March 27. Here’s the DEQ one-pager . Tentative date for the Oregon Water Resources Dept. (OWRD) budget ( HB 5043 ) is early April. Here is their one-pager . The Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board (OWEB) budget ( SB 5539 & SB 5540 ) is tentatively scheduled the week of April 10. SB 5543-1 Bond Authorization, SB 5544-1 Capital Construction, SB 5545-1 2021-23 Allocations Bill and HB 5045-3 , Budget Rebalance were all heard in Joint Ways and Means Subcommittee on Capital Construction March 3. Funding for housing/homeless needs ( HB 2001 A ) with the A14 amendment and HB 5019 with the -3 amendment were heard in the JW&Ms Subcommittee on Transportation and Economic Development on March 7. SB 4 , semiconductor funding requests, has a -3 amendment posted and was heard on March 6 and 8. A -2 amendment by Sen. Knopp requests that the funding come from the General Fund while the -3 has money coming from the Rainy Day Fund. SB 4 is meant to help Oregon access federal CHIPS Act monies. The Full W&Ms met March 10 to address most of the bills above. SB 4 was not included in this meeting, but currently has a $210 million price tag. Lastly, the Office of Economic Forecast provided sobering data on Oregon’s population. Without an increase in young people—with in-migration--our need for a variety of long term care services will explode without the incoming revenue to pay for those services! 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 Last week we reported on HB 3382 , a bill to provide certain Ports with an exception from our land use planning system to allow dredging and other activities around these Ports without the current public process and federal consistency requirements. The bill has been assigned to the Joint Committee on Transportation . We understand that the reason the bill has been filed by the Ports Association is in response to a Land Use Board of Appeals decision around the Jordan Cove project. Here is an article about that case. Currently the Coos Bay/North Bend area is in the process of updating their management plans for the Bay. (See past Legislative Reports on this issue.) State agencies that administer permits that could be affected by the legislation are discussing the implications of the proposed legislation. HB 2903-1 , a bill that directs certain state agencies to implement the recommendations of the Ocean Policy Advisory Council (OPAC) around marine reserves, protected areas and other management areas and provides $800,000 for that work. The League also supported this bill as a continuation of previous testimony on OPAC’s recommendations. Land Use/Housing By Peggy Lynch Last week we expressed concern around provisions in SB 4 that includes “supersiting” authority by the Governor for many acres of farmland “just in case” the semiconductor industry might want to build a new facility in Oregon. We provided testimony in opposition only to Section 10 of the bill. Since our testimony, a number of amendments have been proposed and two public hearings have taken place. At this time no amendments have been adopted. See above in the Budget/Revenue section of this Report for the status of last week’s housing bills and also the Housing Report in the Social Policy section of this Legislative Report for details. Reduce/Recycle By Kathy Moyd A Work Session was conducted on March 7 in Senate Energy and Environment for SB 545 , one of our priority Zero Waste bills. A -1 Amendment had been posted. The original bill directed the State Department of Agriculture and Oregon Health Authority to adopt rules allowing consumers to use their own containers for refilling with food at a food establishment. Because the amendment had been posted just before the start of the Public Hearing, the League’s written testimony dealt only with the original bill. The -1 Amendment is a complete replacement of the original bill. It removes the State Department of Agriculture and limits the bill to restaurants, not all food establishments. It removes the administrative details, leaving them up to the Oregon Health Authority, although the following statement may leave too much ambiguity: “The Oregon Health Authority shall adopt rules allowing for a restaurant to allow a consumer to fill a consumer-owned container with food.” The amendment was adopted on a unanimous vote; the amended bill, SB 545-1, was passed by a vote of 4 - 1. No referral was made to Ways and Means. HB 2531 prohibits the sale or distribution in this state of new screw- or bayonet-base type compact fluorescent lamps on or after January 1, 2024. It prohibits the sale or distribution in this state of new pin-base type compact fluorescent lamps and linear fluorescent lamps on or after January 1, 2025. Repeals statutes related to mercury in lighting products. It was passed on March 6 with no amendment and goes to the chamber floor. Water By Peggy Lynch It’s been a busy week for water bills for which the League provided testimony or followed with others. HB 3163 would create a special Fund for place-based planning efforts. The League testified in support of the Fund. We are working with others on the specific criteria listed for qualifying for access to the Fund. The League has strong positions on water quality and the importance of wetlands so it was easy for us to support HB 2238 , allowing for rulemaking to increase removal/fill fees. The bill was pulled from the March 7 committee agenda and no new hearing date has been set. HB 3207 was scheduled for a public hearing on March 7 related to domestic water well testing but was pulled from the agenda. We understand it may not get a public hearing this session. HB 3208 that would expand the Environmental Quality Commission’s authority to annually adjust additional water quality fees up to 3% per year was heard and a work session on this bill is scheduled for March 9. HB 2813 A , a bill that directs OWEB to provide grants to protect drinking water sources and for which the League provided testimony in support was sent to W&Ms. The fiscal impact statement has a $5 million price tag. This money might also be able to be used as a match for federal grant opportunities. The Integrated Water Resources Strategy (IWRS) is being updated . Go to the website for opportunities to participate. The League is engaged in discussions on HB 3100 related to the IWRS. A public hearing was set for March 9 . The League supports the IWRS but has concerns about the current bill . Lastly, we are aware of a newly filed bill, HB 3368 , that would stop all future water permitting applications until Oregon determines the amount of surface and groundwater water available for use that has not already been appropriated. We have no idea where this bill might go this session, but here’s a helpful Oregon Capitol Chronicle article that explains the reasoning behind Reps. Helm and Owens’ filing this bill. 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. We have an on-going drought throughout Oregon and League members may want to check the U.S. Drought Monitor , a map that is updated every Thursday. Wildfire By Carolyn Mayers The League monitored the March 3 meeting of the Wildfire Programs Advisory Council. The meeting purpose was to review a letter to the Legislature, the composition of which was assigned to a task force of the Council at their January 2023 meeting. The purpose of the letter is to advise the Legislature on a number of recommended adjustments to the Wildfire Risk Map to help ensure a successful next roll-out. Recall the original Map associated with SB 762, the 2021 wildfire bill, was withdrawn after widespread opposition to a number of its components, and work is underway to determine the best path forward. This is part of that effort. Among the recommendations made were to change the name to Wildfire HAZARD Map, which it was noted is the language California uses. Also, while emphasizing the importance of the integrity of the eventual final product, the group decided to eliminate hard deadline dates for completion of the new map that were in the original letter. It was determined there were too many variables beyond their control to set firm dates, including a number of wildfire related bills that could influence the final version of the Map. It was speculated that Community Wildfire Protection Plans (CWPPs) could be used as a platform to keep work moving forward in the interim. In addition, the Council felt it was important to allow sufficient time for the community engagement process which was not successful the first time around. The final letter can be found here . On March 8, Senate Natural Resources amended SB 509 on defensible space and the CWPPS mentioned above and the Oregon State Fire Marshall’s responsibilities and sent it to W&Ms. They also amended SB 82 related to fire insurance and sent it to the chamber floor. More on these bills next week. VOLUNTEERS NEEDED: What is your passion related to Natural Resources? You can help. Volunteers are needed. The 2023 legislative session is almost halfway over. 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 - November Interim Natural Resources Team Coordinator: Peggy Lynch Agriculture/Goal 3 Land Use: Sandra U. Bishop 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: Agriculture Air Quality Budgets/Revenue Climate Coastal Issues Dept. of Geology and Mineral Industries (DOGAMI) Dept. of State Lands (DSL) Drinking Water Advisory Board Elliott State Research Forest Forestry Land Use Radioactive Waste Reduce/Recycle Regional Solutions Water Wildfire Volunteers Needed By Peggy Lynch, Natural Resources Coordinator, and Team Volunteers are still needed to cover important issues like Air Quality, Recycling and Toxics. The League needs your voices! Training provided. The Ford Family Foundation’s 2023 "Oregon by the Numbers" provides data that may be helpful for all areas of state and local policy work. HCR 38 (2023) sets the process for the February 2024 short session that runs Feb. 5 through March 10th. The legislative calendar is posted on the Oregon Legislature website . There were three days of legislative meetings Nov. 6-8 and one more set of interim days January 10-12. Agriculture On Oct. 11 th , Governor Tina Kotek appointed Lisa Charpilloz Hanson, current Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board (OWEB) Executive Director, to lead the Oregon Department of Agriculture (ODA). The Oregon Senate will take up her confirmation as permanent director in January. “Oregon faces complex natural resources challenges across our state that require data-driven, resilient solutions,” Governor Kotek said. “Lisa Charpilloz Hanson brings decades of experience working with natural resource communities to meet the needs of Oregonians across the state. I look forward to seeing her great work and leadership at the agency.” The League looks forward to working with Lisa in her new role while we will miss her excellent leadership at OWEB. Having been Deputy Director at ODA, we are confident she knows the many responsibilities of ODA. Air Quality DEQ invites public input on proposed permanent rule amendments to chapter 340 of the Oregon Administrative Rules to increase Title V operating permit fees as authorized by HB 3229 which the League supported . The proposed fee increases are necessary for DEQ to provide essential services associated with Oregon’s Title V permitting program. DEQ will propose the rules to the EQC in January 2024. DEQ is seeking public comment on the proposed rule amendments. More information, including the draft rules, can be found on the Title V Fee Increase 2023 Rulemaking web page . DEQ will only consider comments on the proposed rule amendments that DEQ receives by 4 p.m., on Dec. 1, 2023. Budgets/Revenue By Peggy Lynch 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%. On Nov. 15, the House and Senate Revenue Committees heard the latest Revenue Forecast. The net General Fund and Lottery resources are up $790.3 million (2.3%) from the 2023 Close of Session estimate. A new bonding capacity report is due mid-January. The next revenue forecast is Feb. 7th and that will be the number used for 2024 budgeting. Here is the Legislative Revenue Office report and here are the Office of Economic Analysis slides. Those slides included information about Oregon’s population, employment and housing. One piece of good news was that the poverty rate for all Oregonians has decreased. In Nov. 2023, only half of the school bond or levy measures passed. We still don’t have the statistics of other money measures since final results won’t be available until the end of November. Here is a good video on property taxes in Oregon. Oregonlive provided an article on the status of PERS for 2025: “The Oregon Public Employees Retirement System ended last year with a $28 billion unfunded liability to meet its projected pension obligations. Cutting the deficit would require some combination of higher investment returns or raising the amount of money contributed by employers like schools, libraries and local governments. Based on the financial picture at the end of 2022, Milliman told the board that it could expect average contribution rates for the system’s 900-plus employers to rise by 1.7% of payroll, pushing the average rate above 27 cents in every payroll dollar. That would be their highest levels ever and require an extra $1.3 billion in contributions from employers in the next two-year budget cycle – money that would otherwise be available to spend on public services.” This information is important as state agencies and others calculate their 2025 budget needs. 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 The Coos County LWV sponsored an informational program at the Egyptian Theatre on estuaries as part of their educational programs as they approach opportunities to update the Estuary Management Plan ( AM-22-005 ) for the Coos Bay Estuary. The program is available on their YouTube channel. There have been many meetings with regional DLCD staff, county and city planners regarding the estuary management plan. LWV Coos members provided information to planners and they plan to provide testimony for the final hearings. Oregon State University received a grant to study attitudes on offshore wind. The federal Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) received comments related to proposed ocean energy sites offshore from Brookings and Coos Bay, even extending the public comment period as requested by the tribes. Information is available on the BOEM Oregon state activities page . Rep. David Gomberg attended the State of the Coast event held Nov. 4 in Newport that provided an educational opportunity on several research updates: Oregon State University - State of the Coast 2023 - YouTube . The morning session recording has an update by Karina Nelson at 1:14 in the video on offshore wind. Dept. of Geology and Mineral Industries (DOGAMI) By Peggy Lynch The League continues to follow the Grassy Mountain Gold Project in Malheur County, using a streamlined permitting process. On Oct. 4, the multi-agency Technical Review Team approved the Grassy Mountain Consolidated Permit Application as complete! There is still at least another year of process before the project begins—a long time since the first application back in 2012. There have been ownership changes and a number of incomplete applications, making this process longer than it might otherwise have been. Here is the latest on this project. See page 2 of this DOGAMI newsletter for a report on the Grassy Mountain Gold Mine application. “This is the first consolidated mining permit application in Oregon.” The League will be seeking feedback from the state agencies and the applicant regarding how this process worked for each of them and for Oregon. We hope to hear from the general public as well related to their view of the process because, if perceived as successful, this consolidated permitting process may be used in the future for complicated projects that need multiple permits. Dept. of State Lands (DSL) By Peggy Lynch Oregon’s Abandoned and Derelict Vessel Workgroup will meet Nov. 21 st and Dec. 5 th . An Oregon Capital Chronicle article explains the potential environmental damage and the need to create a long term plan with on-going financing. See DSL’s website for more information, including public engagement opportunities. The League has been engaged in funding for this project for many years. Drinking Water Advisory Committee By Sandra Bishop The Drinking Water Advisory Committee (DWAC) met Oct 18 with approximately 25 people attending to discuss the process and expected procedures for public water systems to complete the federally required Lead Service Line Inventory. The object is for public water systems to identify and remove lead and downstream galvanized pipe. Training will be offered specific to what and how to report. How to prioritize disadvantaged districts was part of the discussion. EPA’s main objective is removal of lead service lines. In Oregon, most water systems do not currently have lead lines and many have never had lead service lines. (However, pipes in older houses may have lead—a personal expense to address.) It was pointed out that even for the larger systems, if there are no records, it is very difficult to show there was no lead. How do you provide documentation of something that doesn’t exist? The American Water Works Association (AWWA) Water Utility Council is meeting to discuss this. Recruitment is underway for seven staff positions. Five new Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) positions were approved by the 2023 Oregon Legislature. Four of them are waiting for Dept. of Administrative Services (DAS) to approve job descriptions and salary ranges. Positions to be filled include program, fiscal, and research analyst positions; a Natural Resource Specialist and a Regulatory Manager. This is partially driven by the need to track and account for federal funds. The final PFAS (Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) regulations will come out at the end of the year. The state will have up to two years to develop regulations after the rule is final. Implications of this rule include possibly requiring treatment costing approximately $50 billion. At last determination there were 25 public water systems with measurable PFAS detected in Oregon; 20 exceed EPA proposed MCLs (maximum contaminant levels), and two exceed Oregon HALs (Health Advisory Levels of 30 ppt). One well continues to be used under public advisory notice. It was noted that two years is likely not enough time for the Oregon rulemaking process, after development of federal rules. It is expected to be the same for all states. Cybersecurity was discussed. Following a lawsuit filed in several states, EPA withdrew a memo containing an interpretation of cybersecurity in sanitary surveys. Another concern raised was about OHA collecting data without a clear indication of what will be done with the data, as in the case of capacity assessments. First year funding for Lead Service Line Replacement has declined because there were no projects. Second year funding is available. Water systems can ask for partial funding. Outreach is ongoing for this. Funding will not be received before inventories are completed. There are small, disadvantaged under-served systems with compliance problems; many are priority non-compliers (PNCs). These are systems out of compliance for longer than six months. A total of 800 very small systems often lack financial and technical assistance. There is some good news. The Warm Springs Tribe has been awarded a small grant and EPA has approved larger funding for work on their water system. The Annual Drinking Water Protection Report is on DEQ’s webpage. Oregon Water Enhancement Board (OWEB) is gearing up for grants for land purchase to protect land permanently to enhance drinking water protection. Public water systems over 3,300 must address potential contamination sources in Emergency Response Plans. It was pointed out that drinking water protection areas often have mental and physical co-benefits such as walking trails, wetlands, and other beneficial uses. The next DWAC meeting is January 17th. Elliott State Research Forest (ESRF) By Peggy Lynch A Nov 14 bombshell announcement from DSL Director Vicki Walker! “Yesterday, Oregon State University President Jayathi Y. Murthy informed the State Land Board and the Department of State Lands that OSU is no longer in a position to participate in management of the Elliott State Research Forest. The Elliott remains a public forest under DSL’s oversight, and the State Land Board has provided clear desire and direction for the creation of the Elliott State Research Forest.” The League has been engaged in the Elliott since well before 2016 when we provided this Op Ed to Oregon newspapers. In 2020, we supported the OSU proposal with concerns around governance and finance. In Feb of 2022, we supported SB 1546 that created the new Elliott State Research Forest Authority—a new state agency to begin January 1, 2024, that established a mission, governance and management policies for the agency with deadlines for accomplishing the various tasks in the bill. This bill addressed our concerns around governance, but the fiscal issues have not been addressed, the issue that has caused OSU to back away: their research proposal required an increase in harvest beyond what the public had assumed. Until the issue around finance is addressed, the forest continues to be in jeopardy. The legislature gave the "new" agency $4.1 million as a budget for the next 18 months and will need to go through the budget process for the 2025-27 session. A prospective Board was appointed, many of whom had been part of an advisory committee for years prior, and will meet again on Dec. 4 th to discuss these new developments. (Paul Beck and Dr. Jennifer Allen resigned in October.) Oregonians need to thank this dedicated group as they work to make the Elliott a great place where it will “continue to contribute to conservation, recreation, education, indigenous culture, and local economies as a research forest.” Visit DSL's Elliott webpage to learn more . Meeting videos are posted to the DSL YouTube channel and meeting notes are posted to DSL's Elliott website . Work is continuing on eventual adoption of a Habitat Conservation Plan and a Forest Management Plan for the forest. Forestry We hope Oregonians helped shape the future of Oregon’s forests by participating in an Oregon’s Kitchen Table survey. Look for a story with results of the survey in an upcoming report. Per Oregon Capital Chronicle : “The federal researchers found “unequivocally” that forested land provides the cleanest, most stable water supply of any land type.” The League was pleased to see this quote resembling one in our 2009 Water in Oregon- Not a Drop to Waste Study. Fire Season has come to an end: Year to date, there have been 975 fires on ODF-protected lands resulting in 17,968 acres burned. Three ODF Type 1 Incident Management Teams (IMT) were deployed this season: one to the Golden Fire in the Klamath-Lake District, and two to the Tyee Ridge Complex in the Douglas Forest Protective Association district. Statewide to date, regardless of jurisdiction, there have been 1,909 fires that have burned 190,507 acres. ODF protects about 16 million acres of private, county, state and federal forest and grazing lands in Oregon. Forty-nine homes and 78 structures burned around the state. It was the third-highest number since 2015. So far, state and federal agencies have spent $484 million on the 2023 wildfires, and that number is likely to increase as fire teams submit their final bills. It's the third-most expensive season since 2015 and by far the most expensive per acre season in the same period. For more information, see the Wildfire section of this report below. Land Use & Housing By Peggy Lynch The League continues to engage with the Governor’s Office and legislators as we work to address needed housing for all Oregonians. We first need to address the underproduction of housing from past years—with a majority of housing unit needs for Oregonians whose income is 80% or lower AMI (average median income). The League will continue to focus on policies that address this need. While Natural Resources works on the land use side where infrastructure is needed to provide buildable lots, our Housing Team will be working on funding and housing policies for those Oregonians. DLCD provided information on Goal 10 and the UGB process to Senate Housing on Nov. 6 th . The Governor’s Housing Production Advisory Council continues to meet and will deliver a final report to the Governor in December (or January!). The League has always supported our statewide land use planning program with local implementation. We are seeing that local element eroded by some of the recommendations. See the LWVOR testimony website where the plethora of our testimony is posted. Subscribe for notices of HPAC meetings. We continue to work with partners, with the Governor’s Office and legislators, as we expect bills in the 2024 session that we may want to support or oppose. The Land Conservation and Development Commission (LCDC) is seeking volunteers to serve as a member of the state’s Citizen Involvement Advisory Committee (CIAC). CIAC members are appointed by LCDC to provide advice on community engagement in land use planning. The current CIAC recruitment is for one member representing Oregon's first Congressional District, which covers Clatsop, Columbia, Washington, and Yamhill Counties and portions of SW Portland in Multnomah County. Applications are due by 9am November 22, 2023. They are also providing an information session on the CIAC on Dec. 8 th via zoom. See also the Housing Report in the Social Policy section of this Legislative Report. Radioactive Waste By Shirley Weathers The Energy Facilities Siting Commission (EFSC) held the required public hearing on proposed rules revisions for OAR 345-050 relating to radioactive waste on October 19, 2023. LWVOR submitted comments dated October 23, 2023. EFSC will consider the rules and public comment at its November 17, 2023 meeting . Of interest is that ODOE staff noted in their Background and Summary Statement to the Commission that LWVOR submitted the only written comment on the proposed rules. They outlined a central concern and recommendation to the Commission as it takes action. Additional materials can be found on the ODOE website (scroll down to Radioactive Waste Materials). The LWVOR Advocacy Committee and Board of Directors thank Shirley Weathers for her many hours of work on this and other important issues. We will miss her and wish her all the best as she leaves Oregon and will, we are sure, engage in League at her new home. Reduce/Recycle The White House held a comprehensive highly informative webinar to talk about the national landscape for repair legislation in late October. Watch here . In Oregon, in the 2024 short session, Sen. Sollman is bringing back the Right to Repair concept, focusing on consumer electronic equipment like cell phones and laptops, and household appliances. The League supported the 2023 Right to Repair bill, SB 542 , which did not pass. The fourth Recycling Modernization Act Rulemaking Advisory Committee meeting has been scheduled for Jan. 31 st , 2024. The Zoom meeting registration link has now been posted to the Recycling 2024 webpage: Register via Zoom . To learn more about this rulemaking and the advisory committee, view the rulemaking web page: Recycling Updates 2024 . Regional Solutions The Regional Solutions Team ( November 14 th report ) is working hard across the state. Great news is the infrastructure work both listed and being worked on across the state. With increased infrastructure, we may see more housing. Water By Peggy Lynch The League continues to be concerned about our fellow Oregonians in Morrow and Umatilla counties where well water may be unsafe for drinking. Because many homes are for agriculture workers who speak other than English and whose culture causes wariness of government, Oregon’s Oregon Health Authority needs to find better ways to reach out according to the Oregon Capital Chronicle : The nitrate pollution stems in part from agricultural fertilizers and animal manure used on nearby farms. Nitrate-laced water is unsafe to drink above 10 milligrams per liter, according to the federal Environmental Protection Agency and can cause serious health effects if consumed over long periods. Update Oct. 31 st : DEQ and Port of Morrow settle permit violations”… $1,933,721 to support safe drinking water efforts in the area, including water testing, treatment, and delivery, and pay a $483,430 civil penalty to the state treasury.” KGW’s "The Story" did a series on this important public health issue the week of Nov. 13. OWRD anticipates releasing a draft of the updated Integrated Water Resources Strategy for public review and comment in early January. For more information about this process, please visit the IWRS page . OWRD is considering new Groundwater Rules because “many of Oregon’s 20 groundwater basins are being sucked dry faster than water can naturally be replaced, according to the agency,” per a November Oregon Capital Chronicle (OCC) article . The League is watching this work closely and looks forward to the Water Resources Commission adoption of this first set of updated rules which can then lead to updated Critical Groundwater designations as the data determines it necessary. Meanwhile, many Oregonians are experiencing dry household wells. In another OCC article , the League was pleased to see a quote similar to one in our 2009 Water Study : “The federal researchers found “unequivocally” that forested land provides the cleanest, most stable water supply of any land type.” The League again asked Congress to expand the Smith River National Recreation Area. 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 advisories have been issued or lifted for specific water bodies. League members may want to check the U. S. Drought Monitor Map , 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 and Lincoln counties. On Nov. 7 th , the Governor declared a drought in Morrow County through Executive Order 23-25 and directed state agencies to coordinate and prioritize assistance to the region. The forecasted El Nino weather pattern may mean a reduced snowpack this winter in the north while we may see a greater snowpack in southern Oregon. Wildfire By Carolyn Mayers The League observed a number of informational meetings and updates relating to wildfire, on November 6 and 7, covering a variety of topics. The common thread through all the meetings was funding, or lack thereof, and the potential consequences of that reality. Investments in wildfire suppression resulting from SB 762 - the sweeping 2021 wildfire legislation, had a significant impact on the effectiveness of response during the 2023 wildfire season. The recent sizable funding reductions threaten to reverse much of the progress made. “Landscape Resiliency” was also a major theme, with a repeated message that suppression is becoming increasingly difficult with increases in fire behavior unpredictability and the buildup of fuels. Western Oregon was a new focus since there were a number of what would be considered “unusual” numbers of wildfires there due to a dry lightning event and other factors. Details and links to additional information may be found below. The Senate Natural Resources and Wildfire met first on November 6. Mike Shaw, Chief of Fire Protection for Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF), provided a 2023 wildfire season review : Lauded the ODF wildfire personnel fire suppression efforts. Highlighted the role the Oregon State Fire Marshal’s (OFSM) department played, especially in early response and limiting structure losses. Pointed out “suppression isn’t going to be the answer,” stressing the need to manage the heavy load of fire fuels in forests as a critical part of long-term wildfire mitigation strategy. Expressed the “efficient” (not in a good way) nature of dry lightning storms in northwestern Oregon as a unique feature of this fire season, with the reasonable expectation of it repeating in the future. Yet, in spite of nearly 500 fires started by the lightning event, total acreage burned across Oregon was held to 15% of the 10-year average in spite of a near-average number of fires, with significantly higher cost per acre. Most wildfires this season were human-caused. Next up were Derrick Wheeler, ODF Legislative Coordinator, and Brandon Pursinger, Legislative Affairs Manager for Natural Resources Policy for the Association of Oregon Counties, who gave a detailed update on the Wildfire Hazard Map and the process undertaken to ensure that public input is appropriately considered as required by SB 80 , the 2023 wildfire legislation. Meetings were held with County officials throughout the State, and the process continues until the ultimate release of the new map sometime in 2024. OSFM Chief Mariana Ruiz-Temple spoke briefly about how it is important to continue to build on the “framework” that SB 762 laid out for Community Risk Reduction. She described how her department has rolled out an educational campaign and is conducting Defensible Space assessments around Oregone. OFSM has launched a Defensible Space website . Enter your home address for a multitude of resources to help make your home more resilient in the face of increasing wildfire risk, including the ability to schedule a home assessment. She closed by saying it will take decades of public education work to make a dent in overall risk reduction. Doug Grafe, the Governor’s Wildfire and Military Advisor, followed with a bleak overview of the state of wildfire programs’ funding, current vs. previous. He also emphasized, “We cannot suppress our way out of this.”, while stressing the importance of community preparedness (which lost 90% of its funding), landscape resiliency and fuels reduction. Dylan Kruse, Vice President of Sustainable Northwest, also covered funding and long-term strategy in his presentation , pointing out that while California provides $1.3 billion in wildfire programs funding, and Washington, $118 million, Oregon only spends $42 million, which is not nearly enough to sustain any progress made, let alone make further progress. He emphasized the need for “sufficient, consistent funding”. Members of the Governor’s Wildfire Programs Advisory Council (WPAC) were next with outgoing Chair Mark Bennettlisting what he saw as priorities, among them public health-related investment to help deal with smoke events: Fire Adapted Communities/Firewise programs to enhance community preparedness, wildfire recovery and several other items. He was followed by Dave Hunnicutt, incoming WPAC Chair, who expressed extreme disappointment in the funding situation, and how reducing funding for defensible space/community preparedness is the opposite of what needs to be done, since defensible space can reduce risk to a home by as much as 80%. Mary Kyle McCurdy, incoming Vice-Chair, closed by pointing out that much of SB 762 funding was one-time funding. She also revealed that a new WPAC focus will be on much-needed and previously largely overlooked evacuation and emergency response planning as part of regional transportation planning. See the Council’s Annual Report . Later on November 6, the House Climate and Energy heard a presentation by Doug Grafe and Senator Elizabeth Steiner that outlined the Wildfire Funding Workgroup work. This group was formed to look for solutions to the overly complex current funding structure for landowner fire protection assessment rates, and the offsets to them that lost $15 million in funding in the last session. Sen. Steiner said these partnerships are a cornerstone of “our highly functioning response”, and not funding the offsets risks “dismantling the system if the protection district charges don’t get funding.” She relayed they were making excellent progress in spite of widely differing views among participants because they share the common goal of fixing the system and getting it funded. November 7, OSFM Chief Ruiz-Temple presented a 2023 Wildfire & Conflagration update to the Senate Veterans, Emergency Management, Federal and World Affairs, pointing to the OSFM Biennial Wildfire Report for additional information. Regarding the dry lightning storms, she stated, “…one of the most alarming indicators is more fires on the west side”, and that “these communities are not prepared.” She repeated her concern from October informational meetings, for the decrease in volunteerism among firefighters and that there was a need to assist local fire departments with capacity. She also repeated the sentiments of Mike Shaw, ODF, saying, “Wildfires are outpacing our capacity to suppress.”, and we need to focus on prevention. She closed by urging the Committee to provide funding for investment in communities and resilient landscapes, and that those investments would save billions of dollars over the long run. Finally, Chief Ruiz-Temple presented another wildfire update to House Emergency Management, General Government and Veterans. Much of the content was largely a repeat of the previous presentation, including another commentary on the dangers of the new reality of fires in western Oregon. She emphasized “These communities don’t have the tools that other communities have.”, and they are “…not used to living with wildfire. See her presentation . California has passed a law requiring a 5-foot defensive space around homes in the wildland-urban interface (WUI), effective 2025. There are currently potentially fewer than 100,000 tax lots that may be considered in Oregon’s WUI. Oregon is focusing on helping Oregonians address defensible space on their properties with no current requirements. Volunteers Needed What is your passion related to Natural Resources? You can help. Volunteers are needed. The short 2024 legislative session is Feb. 5-March 10. Natural Resource Agency Boards and Commissions meet regularly year-round and need monitoring. If any area of natural resources interests 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 5/1 Natural Resources Team Coordinator: Peggy Lynch Agriculture/Goal 3 Land Use: Sandra U. Bishop 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 Budget/Revenue Climate Coastal Issues Elliott State Research Forest Hanford Cleanup Land Use/Housing Recycling Toxics Water Wildfire By Peggy Lynch, Natural Resources Coordinator, and Team The House voted out two of the session’s contentious bills: HB 2002 related to health care and HB 2005 related to gun safety. They now head to the Senate where a walkout on May 3 has delayed voting on these bills. Agency budgets are moving to chambers for a vote. Policy bills had a May 5 Work Session scheduling deadline (but the bills have until May 19 to be “worked”). Now we wait for the May 17 Revenue Forecast. There are, of course, a slew of bills awaiting funding decisions in Ways and Means. Air Quality LWVOR joined with others in support of HB 3229 . The bill would modify federal air quality (Title V) operating permit program fees. The bill sits in Ways and Means without recommendation. SB 488 A , relating to the Covanta medical waste incinerator, sits in Ways and Means. Budgets/Revenue HB 5008 , the budget bill for the Columbia River Gorge Commission, was worked on May 3. Here is the LFO recommendation. A climate change position that would help implement the Climate Plan adopted by the Commission has been funded by the State of Washington but not Oregon—yet. Another reason to hope for a good Revenue Forecast! The Oregon Dept. of Energy budget, HB 5016 , with its LFO recommendation, was also worked. Then on May 4, the Dept. of State Lands budget, HB 5037 , provided one of the better natural resource agency recommendation s . All three budgets should be seen in Full W&Ms next week. Last week’s budgets were considered in Full Ways and Means on May 5. Later that day, HB 5030 , the Lottery Bonds projects budget bill had a public hearing in the Capital Construction Subcommittee. Like the General Obligation Bond bill, expect additions to the current list in this bill. A reminder: in March we learned of the state’s bonding capacity : General Fund debt capacity results in $1.94 billion issuance for each biennium, or $969 million annually ($320 million greater than 2021-23). Lottery bonds: The State’s Lottery Revenue debt issuance capacity is $506.4 million in each biennium or $253.2 million annually over the forecast period ($9 million decline from 2021-23). We await the May 17 Revenue Forecast that will be the guide for the final 2023-25 balanced budgets. From former State Senator Rick Metzger on the upcoming Revenue Forecast: “The decision is critical. It can lead to important programs unnecessarily being placed on the chopping block, or funding new initiatives that will not prove sustainable. The figure has significant consequences.” Climate By Claudia Keith and Team See the Climate Emergency Report for overlaps. We encourage you to read both. Coastal Issues By Christine Moffitt/Peggy Lynch We continue to await a new proposed amendment for HB 3382 . We truly believe this bill is a serious threat to our coastal planning and could reduce or remove the opportunity for future coastal NOAA grants. If an amendment is provided, we expect that it will not “blow up” the Coastal Zone Management Act (CZMA), is within the land use program--just a minor new change related to Goal 16, that NOAA must unofficially sign off on the idea and the other state agencies (DLCD, DSL & ODFW--and maybe DEQ) are accepting of the concept. We understand that the local tribe wants "no net loss of eel grass". We need your voices to tell your legislators to Just Say NO if these factors are not part of any amendment. The local LWV Coos County has been doing an update and study of their local Port: The International Port of Coos Bay. You might want to watch a 44-minute video of a recent history of activities around the Port: Study of International Port of Coos Bay | MyLO (lwv.org) . On April 20, the Land Conservation and Development Commission unanimously adopted an amendment to the Rocky Habitat Management Strategy , Part Three of the Oregon Territorial Sea Plan (TSP). The decision added six new management areas that reflect needs of the communities that proposed them. Rocky Habitat Management Areas focus on balancing use and conservation through the enhancement of visitor experiences with education and interpretation to limit wildlife disturbance and habitat degradation. HB 2903 A , funding continuing work on marine reserves, is in W&Ms. LWVOR supports . Columbia River Treaty Here is an update on the April 19 Listening Session about the Columbia River Treaty, including a recording . U.S. Government representatives' written remarks are at the top of the meeting: https://www.state.gov/columbia-river-treaty/ . Send comments or questions: ColumbiaRiverTreaty@state.gov . Dept. of Environmental Quality (DEQ) SB 835 A , as amended, would require DEQ to adopt rules to clarify when a single septic system can be used for both a primary residence and an ADU. It sits in Ways and Means. LWVOR provided testimony with concerns addressed by the amendment. Dept. of Geology and Mineral Industries The League provided testimony on HB 220 and testimony on SB 221 , two bills addressing a new e-permitting system and how the new system should be funded. Both are in W&Ms. Dept. of State Lands HB 2238 , originally filed to provide permission for robust rulemaking to increase fees for the removal/fill program is back! The bill was amended in the House to remove the fee increase and instead allows the Dept. of State Lands to get rid of personal property collected during clean up of DSL-owned property after 30 days. A new amendment was filed to bring back the original purpose of the bill. The League continues to support . Elliott State Research Forest (ESRF) By Peggy Lynch Another Prospective Board meeting was held May 2 (the agenda ). Members struggled with how to respond to feedback from federal agencies that more protection is needed for the marbled murrelet in the proposed Habitat Conservation Plan, which would reduce the areas where logging was going to be allowed. That reduction causes an increasing gap between projected revenue and expenses as projected by OSU. The League has consistently raised this budget imbalance issue, since the OSU proposal was considered. Oregonians don’t expect the Elliott to be over logged since they helped create this new ESRF. In another wrinkle, a local tribe has suggested that the entire mapping of the forest be scrapped and instead manage the entire forest in a manner once done by the tribes. Environmental groups would find this approach disconcerting since they have worked hard with all parties to balance the uses of the forest for competing interests and felt an agreement had been reached. The Board will meet again in June. Their website provides information. The League continues to remind the Board of our continuing concern related to financial viability and hopes the Board can resolve this issue. We will continue to monitor these Prospective Board meetings. Separately, the Shutter Creek former Oregon Dept. of Corrections facility is being transferred by the federal government to the Dept. of State Lands in anticipation of the property being the home of the ESRF. There is also discussion around a tribal role for the property. SB 161 will have a Work Session May 9 in the House Agriculture, Land Use, Natural Resources and Water Committee with a new proposed amendment, increasing a deadline for work being done on the transfer of the Elliott to the new Authority to Dec. 31, 2023. The bill adjusts some timelines as provided by the Dept. of State Lands’ April 25 testimony . Hanford Cleanup Board The Oregon Hanford Cleanup Board will hold a virtual meeting on May 9, beginning at 10 a.m. and concluding after the public comment periodnat approximately 2:15 that afternoon. Public participation is welcomed and encouraged. See a full meeting agenda , which includes information on how to participate, with other meeting materials. Land Use/Housing By Peggy Lynch A new land use “expand into farmland” bill, SB 1096 , has been filed by Senators Meek and Anderson and referred to Senate Rules. The bill, similar to SB 1051 which the League vigorously opposed and we hoped had died, is now a topic of discussion. It continues the false narrative that simply adding land to urban growth boundaries will solve Oregon's housing crises. Many surveys and studies have shown we have enough land zoned for residential use inside our UGBs - including thousands of acres recently added to UGBs - that are sitting empty because they need infrastructure investment. The bill puts at risk urban reserve planning and wildlife protections, increases the potential for development in high wildfire risk areas, exacerbates climate change through creating more impervious surfaces and housing farther away from core areas, and more. HB 3620 is an equally concerning bill. It authorizes certain cities with a demonstrated need for housing to add land to their urban growth boundary upon meeting certain conditions. It also amends principles that the Land Conservation and Development Commission must consider in adopting rules regulating urban reserves. And another: HB 3616 would allow owners of property outside an urban growth boundary to site additional dwelling on property for occupancy by an owner’s relative. Just another way to add more housing outside areas intended for housing and breaking our land use planning program. No new news on SB 1087 , filed on behalf of a farm in Lane County where they want to add a “café” (with seating for 250-300 people) on their Exclusive Farm Use (EFU)-zoned property. The League opposes this overreach of our land use program. The bill is in Senate Rules and could be scheduled for a Work Session at any time; not as of May 3. A public hearing was held in House Housing and Homelessness on SB 1013 . The League has worked with the sponsor and Sen. Hayden to assure that, should a recreational vehicle be allowed on a rural property, sewage and clean drinking water issues would be addressed by the counties. A -2 amendment is being offered to change that counties “may” adopt this law vs. “shall”. As of May 5, a possible May 11 Work Session is scheduled. It would die if not held. HB 3442 A will allow coastal communities to develop in hazard areas under certain conditions, with a May 15 Work Session in Senate Housing and Development. The amended bill responded to League concerns on the original bill. HB 3414 would create a new Housing Accountability and Production Office in DLCD and also includes a Section 2 related to processing of variances under certain circumstances. Variances are used to address exceptions to a code’s “clear and objective standards”. It is unclear how this provision will change a community’s control over residential development. The bill was moved without passage recommendation and referred to House Rules. The League understands that a new amendment may be offered to address at least some of our concerns with Section 2. SB 70A would allow housing on acreage in Malheur County. The League provided testimony in opposition on Feb. 8. On April 3, the bill was moved without passage recommendation to Senate Rules. LWVOR still opposes it. HB 2983 A would help with manufactured housing and housing parks, in W&Ms. LWVOR supports . See the Housing Report in the Social Policy section. Reduce/Recycle By Kathy Moyd/Greg Martin On April 25, the Senate voted 26-3 to refer SB 542 A (Right to Repair) to House Rules. There it will sit until more amendments are made or until there are enough votes to pass in the full Senate. The League provided testimony in support on Feb. 14. Toxics By Paula Grisafi HB 3043 A had a public hearing May 4 in Senate Energy and Environment, The bill revises provisions relating to chemicals in children’s products. SB 546 A (toxic free cosmetics) was sent to W&Ms although there was NO fiscal for the 2023-25 session because, although the measure takes effect January 1, 2024, all substantive portions of the bill are not operative until January 1, 2027. SB 426 A (toxic free schools) was sent to W&Ms without clarity on the fiscal impact. The bill’s advocates are working to assure that the fiscal impact statement is not over inflated by agency staff. Water By Peggy Lynch A major water bill, HB 3124 , was moved to House Rules without passage recommendation. The bill is a $250 million Drought Relief and Water Scarcity package and includes some of the other bills we’ve seen this session. The League provided comments , including a list of our priorities, using our participation in the HB 5006 Work Group as our guide. HB 3163 A is a League priority. It renews the Place-Based Planning program with a Fund to help groups participate in this program and was sent to W&Ms. The League participated in a Work Group last year to help develop program sideboards and provided testimony in support. HB 3100 A , a bill addressing the Integrated Water Resources Strategy (IWRS), is in Ways and Means. The League provided testimony when the bill had its public hearing. Then we worked behind the scenes to provide guidance as the IWRS is updated and we support the bill. HB 3207 A , related to domestic well testing and data collection, is in W&Ms. LWVOR supports . HB 2813 A creates a grant program to protect drinking water sources, is in W&Ms. LWVOR supports . HB 3125 would create a Ratepayer Assistance Fund to help low income people pay for sewer and water bills, is in Ways and Means. LWVOR supports . 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. The League supports HB 2647 A to continue to address this public health issue. It sits in Ways and Means. We have an on-going drought in many parts of Oregon and League members may want to check the U. S. Drought Monitor , a map that is updated every Thursday. Oregon’s climatologist and a variety of other Oregon scientific sources provide input into the drought map. Governor Kotek has signed drought declarations under ORS 536 for the counties of Crook, Jefferson, Grant, Deschutes, Wasco and Harney counties. Lake County has now requested a drought declaration. In addition, many counties in eastern and southern Oregon have received Secretarial Disaster Designations from the US Department of Agriculture due to drought conditions. Wildfire By Carolyn Mayers The Wildfire Programs Advisory Council (WPAC) met on April 14. Doug Grafe, the Governor’s Wildfire and Emergency Response Advisor, shared presentations he and Mark Bennett, WPAC Chair, have been sharing with House and Senate Committees to educate and compel them to fund the needed activities for wildfire mitigation and response. This included an update to the Council on current status of various wildfire related bills in the legislature and their financial state as known so far. Director Grafe followed this with a report on two meetings held recently with National wildfire groups. The first, hosted by WPAC in Klamath Falls, was a meeting of the Wildland Fire Leadership Council . WPAC member John O’Keefe and Chief Ruiz-Temple of the Oregon State Fire Marshal’s Office are members of this body, which includes a wide array of agencies including EPA, DEQ, and others. The second was a meeting of the Wildland Fire Mitigation and Management Commission , which is part of the US Department of Agriculture. This is a 52-member body on which Chief Ruiz-Temple and John O’Keefe also serve. This group will be reporting to Congress and making recommendations. Director Grafe was clearly proud of the fact that Oregon is “on the map”, so to speak, in the wildfire programs space, and is looked to as a leader. (And rightfully so!) Mark Bennett led the Council through discussions on various topics: future engagement with the legislature regarding funding, particularly for Community Wildfire Risk Reduction programs, and the public process for getting more holistic and broad-based input into the current mapping process, especially meetings with county officials, a step which was neglected during the creation of the first map. It is a widely held belief that the first map, associated with SB 762 (2021), the original Wildfire Bill, was plagued by this lack of public input and there is a strong desire to “do it right” this time around. Finally, there was a discussion of the map risk categories which are currently Extreme, High, Moderate and Low. Lastly, May is Wildfire Awareness Month and is a great time for us all to refocus on what we can do to help keep ourselves and our neighbors safe. A couple of interesting articles have been published recently, a. public awareness campaign for the Wildfire Awareness Month activities and a second article discusses the passage of SB 82 in delta land what it means for homeowners insurance policies with regard to wildfire risk and related rate increases and cancellations. On May 3, Jim Wallmann, U.S. Forest Service meteorologist at the National Interagency Coordination Center (NICC) issued their first Western wildfire season forecast. The Western wildfire season could start late at middle and high elevations thanks to the unusually wet winter, but forecasters say the bigger concerns are rangeland at lower elevations. Fire season could be pushed back a bit, by a couple weeks at higher elevations. That would occur if the rest of spring brings conditions close to normal. Trees at middle and high elevations will hold moisture later into the season as a result of the above-normal winter snow and rain. The bigger concern is lower elevation--referring to the rangeland. Wet conditions and above-normal soil moisture “contribute to a lot more grass growth,” he said. That will result in “a higher and more continuous fuel bed in the lower elevations in grass and sage.” Fire risk at low elevations would jump when the fine fuels dry out in late June and early July. Senate Natural Resources passed HB 2522 A to the Senate floor on May 3, to create a committee to review and make recommendations related to rural fire districts and areas in Oregon where communities exist without structural fire protection. This bill seems a good first step to seeking resolution of these issues with so many of our rural areas dependent on volunteer firefighters and new small enclaves of housing in remote areas. The League provided testimony in support of funding for the Oregon Conservation Corps in HB 5025 , the omnibus Higher Education Coordinating Commission budget bill. The bill is in W&Ms. SB 80 A , the omnibus Wildfire Programs bill, is in W&Ms as is SB 509 A , which aims to scale out neighborhood collaboratives to help whole neighborhoods reduce risk. LWVOR provided support for SB 509 A. VOLUNTEERS NEEDED: What is your passion related to Natural Resources? You can help. Volunteers are needed. The 2023 legislative session is halfway over. 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 5/8 Natural Resources Team Coordinator: Peggy Lynch Agriculture/Goal 3 Land Use: Sandra U. Bishop 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 Budget/Revenue Climate Coastal Issues Elliott State Research Forest Land Use/Housing Recycling Toxics Water Wildfire By Peggy Lynch, Natural Resources Coordinator, and Team The League is scrambling to address good bills we want to pass and bad bills we hope will die. And some bills we want to amend to make them better or not worse! Deadlines are near—as is the end of session! We continue to wait for the May 17 Revenue Forecast. There are, of course, a slew of bills waiting for funding decisions in Ways and Means. Air Quality LWVOR joined with others in support of HB 3229 . The bill would modify federal air quality (Title V) operating permit program fees. The bill sits in Ways and Means without recommendation. SB 488 A , relating to the Covanta medical waste incinerator, sits in Ways and Means. Budgets/Revenue On May 10, the Dept. of Geology and Mineral Industries (DOGAMI) budget, SB 5510 , was moved to FullW&Ms. The LFO recommendation includes two Budget Notes on the new e-permitting system being funded. The League provided comments on the DOGAMI budget. The League also provided testimony on SB 220 , a bill that would have required permittees to pay for the e-permitting system. But the budget provides $2 million of General Funds for the system. Also moved to Full Ways and Means was SB 221 , to require permittees to pay for the on-going upkeep of the new e-permitting system, as was recommended by LFO. The League had provided testimony in support. Missing is SB 222 , a policy bill to allow use of a credit card to pay fees. The League provided testimony in support. For now, the bill sits on the Senate floor where Sen. Prozanski provided a no vote on April 5 to allow it to be reconsidered since the vote would have failed. A separate bill, SB 538 A , would allow DOGAMI and other agencies the same opportunity. It sits in House Emergency Management, General Government, and Veterans with a Work Session held on May 11. Last week’s budgets were considered in Full Ways and Means on May 12. We await the May 17 Revenue Forecast that will guide for the final 2023-25 balanced budgets. Climate By Claudia Keith and Team The Climate Emergency section overlaps with this Natural Resources Report. We encourage you to read both sections. Coastal Issues By Christine Moffitt/Peggy Lynch We continue to await a new proposed amendment for HB 3382 . A possible Work Session was scheduled for May 11, but no new amendment was available so the Committee asked for an update from the state agencies working with proponents on the bill. If an amendment is available, look for a Work Session on May 16. We believe this bill is a serious threat to our coastal planning and could reduce or remove the opportunity for future coastal NOAA grants. If an amendment is provided, we expect that it will not “blow up” the Coastal Zone Management Act (CZMA) within the land use program--just a minor new change related to a new narrow “exception” on deep port dredging to Goal 16, that NOAA must unofficially sign off on the idea and the other state agencies (DLCD, DSL & ODFW--and maybe DEQ) are accepting of the concept. We understand that the local tribe wants "no net loss of eelgrass". We need your voices to tell your legislators to Just Say NO if these factors are not part of any amendment. The local LWV Coos County has been doing an update and study of their local Port: The International Port of Coos Bay. You might want to watch a 44-minute video of a recent history of activities around the Port: Study of International Port of Coos Bay | MyLO (lwv.org) . HB 2903 A , funding continuing work on marine reserves, is in W&M. LWVOR supports . Dept. of Environmental Quality (DEQ) The Environmental Quality Commission will meet May 18 and 19, meeting agenda . SB 835 A as amended would require DEQ to adopt rules to clarify when a single septic system can be used for both a primary residence and an ADU. It sits in W&Ms. LWVOR provided testimony with concerns addressed by the amendment. Dept. of State Lands HB 2238 , originally to provide permission for robust rulemaking to increase fees for the removal/fill program is back! The bill was amended in the House to remove the fee increase and instead allows the Dept. of State Lands to get rid of personal property collected during cleanup of DSL-owned property after 30 days. A new amendment has been filed to bring back the bill’s original purpose. The League continues to support . A Work Session in Senate Natural Resources is scheduled for May 17. Elliott State Research Forest (ESRF) By Peggy Lynch SB 161 was amended and passed out of the House Agriculture, Land Use, Natural Resources and Water Committee. The amendment increased a deadline for work being done on the transfer of the Elliott to the new Authority to Dec. 31, 2023. The bill adjusts some timelines as provided by the Dept. of State Lands’ April 25 testimony . Land Use/Housing By Peggy Lynch A new land use “expand into farmland” bill, SB 1096 , has been referred to Senate Rules. The bill, similar to SB 1051 which the League vigorously opposed and has died, is a topic of discussion. We are concerned that it could be used as a bargaining chip in the conflict between the parties happening with the Senate Republican walkout. The bill continues the false narrative that simply adding land to urban growth boundaries will solve Oregon's housing crises. Many surveys and studies have shown we have enough land zoned for residential use inside our UGBs - including thousands of acres recently added to UGBs - that are sitting empty because they need infrastructure investment. The bill puts at risk urban reserve planning and wildlife protections, increases the potential for development in high wildfire risk areas, exacerbates climate change through creating more impervious surfaces and housing farther away from core areas, and more. HB 3620 is an equally concerning bill. It authorizes certain cities with a demonstrated need for housing to add land to their urban growth boundary upon certain conditions. It also amends principles that the Land Conservation and Development Commission must consider in adopting rules regulating urban reserves. The Speaker assigned it to House Housing where it died And another one: HB 3616 would allow the owner of property outside an urban growth boundary to site additional dwelling on property for occupancy by a relative of the owner. Just another way to add more housing outside of areas intended for housing and breaking our land use planning program. The Speaker assigned it to House Housing where it died. HB 3414 would create a new Housing Accountability and Production Office in DLCD and also includes a Section 2 related to processing of variances under certain circumstances. Variances are used to address exceptions to a code’s “clear and objective standards”. It is unclear how this provision will change a community’s control over residential development. The bill had a public hearing in House Rules where the Governor advocated for the -6 amendment while a number of cities advocated for the -5 amendment , but it was clear that more negotiations will occur, so we should look for yet another amendment. The League has concerns about the burden being placed on cities under the -6 amendment. Local governments need to provide findings to explain why they might want to deny the variance instead of the applicant proving the need for the variance. Your Oregon News has a good article on the cities’ concerns. Of note was mention of a -7 amendment that would deal with land supply advocated by the Homebuilders Association and the Oregon Realtors. No new news on SB 1087 , filed on behalf of a farm in Lane County where they want to add a “café” (with seating for 250-300 people) on their Exclusive Farm Use (EFU)-zoned property. The League opposes this overreach of our land use program. The bill is in Senate Rules and could be scheduled for a Work Session at any time, but not as of May 10. A public hearing was held in House Housing and Homelessness on SB 1013 . The League has worked with the sponsor and Sen. Hayden to assure that, should a recreational vehicle be allowed on a rural property, issues of sewage and clean drinking water would be addressed by the counties. A -2 amendment is being offered to change that counties “may” adopt this law vs. “shall”. A possible Work Session was scheduled for May 11. HB 3442 A , a bill to allow coastal communities to develop in hazard areas under certain conditions, passed to the Senate floor from Senate Housing and Development on May 10. The amended bill responded to League concerns on the original bill. SB 70 A would allow housing on acreage in Malheur County. The League provided testimony in opposition on Feb. 8. On April 3, the bill was moved without recommendation as to passage to Senate Rules. LWVOR still opposes it. HB 2983 A , to help with manufactured housing and housing parks, is in W&Ms. LWVOR supports . See also the Housing Report in the Social Policy section of this Legislative Report. Reduce/Recycle By Kathy Moyd/Greg Martin On April 25, the Senate voted 26-3 to refer SB 542 A (Right to Repair) to the Rules Committee. There it will sit until more amendments are made or until there are enough votes to pass it in the full Senate. The League provided testimony in support on Feb. 14. Toxics By Paula Grisafi HB 3043 A was amended by the A3 amendment and passed out of Senate Energy and Environment to the Senate floor. The bill revises provisions relating to chemicals in children’s products. SB 546 A (toxic free cosmetics) was sent to W&Ms although there was NO fiscal for the 2023-25 session because, although the measure takes effect January 1, 2024, all substantive portions of the bill are not operative until January 1, 2027. SB 426 A (toxic free schools) was sent to W&Ms without clarity on the fiscal impact. The bill’s advocates are working to assure that the fiscal impact statement is not over inflated by agency staff. Water By Peggy Lynch It’s time to engage in the Integrated Water Resources Strategy 2023 update. See the survey link on the webpage and meetings around the state, including a new May 31 virtual meeting opportunity. A major water bill, HB 3124 , was moved to House Rules without recommendation as to passage. The bill is a $250 million Drought Relief and Water Scarcity package and includes some other bills we’ve seen this session. The League provided comments on the bill, including a list of our priorities, using our participation in the HB 5006 Work Group as our guide. A priority of the League is HB 3163A , to renew the Place-Based Planning program with a Fund to help groups participate in this program was sent to W&Ms. The League participated in a Work Group last year to help develop program sideboards and provided testimony in support. HB 3100 A , a bill addressing the Integrated Water Resources Strategy (IWRS), is in Ways and Means. The League provided testimony when the bill had its public hearing. Then we worked behind the scenes to provide guidance as the IWRS is updated and we support the bill. HB 3207 A , related to domestic well testing and data collection, is in W&Ms. LWVOR supports . HB 2813 A creates a grant program to protect drinking water sources, in W&Ms. LWVOR supports . HB 3125 would create a Ratepayer Assistance Fund to help low income people pay for sewer and water bills. It is in Ways and Means. LWVOR supports . 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. The League supports HB 2647 A to continue to address this public health issue. It sits in Ways and Means. Thanks to a substantial snowpack, our drought in many parts of Oregon has lessened. 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 and Harney counties. Lake County has now requested a drought declaration. In addition, many counties in eastern and southern Oregon have received Secretarial Disaster Designations from the US Department of Agriculture due to continuing drought conditions. Wildfire By Carolyn Mayers The League provided testimony in support of funding for the Oregon Conservation Corps in HB 5025 , the omnibus Higher Education Coordinating Commission budget bill. The bill is in W&Ms. SB 80 A , the omnibus Wildfire Programs bill, is in Ways and Means as is SB 509 A , which aims to scale out neighborhood collaboratives in order to help whole neighborhoods reduce risk. LWVOR provided support for SB 509 A. VOLUNTEERS NEEDED: What is your passion related to Natural Resources? You can help. Volunteers are needed. The 2023 legislative session is halfway over. 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.

Governance Read Our 2025 Priorities Here 2026 Legislative Priorities LWVOR Advocacy Positions Note: these are condensed versions. See the complete positions in Issues for Action . Constitutional Provisions— The Oregon Constitution should be a basic framework of state government, free of obsolete material and statutory detail. It should · guarantee basic democratic rights · provide for a legislative assembly, an executive branch, and a judicial system. · be revised by constitutional convention, initiative amendment, or legislative amendment. Privacy and Cybersecurity— This position statement addresses Elections, Information Security, Personal Information Protection, and Electronic Business and Social Media. Economic Development Revenue Bonds LWVOR supports the authority to issue Economic Development Revenue Bonds by the state, ports, and cities with more than 300,000 population. 2. In addition to the Economic Development Revenue Bond program, LWVOR supports other state and local economic stimulants Election Laws— Election procedures and voter information are critical elements to an informed and participating electorate. Election Methods— LWVOR does not believe that plurality voting is the best method for promoting democratic choice in all circumstances. For single-winner systems, the League supports ranked-choice voting; we do not support range or approval voting. The League of Women Voters of Oregon supports election systems that elect policy-making bodies that proportionally reflect the people they represent. Emergency Board— An appointed Emergency Board should provide fiscal adjustment between legislative sessions. Fiscal Policy Evaluating Taxes —any tax proposal should be evaluated with regard to its effect on the entire tax structure. Fiscal Responsibility —local government should have primary responsibility for financing non-school local government. Local services mandated by the state should have state funding. Income Tax—i ncome tax is the most equitable means of providing state revenue. The income tax should be progressive, compatible with federal law and should apply to the broadest possible segment of Oregonians. Sales Tax— A sales tax should be used with certain restrictions Property Tax —local property taxes should partially finance local government and local services. Exemptions to the general property tax include: a. Charitable, educational and benevolent organizations, etc. b. School District Financing. The major portion of the cost of public schools should be borne by the state, which should use a stable system to provide sufficient funds to give each child an equal, adequate education. Initiative, Referendum and Recall Position— LWVOR supports constitutional provisions for initiatives, referendum, and recall. The League discourages amending the Oregon Constitution by the initiative process. Oregon State Courts— The State of Oregon should provide access to its courts Judges must be free to decide cases based upon the facts of the particular case and the applicable law, independent of the influence of public opinion and political and partisan pressures. Adequate and stable funding is needed to perform the Department’s core functions and critical services; The League encourages the development of specialty courts and problem-solving courts. Open Primaries— LWVOR supports more open primary elections, either through party primary elections or individual candidate-based primary elections. Redistricting— The Oregon legislative and congressional redistricting system should be efficient, adequately funded, based on well-defined criteria, subject to a reasonable and effective timetable, and have an open and public process. Previous Legislative Reports Next

Back to All Legislative Reports Natural Resources Legislative Report - Week 1/30 Natural Resources Team Coordinator: Peggy Lynch Agriculture/Goal 3 Land Use: Sandra U. Bishop 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 Agriculture Air Quality Budgets/Revenue Climate Coastal Issues Elliott State Research Forest Land Use/Housing Toxics Water Wildfire Volunteers Needed By Peggy Lynch, Natural Resources Coordinator, and Team We have two new volunteers for Natural Resources: Paula Grisafi is providing testimony on Toxics bills. She worked on the Pesticides and Biocides Study and can now put the new positions to use. Carolyn Mayers is following Wildfire issues. She followed the Wildfire hearings at the Dept. of Land Conservation and Development and has concerns with residential buildings in the Wildland Urban Interface. Consider joining them covering issues of your concern. Agriculture The League has been invited to present information at the February Board of Agriculture meeting. We have provided a letter sharing our natural resource area priorities for 2023, along with the full League Action Committee Priorities . On Jan. 31 st , the Ways and Means Natural Resources Subcommittee heard a report from the Dept. of Agriculture on the Oregon Disaster Assistance Program (with slides ). While there was success in helping farmers and ranchers as they dealt with drought, floods, ice storms and excessive heat, there was discussion on a future focus of resiliency programs for agriculture. Look for another Drought package to be introduced this session. Learn more about dry land farming in Western Oregon here . Air Quality By Kathy Moyd SB 488 , the Medical Waste Incinerator Bill (Covanta), is scheduled for a hearing in early February. LWVOR and LWV Marion Polk have provided testimony with concerns about the Covanta facility in past sessions. You might j oin Beyond Toxics, 350 Salem, and Clean Air Now on Feb 6th at 7:00 pm for an overview of the bill (Medical Waste Incineration Act) and hear about upcoming action alerts and how you help reduce air toxics in Oregon! Register here. Budgets/Revenue Governor Kotek’s first biennial budget is here . For natural resource agency budgets, start on page 143 of the web document. The Ways and Means (W&Ms) Subcommittees will begin hearing agency budgets as soon as the bills are introduced. Look for the Parks budget Feb. 7 th . The Governor’s budget is “balanced” with the use of the ending fund balances of $765 million from 2021-23 that would have gone to the Rainy-Day Fund. Oregon’s reserves are at $2 billion and those funds are not expected to be used, nor is the kicker money expected to be returned to taxpayers. More information on potential kicker distribution amounts will be provided during the Feb. 22 nd Revenue Forecast. Kicker amounts won’t be finalized until the 2021-23 budget is closed in Sept. The House Climate, Energy and Environment Committee held an informational hearing on Jan. 23 rd with experts who provided insight into the potential federal programs that Oregon might access from the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021. LWVOR continues to encourage the Governor and the Legislature to provide staffing to search for and write grants and assure we have staff to implement any programs funded by these federal dollars. The Governor’s budget seems to provide some staffing at the agency level for this work. Climate By Claudia Keith and Team See Climate Report in 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 Issues By Christine Moffitt Peggy Joyce, a “public” representative on the Ocean Policy Advisory Council shares a report from their January meeting: All six of the Rocky Habitat Management strategy proposals approved at the December meeting will now begin their journey toward implementation with a recommendation letter to the Land Conservation and Development Commission. The six proposed and approved Territorial Sea Plan Part Three Rocky Habitat Management Strategy programs are: Ecola Point as a Marine Conservation Area; Chapman Point as a Marine Education Area; Cape Lookout as a Marine Conservation Area ; Fogarty Creek as a Marine Conservation Area with an allowance of subtidal research and a preference for observational research; Cape Foulweather Complex as a Marine Conservation Area with no change to commercial invertebrate harvest and Blacklock Point as a Marine Conservation area. The Board also received an update on the Territorial Sea Plan Part Four Workgroup process on underseas cable placements along the Oregon coast that should be wrapped up after its next group meeting, Feb 1 st . A comprehensive update was presented to the Council by the Elakha Alliance’s efforts to re-introduce sea otters along the Oregon coast. A great deal of research and study along with the hiring of an Executive Director (Jane Bacchieri) last summer has boosted the confidence of the Alliance that they will be able to begin relocation efforts in 2024. Dept. Of Environmental Quality The Oregon Environmental Quality Commission will meet next February 9 and 10 , for a special meeting to interview the two finalists (Leah Feldon and Jamie McLeod-Skinner) for DEQ Director. The special meeting will be held by Zoom, with a toll-free telephone option for audio-only connection, and more information about the interviews and EQC process are available at the agenda webpage . League members engage in this agency’s multiple missions and will be interested in the Commission’s decision. Elliott State Research Forest By Peggy Lynch On Feb. 1 st , the Ways and Means Natural Resources Subcommittee heard a presentation from the Dept. of State Lands on the establishment of the Forest and the nexus with Oregon State University ( calendar links provided ). The League shared our December 2022 State Land Board testimony with committee members. The OSU Board of Trustees is expected to consider the terms of a potential agreement on the role of OSU in the Elliott at its April 14 meeting. If adopted, the resulting agreement would be voted on by a new Elliott State Research Forest Authority Board of Directors anticipated to be formed by the state on Jan. 1, 2024. An advisory Authority Board was appointed by the State Land Board at its December meeting to help shepherd this process. Emergency Services Governor Kotek’s Housing Executive Order 23-02 included a role for the newly formed separate agency: the Oregon Dept. of Emergency Services (ODEM). The agency has 90 staffers. Interim Director Matt Garrett shared in a committee hearing that they have been asked to “Create a construct to receive requests” and will work with OHCS. After rural counties expressed concern that they were not included in ExO 23-02, the counties were instructed to submit a letter to ODEM with information on the extent of and growth of homelessness in their counties from 2017 to 2022. The Governor has since requested $1.8 million to “support the emergency response being coordinated by…” ODEM as part of her urgent budget request on Jan. 26 th . Fish and Wildlife On Jan. 31 st , the Ways and Means Natural Resources Subcommittee heard a presentation from the Oregon Dept. of Fish and Wildlife on the success of funding projects related to drought and the effect on our aquatic creatures. Land Use/Housing By Peggy Lynch The League provided testimony on HB 2983 in support of manufactured housing and testimony on SB 534 in support of a pilot $3 million fund to provide financing for the development of infrastructure and other costs, usable only for housing to remain affordable to moderate income households for at least 30 years. HB 2487 allows weddings or other events east of the summit of the Cascades on EFU lands. LWVOR did not testify, but has real concerns that this law change will affect ranching in Eastern Oregon. These properties are also served by water wells, septic systems and rural farm-to-market roads. SB 70 will have a hearing Feb. 8 th in Senate Natural Resources . The bill amends the definition of high-value farmlands for residential rezoning of lands within the Eastern Oregon Border Economic Development Region from SB 16 (2021). LWVOR opposed SB 16 due to conversion of EFU lands and the need for water and septic systems for rural housing; however, it did pass in 2021. Because Malheur County has concerns about implementing SB 16 EFU definitions, SB 70 has been filed this session. We continue to be concerned. More land requests being considered by the Semiconductor Committee: two each 500 acres, 4 each of 50 acres and 8 each of 15 acres. Unfortunately, much of this acreage would be at the loss of agricultural lands—the second most important and most stable economic engine in Oregon. HB 2889 : Establishes Oregon Housing Needs Analysis within Housing and Community Services Department. LWVOR supports. You can watch a presentation of this concept in the House Housing Committee on Jan. 17. This is a Priority housing bill for LWVOR this session. See also the Housing Report in the Social Policy section of this Legislative Report. Radioactive Waste By Shirley Weathers The Oregon Department of Energy (ODOE) has provided to the Rulemaking Advisory Committee (RAC) a first draft of proposed rules for Division 050 Rulemaking Advisory Committee (RAC) on radioactive waste and a matrix presentation of results of a member survey done last year. Members have until March 1, 2023 to submit informal comments to staff. The precise schedule of activities after that point, including a public comment period on the more advanced draft, has not yet been announced. Recycling By Kathy Moyd The Right to Repair bill, SB 542 , will have a hearing Feb. 9 th at 1p. We hear an amendment will be submitted. See the Senate Energy and Environment hearings on Feb. 14 th for bills related to polystyrene and plastics. Toxics By Paula Grisafi LWVOR will follow the Toxics Free Schools bill when it is filed. More to come. Water By Peggy Lynch LWVOR has a statutory seat on the OHA’s Drinking Water Advisory Committee and we need a volunteer! The Secretary of State (SOS) did an advisory report on water. The Oregon Capitol Chronicle provided a good article on the issue. LWVOR participated in a year-long process to consider water processes. A report was provided to the legislature with a series of recommendations. Of particular note is Section 1: Overarching Recommendations. OPB points to the issue of enforcement and decentralized water management. The 2017-2022 Integrated Water Resources Strategy Progress Report provides a list of funding requests. The SOS did a presentation to the House Agriculture, Land use, Natural Resources and Water Committee on Jan. 31 st . Crook County has declared a state of drought emergency for the fourth consecutive year. The measure was taken so that its residents can tap into state funds to alleviate the financial burden brought on by the exceptionally dry conditions. The Governor has to officially declare these drought emergencies. According to the US Drought Monitor, nearly 64% of Oregon is experiencing moderate (D1) to exceptional (D4) drought conditions. Changes over recent weeks include a number of improvements and degradations. Reservoir storage contents in most U.S. Bureau of Reclamation (including Klamath) projects are measuring well below average, with many showing similarities to the past couple water years. The League is reviewing HB 3100 , a bill that updates requirements for the Integrated Water Resources Strategy (IWRS). Section 1 of the bill has many positive additions but Section 2 requires yet another standing Advisory Committee. Committees take staff time and resources and the Water Resources Commission provides adequate oversight. We’ll listen to others as we consider testimony on this bill, but we wholeheartedly support the guidance of the IWRS as it links multiple water agencies towards “abundant clean water for all”. 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. We have an on-going drought throughout Oregon and League members may want to check the U.S. Drought Monitor , a map that is updated every Thursday. Wildfire By Carolyn Mayers See hearings on Feb. 6 th in the Senate Committee on Natural Resources for bills related to wildfire. Volunteers Needed Above you can see the names of League volunteers who covered one or more issues. V olunteers are needed. What is your passion related to Natural Resources? You can help. The 2023 legislative session is at hand with over 2,000 bills already filed. Help! Natural Resource Agency Boards and Commissions meet regularly 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 1/10 - 1/17 Natural Resources Team Coordinator: Peggy Lynch Agriculture/Goal 3 Land Use: Sandra U. Bishop 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 AGRICULTURE AIR QUALITY BUDGETS/REVENUE CLIMATE COASTAL ISSUES COLUMBIA RIVER TREATY ELLIOTT STATE FOREST FORESTRY LAND USE/HOUSING RECYCLING WATER WILDFIRE VOLUNTEERS NEEDED LWVOR NATURAL RESOURCES LEGISLATIVE REPORT Ready, set, go! Bill numbers are being assigned and bills assigned to committees. Governor Kotek is developing her Recommended Budget, due Feb. 1. Session officially begins January 17. AGRICULTURE Enjoy this article on water rights, soil health and indigenous farming in Central Oregon. The U.S. Senate confirmed President Biden's appointment of Oregon Department of Agriculture Director Alexis Taylor as the Under Secretary for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). Lauren Henderson is currently serving as Interim Director; another opening for Governor Kotek to fill. AIR QUALITY The second Air Toxics Science Advisory Committee (ATSAC) meeting will be held via Zoom Webinar on January 20 1:00-4:00 PM Pacific Time. For More information on ATSAC and to access meeting documents and Zoom link, please visit the ATSAC website. BUDGETS/REVENUE We are all awaiting Governor Kotek’s Governor’s Recommended Budget (GRB)—due by Feb. 1. The League has engaged with natural resource state agencies as they developed their Agency Request Budgets (ARBs), but it will be the GRB that agencies can then advocate for with the legislature. Hearings on those budgets will begin in the Ways and Means Subcommittee on Natural Resources after the GRB is presented. Next will come a Feb. 22 Revenue Forecast with a rebalance of the 2021-23 legislative approved budget (LAB). The 2023-25 budget will be balanced after the May Revenue Forecast. CLIMATE by Claudia Keith and Team See Climate Report in the Climate Emergency section of this Legislative Report with overlaps to the Natural Resources Report. We encourage you to read both sections. COASTAL ISSUES By Christine Moffitt Coos County, City of Coos Bay, and City of North Bend have been working on updates to the Coos Bay Estuary Management Plan (CBEMP). The County file number assigned to this project is AM-22-005 . Locally, our Coos County League (LWVCC) members attended two meetings regarding the Coos Bay Estuary Management Plan An open house was held January 7 at the North Bend Community Center for the public to learn about the products and process going forward. There was a good turn out by the interested public from LWVCC, Rogue Climate, Oregon Shores and other interested public. They asked a lot of questions about the maps provided and how to engage. Convenors announced that the process that began in approximately 2012-3 was to provide information updates so that the CBEMP could be revised. They indicate that the project did not get to the revision due to Covid but the rest of the story is county push back due to the Jordan Cove project and pressure to not revise these zones and classifications. First stage funding is coming through DLCD, contracted with Michael Howard and Amanda Ferguson, University of Oregon, Institute for Policy Research and Engagement. This first phase is to bring the existing plan up to date with appropriate editing and make it digital for the first time as it was a typed document from the past. The contractors presented their project to Planning Commissioners on January 4. The City of Coos Bay and North Bend City Councilors and Board of Commissioners met directly following that meeting. An effort in the Yaquina led by Oregon Shores is moving and has spent years looking at a more watershed-based approach to this. The Coos County League is continuing with International Port of Coos Bay updates and are planning a zoom meeting for Saturday 21 Jan, to be recorded and posted as a YouTube. Please watch and share this latest video on understanding hypoxia and dead zones by Francis Chan and Jack Barth and produced by David Parker’s OSU Productions team with your networks. It is excellent and was produced by OSU. Atmospheric carbon dioxide dissolves into seawater and is altering the oceans chemical makeup faster than ever in history. As a result, our ocean is now 30% more acidic than it was 200 years ago. The Oregon Ocean Science Trust website (OOST) has scheduled its next quarterly meeting ( Agenda) for January 25, 12:00 PM - 3:00 PM, on Zoom. W e will have Board approval of the Nearshore Projects selection. The Board will also review needs and priorities for Legislative funding requests in the 2023-2025 biennium. Senator Anderson and Rep Gomberg are non-voting Trustmembers. Worth reading: How Do Tidal Marshes Store Carbon? The Pacific Marine and Estuarine Fish Habitat Partnership (PMEP) just released a request for proposals for projects that will advance fish habitat conservation and restoration along the West Coast. Pacific Marine and Estuarine Fish Habitat Partnership (pacificfishhabitat.org) Their restoration synthesis report provides a comprehensive study of selected Pacific coast locations. ODFW's Marine Reserves Program has a new leader: Dr. Lindsay Aylesworth. She oversees the management and scientific monitoring of Oregon's five marine reserves and nine Marine Protected Areas and works on marine reserves policy. Her first major task was leading the roll out of the Marine Reserves Synthesis Report , an extensive overview of the first 10 years of marine reserves and an important check-in on development and execution of this relatively new nearshore conservation and monitoring program. It gives Oregonians a chance to reflect on the accomplishments, challenges, lessons learned, and contributions since the program's inception in 2012. LWVOR did a Coastal Study in 2012 and adopted updated positions that include supporting Marine Reserves. Here is a great OPB article on the new Marine Conservation Areas as a follow up on the Oregon Policy Advisory Council (OPAC) December 9 meeting. T hese recommendations now go to the Land Conservation and Development Commission (LCDC ) for final, official designation. COLUMBIA RIVER TREATY By Phillip Thor “ The Columbia River Treaty (CRT or Treaty) is an international agreement between the United States and Canada for the cooperative development and operation of the water resources of the Columbia River Basin to provide for flood control and electric power. The Treaty was the result of more than 20 years of negotiations between the two countries and was ratified in 1961. Implementation began in 1964.” Our League volunteer reviewed the latest status update and provides this insight : Neither country has given notice of termination but both countries have indicated a desire to renegotiate with modifications, primarily to reflect new issues, namely water flows for anadromous fish, Tribal interests and sharing of hydropower benefits. A renegotiated Treaty would also specify continuation of flood control operations after 2024. The League of Women Voters of Oregon participated in these initial discussions and wrote letters expressing their interests. Other PNW Leagues were similarly engaged. The LWVOR was interested in pursuing Treaty Renegotiation, including adding “ecosystem function,” future flood control operations, and appropriate adjustments to hydropower benefits sharing. The League was also interested in furthering climate change provisions. “The United States hosted the 14th round of negotiations with the Government of Canada to modernize the Columbia River Treaty regime in Spokane, Washington October 4-5, [2022]. As a result of our discussions, we have been able to find common ground on aspects of flood risk management, hydropower coordination, ecosystem cooperation, and increased Canadian operational flexibility. We will continue to work to address outstanding issues in these areas in the coming months.” Resolving flood control operations has a more pressing timeline, the so-called future approach for “called upon” flood control. In summary, there will likely be many more rounds of Treaty negotiations, with a variety of issues left to be resolved, before Congress will get the chance to ratify a “modernized” new Columbia River Treaty. ELLIOTT STATE FOREST By Peggy Lynch As reported in the last Report, the Dec. 13 State Land Board acted to officially create the Elliott State Research Forest. OPB provided a great article on how we have created North America’s largest research forest. A draft Forest Management Plan is ready for consideration. We still need to adopt a Draft Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP), anticipated July 1, 2023. The Dept. of State Lands website provides information on the Elliott as does OSU . The OSU Board of Trustees will meet Jan. 20 from about 1-2p for a briefing on the link between OSU and the Forest. FORESTRY By Peggy Lynch The association between tree planting and mortality: A natural experiment and cost-benefit analysis. The results of the study were remarkable. The study shows the more trees planted, the lower the mortality rate of the census tract. Specifically, planting 11.7 trees in each neighborhood — the average annual number of trees planted in a tract — was associated with 15.6 fewer non-accidental deaths and five fewer cardiovascular deaths per year on average. Assigning the statistical value to an adult human life at $10.7 million — the value used by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency — researchers calculated that planting one tree in each of Portland's 140 census tracts amounts to an annual life-saving cost benefit of $14.2 million. The cost of maintaining those 140 trees, researchers estimate, is between about $3,000 and $13,000 annually. That amounts to a cost-benefit ratio of about 1,700-to-1, Donovan said. The Oregon Secretary of State’s Audit Division reviewed the Oregon Forest Practices Institute (OFRI) work and concluded: OFRI’s Statute Undermines its Public Benefit and the State Agency is Not Transparent About its Statutory Mandate to Support the Industry . Look for potential legislative action on OFRI again this session. See “Wildfire” below for a report on the Oregon Wildfire Council. LAND USE/HOUSING By Peggy Lynch The League participated in an hour-long Land Use 101 presentation , providing legislators with a primer on our land use planning program and potential legislative action in 2023. On Jan. 10, Governor Kotek signed 3 Executive Orders focused on homelessness and the need for more housing. The first two provide money and instructions to agencies addressing homelessness, while the third creates a new Housing Production Advisory Council to work toward a goal of 34,000 new housing units by the end of the year. The League has been involved in agency and legislative work on these issues and supports much contained in the Orders. We believe strongly that a major infrastructure investment in our current cities and Urban Growth Boundaries will provide “buildable lots” for such housing, as well as public investments to address the critical need for units priced at or below 80% of the Average Median Income (AMI). We were, however, comforted by Governor Kotek’s comment: “We don’t need to have a big conversation about land use right now, although we might in the future.” A quick update on bills this session: SB 70 is a “correction” to SB 16 (2019), a bill that would have allowed 100 homes on farmland and which we opposed , was passed but never implemented. At first glance, we will oppose SB 70 as well. We hope for more positive than negative land use bills in 2023. More to come… The League continues to be a member of the Oregon Housing Alliance and members attend regular meetings to discuss past and future legislation and programs. See the Housing Report in the Social Policy section of this Legislative Report also. RECYCLING By Kathy Moyd DEQ held a Recycling Modernization Act Rulemaking Advisory Committee meeting on January 11, most of the agenda dealing with the administrative aspects of the changes. However, one area of general interest is the list of materials to be accepted ( current recommendations presented at the meeting). To learn more about this rulemaking and the advisory committee, view the rulemaking web page: Recycling Updates 2023 . A fun factoid from Rep. Gomberg’s recent newsletter: Research indicates each American ingests about ten grams of micro-plastics each week. That’s about the volume of plastic found in a typical credit card. The City of Roses Disposal and Recycling, Inc. (Portland, Ore.) received an EPA Award to develop a real-time recycling inventory aggregation and management software for construction and demolition waste. WATER By Peggy Lynch The HB 5006 (2021) workgroup formed to consider regional water management opportunities that build on the 100-Year Water Vision and further the goals of the Integrated Water Resources Strategy. See their report to the legislature and public website . The League had a member on the work group. Recommendations include the need for adequate funding for all the water agencies, including the need for data, analysis and multi-agency coordination so Oregon can have good water management no matter what other programs might be implemented. Also being considered is a new, more expansive (with sideboards) version of place-based planning with much more rigorous public involvement. The League is also working with the Water Resources Dept. on legislation on this same issue. Both place-based planning proposals may be integrated into one bill for 2023 and a new Place-Based Planning program. The League is working with legislators and others to develop legislation around water quality, quantity and ecosystem services. We hope to support bills that improve water management and coordination among the agencies. Of major importance related to water is the Dec. 30 announcement from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Department of the Army (the agencies) that a final rule establishing a durable definition of “waters of the United States” (WOTUS) to reduce uncertainty from changing regulatory definitions, protect people’s health, and support economic opportunity may correct a previous administrative rule. The final rule restores essential water protections that were in place prior to 2015 under the Clean Water Act for traditional navigable waters, the territorial seas, interstate waters, as well as upstream water resources that significantly affect those waters. As a result, this action will strengthen fundamental protections for waters that are drinking water sources while supporting agriculture, local economies, and downstream communities. More information, including a pre-publication version of the Federal Register notice and fact sheets, is available at EPA’s “Waters of the United States” website . EPA and the Army are issuing a joint coordination memo to ensure the accuracy and consistency of jurisdictional determinations under this final rule. Second, the agencies are issuing a memo with the U.S. Department of Agriculture to provide clarity on the agencies’ programs under the Clean Water Act and Food Security Act. EPA’s rule website contains final rule language, fact sheets for various sectors, and summaries of consultations with states/territories and tribal governments. The rule will be effective 60 days after Federal Register publication. From the Statesman Journal : “ A plan that will reshape management of 13 dams and reservoirs in the Willamette River Basin is the subject of four meetings next week in Eugene, Springfield, Sweet Home and Stayton. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is hosting the meetings after it released a 2,200 page blueprint for managing how it stores and releases over 500 trillion gallons of water used for drinking, irrigation and recreation in the Willamette Valley. A public comment period for people to weigh in on the seven alternatives the Corps are considering is underway until Feb. 23. While the meetings are good for information and to ask questions of the Corps, people still need to submit comments via email ( willamette.eis@usace.army.mil ) or mail to PO Box 2946, Portland, OR., 97208-2946. “What we’re doing now will be important for how we manage the system for the next 30 years,” Nicklas Knudson, acting project manager for the EIS revisions with the Corps, told the Statesman Journal in December. “This is the best chance to directly affect how we manage this system in the future. At this point, we can still make changes.” If your water comes from the Willamette River, this project is important to you. We all need to pay attention to the potential for harmful algal blooms. A news release explains the signs you should note. “When in doubt, stay out.” The League has followed the danger of harmful algal blooms and continues to provide a link for members to follow : 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. From the Oregon Lakes Assn. newsletter : The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) has developed a website that downloads and displays satellite images of cyanobacteria for large lakes and reservoirs in Oregon. Released in the spring of 2022, the tool represents a significant improvement in how lake managers and the general public receive information about potentially harmful algal blooms across the state. DEQ developed the website as a cost-effective way to rapidly detect and examine cyanobacteria blooms in large waterbodies across Oregon. For each week from March through October, images from the Sentinel 3 satellites are downloaded and processed from NASA with methods consistent with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s CyAN project. The Oregon-specific website displays the seven-day average daily maximum cell count for each waterbody and flags those that have counts >100,000 cells/mL according to World Health Organization guidelines. For flagged waterbodies, DEQ reaches out to regional managers to encourage collection of on-the-ground information as a basis for recommending additional water quality sampling. Time series data (from 2016 onward) of cyanobacteria cell counts for specific waterbodies are also available to view and download on the website. In Dec. 2020, t he EPA and the Indian Health Service (IHS) completed a formal agreement that provides more than $23 million to build a new water treatment plant at the Warm Springs Indian Reservation. IHS obligated $13,601,000 toward the project and EPA provided $10,262,000. Nearly all the funding is the result of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. The EPA awarded LeapFrog Design (Bend, Ore.) to develop a modular ecological water treatment system for onsite capture and non-potable reuse from single-family residences. We have an on-going drought throughout Oregon and League members may want to check the U.S. Drought Monitor , a map that is updated every Thursday. Oregonians need to celebrate the early snowfall and the rain these past weeks. But we must hope that the snow stays on until well into April or May next year. WILDFIRE By Peggy Lynch As Oregonians rebuild from the devastating wildfires, the Oregon Dept. of Energy will provide financial support to improve energy efficiency to make rebuilt homes and businesses more comfortable and provide long-term energy savings. Oregonians rebuilding site-built homes can receive $3,000 for rebuilding to current energy code or $6,000 for rebuilding to an above-code standard – those rebuilding who are also considered low- or moderate-income can receive higher rebates of $7,500 or $15,000. Some of the communities lost in the wildfires included manufactured home parks, so Oregonians replacing lost or damaged manufactured homes with energy efficient models can receive $12,500, plus an additional $5,000 for installing a qualifying heat pump system to improve heating and cooling. To date, ODOE has reserved or issued 336 incentives totaling $2,806,904. The League is supporting a renewal of funding related to SB 762 (2021) with some minor policy changes. See the Senate Interim Committee on Natural Resources and Wildfire Recovery report . VOLUNTEERS NEEDED Above you can see the names of League volunteers who covered one or more issues. Volunteers are needed. What is your passion related to Natural Resources? You can help. If not actually serving on a rules advisory committee (RAC), you could simply monitor and report back on their work. The 2023 legislative session is at hand with over 2,000 bills already filed. Help! Natural Resource Agency Boards and Commissions meet regularly 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.