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Kermit graduated from Denison University with a B.A. in Economics, and from Harvard Business School with an MBA. He has over 35 years of business experience including senior marketing leadership at technology companies Hewlett-Packard and Tektronix, and chief executive leadership at startups Pi Systems, iMove and Massini Group. Kermit retired from full-time employment in 2009 but continued to be active as a consultant for small businesses with Altus Alliance, as an adjunct professor teaching in the MBA program at Portland State University, and as an investor in early-stage start-ups with the Oregon Entrepreneurial Network and Angel Oregon. Kermit and Diane moved to Bend full-time in 2012 where Kermit became involved in volunteer organizations including as a coach / board member / Treasurer for an age group swimming team, a facilitator with Opportunity Knocks (small business mentoring) and board member / Treasurer for Oregon Masters Swimming. Kermit became involved with Common Cause and the League of Women of Oregon in 2020, serving as the Budget Chair for the LWVOR in 2021 and 2022, and for the LWVDC in 2022. Kermit Yensen Treasurer Kermit graduated from Denison University with a B.A. in Economics, and from Harvard Business School with an MBA. He has over 35 years of business experience including senior marketing leadership at technology companies Hewlett-Packard and Tektronix, and chief executive leadership at startups Pi Systems, iMove and Massini Group. Kermit retired from full-time employment in 2009 but continued to be active as a consultant for small businesses with Altus Alliance, as an adjunct professor teaching in the MBA program at Portland State University, and as an investor in early-stage start-ups with the Oregon Entrepreneurial Network and Angel Oregon. Kermit and Diane moved to Bend full-time in 2012 where Kermit became involved in volunteer organizations including as a coach / board member / Treasurer for an age group swimming team, a facilitator with Opportunity Knocks (small business mentoring) and board member / Treasurer for Oregon Masters Swimming. Kermit became involved with Common Cause and the League of Women of Oregon in 2020, serving as the Budget Chair for the LWVOR in 2021 and 2022, and for the LWVDC in 2022.

Back to Legislative Report Education Legislative Report - Week of 4/24 Education By Anne Nesse Governor Kotek’s SB 1045-2 sets a significant legal precedent for education in our state. The -2 amendment names certain “vulnerabilities of students” in education, for which all school districts need to comply with state law. This principle of equity in education has long been supported by the League of Women Voters. All last week House Education held an important informational hearing on the large Omnibus Workforce Training Education Bill, SB 283 A . Sen. Dembrow introduced and explained the 31 Sections, in a simplified version below. This Bill was the result of a number of workgroups that gathered online to address the crisis of recruitment, retention, working conditions, and compensation for all groups of teaching and staff in our public education system. The League participated in one of the groups, as did many of the professionals involved in the educational process. Sen. Dembrow reminded us that this problem was happening before the Pandemic and is happening nationally. He listed just a few of the major issues such as the high new teacher dropout rate, the difficulty of the jobs teachers do (considering more money is offered in other professions), increasing costs of living, the lack of diversity in employment, and a high degree of rural area staffing issues. Sen. Dembrow stressed that we are working on short and long term strategies with these problems. The following is a summary of the Bill in Sections: Section 1 calls for the need for increased workforce data, not just anecdotal. TSPC and UO will be working on this. Section 2 directly addresses the knowledge of why teachers leave the profession, with better exit surveys and an annual report. Section 3 calls for up to a 20% pay increase differential for teachers and classified employees working in Special Education 75% of the time. This measure was polled and classroom teachers supported this, but we don’t yet know the full cost. Sections 4-5 clarify rules so classified staff will always be compensated above minimum wage. This is currently not occurring, due to limiting staff hours in Special Education classes. Sections 6-8 grant that Special Education staff will be given the protection of no firing without a just cause. It addresses the fact that this is a physically demanding job. Sections 9-13 address the problem of inadequate substitute teacher positions, by respecting them as school district employees, giving them some access to training and PERS in 2023-24. Sections 14-15 address the fact that minimum salary levels are different in different districts, and the need for applying some kind of standard so that we maintain excellence throughout the educational system, as Washington State has done. Sections 16-17 study teaching as an apprenticeship model, with recommendations to be finished by 9/15/2024, as well as paying student teachers for their work. Sections 18-19 bring together a task force to study statewide salary guidelines in preference to local control. This also includes an educated task force for calculating our biennial educational budget (CSL) and collecting data on extra individual school district spending above that level. Section 20 includes “grow your own” programs study (a type of apprenticeship), that includes mentorship grants that help local candidates become teachers who have roots in communities, using student for success act dollars. Sections 21-22 create investment in public relations campaigns to promote interest in education careers, ideally matched by local funds and philanthropy. Sections 23-25 smooth the process of licensure after retiring, for teachers and classified staff to become substitute or part-time teachers. Sections 26-29 allow teachers to work full time and still receive PERS at retirement. This also protects ESD Superintendents from firing without just cause, as last year's SB 1521 did for elected School District Superintendents. Sections 30-31 remove excess background checks for differing educational jobs that are actually similar. Section 32 is the Emergency Clause to enact this legislation.

Back to All Legislative Reports Climate Emergency Legislative Report - Week of 2/20 Climate Emergency Team Coordinator: Claudia Keith Coordinator: Claudia Keith Efficient and Resilient Buildings: vacant Energy Policy: Claudia Keith Environmental Justice: vacant Natural Climate Solution Forestry: Josie Koehne Agriculture: vacant Community Resilience & Emergency Management: see Governance LR: Rebecca Gladstone Transportation: see NR LR Joint Ways and Means - Budgets, Lawsuits, Green/Public Banking, Divestment/ESG: Claudia Keith Find additional Climate Change Advocacy volunteers in Natural Resources Climate Emergency Priorities Other CE Bills Clean Energy Oregon Economic Analysis Oregon Treasury Climate Related Lawsuits: Oregon and… Climate Emergency Priorities By Claudia Keith The League has identified six priority CE policy and budget topics. Find in previous LR reports additional background on each priority. Following are updates on those six topics: 1. Natural and Working Lands : Establishes Natural and Working Lands (NWL) Fund, carbon sequestration opportunities…: Natural Climate Solutions SB 530 . Public Hearing was 2/15/23 in SEN E&E . The League provided supportive testimony . Read Oregon Chapter American Planning Association testimony . Sen Dembrow and OGWC Chair MacDonald testified . Here are the meeting materials . There is IRA federal funding for climate-smart agriculture. 2. Resilient Buildings (RB): Refer to the adopted Legislative Joint Task Force on Resilient Efficient Buildings (REB) Dec 13 Report . The League is an active RB coalition partner. BR campaign guiding principles . SB 868 , 869 , 870 and 871 were posted 2/9. They seem to be placeholders, watch for amendments. Chief sponsors are Senator LIEBER, Representative MARSH. 3. Environmental Justice (EJ): 2023 Leg bills. The League joined the Worker Advocate Coalition on 2/13 and SB 593 is one of a number of bills the League will follow and support. The ‘Right to Refuse‘ dangerous work bill LC has not been posted yet. 4. Oregon Climate Action Commission (currently Oregon Global Warming Commission): Roadmap , SB 522 , will change "Oregon Global Warming Commission" to "Oregon Climate Action Commission" and modify membership and duties of commission and state greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets/goals. League Testimony . Find more about this Bill in Clean Energy LR below. 5. Other Governor Climate / Carbon Policy Topics: See 20-04 Executive Order topics . This area includes other GHG emission mitigation/reductions and new clean renewable energy (DOE), OHA public health, and ODOT (Dept of Transportation) policy and funding bills. 6. CE related total 2023-2025 biennium budget: The governor’s budget * was published Jan 31; Kotek’s budget priorities . A main funding problem concerns how the favorable ending current period balance, estimated to be >$765M, can be used. It will take a 3/5 vote to pass this proposed change. It’s unclear at this time if any Climate related new programs will be funded and many are related to Federal IRA matching funds. Read the 2/22 Oregon Economic and Revenue Forecast committee meeting materials ; a moderate recession is still forecast, starting in 2024. The next forecast will be mid-May. Other CE Bills - Supporting By Claudia Keith House Committee On Emergency Management, General Government, and Veterans Feb 16 2023 Hearing includes these climate related bills with League testimony. HB 2601 Oregon FF Divestment: The League provided supportive testimony for Fossil Fuel (FF) Divestment: … Requires State Treasurer to address the urgency and risk associated with Fossil Fuel energy investments. Chief Sponsors: Rep Pham K, Senator Golden, Rep Gamba. HB 2763 Create a State public bank Task Force, Rep Gamba, Sen Golden, Rep Walters. The League provided testimony . Other CE Bills – May Support By Claudia Keith The League may support or just follow these bills. This is a preliminary list; Natural Working Lands: See Rep Pham’s urban forestry bill, HB 3016 , Rep Holvey’s severance tax bill, HB 3025 to replace the harvest tax, and ODF’s Regular Harvest tax bill, HB 2087 . SB 88 climate smart Ag increases net carbon sequestration and storage in natural and working lands. Requested: Senate Interim Committee on Natural Resources and Wildfire Recovery. See Keep Oregon Cool, Natural Working Lands. Green Infrastructure: HB 3016 community green infrastructure, Rep Pham K, Senator Dembrow, Rep Gamba. Public & Green Banking: SB501 Bank of the state of Oregon Sen Golden. Interstate 5 Bridge Legislation: Interstate Bridge Replacement Program (IBRP) factsheet ODOT and WDOT . 12 Things the Oregon Legislature Should Know About IBRP - Just Crossing Alliance. It is likely policy and or just funding bills will be heard and likely moved by this IBRP Legislative Joint Committee . The goal: ‘Replacing the aging Interstate Bridge with a modern, earthquake resilient, multimodal structure is a high priority for Oregon and Washington…. ‘. Clean Energy By Kathy Moyd  SB 522 Oregon Global Warming Commission SB 522 changes the name of "Oregon Global Warming Commission" to "Oregon Climate Action Commission." It modifies membership and duties of commission and the state greenhouse gas emissions reduction goals. It directs the state agencies to report to the commission on progress toward achieving greenhouse gas emissions reduction goals The League provided both written and verbal Testimony . Clean Buildings By Arlene Sherrett Two bills will be up for hearings in the House Climate, Energy and Environment Committee this week. Both HB 3166 and HB 3056 are energy efficiency bills. HB 3166 creates a whole-home energy savings program under the Housing and Community Service Department to give rebates to homeowners and landlords for installing various electric energy high-efficiency devices. Currently the bill is for electric upgrades only, but the propane industry is asking for the bill to be amended to include all high-efficiency options. HB 3056 extends funding from an earlier bill SB 1536 (2022) for a heat pump grant and rebate program. Fifty percent of funding is earmarked for low and moderate income households. The new funding end date will be January 2, 2026. Resilient Buildings (RB): Refer to the adopted Legislative Joint Task Force on Resilient Efficient Buildings (REB) Dec 13 Report . The League is an active RB coalition partner. RB campaign guiding principles . SB 868 , 869 , 870 and 871 were posted 2/9. They seem to be placeholders, and nothing new has been added since last week. House CE&E Committee Updates By Greg Martin Feb 20 2023 Committee Meetings House C&E moved its first bill of the session to the floor with a do-pass recommendation: HB 3161 , a "cleanup" bill for PUC, voted unanimously and without discussion. Chair Marsh said the committee may designate the next such bill, HB 3160, for the consent agenda. Heard oral testimony on HB 2215 , the pro-nuclear bill. I counted 15 opponents and no supporters. A witness from NCSL said four states have repealed their restrictions on nuclear development since 2016. Opponents argued that SMR development is not really "carbon free," that supporters have not addressed the waste issue, much less resolved it, and that the risk to the state of making the wrong economic decision could be catastrophic in terms of stranded costs. HB 2700 would extend zero-emission and electric vehicle rebates to electric tractors and repowered tractors. Proponents including Rep. Neron said more farm vehicles need to go electric for the state to meet its carbon reduction goals, and incentives are needed to bring change, with some sideboards to ensure it doesn't just benefit "boutique" farmers. One rural supporter reported a favorable experience with a 25-hp electric tractor her family bought for $34K. The committee's rural members seemed favorable but noted that electric versions of "real tractors" (75+ hp) can cost over $100K so the bill's rebate of up to $2,500 per tractor would not offer much incentive. Feb 13 2023 HB 2396-1 (directs EQC to establish and implement an indirect source review program): The committee heard testimony on the -1 which seemed to have been posted too recently for some members' review; Rep. Owens demanded more time to study technical details with input from air quality experts. Proponents (Reps. Dexter, Tranh et al.) noted EQC already has authority to regulate indirect sources; the bill would require EQC to do so per specified definitions and methodology. Portland area supporters stressed the disproportionate impact of diesel emissions on BIPOC communities. Rep. Osborne challenged this, asking where they got their supporting data about race. He wondered whether the bill isn’t targeting “low-lying fruit” and won’t do much to address major pollution sources. OBI and other opponents predicted lengthy litigation, saying the bill would set state standards for mobile source emissions preempting EPA standards, contrary to federal law. Committee members wondered whether LC had considered this in drafting the amendment. Opponents also noted that EQC unanimously rejected this rulemaking in 2020. Seems like this bill will face a long hard pull. HB 3158 (Clean Diesel Engine Taxes): Rep. Nosse noted that diesel equipment retrofit rules are on the books, and said user taxes in this bill will raise sustained revenue to enable equipment users to comply. He said funds from the VW settlement must be spent quickly and anyway aren't sufficient to address the problem. Rep. Boshart Davis opposed, saying diesel replacement is happening “organically” and we don’t need new taxes to incentivize it. Chair Marsh halted the parade of pro and con witnesses at 4:30 with many more waiting to testify, and carried over the hearing to a future date to be announced. She also postponed the hearing on HB 3003 (tax credits for utilities that buy electricity generated from western juniper biomass). Transportation ODOT Seeks Input on the NEVI Program By Greg Martin More EV fast chargers are coming to Oregon, by way of $65 million in funding through the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) program, created by the 2021 Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. ODOT will partner with private contractors to install at least 65 public fast charging stations along Oregon’s major highways and interstates over the next five years, beginning with I-205, I-5 south of Eugene, and U.S. 97 in 2023-24. ODOT is hosting community meetings to gather public input and answer questions about the program. Meetings began in Portland and Oregon City on Feb. 21 and will continue through March 1 in Cottage Grove, Canyonville, Medford, LaPine, Klamath Falls, Moro, and Madras. The new charging stations will be sited about every 50 miles and will feature four 150 kw/hour chargers per station. Per the Justice40 initiative, 40 percent of NEVI program benefits must go to disadvantaged communities. ODOT is finalizing its contracting standards with the goal of releasing the RFP this summer and awarding contracts this fall. Site design and construction of the Phase 1 stations will begin in 2024. ODOT wants to hear what is important to you when thinking about EV fast charging locations along the Phase 1 corridors. Visit ODOT’s “Online Open House” through March 3 to learn more about NEVI and take a survey associated with the interstate or highway that is most relevant to you. Oregon Economic Analysis By Claudia Keith The Oregon Economic and Revenue Forecast was released Feb 22. The Oregon Office of Economic Analysis has continued to ignore the recommended SEC Climate Risk disclosure rule. SEC Plans to Finalize | Reuters. Republicans seek records on SEC climate disclosure proposal | CNBC. Preparing for climate disclosure in the largest capital market | Greenbiz. Republicans demand answers from SEC over climate disclosure proposal | Pensions & Investments See supportive SEC disclosure LWVOR-initiated LWVUS Testimony , June 2022. Oregon Treasury By Claudia Keith It is unclear how Oregon Treasury / Treasurer Tobias will assist with addressing the $27B Federal funds, which are contingent on formation of an Oregon Green Bank. New York, California, and Connecticut Green Bank; some are a function of the State Treasury. Related News: EPA climate fund may not be a green bank after all - E&E News. Oregon Bond rating continues to be above average. It's concerning to the League how these major issues will affect Oregon’s economy. Climate Related Lawsuits: Oregon and… By Claudia Keith Numerous lawsuits are challenging Oregon’s DEQ CPP regulations. Here is one example of how to track them. Basically, there are a number of active state and federal lawsuits , (Feb 2023 update) some of which could assist in meeting Oregon's Net Zero GHG Emissions before 2050 targets and other lawsuits, which challenge current Oregon DEQ CPP policy, which would limit the use of fossil fuels, including diesel, natural gas, and propane over time. Another source: Columbia University Law - Sabin Climate DB lists 60 lawsuits with OREGON mentioned. Senate poised to revive probe of Big Oil climate claims - E&E News. ESG Litigation Heats Up in Marketing, Climate Pollution , and DEI | Bloomberg Law. Oregon and PNW News: Advocates for Fossil Fuel Divestment Push Treasury for Changes | Willamette Weekly. Oregon lawmakers, environmentalists want state pension fund divested of fossil fuels | Jefferson Public Radio. Feedback loops make climate action even more urgent, scientists say – ScienceDaily/OSU. 27 feedback loops could accelerate climate crisis, warn scientists | Env Journal. US Pokes The Sleeping Giant Of Wave Energy - CLEAN POWER US Pokes The Sleeping Giant Of Ocean Wave Energy - US banks on new PacWave South test site to nail down a piece of the global wave energy industry pie.| Clean Technica. Opponents of Eugene's natural gas ban want it on 2023 ballot|. Eugene Register Guard. Oregon lawmakers propose $200M housing and homelessness package | ERG. Northwest climate activists fight a new front in the movement to stop fossil fuels | Waging Nonviolence. Arizona, Utah lawmakers look to hamper clean energy development | Energy News Network. An All-Canadian EV, Solar Misinformation, Fossil Gag Order , Putin Losing His Energy War, and a Warm Ottawa Winter Shuts the World’s Longest Skateway|TheEnergyMix. National & Global Biden Weaves Climate Into Economy and Regulations With Two Key Picks - The New York Times. Geoengineering for Climate Change Is Big , Ambitious, and Needs Shared Rules| Foreign Policy. America's coastal cities are a hidden time bomb - The Atlantic. How misinformation about solar power hinders the fight against climate change : NPR. Biden gets a chance to redefine the World Bank role – POLITICO. Republicans in the US ‘battery belt’ embrace Biden’s climate spending | Renewable energy | The Guardian Volunteers Needed By Claudia Keith Request to Local Leagues; please let us know your climate, resilience, or sustainability advocacy actions. Please consider joining the CE portfolio team; we lack volunteers in these critical policy and law areas: Natural and Working lands, specifically Agriculture/ODA Climate Related Lawsuits/Our Children’s Trust Public Health Climate Adaptation (OHA) Regional Solutions / Infrastructure (with NR team) State Procurement Practices (DAS: Dept. of Admin. Services) CE Portfolio State Agency and Commission Budgets Oregon Treasury: ESG investing/Fossil Fuel divestment We collaborate with Natural Resource Action members on many Climate Change mitigation and adaptation policy topics. Volunteers are needed: The 2023 legislative session began Jan 17. If any area of Climate Emergency interests you, please contact Claudia Keith , CE Coordinator. Orientation to Legislative and State Agency advocacy processes is available.

The Oregon Student Mock Election is open to all students and educators. Learn more. / Youth / Mock Election / ✨ Over 33,000 students participated in the 2024 Oregon Student Mock Election. Read more... Engage your students in the next election! The LWVOR Oregon Student Mock Election, endorsed by the Oregon Secretary of State , is an exciting experience-based educational program that involves participating students in the electoral process and demonstrates the importance of voting. Are you interested in receiving a mock ballot for the next election in your area? Contact us for personalized classroom support at mockelection [@] lwvor.org . Register your students! Civics Education Curriculum A Guide to Student Civic Engagement Our free, non-partisan Civics Education Curriculum covers voting, government, and elections. It's packed with classroom-ready lessons and activities, printable handouts and more! Get the Curriculum Educator Resources Civic Lessons: Oregon’s Political Parties and Closed Primaries Civic Lessons: Ranked Choice Voting (RCV) General OSME Lesson Plan (Updated specifically at the time of each election) Civics Education Curriculum Help spread the word! Printable OSME Quarter Page Flyer (PDF) ✨Contact Us Are you interested in bringing a hands-on civic experience to your students for the next election in your area? Contact us to receive personalized support for your classroom: mockelection [@] lwvor.org Additional Resources The following sites provide additional civics education resources for teachers. Civics Learning Project Center for Civic Education National Voter Registration Day Rock the Vote Secretary of State Elections Division (Oregon Votes) Case Method Project NextUp The Civics Center Oregon Coalition Against Hate Crimes Alliance For Youth Action Tufts: Media and Voting The Civics Center Energizing Young Voters Facing History Nonprofit Vote U.S. Dept. of Education: Student Vot er Participation Toolkit VerifyIt! promotes media literacy for informed voting, using source ratings for unbiased news. Learn more here . Sponsors and Supporters Oregon Secretary of State LaVonne Griffin-Valade Members of the League of Women Voters This program was made possible in part by a grant from Oregon Humanities and the National Endowment for the Humanities. Sign Up For Email We Need Your Support Today! Donate Your donation empowers voters and defends democracy.

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Justice resources for members of the League of Women Voters. / DEIJ In The League / DEIJ In the League Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Justice Toolkit A DEIJ Resource for League Members Learn more about DEIJ practices for your League and community. Get the Toolkit

Back to All Legislative Reports Natural Resources Legislative Report - Week of 3/3 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 Budgets/Revenue Climate Coastal Dept. of Environmental Quality (DEQ) Dept. of Geology and Mineral Industries (DOGAMI) Elliott State Research Forest (ESRF) Emergency Services Forestry (ODF) Governance Land Use & Housing Oregon Parks and Recreation Department (OPRD) Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board (OWEB) State Land Board Water Wildfire AIR QUALITY SB 726 requires the owner or operator of a municipal solid waste landfill to conduct surface emissions monitoring and report data as specified in the Act. LWVOR supports. The public hearing on this bill was held Feb. 24 in the Senate Committee On Energy and Environment . See the article in the Statesman Journal. See also the Climate Emergency Legislative Report this week. 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 Keizer and League members have testified of their concerns in past years. AGRICULTURE By Sandra Bishop The following Senate bills will be considered in the Senate Committee On Natural Resources and Wildfire on March 6 : SB 78 – Replacement dwelling bill and 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. Also, we are watching HB 3158 relating to photovoltaic solar power generation facilities on lands zoned for exclusive farm use. Allows certain photovoltaic solar power generation facilities on lands zoned for exclusive farm use to operate alongside farm or allowed nonfarm uses on a tract. LWVOR is watching this one before taking a position. The League is watching HB 2947 , a bill that would direct the Oregon State University Extension Service and the College of Agricultural Sciences of Oregon State University to study the distribution and occurrence of perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) found in biosolids applied to agricultural fields that do not produce crops intended for human consumption. BUDGETS/REVENUE By Peggy Lynch Following are the budget bills we are watching in Natural Resources: Dept. of Agriculture: SB 5502 tentative 3rd week of March; Dept. of Agriculture Fees: SB 5503 tentative 3rd week of March; 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 info hearing 2/10, Meeting Materials , public hearing 2/11 Oregon Dept. of Energy Fees: SB 5519 info hearing 2/10, public hearing 2/11 Oregon Dept. of Fish and Wildlife: HB 5009 , tentative public hearings Mar. 31 & Apr. 1-2; Oregon Dept. of Forestry: SB 5521 . Tentative public hearings March 10-12; Wildfire Funding Workgroup Work Session/report to be a part of the ODF budget presentation. The Workgroup will also present their report regarding potential wildfire funding solutions to the Joint Committee On Ways and Means Subcommittee On Public Safety on March 5 and to the Joint Committee On Ways and Means Subcommittee On Natural Resources on March 6. Dept. of Geology and Mineral Industries: HB 5010 Public hearing Feb. 5-6; Meeting materials LWVOR testimony Aggregate industry testified against the staffing and fee increases. LWVOR points out that KPM #4 , mine inspections has consistently NOT met the small 20% target so, if staffing is needed to meet that target AND fees increased to pay for them, we will continue to support. LWVOR supports SB 836 . 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 (Work Session Mar. 4 in Senate Committee On Natural Resources and Wildfire ) Oregon State Marine Board: HB 5021 . Public hearing Feb. 17; Meeting Materials **Oregon State Parks and Recreation Dept.: HB 5026 info hearings March 3-4, public hearing March 5. Meeting Materials Dept. of State Lands: SB 5539 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 and HB 2803 . Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board: HB 5039 . Info mtg. & P ublic hearing Feb. 25-27 LWVOR testimony . Meeting Materials Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board 6-Year Limitation: HB 5040 (Limits expenditures of lottery funds from the Watershed Conservation Grant Fund for local grant expenditures by the Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board for a six-year period beginning July 1, 2025.) Info mtg. & P ublic hearing Feb. 25-26 Oregon Business Development Dept.: HB 5024 Oregon Dept. of Emergency Management: SB 5517 Office of the Governor: SB 5523 Oregon State Fire Marshal: SB 5538 info hearing 2/19, public hearing 2/20. See more in the Wildfire section of this report. Dept. of Transportation: SB 5541 Dept. of Administrative Services: HB 5002 info hearings 3/03-5, public hearing 3/06. Meeting Materials Legislative Administration Committee, Legislative Assembly, Legislative Counsel Committee, Legislative Fiscal Officer, Legislative Revenue Officer, Commission on Indian Services and Legislative Policy and Research Committee: HB 5016 Lottery Bonds: SB 5531 : an average debt capacity of $564 million in each Biennium 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.) CLIMATE By Claudia Keith and Team See the Climate Emergency section of this Legislative Report. T here are overlaps with this Natural Resources Report. We encourage you to read both sections. COASTAL LHas the Jordan Cove Liquified Natural Gas (LNG) project reared its head again? League members may remember this proposed project that would have allowed a pipeline across land from southern Oregon to Coos Bay and then would have created an LNG export facility on unstable lands on the edge of the Bay. LWVOR supported local Leagues in objecting to the project, including engaging with state agency permit applications. The project eventually pulled out as they lost permit approvals. But we have been informed that a new filing to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) has been proposed and the applicant is stating that new federal support should supersede state permitting. We will share more as we learn more. A bill League is following is SB 504 related to shoreline stabilization. Our coastal partners have been working with the sponsor and a -4 amendment has been filed that focuses on “non-structural nature-based solutions” instead of “bioengineering”. A work session was held. The -4 amendment was adopted unanimously on Feb. 25 in the Senate Committee On Natural Resources and Wildfire and the bill has been sent to Ways and Means. The League is pleased to see the bill numbers for kelp and eel grass conservation ( HB 3580 ) Eelgrass Action Bill (HB 3580) and protection of Rocky Habitat ( HB 3587 ). Here is a one-pager : Rocky Habitat Stewardship Bill (HB 3587) . The League signed on to letters of support f or both HB 3580 and HB 3587. We asked for funding for a staffer in the Dept. of Land Development and Conservation budget to continue to address rocky habitat, an element of the Territorial Sea Plan which the League has supported. DEPT. OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY (DEQ) By Peggy Lynch The League has signed on to a letter in opposition to HB 2642 .because we believe that the DEQ should retain the power to implement vehicle emission testing. Emissions testing in Oregon began in the mid-1970s as a method of reducing air pollution from trucks and cars in order to ensure compliance with the landmark federal Clean Air Act of 1970. A public hearing was held on Feb. 18 in the Joint Committee On Transportation . 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 work session was held on Feb. 25 in the Senate Committee On Natural Resources and Wildfire where it passed unanimously and now heads to the full Senate for a vote . HB 2947 had a public hearing in the House Committee On Agriculture, Land Use, Natural Resources, and Water on Feb. 10th related to treated sewage being used on farms. OPB provided great coverage of the concerns related to this usage. See also an article about this issue in this report under Agriculture. Here is the Onsite Wastewater Management Program 2025 Rulemaking webpage . Because of the League’s work on SB 391 (2021) and additional bills in 2023, a League member served on the rules advisory committee to address sewer availability and accessory dwelling unit (ADU) issues. On Feb. 26 the advisory committee approved the Fiscal Impact Statement. A public comment period is expected in May. You are welcome to Sign up for email updates about this rulemaking via GovDelivery . The League again served on an annual rulemaking advisory committee on water quality fee increases. A meeting was held on Feb. 25th where the committee agreed to forward their recommendation for the allowed annual 3% fee increase to the DEQ Director. To learn more about this rulemaking and the advisory committee you can view the rulemaking web page at: Water Quality Fees 2025 . DEPT. OF GEOLOGY AND MINERAL INDUSTRIES (DOGAMI) By Joan Fryxell On March 6th the Technical Review Team (TRT) will be meeting on the Calico Resources proposed Grassy Mountain gold mine near Vale in Malheur County. The TRT will discuss Best Available Practicable and Necessary Technology (BAPNT). Information will be available online . 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. ELLIOTT STATE RESEARCH FOREST (ESRF) You can read the latest about the Elliott State Research Forest in their latest press release. Included is that t he Oregon Department of State Lands (DSL) is seeking comments on administrative rules for the Elliott State Research Forest. The comment period is open from February 3 - March 5 (closes at 5 p.m. Pacific). Then DSL is seeking comments on the proposed Elliott State Research Forest Operations Plan. Click here to view or download the proposed plan, project overview map, and appendices. Click here to view only the proposed plan (PDF) The 45-day comment period is open until 5 p.m. on March 31. Here is a more complete notice of the plan with opportunities for virtual public meetings. EMERGENCY SERVICES By Rebecca Gladstone The League spoke and filed testimony on HB 2581 in support of a statute change, substituting the word “seismic” with “hazards”, to coordinate coverage efforts through the State Resiliency Officer. The bill has passed the House. The Senate Committee On Veterans, Emergency Management, Federal and World Affairs will hold a public hearing on March 6th. FORESTRY (ODF) By Josie Koehne HB 3103 , a bill that would d irect the State Forester to establish “sustainable” harvest levels for harvesting timber on state forestland and develop a timber inventory model to inform sustainable harvest levels while ignoring the court affirmed “greatest permanent value” will be heard on March 3rd in the House Committee On Agriculture, Land Use, Natural Resources, and Water . T he League will OPPOSE . Governor Kotek is proposing SB 1051 , sponsored by Sen. Kayse Jama, that would move the hiring authority for the State Forester from the Board of Forestry to the Governor with Senate confirmation. Requires the state forester or deputy to be a practical forester. The bill was referred to the Senate Committee on Rules where it’s not subject to the same deadlines as other bills and where it will likely be heavily debated. The Oregon Board of Forestry will meet for a public meeting on March 5 at 8:30 a.m. The full agenda is available on the board’s webpage . See also the Wildfire section of this report below and the separate Climate section. GOVERNANCE Our partners in the Oregon Conservation Network alerted us to 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 to individual state agencies that 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 . On Feb. 19, the Governor provided expectations and guidance for state agencies related to rulemaking and customer service. Upon outreach to the Governor’s Office, the League has been invited to participate in a discussion of rulemaking processes and committee membership selection. LAND USE & HOUSING By Peggy Lynch The League provided testimony in support of the Land Use Board of Appeals budget: SB 5529 . We will also follow SB 817 , a bill to request a minor fee increase (Work Session Mar. 4 in Senate Committee On Natural Resources and Wildfire ). The League attended a webinar on the proposed 2025 Natural Hazards Risk Assessment . You can watch the webinar on DLCD’s YouTube Channel . Among the items of interest was a proposed verbiage change from using “climate change” to “future considerations” so as to not trigger issues with the federal government since this document is used as part of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)’s grant process. Business Oregon’s Infrastructure bill, HB 3031 , with a -1 amendment to clarify the criteria to be used to access the proposed $100 million fund had a public hearing on Feb. 26 in the House Committee On Housing and Homelessness . Although there are a few issues yet to resolve, the League supports this important funding bill. LWVOR testimony . Governor’s news release . Bills we are following: HB 2316 : Allows designation of Home Start Lands to be used for housing. These lands are currently a variety of state-owned lands scattered around the state. HB 2400 Allows the owner of property outside an urban growth boundary to site an additional dwelling on the property for occupancy by a relative of the owner. HB 2422 Requires that lands zoned to allow density of one or fewer dwellings per acre to be considered a rural use. HB 3013 : Details the process by which a permit or zone change that is based on provisions of a comprehensive plan or land use regulation that fail to gain acknowledgment is voided and any resulting improvements or uses are removed or revoked. LWVOR supports with -1 amendment. A public hearing was held Feb. 3rd. HB 3062 : Requires local governments to map sensitive uses as part of a comprehensive plan. A public hearing was held Feb. 20th. HB 2138 : Expands allowable middle housing and expands middle housing requirements to include urban unincorporated lands, filed at the request of the Governor. A public hearing will be held on March 3rd in House Committee On Housing and Homelessness where a -1 amendment is posted as a “gut and stuff” for the bill. We expect to see additional amendments before the bill moves forward. At this time, the League is not planning to testify on this bill. 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 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. The bill passed the House 49-7 and now moves to the Senate. HB 2950 A bill to update Goal One and Public Participation is being sponsored by Oregon’s American Planning Association. The League is interested in the bill, but has some concerns. We understand there will be an amendment proffered. A public hearing was held Feb. 12th in the House Committee On Agriculture, Land Use, Natural Resources, and Water . Because of the requirement to do rulemaking, the bill, if passing the Committee, will be sent to Ways and Means. SB 462 : Requires the Oregon Business Development Department to establish an education course for land use planners for local governments, special districts and state agencies. LWVOR supports educational efforts but there are other training opportunities so this proposal might be redundant. A public hearing was held on Feb. 19 in the Senate Committee On Housing and Development . SB 525 : Amends expedited land division criteria and processes. LWVOR has concerns. May need to oppose. See also the Housing Report in the Social Policy section of this Legislative Report. OREGON PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT (OPRD) The OPRD budget will be considered this week. 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 operations. OREGON WATERSHED ENHANCEMENT BOARD (OWEB) By Lucie La Bonte On Feb. 25th, OWEB presented their budget ( HB 5039 ) to the Joint Ways and Means Subcommittee on Natural Resources. The presentation included information regarding the life cycle of grants and funding that OWEB receives and passes on to grantees through the reimbursement process. Turnaround time is within 2 weeks for reimbursements. Staffing continuity is important for local folks. They have an engaged Board of 18 that makes allocation decisions. There are multiple state and federal agencies, tribal and local representation. OWEB has made 900 grants this year. They have new programs: Protect over 12,000 acres of Agriculture Land, Working Lands Funds, and Water Source Protection.There were questions from the committee on weed control, invasive species and sustainability. 9%-10% of funding is used for staffing. There are no requests for new staffing in the budget, but there is one request to make a limited duration position permanent. A public hearing was held Feb. 26th. HB 5039 is the agency’s budget bill. 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. STATE LAND BOARD (SLB) By Peggy Lynch The State Land Board met on Feb. 27th to begin the process of recruiting for a new DSL Director, with an appointment targeted for June 10. The next regular meeting is scheduled for April 8. WATER By Peggy Lynch LWV Deschutes County submitted a letter in support of SB 427 , a water rights transfer bill meant to protect instream water flows. HB 3106 is the Oregon Water Data Portal funding bill for which the League provided testimony in support. The multi-agency effort to release a beta version of the pilot portal for the Oregon Water Data Portal project debuted on January 31. The pilot portal is accessible at https://www.oregonwaterdata.org/ . Users can provide feedback about the beta version of the pilot portal by completing a survey or emailing OWDP@deq.oregon.gov . A public hearing was held on Feb. 26th in the House Committee On Agriculture, Land Use, Natural Resources, and Water where a -1 amendment was shared that would create an entire multi-agency system for gathering the water data needed for good decision making. The League has yet to determine if this new proposal is good for Oregon. See the following Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board presentation and the Internet of Water Coalition presentation . A work session will be held on Mar. 3rd on HB 3341 in the House Committee On Agriculture, Land Use, Natural Resources, and Water . It appropriates moneys to the Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board for the Community Drinking Water Enhancement and Protection Fund. The League supported the establishment of this fund in past years. Other water bills we are following: HB 3525 is related to tenants’ right to well water testing. The League submitted testimony in support. HB 3526 would require well water test reporting in property sales. The League supported this concept in past sessions and did again this session. HB 3364 makes changes to the grants programs at the Water Resources Dept. Testimony provided comments and concerns with agreement that all parties would continue to work on finding agreement on an amendment. HB 3419 is the major broad set of water policy changes that is now described by the various amendments posted since this is really a “gut and stuff” bill! The committee Co-Chairs announced that more amendments are expected. Per Rep. Owens: the -2 and -3 amendments on HB 3419 will NOT move. HB 2988 : Instructs the Water Resources Department to take certain actions related to aquifer recharge and aquifer storage and recovery. A public hearing was held Feb. 12th. 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. HB 2808 : Increases fees related to wells. LWVOR will support. Needed to provide current service level staffing at WRD. HB 3573 , a bill that addresses funding for a variety of water measurement strategies. We expect a hearing next week in the House Committee On Agriculture, Land Use, Natural Resources, and Water . The League supports. The Co-Chairs of the House Committee On Agriculture, Land Use, Natural Resources, and Water are working on a broad package of water-related bills, the 2025 Water Package . There is a Water Caucus raising the awareness of the need to address Oregon’s water needs. League members may want to check the U. S. Drought Monitor , a map that is updated every Thursday. Here is a more complete website about drought in Oregon. We all need to pay attention to the potential for harmful algal blooms. “When in doubt, stay out.” V isit the Harmful Algae Bloom website or call the Oregon Public Health Division toll-free information line at 877-290-6767 to learn if an advisory has been issued or lifted for a specific water body. WILDFIRE By Carolyn Mayers The Wildfire Funding Workgroup will present their report regarding potential wildfire funding solutions to the Joint Committee On Ways and Means Subcommittee On Public Safety on March 5 and to the Joint Committee On Ways and Means Subcommittee On Natural Resources on March 6. There are six concepts . Each will have its own bill number, submitted by Rep. Lively who was an ex officio member of the Workgroup. Sen. Jeff Golden released a plea for a comprehensive solution to our wildfire crisis. Volunteers Needed What is your passion related to Natural Resources? You can help. Volunteers are needed. The long legislative session begins in January of 2025. Natural Resource Agency Boards and Commissions meet regularly year-round and need monitoring. If any area of natural resources is of interest to you, please contact Peggy Lynch, Natural Resources Coordinator, at peggylynchor@gmail.com . Training will be offered. Interested in reading additional reports? Please see our Climate Emergency , Governance , and Social Policy report sections.

Back to All Legislative Reports Natural Resources Legislative Report - Week of 6/9 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) Elliott State Research Forest (ESRF) Forestry Governance Land Use & Housing Recycling State Land Board (SLB) Transportation Water Wildfire AGRICULTURE By Sandra U. Bishop OPPORTUNITY FOR PUBLIC COMMENT The first meeting of the Farm Stand Rulemaking Advisory Committee (RAC) was held on May 16th. ( OAR 660-033-0130: Regarding farm stands in exclusive farm use (EFU) zones and agri-tourism) The meetings are live-streamed and recorded and may be reviewed on the Oregon Department of Land Conservation and Development (DLCD) YouTube channel . The 20-member RAC is expected to meet 4 or 5 times. The public hearing will likely be in September 2025. The public comment period for this rulemaking will close October 5, 2025. To submit public comment please email written comments to: farmforest.comment@dlcd.oregon.gov Comments must be in writing to be considered part of the rulemaking record. People may also make brief public comments at the RAC meetings . Rulemaking webpage AIR QUALITY SB 726 A would direct the Environmental Quality Commission to adopt rules requiring the use of advanced methane detection technology for surface emissions monitoring at municipal solid waste landfills, beginning 1/1/2027. The A7 amendment limits the bill's application to a landfill located in Benton County (e.g., Coffin Butte). Passed the House and repassed the Senate. Awaiting Governor’s signature. Related to this bill is HB 3794 , a bill that would create a Task Force on Municipal Solid Waste in the Willamette Valley. HB 3794 is sitting in Ways and Means. BOTTLE BILL UPDATE By Sandra U. Bishop The omnibus bottle bill SB 992 A , a conglomeration of several bills introduced this session to address problems with beverage container redemption in the Portland area, has been signed by the Governor! BUDGETS/REVENUE By Peggy Lynch Following are the budget bills we are watching in Natural Resources. However, there are currently over 500 bills in Joint Ways and Means, with many of the agency budget bills now moving through that committee and to the floor and then on to the Governor. Dept. of Agriculture: SB 5502 Dept. of Agriculture Fees: SB 5503 Both bills passed Full Ways and Means and the Senate. Headed to the House floor for a final vote. Five bills related to department’s various fee increases also passed Full Ways and Means. HB 2805 Relating to food establishment licenses ( Meeting Materials ), HB 2806 Relating to license fees for commercial instruments ( Meeting Materials ), HB 2809 Relating to pesticide registration fees ( Meeting Materials ), SB 1019 A Relating to brands ( Meeting Materials ), SB 832 A Relating to civil penalties for laws implemented by the State Department of Agriculture ( Meeting Materials ) Columbia River Gorge Commission: SB 5508 LFO Recommendation The bill passed Ways and Means and the Senate and House. Awaiting the Governor’s signature. Dept. of Environmental Quality: SB 5520 League testimony . LFO Recommendation and Meeting Materials The bill passed Full Ways and Means after a contentious discussion. Passed the Senate (17-11 with 2 excused). Now it goes to the House floor. As a major regulatory agency, this agency struggles to gain bipartisan support. Oregon Dept. of Energy: SB 5518 and Oregon Dept. of Energy Fees: SB 5519 Meeting Materials . Bills passed the Senate 18-10 with 2 excused. Awaiting a vote in the House. Oregon Dept. of Fish and Wildlife: HB 5009 ( LFO Recommendation ), along with HB 2342 A ( LFO Recommendation ) Relating to fees concerning wildlife, HB 2343 A ( LFO Recommendation ) Relating to the Columbia Basin endorsement and HB 2345 ( LFO Recommendation ) Relating to Oregon hatcheries. These three bills passed Full Ways and Means on June 6 and now head to chamber floors. Conservationists, with HB 2977 (a -2 amendment has been filed), would add 1% (or 1.5%) for conservation programs. That additional money would go to a special Fund at the Oregon Dept. of Fish and Wildlife. It had a hearing in House Revenue on May 8. Oregon Dept. of Forestry: SB 5521 . Meeting Materials ; Work Session was set for May 27 and then cancelled. New Work Session June 5 where it passed the Subcommittee. LFO Recommendation The budget recommended that payroll be transferred to the Dept. of Administrative Services. POP 801 provides funding for the Private Forest Accord and Habitat Conservation Plan work. HB 2072, Harvest Tax, LFO Recommendation . Dept. of Geology and Mineral Industries (DOGAMI): HB 5010 Public hearing Feb. 5-6; Meeting materials LWVOR testimony LWVOR supports SB 836 , a bill that would significantly increase permit fees for mining related activities. See the agency’s presentation to understand the reasons for these increases. A public hearing was held on May 19 and the League provided verbal testimony on the proposed amendment. A Work Session was held May 28 where the -4 amendment was adopted. A work session was held on June 3. The LFO Recommendation for HB 5010 included additional staff related to the SB 836 fee increase, the carbon sequestration and e-permitting project. There were two budget notes, both of which the League can support related to reporting on the e-permitting project and the audit report done in April. Here is the LFO Recommendation for SB 836. Dept. of Land Conservation and Development: SB 5528 Governor’s budget DLCD Fact Sheet Public hearing Feb. 3-4; LCDC 1/24 presentation ; Meeting Materials LWVOR testimony . The budget is set for a work session in the Ways and Means Natural Resources Subcommittee on June 9. This budget and the Oregon Housing and Community Services budget ( HB 5011 ) have been part of a challenging conversation between the Governor and the Ways and Means Co-Chairs with the Governor’s recommended budget being more than the May revenue forecast can afford. Land Use Board of Appeals: SB 5529 Public hearing Feb. 27 LWVOR testimony . The bill passed Full Ways and Means and the Senate. Is awaiting a vote in the House. Oregon State Marine Board (OSMB): HB 5021 and HB 2558 A modifies the definition of "charter guide" for purposes of outfitter and guide laws and HB 2982 A , a bill that increases boating permit costs estimated to increase revenue to OSMB by about $1 million for the 2025-27 biennium, most of which will be used to address Aquatic and Invasive Species (AIS) management in partnership with the Oregon Dept. of Fish and Wildlife were considered together. Here is the Legislative Fiscal Office recommendation for each of the three bills. HB 5021, HB 2558 and HB 2982 all passed the House chamber. Awaiting a vote in the Senate. Dept. of State Lands: SB 5539 LWVOR testimony in support. LFO 2025-27 budget recommendation . LFO budget recommendation for SB 147. Both bills passed the Senate and the House. Awaiting the Governor’s signature. Oregon State Parks and Recreation Dept.: HB 5026 info hearings March 3-4, public hearing March 5. Meeting Materials LWVOR testimony in part to address comments by the Legislative Fiscal Office. The bill passed Full Ways and Means and is now headed to the House and Senate chambers. LFO Recommendation . There is a bill related to contracting rules that is passing and another, SB 565 , that would move the Capitol State Park back to the control of the Dept. of Administrative Services. Back in 2007, the League objected to the move to State Parks as a cost burden to Parks, but it was approved in part because of the lottery revenue available while the General Fund was struggling. Now the reverse is true. We understand that this bill may not move this session but may come back in 2026 where the League may be called on to engage. Water Resources Dept.: SB 5543 Governor’s budget WRD Fact Sheet Here is a summary of the Governor’s budget. Governor's Budget and Agency Request Budget documents are available online here . Info Mtg. & Public hearing Feb. 18-20. Meeting Materials . LWVOR testimony . And the fee bills: support HB 2808 (Bill moved to Ways and Means) and support HB 2803 (The - 3 amendment was adopted, reducing the fees significantly which will cause the department a revenue shortfall should the amendment stand the scrutiny of Ways and Means where it now lies.) The budget and fee bills are scheduled for a work session in Ways and Means Natural Resources Subcommittee on June 10 along with HB 3544A , a bill that revises current statutes on contested case procedures related to new water right applications and water right transfer applications (contested cases). Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board: HB 5039 . Info mtg. & Public hearing Feb. 25-27 LWVOR testimony . Meeting Materials . Work Session June 2 where it passed the Subcommittee and passed Full Ways and Means on June 6 . Now headed to both chambers for a vote. LFO Recommendation Of special interest to the League is converting a staffer from “limited duration” (only through a biennium) permanent to oversee the agency’s land and water acquisitions, stewardship activities, the Oregon Agricultural Heritage Program (OAHP) and the Drinking Water Source Protection (DWSP) Program. The League has supported the DWSP Program. We were disappointed that no additional monies were added to the program under this budget bill and will continue to hope for an infusion of monies by the end of session. However, the OAHP received another $2 million General Funds. We see nothing in the bill for funding the Climate Fund for the current biennium. Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board 6-Year Limitation: HB 5040 (Limits expenditures of lottery funds from the Watershed Conservation Grant Fund for local grant expenditures by the Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board for a six-year period beginning July 1, 2025.) Info mtg. & Public hearing Feb. 25-26. Work Session June 2 where it passed the Subcommittee and passed Full Ways and Means on June 6 . Now headed to both chambers for a vote. LFO Recommendation Oregon Dept. of Transportation (ODOT): SB 5541 info hearing 3/03-6, public hearing 3/11. The League signed on to a letter in support of increased transit funding. The Joint Committee on Transportation ended its work on May 23rd but a new committee ( Joint Committee on Transportation Reinvestment ) has taken over in hopes of coming to agreement on a comprehensive package before the end of session. On June 6, notice was given that a proposed package will be heard next week. This budget will await those actions. Legislative Administration Committee, Legislative Assembly, Legislative Counsel Committee, Legislative Fiscal Officer, Legislative Revenue Officer, Commission on Indian Services and Legislative Policy and Research Committee: HB 5016 Info hearings 4/29-30. Public hearing May 1st. Lottery Bonds: SB 5531 : an average debt capacity of $564 million in each Biennium. Public hearing May 9 and May 16.. The League supported two of the requests: $160 million for preservation of rental housing and $25 million to preserve manufactured housing and $100 million Housing Infrastructure Fund in Section 14. There are over $2 billion in requests for a variety of projects around Oregon! Emergency Board: HB 5006 This bill will be populated with an amount for the Emergency Board to spend at will and amounts in Special Purpose Appropriations if needed when the legislature is not in session. General Obligation Bonds, etc.: SB 5505 : an average debt capacity of $2.22 billion per Biennium. Public hearing held April 18. Second public hearing, this time on university and community college requests, was held May 2. Six-Year Limitation/Bonds: SB 5506 (Limits for the six-year period beginning July 1, 2025, payment of expenses from fees, moneys or other revenues, including Miscellaneous Receipts, but excluding lottery funds and federal funds, collected or received by various state agencies for capital construction.) Public hearing held May 2. CLIMATE By Claudia Keith and Team See the Climate Emergency section of this Legislative Report. There are overlaps with this Natural Resources Report. We encourage you to read both sections. COASTAL ISSUES Cuts to NOAA (the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) will affect Oregon coastal communities per this article in Columbia Insight. “ Lower catch limits for fish and compromised maritime safety are just some of the ways Trump’s proposed budget could weaken the Pacific Northwest. In the Pacific Northwest, cuts to NOAA are likely to negatively impact everyone from fishers and crabbers to rural communities responding to climate change. Cuts to NOAA are also likely to make it harder to track and respond to environmental harms, including climate change impacts, as well as threats to the health of our region’s fisheries and the safety of the food it produces.” OPPORTUNITY FOR ACTION The League supports HB 3580 eelgrass stabilization LWVOR signed letter of support and HB 3587A Protection of Rocky Habitat LWVOR signed letter of support ( fiscal impact statement ). To help these bills get funded, consider LWVOR’s Action Alert . The League signed on to a letter of support for HB 3963 , a bill that extends the timeline for the Dept. of Land Conservation and Development to provide a report on offshore wind conversations from 2025 to 2027. A public hearing was held May 19. The League signed on to testimony in support. A work session was held May 29 where the bill passed committee in a partisan vote. The bill passed the House floor (34/18 with 2 excused) and now is headed to the Senate chamber for a vote. OPPORTUNITY FOR ACTION The Oregon Coastal Management Program (OCMP) is currently developing its 2026-2030 Program Enhancement Assessment and Strategy. Draft Strategy The OCMP has selected to focus on wetlands, coastal hazards, and ocean resources in this 2026-2030 planning horizon. See the Draft Assessment and Strategy and provide feedback during the comment period of May 12 - June 12, 2025. The draft 2026-2030 Program Enhancement Assessment and Strategy can be found on their Public Comment webpage . Please provide comments on or before June 12. Send comments: E-mail Comments: coastal.policy@dlcd.oregon.gov Written Comments: OCMP-DLCD, 635 Capitol St. NE, Suite 150, Salem, OR 97301-2540. DEPT. OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY (DEQ) By Peggy Lynch SB 1154 was filed by the Governor to address the groundwater/nitrate issue in Morrow and Umatilla counties per this OPB article . See also in the Water section for a presentation of interest. The bill has a public hearing and possible work session for June 9 in Senate Rules. An A3 amendment is posted. DEPT. OF GEOLOGY AND MINERAL INDUSTRIES (DOGAMI) By Joan Fryxell The Grassy-Mountain Gold Project Technical Review Team will meet June 16th. Information can be found here . The League continues to follow this project as the first consolidated permitting project to be held in Oregon. ELLIOTT STATE RESEARCH FOREST (ESRF) The ESRF Board of Directors will meet in North Bend June 11, from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. The public may attend in person or via Zoom. Click here to download the meeting agenda and materials . FORESTRY The Board of Forestry met June 4 and 5 per this press release . May 30: Today, the Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) deployed 14 firefighters to Alberta, Canada, four firefighters to Alaska, three to Minnesota, and one to Florida. With fire season beginning in some parts of the state, this will be the agency’s last big out-of-state resource push until the rainy fall returns in Oregon. ODF is continuing to sign mutual aid contracts with states around the country as each needs help during their specific fire seasons. GOVERNANCE HB 3569 , a bill that would require a Chief Sponsor (legislator) of a bill to be a part of a rules advisory committee (RAC) for legislation they had a hand in passing, passed the House. The League provided testimony with our concerns and opposition to the bill. The bill passed Senate Rules on June 5 and now goes to the Senate floor for a vote. The League continues to have discussions with Legislative Leadership and the Governor’s office on these RACs bills, explaining our concerns. Because the League is often engaged in rulemaking, we regularly comment on legislation that would affect changes in Oregon’s current Administrative Rules. We have provided testimony in opposition to HB 2692 , a bill that would create complicated and burdensome processes for agencies to implement legislation with their rulemaking procedures. The League joined others in sharing concerns about this bill to members of House Rules. It was pulled from the scheduled work session on May 28th. The League continues to follow the bills listed on the March 17 agenda of the Senate Committee On Rules since some of the bills relate to the process of rulemaking ( SB 437 , SB 1006 , SB 370 , SB 483 ) and SB 411 , SB 895 also in Senate Rules. HB 2454 passed House Rules with the -1 amendment and sent to Ways and Means. The bill creates a new Audits Officer (with possible additional staff). The Jt. Audits Committee would hire the Officer. From Leader Bowman’s office: “ HB 2454 changes the statutory authority related to audits and audit reviews from the Legislative Fiscal Office to the Legislative Audit Officer (LAO) and authorizes the LAO to hire necessary staff to carry out assigned functions. The LAO and his/her staff will be housed under the new Legislative Performance Oversight and Government Accountability Office. The bill does substitute LFO for the LAO on a number of responsibilities. LFO will continue fiscal analyses and other duties, while audits and oversight will be housed under the LAO.” We are concerned with HB 3382 , since the requirements of the Secretary of State to gather ALL the state agencies’ rulemaking, including all materials, would be overwhelming. Individual state agencies provide that information on their rulemaking websites. A work session was held May 28 where the -2 amendment was adopted to delay the web work and the bill sent to Ways and Means. Separately, the League was invited to a conversation among state agency rules staff on addressing concerns of the Governor and in an attempt to standardize the process statewide. The Governor has provided Rulemaking Guidance to state agencies: This document includes questions received from agencies since the Governor’s letter. This document includes additional resources for agencies including direction to post updates to the Transparency site, a website template that agencies can use (if they choose) to develop their pages, and links to other comprehensive agency rule making sites to review. There is a broader discussion to increase transparency and consistency in the state agencies’ rulemaking process. A second meeting related to the state agency rules process is set for June with an invitation to the League to continue to participate. See also the Governance section of this Legislative Report. LAND USE & HOUSING By Sandra U. Bishop/Peggy Lynch HB 2647 passed the House floor and was assigned to the Senate Housing and Development Committee where it passed the committee with the A 5 amendment , passed the Senate and has returned to the House floor for concurrence. The League provided testimony in support of HB 3939 , a bill that provides a list of infrastructure projects to fund for smaller Oregon cities so they can build more housing. We have also supported HB 3031 A (already sitting in Ways and Means) but know there might be limited dollars this session so called out that link in our letter. The -1 amendment to HB 3939 was adopted and the bill moved to Ways and Means. HB 2316 : Allows designation of Home Start Lands to be used for housing. HB 2316 -4 frees up approximately 3,500 acres of state land of which can now be used for housing production, all within the urban growth boundaries. It provides revenue to the state from the sale of the land, and it also provides revenue to our cities because the land becomes taxable for property taxes five years after purchase. The bill was sent to Revenue where a public hearing was held on May 15 and a work session was held May 27. The A6 amendment was adopted and the bill sent to Ways and Means. HB 2138 , the Governor’s follow up on the middle housing bill has a work session along with the Housing agency’s budget bill on June 10. “ The measure expands and streamlines middle housing requirements, applies them to more jurisdictions and certain unincorporated areas, clarifies definitions, and sets new deadlines for local governments to update land use regulations accordingly. It removes private covenants restricting middle housing or accessory dwelling units, eases traffic analysis requirements for small middle housing developments, and allows density bonuses for projects that include accessible or affordable units. The measure revises and simplifies the expedited land division process, limiting public notice and appeals, and requires local governments to process certain partitions as expedited if requested. It allows single room occupancies to be developed in greater numbers where multiunit housing is allowed, with capped parking requirements. It also directs the Land Conservation and Development Commission to adopt rules by 2028 .” The League engaged on elements of this bill over the summer but chose to stay silent due to some of the provisions in the bill. See also the Housing Report in the Social Policy section of this Legislative Report. RECYCLING RECYCLING FLYER The Recycling Modernization Act that the League supported in 2021 is reaping rewards. Expanded options are coming July 1. Here is a DEQ flyer to help. STATE LAND BOARD (SLB) The State Land Board will meet on Tuesday, June 10, 2025 at 11:00 a.m. at the Shutter Creek Facility in North Bend. Among the agenda items are: Appoint the Oregon Department of State Lands Director. (The SLB will meet in executive session on June 9th to consider this appointment.) Begin rulemaking for undersea cables in Oregon’s territorial sea. Acquire an 80-acre parcel of Bureau of Land Management (BLM) land in La Pine. Authorize a permanent easement on an existing freeway overpass in Portland’s Rose Quarter. Authorize the sale of and release of 274 acres of subsurface rights currently owned by the Department of Administrative Services (DAS) in Morrow County. The Land Board will also hear an update on bills the Department is tracking in the 2025 legislative session, as well as a guest presentation from the Department of Geology and Mineral Industries on geologic carbon sequestration. TRANSPORTATION The latest transportation funding proposal was revealed June 4th by a group of Democratic lawmakers. Per the Oregonian article, it would “significantly boost funding for public transit and climate-friendly pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure.” See a flyer briefly describing it. June 6, the House and Senate Republicans released their legislative concept (bill) to fund the transportation budget for 2025. Rep. Susan McLain, Co-Chair of the Transportation Reinvestment Committee, has announced a schedule for hearings on a proposed 2025 transportation plan. The hearing schedule for HB 2025 includes: Monday, June 9, 5 p.m.Informational Hearing Tuesday, June 10, 5 p.m. Public Hearing: Anchor projects and ODOT accountability Wednesday, June 11, 4 p.m. Public Hearing: Transit, rail, bike, and pedestrian safety Thursday, June 12, 4 p.m. Public Hearing: Operations, maintenance, and preservation From Rep. Shelly Boshart Davis: “ The bill, which sounds like it will be officially introduced on Monday will be HB 2025 and seems to try to bridge the Democrats’ initial plan, with this other one from this week that proposed a 100% increase in the gas tax to bring the tax to $.80/gallon (highest in the nation!), a 400% increase in the tax on workers' wages, car sales taxes, and big hikes on title and registration fees, all to fund empty buses, bike lanes, and costly climate initiatives.” WATER By Peggy Lynch A slate of water bills are being considered per this article in the Oregon Capital Chronicle. In an effort to modernize and streamline how state officials allocate what’s left of Oregon’s ground and surface waters, lawmakers are considering a slate of bills meant to get resource agencies collaborating on permitting reform, data collection and “management” rather than “regulation.” The status of the bills covered range from one awaiting the Governor’s signature to the many sitting in Rules Committees where work groups negotiate their content to those sitting in Ways and Means where they may or may not be funded. Due to capacity issues, the League has not engaged in many of these bills. HB 2169 had a work session on June 3 in Ways and Means Natural Resources Subcommittee. LFO Recommendation The bill directs the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) to establish and lead an interagency water reuse team to encourage and expand water reuse in Oregon. Full Ways and Means passed the bill on June 6 so it now goes to both chambers for a vote. HB 2947 also had a work session on June 3. “ Directs the Oregon State University Extension Service and the College of Agricultural Sciences of Oregon State University to study the distribution and occurrence of perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) found in biosolids applied to agricultural fields that do not produce crops intended for human consumption.” LFO Recommendation . Full Ways and Means passed the bill on June 6 so it now goes to both chambers for a vote. HB 3806 , a bill that authorizes the Oregon Water Resources Commission to approve a Deschutes River water bank pilot program if the charter is approved by the Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs and adheres to all requirements. It sunsets the pilot program on January 2, 2034, had a work session in Jt. Ways and Means Subcommittee on Natural Resources on May 29th. It was noted that funding for this pilot will be provided by the Deschutes River Conservancy. The bill passed and was sent to Full Ways and Means where it passed on June 6 and now goes to both chambers for a vote. LWV Deschutes County submitted a letter in support of SB 427 , a water rights transfer bill meant to protect instream water flows. A work session was held April 8 in Natural Resources and Wildfire, then the bill was sent to Senate Rules. SB 1153 , an alternate bill provided with help from the Governor’s office had a work session April 8 where the bill was sent to Senate Rules. After weeks of negotiations, a public hearing is set for June 3 with a work session held June 5 where no action was taken so a second work session is set for June 9 on SB 1153. A -10 amendment is now proposed. The June 3rd hearing included presentations by the large work group that developed the proposed legislation. “ Directs the Water Resources Department to consider whether certain water right transfers will result in a loss of in-stream habitat for sensitive, threatened or endangered aquatic species in stream reaches not protected by an existing water right or contribute to water quality impairment in water quality limited streams.” Water Right Process Improvements ( HB 3342 ). A - 4 amendment was adopted and the bill passed the House. Amended by the A 8 amendment, it passed the Senate. On May 29th the House concurred with the Senate amendment and passed the House floor and is now awaiting the Governor’s signature. Harney Basin Groundwater Management ( HB 3800 ). A work session was held and the bill was sent to House Rules without recommendation as to passage. Water Rights and Public Interest ( HB 3501 ) A work session was held and the bill was referred to House Rules without recommendation as to passage on a 6 to 3 vote. HB 3525 is related to tenants’ right to well water testing. The League submitted testimony in support. House Rules had a public hearing April 30. A work session scheduled for May 12 has been cancelled. A number of amendments have been offered. The controversy seems to be around timelines for testing—how often—and what exactly gets tested. The League hopes to see this bill move forward, even if there are constraints. It would be a beginning and a recognition that water needs to be safe for everyone-homeowners and renters. SUMMER PREPARATION TIPS League members may want to check the U. S. Drought Monitor , a map that is updated every Thursday. An Abnormally Dry designation has increased in NE and NW Oregon and now we also see our first level of Drought (Moderate) in some of those areas (over 8% of Oregon is in moderate drought (D1) and over 35% is abnormally dry (D0)). Here is a more complete website about drought in Oregon and a long range climate prediction . We all need to pay attention to the potential for harmful algal blooms (HABs). “When in doubt, stay out.” Visit the Harmful Algae Bloom website or call the Oregon Public Health Division toll-free information line at 877-290-6767 to learn if an advisory has been issued or lifted for a specific water body. Information on current advisories can be found on the OHA’s cyanobacteria bloom webpage at healthoregon.org/hab . The OHA has an online photo gallery to help community members identify signs of potentially harmful blooms. WILDFIRE By Carolyn Mayers Along with the transportation package, wildfire funding has been a challenge for the legislature. The Governor has weighed in on the concept of taking at least a part of the “kicker” to fund wildfire: lawmakers have an option if they can agree on a better use for the kicker money. With a two-thirds supermajority (meaning at least two Senate Republicans and four House Republicans would need to approve along with all legislative Democrats.) vote in each chamber, they can opt to suspend the refund. That’s happened once since the policy was enacted in the late 70s. Because our Rural Fire Protection Associations (RFPAs) are seeing a huge increase in their fire fees, Rep. Owens has offered the following: “ I introduced HB 3349 and HB 3350 to ensure our RFPAs have access to the tools they need. These bills propose establishing a dedicated funding stream to help RFPAs obtain gear from the Oregon Department of Forestry and better access federal resources. Importantly, this support does not change their volunteer status but simply gives them the resources to be more effective and safe while serving our communities.” Then the House Leadership decided to move SB 83 , which would repeal the State Wildfire Hazard Map and accompanying statues related to it, to House Rules at a Work Session on May 20. It seems that the bill is now being used as trade bait to find funding for wildfire according to a news release from Sen. David Brock Smith. SB 75 A , removes the wildfire hazard map as a guide for allowing ADUs and requiring higher building codes in rural areas. The bill was moved to House Rules on May 22nd by the House Committee on Climate, Energy and Environment where it is likely to stay while negotiations continue on wildfire funding. The Oregon Capital Insider provides information on the Dept. of Forestry’s budget and what’s happening at the federal level. The League heard a report from ODF staff from a meeting with the USForest Service: The agency is down 1,600 staff nationwide. Currently, they can't work for USFS for 5 years after. That issue is being worked on. Because they may need to bring people back this summer!! In 2024 the USFS had 44 Incident Management Teams. They are down to 37. These are leadership groups "running/management" for fires. They also have issues with "purchase cards"...credit cards used to purchase food/shelter/misc. equipment for fires. AND there are support people who have been let go. Others have chosen to take early retirement. Here is a short report on status of the bills mentioned last week: The Omnibus wildfire funding bill, HB 3940A , had a robust Public Hearing before the House Committee on Revenue on May 1. Legislative Revenue staff provided a table to help understand the various elements of the bill. Oregon Department of Forestry and Oregon State Fire Marshal’s Office have stated the minimum annual need for wildfire funding to address the growing wildfire crisis is around $280 million. The bill has a provision related to increasing the bottle deposit to help pay for wildfire funding. This provision was widely opposed, but another concept has been floated where the unclaimed deposits (now used to help pay for the collection system) would be instead used for wildfire funding. This bill is still part of the wildfire funding conversation. SB 1177 is still before the Senate Committee on Finance and Revenue. It had a public hearing on April 7. This bill would establish the Oregon Wildfire Mitigation and Adaptation Fund and redirect the “kicker” to it, one- time, for financing wildfire related expenses, by using the interest earned. A 5% return would yield approximately $170-180 million per year, or just over half of the aforementioned projected ongoing costs to fund wildfire mitigation and suppression. (The Governor has expressed interest in using only the amount of kicker that would go to large income earners for wildfire costs.) SJR 11 also remains before the Senate Committee on Finance and Revenue after its April 7 public hearing. It would dedicate a fixed, to-be-determined percentage of net proceeds of the State Lottery to a wildfire fund created by the Legislature. Its passage would mean an amendment to the Oregon Constitution, which would have to go to the voters for approval. Finally, HB 3489 , which imposes a severance tax on owners of timber harvested from public or private forestland, had a Public Hearing April 24 before the House Committee on Revenue. The League has supported a severance tax in past sessions and provided testimony at the hearing. The League is also still following other non-funding related bills, such as SB 926 , which would prohibit the recovery of certain costs and expenses from customers that an electric company incurs as a result of allegations of a wildfire resulting from the negligence or fault on the part of the electric company. It was passed by the Senate and had a work session on May 20 in the House Committee on Judiciary where the A 10 amendment was adopted. The Speaker sent the bill to Ways and Means. HB 3666 remains in the Rules Committee. This bill would establish wildfire mitigation actions and an accompanying certification for electric utilities in an attempt to standardize their approach. SB 1051 , which transfers the authority to appoint a State Forester from the State Board of Forestry to the Governor, subject to Senate confirmation, is scheduled for a Work Session June 11 in the Senate Rules Committee where amendments may be considered. Volunteers Needed What is your passion related to Natural Resources? You can help. Volunteers are needed. The long legislative session begins in January of 2025. Natural Resource Agency Boards and Commissions meet regularly year-round and need monitoring. If any area of natural resources is of interest to you, please contact Peggy Lynch, Natural Resources Coordinator, at peggylynchor@gmail.com . Training will be offered. Interested in reading additional reports? Please see our Climate Emergency , Revenue , Governance , and Social Policy report sections.

Back to All Legislative Reports Natural Resources Legislative Report - Week of 3/17 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 Please see Natural Resources Overview here . Jump to a topic: Air Quality Agriculture Budgets/Revenue Climate Coastal Columbia River Treaty Dept. of Environmental Quality (DEQ) Dept. of Geology and Mineral Industries (DOGAMI) Department of State Lands (DSL) Elliott State Research Forest (ESRF) Emergency Services Forestry (ODF) Governance Land Use & Housing Water Wetlands Wildfire AIR QUALITY SB 726 requires the owner or operator of a municipal solid waste landfill to conduct surface emissions monitoring and report data as specified in the Act. LWVOR supports. The public hearing on this bill was held Feb. 24 in the Senate Committee On Energy and Environment . We wait to see if it will get a work session. 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 The following Senate bills had public hearings in the Senate Committee On Natural Resources and Wildfire on March 6: SB 78 – Replacement dwelling bill and SB 77 – home occupation reform bill which the League supports. And SB 788 , a bill that would exempt some Eastern Oregon counties from certain land use laws, which we opposed. LWVOR testified in support of SB 77 and SB 78 , and in opposition to SB 788 . BUDGETS/REVENUE By Peggy Lynch The Joint Committee On Ways and Means took action on March 14 on five bills to rebalance the 2023-25 budget. T he bills go to the respective chambers for a vote where they should pass and be sent to the Governor for her signature. The legislature will then focus on the 2025-27 budgets. T heir agenda includes consideration of federal grants (one wonders if they still exist) and agency reports. The Joint Committee On Ways and Means Subcommittee On Capital Construction will next meet on March 21st when they will receive a report from the State Treasurer, including the 2025 bonding capacity, and from the Dept. of Administrative Services (DAS) on behalf of the Governor. Following are the budget bills we are watching in Natural Resources: Dept. of Agriculture: SB 5502 tentative 3rd week of March Dept. of Agriculture Fees: SB 5503 tentative 3rd week of March Columbia River Gorge Commission: SB 5508 Info mtg. and public hearing March 13 DEQ: SB 5520 . Governor’s budget DEQ Fact Sheet tentative info mtgs. April 7-9, public hearing April 10 Oregon Dept. of Energy: SB 5518 info hearing 2/10, Meeting Materials , public hearing 2/11 Oregon Dept. of Energy Fees: SB 5519 info hearing 2/10, public hearing 2/11 Oregon Dept. of Fish and Wildlife: HB 5009 , tentative public hearings Mar. 31 & Apr. 1-2 Oregon Dept. of Forestry: SB 5521 . info hearing March 10 & 11. Public hearing March 12. Meeting Materials (See Wildfire section for more information.) Dept. of Geology and Mineral Industries: HB 5010 Public hearing Feb. 5-6; Meeting materials LWVOR testimony Aggregate industry testified against the staffing and fee increases. LWVOR points out that KPM #4 , mine inspections has consistently NOT met the small 20% target so, if staffing is needed to meet that target AND fees increased to pay for them, we will continue to support. LWVOR supports SB 836 , a bill that would significantly increase permit fees for mining related activities. See the agency’s presentation to understand the reasons for these increases. Dept. of Land Conservation and Development: SB 5528 Governor’s budget DLCD Fact Sheet Public hearing Feb. 3-4; LCDC 1/24 presentation ; Meeting Materials LWVOR testimony Land Use Board of Appeals: SB 5529 Public hearing Feb. 27 LWVOR testimony . SB 817 is a bill to request a minor fee increase (Passed the Senate Mar. 11 25/5) Oregon State Marine Board: HB 5021 ; Public hearing Feb. 17 Meeting Materials **Oregon State Parks and Recreation Dept.: HB 5026 info hearings March 3-4, public hearing March 5. Meeting Materials LWVOR testimony in part to address comments by the Legislative Fiscal Office. OPRD will need additional revenue sources for the 2027-29 biennium. Dept. of State Lands: SB 5539 tentative hearings March 17-18, public hearing on March 19. 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 and HB 2803 . Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board: HB 5039 . Info mtg. & P ublic hearing Feb. 25-27 LWVOR testimony . Meeting Materials Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board 6-Year Limitation: HB 5040 (Limits expenditures of lottery funds from the Watershed Conservation Grant Fund for local grant expenditures by the Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board for a six-year period beginning July 1, 2025.) Info mtg. & P ublic hearing Feb. 25-26 Oregon Business Development Dept.: HB 5024 Info mtgs. 3/12, 13 & 17. Public Hearing 3/18 Oregon Dept. of Emergency Management: SB 5517 Office of the Governor: SB 5523 Oregon State Fire Marshal: SB 5538 info hearing 2/19, public hearing 2/20. Dept. of Transportation: SB 5541 info hearing 3/03-6, public hearing 3/11 Dept. of Administrative Services: HB 5002 info hearings 3/03-5, public hearing 3/06. Meeting Materials Legislative Administration Committee, Legislative Assembly, Legislative Counsel Committee, Legislative Fiscal Officer, Legislative Revenue Officer, Commission on Indian Services and Legislative Policy and Research Committee: HB 5016 Lottery Bonds: SB 5531 : an average debt capacity of $564 million in each Biennium Emergency Board: HB 5006 This bill will be to vehicle to accept testimony from the public during six community meetings around the state from March 22 ending April 25 on the public’s priorities for the 2025-27 budget. General Obligation Bonds, etc.: SB 5505 : an average debt capacity of $2.22 billion per Biennium Six-Year Limitation/Bonds: SB 5506 (Limits for the six-year period beginning July 1, 2025, payment of expenses from fees, moneys or other revenues, including Miscellaneous Receipts, but excluding lottery funds and federal funds, collected or received by various state agencies for capital construction.) CLIMATE By Claudia Keith and Team See the Climate Emergency section of this Legislative Report. T here are overlaps with this Natural Resources Report. We encourage you to read both sections. COASTAL A public hearing was held on March 4 for the Eelgrass Action Bill (HB 3580) , a bill for kelp and eel grass conservation. The League signed on to a letter in support. Also heard was a bill to protect Rocky Habitat ( HB 3587 ). Here is a one-pager: Rocky Habitat Stewardship Bill (HB 3587) . The League also signed on to a letter in support. We asked for funding for a staffer in the Dept. of Land Development and Conservation budget to continue to address rocky habitat, an element of the Territorial Sea Plan which the League has supported as elements were added and updated over the years. COLUMBIA RIVER TREATY After years of negotiating, changes in the 61-year old Columbia River Treaty between Canada and the U.S. is on pause per the Oregon Capital Chronicle. “ If the U.S. misses deadlines for negotiating a final agreement, the earlier 61-year-old treaty would be reinstated, with no resolution to the issues the updates were meant to solve. If either nation decides to terminate the treaty, it will set off a 10-year process of dissolving the nations’ co-management infrastructure”. DEPT. OF ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY (DEQ) By Peggy Lynch The League supports SB 830 , a bill that m odifies provisions of the on-site septic system loan program to allow for grants. It also allows for the program to consider mobile home parks in need of septic upgrades. The bill p assed the full Senate March 6 and has been assigned to the House Committee On Climate, Energy, and Environment . Here is the Onsite Wastewater Management Program 2025 Rulemaking webpage . Because of the League’s work on SB 391 (2021) and additional bills in 2023, a League member served on the rules advisory committee to address sewer availability and accessory dwelling unit (ADU) issues. On Feb. 26 the advisory committee approved the Fiscal Impact Statement. A public comment period is expected in May. You are welcome to Sign up for email updates about this rulemaking via GovDelivery . The League again served on an annual rulemaking advisory committee on water quality fee increases. A meeting was held on Feb. 25th where the committee agreed to forward their recommendation for the allowed annual 3% fee increase to the DEQ Director. To learn more about this rulemaking and the advisory committee you can view the rulemaking web page at: Water Quality Fees 2025 . DEPT. OF GEOLOGY AND MINERAL INDUSTRIES (DOGAMI) By Joan Fryxell On March 6th the Technical Review Team (TRT) met on the Calico Resources proposed Grassy Mountain gold mine near Vale in Malheur County. The TRT discussed Best Available Practicable and Necessary Technology (BAPNT). Information will be available online . The League continues to follow this project because of the consolidated permitting process AND that this would be the first chemical processing mine in Oregon. DEPT. OF STATE LANDS (DSL) DSL is seeking comments on a proposed sale of state-owned land located on the south shore of the western side of Hayden Island in Multnomah County. The 45-day comment period is open from March 5 – April 19. ELLIOTT STATE RESEARCH FOREST (ESRF) The Dept. of State Lands is seeking comments on the proposed Elliott State Research Forest Operations Plan. Click here to view or download the proposed plan, project overview map, and appendices. Click here to view only the proposed plan (PDF) The 45-day comment period is open until 5 p.m. on March 31. Here is a more complete notice of the plan with opportunities for virtual public meetings. EMERGENCY SERVICES By Rebecca Gladstone The League spoke and filed testimony on HB 2581 in support of a statute change, substituting the word “seismic” with “hazards”, to coordinate coverage efforts through the State Resiliency Officer. The bill has passed the House. The Senate Committee On Veterans, Emergency Management, Federal and World Affairs has a work session scheduled March 18th. FORESTRY (ODF) By Josie Koehne President Trump has signed an executive order to allow more harvesting of timber on national forests. As a result, the committee working on the updated Northwest Forest Plan has been disbanded . 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. HB 3103 , a bill that would d irect the State Forester to establish “sustainable” harvest levels for harvesting timber on state forestland and develop a timber inventory model to inform sustainable harvest levels while ignoring the court-affirmed “greatest permanent value” was heard on March 3rd in the House Committee On Agriculture, Land Use, Natural Resources, and Water . The League OPPOSED . See also the Wildfire section of this report below and the separate Climate section. GOVERNANCE The League may follow the March 17 agenda of the Senate Committee On Rules since some of the bills relate to the process of rulemaking. After legislation is passed, agencies are required to implement those laws. That action often requires rulemaking to clarify the details around that implementation. But the League is concerned when legislators “get a second bite at the apple” by relitigating the legislation when rulemaking is only meant to implement, not change policies. Separately, the League was invited to a conversation among state agency rules staff on addressing concerns of the Governor and in an attempt to standardize the process statewide. The League will also attend a separate rules process discussion being led by the Dept. of Land Conservation and Development. 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 . On Feb. 19, the Governor provided expectations and guidance for state agencies related to rulemaking and customer service. Upon outreach to the Governor’s Office, the League has been invited to participate in a series of discussions of rulemaking processes and committee membership selection. LAND USE & HOUSING By Peggy Lynch The Land Conservation and Development Commission will meet on March 20-21 . The Oregon Department of Land Conservation and Development (DLCD) and the Oregon Department of Emergency Management (OEM) invite comments on a draft of the 2025 update to the Oregon Natural Hazards Mitigation Plan (NHMP). The Plan is now available for comment through March 20. Business Oregon’s Infrastructure bill, HB 3031 , with a -1 amendment to clarify the criteria to be used to access the proposed $100 million fund had a public hearing on Feb. 26 in the House Committee On Housing and Homelessness . Although there are a few issues yet to resolve, the League supports this important funding bill. LWVOR testimony . Governor’s news release . A -2 amendment is now available for consideration. Bills we are following: HB 2138 : Expands allowable middle housing and expands middle housing requirements to include urban unincorporated lands, filed at the request of the Governor. A public hearing was held on March 3rd in House Committee On Housing and Homelessness where a -1 amendment is posted as a “gut and stuff” for the bill. The Governor testified in support of the bill, but received concerns about the provision to allow for easier demolition of historic buildings and has stated that such a provision will be removed in the next amendment. Also not included was a provision that the League had objected to that would have exempted courtyards from cottage cluster development. At this time, the League is not planning to testify on this bill. HB 3145 : Allows the Housing and Community Services Department to use Local Innovation and Fast Track Housing Program Fund moneys for factory-built housing. Public hearing was held on March 10. HB 2950 : A bill to update Goal One and Public Participation is being sponsored by Oregon’s American Planning Association. The League is interested in the bill, but has some concerns. We understand there will be an amendment proffered. A public hearing was held Feb. 12th in the House Committee On Agriculture, Land Use, Natural Resources, and Water . Because of the requirement to do rulemaking, the bill, if passed by the Committee, will be sent to Ways and Means. HB 3013 : Details the process by which a permit or zone change that is based on provisions of a comprehensive plan or land use regulation that fail to gain acknowledgment is voided and any resulting improvements or uses are removed or revoked. LWVOR supports with -1 amendment. A public hearing was held Feb. 3rd. HB 2316 : Allows designation of Home Start Lands to be used for housing. These lands are currently a variety of state-owned lands scattered around the state. A public hearing was held Feb. 10. HB 2400 Allows the owner of property outside an urban growth boundary to site an additional dwelling on the property for occupancy by a relative of the owner. A public hearing was held Feb. 10. HB 2422 Requires that lands zoned to allow density of one or fewer dwellings per acre to be considered a rural use. A public hearing was held Feb. 10. HB 3062 : Requires local governments to map sensitive uses as part of a comprehensive plan. A public hearing was held Feb. 20th. SB 462 : Requires the Oregon Business Development Department to establish an education course for land use planners for local governments, special districts and state agencies. LWVOR supports educational efforts but there are other training opportunities so this proposal might be redundant. A public hearing was held on Feb. 19 in the Senate Committee On Housing and Development . SB 525 : Amends expedited land division criteria and processes. LWVOR has concerns. May need to oppose. See also the Agriculture section of this report and the Housing Report in the Social Policy section of this Legislative Report. WATER By Peggy Lynch What are “Waters of the U.S. (WOTUS)”? With the new federal administration, this question will be debated yet again. This conversation makes Oregon’s water laws even more important. We have received notice of the tentative public hearing dates for select water bills in the House Committee On Agriculture, Land Use, Natural Resources, and Water : Deschutes Basin Water Bank Authority ( HB 3806 ). Public hearing held March 12. Water Right Process Improvements ( HB 3342 ) . Public hearing held March 12 Contested Case Process Improvements ( HB 3544 ). Public hearing held March 12 Place-Based Water Planning ( HB 3116 ) Public hearing scheduled March 19 . League supports. Chewaucan Basin Collaborative ( HB 3114 ) Public hearing scheduled March 19. LCIS Natural Resources Capacity ( HB 3531 ) Voluntary Agreements on Groundwater ( HB 3801 ) Harney Basin Groundwater Management ( HB 3800 ) Certified Water Right Examiners ( HB 3502 ) 3/24: Water Conservation, Efficiency, and Partial Forfeiture Protection (TBD) 3/31: Water Right, Dam Safety, and Well Related Fees ( HB 2803 , HB 2808 ) League supports. Needed to provide current service level staffing at WRD. 4/2: Water Rights and Public Interest ( HB 3501 ) Other water bills we are following: HB 3525 is related to tenants’ right to well water testing. The League submitted testimony in support. HB 3526 would require well water test reporting in property sales. The League supported this concept in past sessions and did again this session. A public hearing was held Feb. 17. HB 3364 makes changes to the grants programs at the Water Resources Dept. Testimony provided comments and concerns with agreement that all parties would continue to work on finding agreement on an amendment. A public hearing was held Feb. 19. HB 3419 is the major broad set of water policy changes that is now described by the various amendments posted since this is really a “gut and stuff” bill! The committee Co-Chairs announced that more amendments are expected. Per Rep. Owens: the -2 and -3 amendments on HB 3419 will NOT move. HB 2988 : Instructs the Water Resources Department to take certain actions related to aquifer recharge and aquifer storage and recovery. A public hearing was held Feb. 12th. 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 3573 , a bill that addresses funding for a variety of water measurement strategies. The League supports. In 2024 the Water Caucus requested research support from the Legislative Policy Research Office (LPRO) to better understand the groundwater management policies of different agencies in Oregon. The Report on Groundwater Management is now available. LWV Deschutes County submitted a letter in support of SB 427 , a water rights transfer bill meant to protect instream water flows. The Governor has provided an alternate bill that may have more of a chance of passage. HB 3106 is the Oregon Water Data Portal funding bill for which the League provided testimony in support. A public hearing was held on Feb. 26th in House Committee On Agriculture, Land Use, Natural Resources, and Water where a -1 amendment was shared that would create an entire multi-agency system for gathering the water data needed for good decision making. The League has yet to determine if this new proposal is good for Oregon. See the following presentations and presentations . The League has not weighed in on the amendment. The Co-Chairs of the House Committee On Agriculture, Land Use, Natural Resources, and Water are working on a broad package of water-related bills, the 2025 Water Package . There is a Water Caucus raising the awareness of the need to address Oregon’s water needs. League members may want to check the U. S. Drought Monitor , a map that is updated every Thursday. Here is a more complete website about drought in Oregon. We all need to pay attention to the potential for harmful algal blooms. “When in doubt, stay out.” V isit the Harmful Algae Bloom website or call the Oregon Public Health Division toll-free information line at 877-290-6767 to learn if an advisory has been issued or lifted for a specific water body. House Bill 3314 , sponsored by state Reps. Rob Nosse and Mark Gamba, would direct about $1 million to Oregon State University to finish designing a channel that would cut through Ross Island. See coverage here. WETLANDS A new Rulemaking Advisory Committee has been formed related to Permitting and Mitigation in Oregon's Wetlands and Waters. WILDFIRE By Carolyn Mayers Bills we are watching: Senate Bill 1051 , Governor Kotek is seeking the authority to choose the next State Forester. SB 82 -1 , makes changes to a grant process which funds the Oregon Conservation Corps and their training. It requires the Higher Education Coordinating Commission (HECC) which handles the process to consult with the Department of the State Fire Marshal (OSFM), and the Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF), to ensure different aspects of the wildfire mitigation work they perform meet the goals of those agencies. HB 3077 , a bill which would allow local government employees to volunteer for up to 30 days in a year to serve as volunteers in wildland fire suppression in emergency situations. HB 3666 which would require an electric public utility to apply for a wildfire safety certification, and allow a consumer-owned utility to apply for a wildfire safety certification. SB 926 would prohibit the recovery of certain costs and expenses from customers that an electric company incurs as a result of allegations of a wildfire resulting from the negligence or fault on the part of the electric company. HB 3172 directs OSFM to establish a grant program to facilitate the retrofitting of dwellings and accessory structures (aka home hardening), to reduce vulnerability to wildfire. The League is awaiting a bill or group of bills so the legislature can consider the 6 Alternative Funding Strategies from the Wildfire Funding Workgroup as mentioned in the last legislative report. Volunteers Needed What is your passion related to Natural Resources? You can help. Volunteers are needed. The long legislative session begins in January of 2025. Natural Resource Agency Boards and Commissions meet regularly year-round and need monitoring. If any area of natural resources is of interest to you, please contact Peggy Lynch, Natural Resources Coordinator, at peggylynchor@gmail.com . Training will be offered. Interested in reading additional reports? Please see our Climate Emergency , Governance , and Social Policy report sections.

Back to All Legislative Reports Social Policy Legislative Report - Week of 2/12 Social Policy Team Coordinator: Jean Pierce • After School and Summer Care: Katie Riley • Behavioral Health: Trish Garner • Criminal Justice/Juvenile Justice: Marge Easley / Sharron Noon • Education: Jean Pierce / Stephanie Engle • Equal Rights for All Ballot Measure: Jean Pierce Kyra Aguon • Gender-Related Concerns, Reproductive Health, Age Discrimination: Trish Garner • Gun Safety & Gun Issues, Rights for Incarcerated People: Marge Easley • Hate and Bias Crimes: Claudia Keith/ Becky Gladstone /rhyen enger • Health Care: Christa Danielsen • Housing: Debbie Aiona and Nancy Donovan Jump to topic: After School and Summer Care Behavioral Health and Related Public Safety Issues Higher Education Housing Gun Policy and Violence Prevention General Education By Jean Pierce, Social Policy Coordinator, and Team After School and Summer Care By Katie Riley HB 4082, Summer Learning for 2024 and Beyond , to provide $50 million for summer care in 2024 and establish a workgroup for planning to support after-school and summer learning opportunities and care in the future was approved unanimously in the House Committee on Education and referred to Ways and Means. Behavioral Health and Related Public Safety Issues By Karen Nibler/Jean Pierce SB 1553-1 , which restricts the use of an illegal drug on public transit, is on second reading in the Senate. The bill adds unlawful possession and use of a drug to the list of crimes which interfere with public transportation. This would make the use of a drug such as fentanyl on public transportation or at a transit station a Class C misdemeanor. A person with three or more prior convictions for interfering with public transportation is charged with a Class A misdemeanor. The law does not address the payment of fees, paths to expungement, or support for behavioral health treatment. No other bills designed to increase penalties for public drug use advanced this week. This includes HB4002 , for which the League submitted testimony. Similarly, none of the bills designed to study issues related to public drug use advanced. Higher Education By Jean Pierce Update on SB1592 for which the League submitted testimony : The Senate Education Committee passed this bill, which allocates $6M from General Funds to public universities in Oregon to train behavioral health professionals, with the following amendment: the role of labor management was recognized as a force in developing career pathways. The bill has been referred to the Joint Committee on Ways and Means. Update on HB4162 for which the League submitted testimony : The House Committee on Higher Education passed this bill, which allocates $5M from General Funds to the Higher Education Coordinating Committee to divide among public colleges and universities to assist students in paying for basic needs such as food, housing, textbooks, etc. It has been referred to the Joint Committee on Ways and Means. HB4125 : The House Committee on Higher Education passed HB4125, which would direct the Legislative Policy and Research Director to hire a qualified vendor to conduct a study of the effectiveness of the Higher Education Coordinating Council (HECC) and Individual Governing Boards for Oregon’s public universities. The study would provide comparisons to trends such as tuition costs and student debt in other states as well as comparisons of the actual performance of the HECC and the Governing Boards to the goals described in the original legislation. The study would also examine trends in state funding for the institutions adjusted for inflation. The bill allocates more than $463,000 for the study, and has been referred to the Joint Committee on Ways and Means. Housing By Nancy Donovan, Debbie Aiona, Beth Jacobi Emergency Housing Stability and Production Package (SB 1537-9 and SB 1530-3) At the start of the session, Governor Kotek introduced legislation aimed at increasing housing production and addressing the needs of unsheltered Oregonians. The package passed out of the Senate Committee on Housing and Development on a unanimous vote of 5-0 and now will go to the Committee on Ways and Means. SB 1537-9 would provide technical assistance, new sources of funding and the ability to expand urban growth boundaries to increase housing production by: Creating a Housing Accountability and Production Office, which would be responsible for assisting local governments with housing production by offering technical assistance aimed at reducing barriers to development, among other things. Establishing a Housing Infrastructure Support Fund available to local jurisdictions as they plan for the infrastructure needed to serve new housing development. Allowing local jurisdictions to have access to a new $75 million Housing Project Revolving Loan Fund for the purpose of financing production of affordable and moderate-income housing projects. Granting qualified cities a one-time expansion of their urban growth boundaries (UGB). Cities with 25,000 people could expand their UGB by 50 acres. Cities over 25,000 could expand it by 100 acres, and in the Metro Area, the limit is 300 acres. LWVOR still has a number of concerns about SB 1537, although we appreciate the reduction in UGB acreage expansion that this bill would allow. SB 1530-3 would provide desperately needed funding for unsheltered Oregonians and households living in unstable conditions. The League submitted a letter in support and requested the addition of funding for low-income housing preservation, increasing resources for the Independent Development Account program, and funds for production of affordable homes for first-time buyers. The bill appropriates funding to the Housing and Community Services Department, Oregon Health Authority, Department of Human Services, and Oregon Department of Administrative Services and other programs to directly address the immediate needs of households and individuals: $65 million for the operations, services, and administration of emergency shelters. $2 million to provide support for warming or cooling emergency shelters or facilities. $40 million for homelessness prevention services, through the Oregon Eviction Diversion and Prevention, and Prevention and Eviction Prevention Rapid Response Programs, as well as services for culturally specific organizations. $18 million for housing for people recovering from drug addiction. Other items that promote housing affordability and stability include: $100 million for infrastructure projects that will support the development of housing. $10 million for land acquisition for affordable housing. $2 million to provide support for residents whose housing may be withdrawn from publicly supported housing or is within a manufactured dwelling park being sold or closed. The League provided testimony to increase the funding to $30 million. $5 million to provide matching funds for deposits into Individual Development Accounts. The League provided testimony to increase the amount to $10 million to continue their current service levels. $3.5 for air conditioners and air filters to at-risk individuals. $7.5 million to Healthy Homes, to support home repairs and improvements to lower energy usage and make homes safer. A recent report by Portland State University shows that homelessness increased by 8.5 percent overall from 2022 and unsheltered homelessness increased 17.2 percent. These figures underscore the importance of increasing efforts to address the need. Violence Prevention and Gun Policy By Marge Easley The League submitted testimony on February 14 in support of HB 4135 , which creates the crime of threatening a mass injury event. The bill, sponsored by Rep. Courtney Neron, changes current law to allow for charging an intentional and credible threat as a felony rather than a misdemeanor. The amount of the fine and imprisonment time would increase considerably upon the second and subsequent offense. Using our position on Gun Policy, we also support the bill’s provision to prohibit the possession of a firearm by a person convicted of threatening a mass injury event. The bill may now be undergoing some fine-tuning due to opposition related to free speech and juvenile justice issues, since a scheduled work session no longer appears on OLIS. SB 1503 A , which establishes a Task Force on Community Safety and Firearm Suicide Prevention and received supportive League testimony, passed out of Senate Judiciary with amendments on February 13 and has been referred to Ways and Means. The League is also monitoring HB 4156 , which modernizes Oregon’s anti-stalking law. The bill, championed by Rep. Kevin Mannix, passed out of the House Judiciary with amendments on February 15 and was referred to Ways and Means. General Education By Anne Nesse, Education Portfolio This is the week to follow Bills that are destined to proceed to the House, or Senate, and as needed to Ways and Means, Revenue, or other committees to allow passage. We are following two Bills in Human Services that relate to children. HB 4105 , which relates to targeted case management by nursing services to improve outcomes in children’s lives. This went out of Committee with a do-pass recommendation and referral to W & M. HB 4087 , directs DHS to establish a program to provide treatment to children with high needs who are in DHS custody and to establish an Emergency High Acuity Youth Initiative program. This Bill is scheduled for a work session on 2/19. We continue to follow those Bills we have testified on. SB 1552 , Sen. Dembrow’s Educational Omnibus Bill, part of which we supported , passed out of Committee as amended with a referral to W & M. On 2/13 testimony was submitted by over 700 persons or groups, including LWVOR on SB 1583, a Bill to reinforce our codes against books and materials being banned in our public schools. We added our testimony in support, based on “age appropriate teaching of values that promote diversity, equity, inclusion, and the belonging of all people. It is important for a youth’s problem solving skills to understand the issues we all face together, as a community, a state, a nation, and a world.” We learned in the hearing that often ‘quiet book banning’ occurred everywhere in the US, partially because we do not have licensed Librarians in all of our schools, but also because communities disagree on what is age appropriate. Librarians are sometimes better equipped to defend a book or materials on age appropriateness and on intellectual, or emotional grounds. The -4 amendment was approved to replace the Bill on 2/15, and it was sent to the floor with a do pass recommendation. Age appropriateness in teaching, as Sen. Frederick pointed out, is already written into all ODE codes and statutes, and therefore not necessary for this Bill. However Sen. Weber stated she will file a minority report, on that point. Much of the testimony opposed to this Bill was supporting the communities’ right of choice on age appropriateness decisions in teaching, A clause referring to this was added to the -3 amendment, which was not adopted. We are continuing to follow two Bills we supported in testimony: • HB 4078A a study Bill to create a standardized record keeping system in grades K-12 throughout the State. This passed with amendments and was referred to W & M. • HB 4079 removes the percentage cap on the amount of moneys that are distributed from the State School Fund to school districts for students eligible for special education. This Bill will have a second public hearing on 2/20 in the Revenue Committee at 8:30 am. We will follow HB 4161, that includes policies regarding school district approval, open enrollment, and educational savings accounts for virtual public charter schools. HB 4137, directs ODE to adopt rules by which a student who has completed an International Baccalaureate program may satisfy certain requirements for a high school diploma in this State. This Bill will make it easier for students to complete this type of program, with transferable credits for certain classes. The Bill has already passed on the House floor, and will now proceed to the Senate. Contact lwvor.org if you have any comments or questions.

Back to All Legislative Reports Social Policy Legislative Report - Week of 1/16 Social Policy Team Coordinator: Jean Pierce • After School and Summer Care: Katie Riley • Behavioral Health: Trish Garner • Criminal Justice/Juvenile Justice: Marge Easley / Sharron Noon • Education: Jean Pierce / Stephanie Engle • Equal Rights for All Ballot Measure: Jean Pierce Kyra Aguon • Gender-Related Concerns, Reproductive Health, Age Discrimination: Trish Garner • Gun Safety & Gun Issues, Rights for Incarcerated People: Marge Easley • Hate and Bias Crimes: Claudia Keith/ Becky Gladstone /rhyen enger • Health Care: Christa Danielsen • Housing: Debbie Aiona and Nancy Donovan Housing Women's Issues Immigration/Refugees Gun Safety Criminal Justice Housing By Nancy Donovan and Debbie Aiona On January 11, Debbie Aiona and Nancy Donovan, along with other Housing Alliance members, voted on the Oregon Housing Alliance’s 2023 legislative agenda. On January 13, the Housing Alliance shared results of the member vote by announcing their 2023 legislative policy agenda , a slate of 8 priority bills and 20 endorsed bills. Priority bills are defined as ones for which the Housing Alliance should be active in coordinating and leading advocacy. If bills are endorsed, the Alliance intends to publicly support the proposals, and contribute to their advocacy, however, they will not serve as the lead organization. Listed below are the Housing Alliance priority bills that have received their first reading and been assigned to committees. The decision to have public hearings on bills rests with Committee Chairs, Vice Chairs and Legislative Leadership. The filing deadline is Feb. 21 for most bills. HB 3010 Reform the Mortgage Interest Deduction Disallows taxpayers from claiming a deduction on home mortgage interest for any residence other than their primary residence. Phases out the deduction on primary residences for households earning $250,000 or more. Increased revenue would be used, among other things, to assist first time homebuyers. SB 611 Reasonable Rent Limits annual rent increases to 3% plus consumer price index, or 8%, whichever is lower; provides these protections for all buildings more than 3 years-old (buildings up to 15 years-old are currently exempted); and increases relocation assistance in landlord-based (no-fault) evictions HB 2456 Emergency Housing Assistance for K-12 students Modifies the state’s emergency housing assistance (EHA) program and state homeless assistance program (SHAP) to provide funds to assist school-aged children experiencing or at risk of homelessness. SB 225 Private Activity Bonds for Affordable Housing Makes changes to the state's policy for private activity bonds to ensure coordination of affordable housing resources and a clear financing process For information on the endorsed bills, please see the link above on the Housing Alliance’s 2023 Legislative policy agenda. Women’s Issues By Trish Garner 2023 Bills Related to Abortion / Dobbs v Jackson Women's Health It is difficult to predict what will take place during the 2023 Legislative Session about issues related to reproductive rights in light of the U.S. Supreme Court's recent decision in Dobbs vs. Jackson Women's Health . On the one hand, the right to an abortion is protected in Oregon's constitution (Article I, Section 46; 2014) and related statutes (e.g. ORS 743B.001 which requires health benefit plans to cover abortion costs). It has also been the case that in past sessions, measures limiting abortion rights have more or less regularly been submitted for approval and haven't made it to a Committee hearing. On the other hand, we would be deaf if we did not hear countervailing drum beats. The 2023 Legislative Session is not without proposals to ban abortion outright: prohibition of abortion after the 37th week - HB 2810, after the 38th week - HB 2808 , after the 39th week - HB 2807 ; prohibition of late term or third trimester abortion except in a medical emergency or in the case of rape, incest - HB 2809 (Chief Sponsors are Reps Hieb and Diehl). Senate Bill 513 (Sen Thatcher and Rep Morgan) prohibits an abortion unless the health care provider first determines the probable gestational age of the unborn child, except in the case of a medical emergency. Attacking reproductive services from another direction is HB 2402 (Rep Diehl); it prohibits public funding for abortions. HB 2526 (Rep Breese-Iverson) adopts a different tack, although the result may be the same. HB 2526 requires the OHA to establish a toll free pregnancy resource hotline to provide information and assistance to pregnant persons seeking abortions in this state. So far, so good, but the bill then continues to provide that except for a medical emergency, an abortion cannot be performed unless the provider verifies that the pregnant person has consulted with this hotline at least 48 hours before the provision of abortion services. There are a few other proposals which may not seem to directly challenge the provision of abortions, but are nonetheless disconcerting and call for scrutiny. Under HB 2423 (Rep Breese-Iverson) the Oregon Health Authority ("OHA") is directed to establish and administer a Pregnancy Launch Program that among other things supports childbirth as an alternative to abortion and encourages healthy childbirth. This legislation also prohibits the OHA from contracting for providing services with an organization that "directly or indirectly provides, promotes, refers for or assists pregnant persons in obtaining abortions." HB 2424 (Rep Breese-Iverson) requires OHA to establish a program for the purpose of making grants to entities that provide services related to encouraging and assisting pregnant persons in carrying their pregnancies to term. Grant monies will not be used to encourage or assist pregnant persons in having abortions unless an abortion is necessary to avoid impairment of the person's "major bodily functions." Perhaps farther removed from but still related to the Dobbs decision, there are bills from both the House and Senate side that require school health education curricula to include information about human development from conception to birth ( SB 674 - Sen Knopp and Rep Smith; HB 2570 - Reps Smith and McIntire.) So, we shall see what traction any of these bills attain. Immigration/Refugees and other Basic Rights By Claudia Keith US Chamber calls for Congress to end gridlock , saying businesses are ‘fed up’ | The Hill. Senator Ron Wyden regards WOU town hall as education opportunity for him | News | polkio.com . New "Food for All Oregonians" legislation backed by over 75 community organizations - Partners for a Hunger-Free Oregon. Bills of Interest or possible League support: (Bills that have been posted to OLIS that may move forward via a committee public hearing. – an Incomplete list) Basic Needs SB610 : Establishes Food for All Oregonians Program within Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program to provide nutrition assistance to residents of this state who would qualify for federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program but for immigration status. Requires Department of Human Services to convene an advisory group to recommend metrics to evaluate success of the department in treating all applicants for and recipients of public assistance in welcoming manner and with respect, courtesy, fairness, and dignity. Unclear what the funding ask may be. May replace the ‘Workers Relief Fund’ . ‘Oregon Worker Relief measures impact in infrastructure’| Statesman Journal. Immigration SB627 : Funding for universal (legal) fees for non-documented individuals (15M$) Sen Lieber. SB185 Requires Department of Justice to study immigration in this state; may include recommendations for legislation, to the interim committees of the Legislative Assembly no later than September 15, 2024. Requested by Attorney General Rosenblum. HB2957 : Financial assistance to Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) status recipients for specified purposes. (>7M$). Large portion of the Source funding is Federal ARPA funds. Rep Ruiz SB603 : Establishes People's Housing Assistance Fund Demonstration Program, administered by Department of Human Services, to provide 12 monthly payments of $1,000 to individuals who are experiencing homelessness, are at risk of homelessness, are severely rent burdened or earn at or below 60 percent of area median income. (Includes immigrant, and refugee status.) Starts with a PSU $250K study. A potential $500M program. Rep Pham K and Senator Campos, Sen Cmt on Housing and Dev, then W&M. Other SB613 : Creates Commission for Indigenous Communities HB2458 : Prohibits conversion therapy Gun Safety By Marge Easley Measure 114 Update: On January 13, Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum petitioned the Oregon Supreme Court to either dismiss the Harney County judge’s ruling that put a halt on the measure’s implementation or direct the judge to explain his reasoning. We await the Supreme Court’s decision. In the meantime, we will urge legislators to make any needed technical fixes and provide adequate funding for full implementation. More complete information on court actions related to Measure 114 can be found in this recent Oregonian article . Criminal Justice By Marge Easley We can expect to see a number of bills this session that pertain to the current shortage of public defenders in Oregon, particularly in Washington and Multnomah Counties. On January 18, House Judiciary Committee members heard a presentation about the reasons for the shortage, including the extremely heavy workload, low pay, and high turnover due to burnout. Despite the allocation of $10 million to Public Defense Services in December, much more funding is urgently needed. In addition, legislators are also looking at a number of longer-term solutions to increase recruitment, including the streamlining of court processes, the forgiveness of law school loans in return for five years of public defense work, providing alternatives to taking the bar exam, and allowing non-attorney members of the Oregon State Bar to practice law in specific areas. Measure 110 Update On January 19, Oregon Secretary of State Shemia Fagan released an audit of Measure 110, authorized by the 2021 Oregon Legislature. The measure was passed by Oregon voters in 2020 with the intent of decriminalizing possession of small amounts of controlled substances and directing cannabis tax revenue to addiction and recovery services. After a slow rollout, the Oregon Health Authority has thus far awarded $33 million in grant money, although scant data currently exists to show how the money was spent or whether it was used effectively to improve addiction services. Audit recommendations include improving the program’s governance structure, grant application process, and collaboration with public agencies. The effective implementation of Measure 110 is of critical importance when one considers the following statements from the audit’s introduction: “Oregon has the second highest rate of substance use disorder in the nation and ranked 50th for access to treatment. In Oregon, more than two people died each day from unintentional opioid overdoses in 2021.”

Back to All Legislative Reports Natural Resources Legislative Report - Sine Die 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 Climate Coastal Issues State Agencies Elliott State Research Forest Fish and Wildlife Parks and Recreation Radioactive Waste Northwest Energy Coalition Land Use/Housing Recycling Toxics Water Wildfire Natural Resources By Peggy Lynch, Natural Resources Coordinator, and Team The League’s Natural Resources Team added volunteers Paula Grisafi (Toxics) and Carolyn Mayers (Wildfire) and sadly lost a member, Kathy Moyd, who worked on both Climate and Natural Resource issues and was a valuable former NASA engineer with a variety of expertise and willingness to attend meetings virtually, provide written and verbal League testimony using League positions and personal expertise. You will see others’ names listed below under the issues they covered. The League is a member of many coalitions. One of the most critical for Natural Resources is the Oregon Conservation Network , a group of now over 40 conservation and environmental organizations who declare "Priorities for a Healthy Oregon" each legislative session. They also provide an opportunity for the groups to share support or opposition for other legislation to legislators. Legislators saw LWVOR’s name on bills listed in the weekly Hotlist as we advocated for or against bills. This session, the Oregon Legislature introduced an impressive 2,970 measures — more than any other session in the last decade. After months of hard work, 653 of them passed— about 22% of the measures that were introduced. (From Rep. Gomberg’s newsletter) The Legislative Policy and Research Office provided this report on Natural Resource issues and this report on Energy and Environment. The League was engaged in some of the bills listed in these reports. The Governor provided letters with some of the final decisions she made to sign or veto bills. The following bills were accompanied by signing letters: HB 2010, HB 2426, HB 2772, HB 3561, HB 5026, SB 80, SB 283, SB 488, SB 1089, SB 1095 (explanation of line-item veto for emergency clause). Additionally, HB 3440 and SB 5535 will become law without the Governor’s signature. HCR 38 passed and 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 will be interim legislative days in Sept., Nov., and January. Agriculture Much of the work under this section was done by the Climate Team. However, we provided a letter to the Oregon Board of Agriculture sharing our natural resource area priorities for 2023. And we provided a letter on HB 5002 , the Dept. of Agriculture’s budget. SB 530 , the Natural Climate Solutions bill, was included in HB 3409 , the omnibus climate bill, Sections 53-63. Air Quality By Kathy Moyd & Peggy Lynch LWVOR joined with others in support of HB 3229 . Under the Clean Air Act, funding must be from fees on permittees for this program. Per DEQ’s own testimony , without this funding, a critical part of their Air Quality program was in jeopardy. The bill was amended by the -2 amendment, passed the legislature and was signed by the Governor. It increases fees for polluters who require Title V permits 43% in 2023 and another 40% in 2024. Fees had not been increased for 13 years. DEQ is to review its permitting methodology and how it charges fees due to complexity instead of the amount of pollution emitted and report to the legislature by Dec. 2023. T he DEQ Budget ( HB 5018 ) includes POP 110 and authorized the 11 staff for the Title V program. HB 3229 was effective as of July 13. The Governor plans additional work on this issue in 2024. Although we did not provide written testimony on SB 488 , the Medical Waste Incinerator Bill (Covanta facility in Marion County), League members did engage. The bill was amended many times and was signed by the Governor, although she is concerned about sections of the bill related to limiting medical waste disposal. Budgets By Peggy Lynch Each long session the Governor provides a statewide budget with individual agency budget requests. Governor Kotek’s first biennial budget is here . For natural resource agency budgets, start on page 143 of the web document. The Governor’s budget was based on the December 2022 forecast when there was still a great deal of concern around a potential recession. The Governor proposes; the Legislature disposes. The League follows the Ways and Means Committee and Subcommittees. The Legislative Fiscal Office website provides a great deal of information on this process, the legislature’s involvement, research and reports on the state’s expenditures. They also coordinate fiscal impact statements on individual pieces of legislation as it moves through the legislature. The Ways and Means Committee always does a “rebalance” of the current (2021-23) budget after the March forecast and that was done again this year. T he Office of Economic Analysis also 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! In late March, the Ways and Means Co-Chairs Budget Framework was provided to guide Subcommittees considering all the agency budgets. The Framework provides the amount of money each Subcommittee should expect to spend for their assigned budgets and any policy bills that might be assigned to them. A series of meetings around the state provided the public with opportunities to share their priorities with legislators. The Treasurer’s Office reported to the legislature in March on 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). The State’s Lottery Revenue debt issuance capacity for Lottery Bonds is $506.4 million in each biennium or $253.2 million annually over the forecast period ($9 million decline from 2021-23). Governor Kotek’s office then provided their 2023-25 bond proposal list . HB 5005 , the General Fund bonding bill, passed and was signed by the Governor. HB 5030 is the Lottery Bonds projects budget bill. HB 5046 is the Continuing Resolution bill that allows agencies to continue expending funds on July 1 based on their 2021-23 budgets until their new budgets for 2023-25 are signed by the Governor passed or until Sept. 15 th . The bill passed and was signed by the Governor. All agency budgets were signed by the Governor by the August 4 deadline, but some agencies needed to take advantage of HB 5046 until those budgets were signed. The League followed HB 3349 , with an amendment that would have provided $300,000 each to eight different entities to create “navigators” to help access federal funding. The League was disappointed that HB 3349 , with the 3 amendment , was passed to Ways and Means. We believe there are better uses for the $2.4 million in the Higher Education budget although we supported staffing in state agencies to facilitate federal funding. The bill did not pass. The May forecast declared an additional $1.96 billion available for the 2023-25 session that were used to balance the 2023-25 budget. Here are the Governor’s new spending requests . A new process around budget requests was used this session: Packages of policy bills were created to reduce the need for individual bill votes when they were sent to Ways and Means for funding. That practice also allowed controversial policies to be packaged with more benign policies to gain support and passage. (That practice may occur in the future.) Senate Republicans decided not to provide a quorum in the Senate chamber for a number of weeks so, in case they returned, it would be easier to move these packaged bills. See below under the water bills-- HB 2010 , HB 3409 under Climate, and HB 3395 for Housing . HB 3410-2 , another “package” bill, includes a variety of economic development funds/grant programs, mostly for rural Oregon. Sen. Dembrow provided climate and drought package spreadsheets. Expect a final 2023 session reconciliation by the end of August and the August 30 Revenue Forecast where the final “kicker” amount will be announced. ( T axpayers can use the credit on their 2024 tax returns—2023 taxes) Look for about $5.5 billion to be returned. (The 1979 Oregon Legislature passed the "Two percent kicker" law, which requires the state to refund excess revenue to taxpayers when actual General Fund revenues exceed the previous odd-year May forecast amount by more than two percent.) The League’s Natural Resource Team not only provided testimony on many of the 14 natural resource agency budgets, but encouraged the Governor and legislature to provide staffing, create new programs and provide matching funds for the many substantial federal programs made available by federal budgets, by the bipartisan infrastructure bill, the CHIPS Act and the Inflation Reduction Act. By August 4 the natural resource budgets had all been signed by the Governor. To learn more about their content, look for the LFO Recommendation posted for each budget. More info is listed below under each agency. The end-of-session bill had over $1.4 billion in funding items. Here is the 33-page list , called “ornaments'' as the bill, SB 5506 , is also called the Christmas Tree bill. The Oregon Capital Chronicle provided a summary . The Emergency Board met right after Sine Die to adopt rules for their work during the interim. They were provided $50 million to spend on emergencies until the next session, as well as a number of “special purpose appropriations” for expected expenses such as additional wildfire funding and salary increases. Otherwise, agency budgets are only changed by an act of the entire legislature. Climate By Claudia Keith and Team One bill included in HB 3409 (Sections 82 and 83 of the climate package) and followed by Natural Resources was HB 2647 A , which the League supported to continue to address harmful algal blooms, a public health issue. SB 530 , the Natural Climate Solutions bill, was included in HB 3409 , the omnibus climate bill, Sections 53-63. We encourage you to read both of the overlapping Climate Emergency Natural Resources sections. Coastal Issues By Christine Moffitt/Peggy Lynch HB 3382 B was amended to create a new exception to Goal 16 to allow deeper and wider Coos Bay channel dredging. It passed and was signed by the Governor. The League provided testimony in opposition. A number of sideboards were placed in the bill should any dredging take place. Only the Port of Coos Bay or recognized Oregon tribes can request the exception. The League is disappointed the bill passed, but worked hard to assure as many requirements as we could get would be in the bill. We encourage you to read the two-page bill . Of note is $20 million bonding for the Coos Bay Channel Modification project; it was included in a bonding bill and an additional $20 million is authorized for the project in the 2025-27 biennium. Coastal League members originally raised alarm about the bill. HB 3382 would have provided 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 League has shared our concerns with others. State agencies that administer permits that could be affected by the legislation provided information on their processes and the implications of the proposed legislation on certain state permits. See LWV Coos and LWVOR testimonies: March 14 , second , third . Coalition testimony , and LWVOR testimony . On May 14, LWVOR issued an Action Alert to oppose the bill. As a result of ours and others who did the same, many opposition testimonies were filed and a second public hearing was allowed on May 16 where more League members and others testified in opposition. The -7 amendment was negotiated on May 17 and posted by noon on May 18 for the night’s work session in the Joint Committee on Transportation. League members from across the state submitted opposition testimony. It made a difference. We took the opportunity to share our 2012 Coastal Study that explains the CZMA and other coastal issues with some legislators and staff. Informative, well researched League studies are a hallmark of League expertise. After many meetings and conversations, the League agreed to not oppose the -7 amendment to HB 3382 that limits the bill to ONLY the International Port of Coos Bay, places requirements around proof of financial viability and reporting on the number of jobs to be created, to be submitted with any actual project application. Only the Port and tribes would be qualified to submit an application. We don’t support the bill, but the votes seemed to be there so we worked to make it as narrow as we could. Any project application would be for a new Goal 16 exception and would go through the usual local land use processes for any Goal exception. Also, all the other federal and state agency permits would be required for any process. The bill was amended to clarify that no fossil fuel projects would be allowed approval. (Remember Jordan Cove?) The -7s “save” the Yaquina and Astoria estuaries, but could damage the Coos Bay estuary, even though the amendment requires no net loss of important environmental values. A major expansion of the navigation channel cannot help but do damage. To listen to the sausage making, go to the 1 hour mark here. Rumor has it that the Port of Coos Bay, on behalf of a container ship development, has again applied for federal funding. They were not approved for federal funding in 2022. Additionally, the Coos Bay Estuary Management Plan (CBEMP) is continuing to be updated. The County file for this project is AM-22-005 . SB 5524 is the Oregon Business Development Dept. budget: LFO Recommendation includes $10 million for distribution to the Oregon International Port of Coos Bay to support the continuation and final completion of the engineering and design work related to the deepening and widening of the Federal Navigation Channel at Coos Bay to support existing businesses and promote new business opportunities. The original appropriation of $15 million was provided to the agency in the 2022 legislative session. The League provided testimony in support of HB 2903 , to require Fish and Wildlife and State Lands to provide communications staff to help continue to implement and support Oregon’s marine reserves and new management areas. The bill did not pass nor were the requested staffing positions funded. League and partners will be back in 2024 or 2025. According to ODFW, “ a new survey shows that coastal Oregon’s recreational industry joins more conventional, store-front businesses in believing the state’s Marine Reserves do not negatively impact their bottom lines, continuing a vast shift in what businesses feared just before the first reserves were established more than a decade ago. ” Good news! OSU’s wave energy testing facility is ready to be tested off the coast of Newport per Oregon Capital Insider . The ocean test site will be on a sandy-bottomed stretch of the Pacific Ocean away from popular commercial and recreational fishing reefs about seven miles off the coast of Newport. The site will have four test berths, which combined can accommodate up to 20 wave energy devices at any one time, per Rep. Gomberg. See the League’s 2012 Coastal Study to learn more about wave energy. Columbia River Gorge Commission The League provided testimony in support of the Columbia River Gorge Commission budget ( HB 5008 ). Columbia River Treaty By Phillip Thor The League continues to follow the potential Treaty resolution/update. You can find a written copy of U.S. Government representatives' remarks at the top of the meeting by accessing this website: https://www.state.gov/columbia-river-treaty/ . Y ou can reach the team with comments or questions by emailing ColumbiaRiverTreaty@state.gov . The 18 th round of negotiations is scheduled for August. Dept. of Environmental Quality (DEQ) The League provided testimony with comments on the Dept. of Environmental Quality (ODEQ) budget ( HB 5018 ). The Environmental Quality Commission received this legislative update on July 20. SB 1013 would have required counties to allow RVs to be sited on certain rural properties. League engaged with the sponsor and Sen. Hayden and was assured that appropriate sewer and water connections would be required for these special cases so we did not provide written testimony. The bill was amended to “allow” and not “require” counties to provide this use. The bill passed and signed by the Governor. Also, DEQ received monies to help assure that the sewer issue was addressed. The bill takes effect Jan. 1, 2024. The League provided testimony with concerns about SB 835 , a bill that would have required that a single septic system be used for both the main home and an accessory dwelling unit placed on a lot where a septic system is used. The bill was amended addressing our concerns, was passed and signed by the Governor, also effective Jan. 1, 2024. SB 931 allows DEQ to issue a permit to repair or replace a subsurface sewage disposal system or alternative sewage disposal system without regard to the availability of a community or areawide sewerage system under certain circumstances. Although the League did not engage, we are concerned that this bill perpetuates the use of septic systems that fail and pollute the groundwater when a sewer system is nearby. DEQ was provided funding for .88 FTE to do rulemaking for this and SB 835. The bill passed and was signed by the Governor. A League member participated in the 2023 Water Quality Fee Rules Advisory Committee (RAC) as in past years to provide a “public” voice to the RAC. Here is the WQ Fee RAC Meeting Summary link - May 5, 2023 . The EQC delegated authority to approve this rulemaking for 2023 to DEQ Director Feldon on May 19. Dept. of Geology and Mineral Industries (DOGAMI) By Peggy Lynch The League provided testimony on the Dept. of Geology and Mineral Services budget ( SB 5510 ). The LFO recommendation i ncludes two Budget Notes on the new e-permitting system being funded. The League provided testimony in support of SB 220 that would have provided a fee to pay for implementation of a new e-permitting system for mining interests instead of using $2 million in General Funds. However, the legislature chose to provide the $2 million in GF. We also provided testimony in support of SB 221 to provide ongoing funding for this new system and testimony on SB 222 to allow DOGAMI to accept credit cards and to add the credit card fee to the permittees choosing to use a credit card. SB 222 failed in the Senate. Another bill, SB 538 A , would have provided general authorization to agencies. That bill also died in committee. SB 221 passed and was signed by the Governor. The League continues to follow the Grassy Mountain Gold Project in Malheur County, using a streamlined permitting process. Dept. of the State Fire Marshal HB 5036 is the budget bill funding and spending authority for the recently established Department of the State Fire Marshal, taking the place of the Office of the State Fire Marshal that was part of the Oregon State Police. Dept. of State Lands (DSL) By Peggy Lynch HB 2238 allows for rulemaking to increase fees related to removal or fill permit applications, wetland delineation reports and general authorizations. We will work with the agency to increase processes for clearly identifying wetlands in urban growth boundaries to be sure lands that should be developed can be and those that can’t should be are removed from the buildable lands inventory. We support the bill which passed and was signed by the Governor with an effective date of Sept. 24, 2023. In August the League discovered that the issue of wetlands was being discussed in the Land Availability Work Group of the Governor’s Housing Production Advisory Council (HPAC). We expressed concern that no wetlands expertise had been consulted during the initial round of meetings. The League will monitor this Work Group as it considers providing unvetted proposals to the Governor. If you want to receive notices of HPAC meetings, click here . HB 2914 establishes the Oregon Abandoned and Derelict Vessel Program in DSL LFO Recommendation The League has consistently supported funding for this program outside of the Common School Fund. Funding for this program was included in the end-of-session bill, SB 5506 : $18,763,236 from the Monsanto Settlement Agreement per the Governor’s recommendation. The League provided testimony in support of the DSL budget ( HB 5037 ) , as did League member Christine Moffitt on behalf of the Friends of South Slough. Elliott State Research Forest (ESRF) By Peggy Lynch The League continues to engage in the ESRF, including attending their prospective Board meetings. The prospective ESRF Board met July 24th. Visit DSL's Elliott webpage to learn more . Additional meetings are set for August 16 (9a-5p in-person in Winchester Bay) and Sept. 22 nd 10 a.m. to 4 p.m on Zoom. They WEplan to meet again October 16, Noon to 4 p.m. and December 4, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Meeting locations TBD. Meeting videos are posted to the Department of State Lands YouTube channel and meeting notes are posted to DSL's Elliott website here . Work is continuing on eventual adoption of a Habitat Conservation Plan and a Forest Management Plan for the forest. Of concern to the League is how their plan can be financially viable without excessive timber harvest. SB 161 passed to change a date included in SB 1546 (2022) related to requirements in establishing the ESRF to December of 2023. The Governor signed with the bill’s effective date June 30, 2023. HB 5048 with the -2 amendment funds, starting Jan. 1, 2024, the new Elliott State Forest Research Authority Board staffing and expenses. LFO Recommendation . It is expected that the 2024 session will enhance this new agency’s budget and fiscal needs, but the 2023 funding provides for an Executive Director and two other positions. Public listening sessions on the HCP and Forest Management Plan (FMP) is scheduled for September 21: 6:00 – 7:30 p.m. Zoom links to join the listening sessions and more information about the forest management planning process can be found on the OSU College of Forestry website here . On June 2 OSU Board of Trustees met and received a Report and a Presentation as they considered approving their engagement on the ESRF, with a decision in October or December by the OSU Board on whether or not to accept a role in the ESRF. They will receive an update at their Aug. 25 and Oct. 19-20 meetings before a special OSU Board meeting in December. The State Land Board will meet Dec. 12 to provide a final decision on the ESRF going forward. The Shutter Creek former Oregon Dept. of Corrections facility was transferred by the federal government to the Dept. of State Lands in anticipation of the property being the home of the ESRF staff and research team. There is also discussion around a tribal role for the property. The property currently pays a significant fee for sewer to the City of Lakeside. Conversations with the city are on-going since that infrastructure is critical to keeping effluent out of Tenmile Lake where a significant number of failing septic systems also exist. Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) The League had no volunteer to follow the Oregon Dept. of Fish and Wildlife so we did not comment on their budget ( SB 5509 ) except to work with partners to assure staff for in-stream flows and water management would become permanent, in keeping with our support for water management across water agencies. Are you a fisherperson? High mercury levels detected in Oregon waters: Health advisories issued for summer fishing season addresses higher than healthy mercury and information on fish consumption in these waters. Forestry (ODF) We provided testimony on the Oregon Dept. of Forestry 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. Those positions were not included in the final budget. However, HB 3409 includes a provision that directs ODF to acquire and maintain an urban tree canopy assessment tool and to develop and implement program related to loss of tree canopy. DLCD was given over $7 million and 5 staff to create and award grants under a new Community Green Infrastructure Fund. State Forester Cal Mukumoto has decided not to renew the state’s wildfire insurance policy for 2023-24. The state would have to incur over $75 million before accessing the $25 million policy. As the Board of Forestry makes decisions on our state forests, including potential adoption of a Habitat Conservation Plan and future harvest plans, we remind you that Oregon’s forests are managed for the greatest permanent value : “ healthy, productive, and sustainable forest ecosystems that over time and across the landscape provide a full range of social, economic, and environmental benefits to the people of Oregon.” LWVOR provided comments on the biennial Harvest Tax bill, HB 2087 , expressing concerns but supporting if this bill is all that is available for helping to fund forestry programs. The bill passed and was signed by the Governor on July 31. Governance By Peggy Lynch SB 42 would have required agencies to add even more factors related to business when calculating the costs of rulemaking and their consequences. The League provided testimony in opposition. SB 38 would have required certain agencies to process permits even if state or federal laws or rules changed during the permit processing. The League provided testimony in opposition. Neither bill passed this session. Hanford Cleanup Board By Marylou Schnoes The Oregon Hanford Cleanup Board meeting materials are available on their website . Per OPB , we are a long way from being safe as the cleanup continues. Rep. Mark Gamba has been appointed by the Speaker to join the Board. Oregon Department of Energy Assistant Director for Nuclear Safety and Emergency Preparedness Maxwell Woods and Hanford Hydrogeologist Tom Sicilia weigh in on the Dept of Energy blog, HISTORIC HANFORD CONTAMINATION IS WORSE THAN EXPECTED: OREGON EXPERTS WEIGH IN . Higher Education Coordinating Commission (HECC) By Peggy Lynch Another League volunteer followed education this session but there were two areas under Natural Resources that we provided testimony. The League provided testimony on HB 5025 , the omnibus higher education budget, in support of the Oregon Consensus/Oregon Solutions programs at Portland State University. It is unclear if this funding was provided but the program will continue. The League provided testimony in support of funding for the Oregon Conservation Corps in HB 5025 , the omnibus Higher Education Coordinating Commission budget bill. $10 million was provided in the end-of-session bill, SB 5506 . Land Use/Dept. of Land Conservation and Development (DLCD) & Housing By Peggy Lynch Land use and housing were front and center this session. The Governor came out early with a Housing Executive Order 23-02 . The l egislature followed up quickly with HB 2001 and HB 5019. A Budget Report was provided for HB 2001 that clarifies that some monies are coming from 2021-23 with most from the 2023-25 biennium. The same is true in th e Budget Report for HB 5019 . Also, there is a Budget Note on pages 3-4 of the LFO Recommendation. DLCD provided a helpful press release in understanding the land use nexus. The League provided 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. SB 534 was incorporated into HB 2001 , Section 51, and was passed and signed by the Governor on March 29. With the increase in staff of seven permanent positions at DLCD, they have created a new Housing Division under Senior Planner/Manager Ethan Stuckmayer. The League provided testimony on HB 5027 , the DLCD budget, and were disappointed that only the Housing Policy Option Packages were approved. Missing were positions for wildfire and climate planning. However, the agency received a number of positions related to housing and one surprise bill related to green infrastructure and another on solar siting: While HB 2727, Early Childhood Facilities, came with funds for DLCD to convene a Work Group to examine strategies for expanding early learning and care facilities in Oregon, the bill did not include any funding for positions. SB 5506 , Climate-Friendly and Equitable Communities Program (CFEC), granted DLCD one permanent position and $2.7 million in one-time grant funds. SB 5506, Green Infrastructure and Solar Siting (TREES), provided five limited duration positions and $6.5 million in Green Infrastructure grant funds. Four of these positions are associated with the TREES program. One is assigned work to identify ways to reduce conflicts for solar facilities in Eastern Oregon. HB 3395 was the housing package and included sections on the Residential Use of Commercial Lands, new Approval Procedures around residential structures in Urban Growth Boundaries, Emergency Shelter Siting, and Subdividing Affordable Housing Developments as changes to our land use system. HB 2889 : Establishes Oregon Housing Needs Analysis within the Housing and Community Services Department. The League provided testimony in support. The Governor signed on July 18. The League provided testimony on HB 2983 in support of manufactured dwellings and dwellings parks. Although HB 2983 did not pass, t here is money in the Oregon Housing and Community Services budget or other housing bills that should help with this housing issue. SB 70 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 provided testimony in opposition, continuing to focus on water quality and quantity; however, the bill passed and has been signed by the Governor. SB 1013 , a bill that would allow a recreational vehicle to be sited on a rural property, was amended by the -4 amendment and was signed by the Governor with an effective date of Jan. 1, 2024. The League worked behind the scenes to be sure that water and sewer would be safely provided since the RV would likely be sharing the main residence's facilities. The League provided testimony in opposition to HB 3442 , a bill that would have required local governments to allow development of affordable housing on certain lands within a 100-year floodplain or subject to property development constraints under land use regulations related to natural disasters and hazards. The bill was amended to clarify those public safety concerns and passed. The Governor has signed. The League provided testimony with concerns on SB 835 , a bill that required that a single septic system be used for both the main home and an accessory dwelling unit placed on a lot where a septic system is used. The bill was amended addressing our concerns, was passed and signed by the Governor. The League was alerted to SB 1087 , a bill to allow restaurants, 25-car parking lots, and 5,000-square-foot seating areas for 250-300 people on land designated for exclusive farm use (EFU land). It set standards for the establishment of farm cafes on lands in Lane County zoned for exclusive farm use. It required the Oregon Health Authority to review the land use compatibility statement before licensing a farm cafe. The bill also authorized OHA to revoke, deny or suspend licenses upon certain violations of land use conditions. 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. The League did not provide testimony, but would have provided opposition testimony had the bill received a Work Session. The bill died in the Senate Rules Committee but could well return in 2024 or 2025. SB 4 , known as the CHIPS Act, includes $200 million in grants and loans with a commitment to provide a certain number of permanent full-time jobs to help semiconductor industries and would allow the Governor to “supersite” lands for this industry 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. The bill passed and was signed by the Governor, but many sideboards were placed around the “supersiting” provision. With tax credits and other legislation, a total of $500 million was committed to this industry. On Aug. 1, the Governor approved $90 million to a proposed expansion of Intel at current facilities in Washington County. At this time, it doesn’t seem to include any “supersiting”. A total of 15 companies have applied for Oregon’s CHIPS Act funding. The League provided testimony in opposition to SB 1051 with the -2 amendment , a bill that would allow a property owner to request an Urban Growth Boundary (UGB) expansion of up to 200 acres outside of the current UGB process, but inside an urban reserve. The bill died in committee, but elements of the bill appeared in HB 3414 (see below) as did SB 1096 , HB 3620 and HB 3616 . HB 3414 with the -1 amendment would have created a new Housing Accountability and Production Office in DLCD and also included a Section 2 that says that local governments may not deny a variance under certain circumstances. Variances are used to address exceptions to a code’s “clear and objective standards”. It is unclear how this provision would have changed a community’s control over residential development. The insistence by the Governor to include a section in the bill that would have allowed private property owners to ask a city to add their lands (lands adjacent to current UGBs) for development was a non-starter for LWVOR and other land use advocates. Metro also had concerns that their role in the management of Metro’s UGB would be usurped by the Metro cities. The League provided verbal testimony based on our Nov. 2022 LCDC testimony , pointing out that it’s not more raw land we need; it’s funding for infrastructure and planning staff. The UGB section relates to SB 1096 , a bill that would “expand development into farmland” and was similar to SB 1051 which the League vigorously opposed and has since died. Although there are sideboards around what lands can be considered, the bill continued the false narrative that simply adding land to urban growth boundaries will solve Oregon's housing crises. HB 3414 B became the last drama of the 2023 session. OPB had a good article as did Willamette Week . Although it passed the House, it did not pass the Senate—by one vote. LWVOR appreciates that Senate members rejected the bill, but are also sad that the good portions of the bill were lost by the insistence that the UGB expansion sections be included. We look forward to a quick passage of a slimmed down version in 2024, although the Governor has indicated we will see the same bill. There were a number of bills filed ( HB 3180 , HB 3181 , HB 3179 and HB 2989 related to siting solar in Oregon. An Oregon Siting Table was formed to have conversations around potential conflicts among solar developers, the agricultural and environmental communities. The League engaged in meetings of the Oregon Siting Table, but did not provide testimony on any of these bills. HB 3179 was amended, passed and signed by the Governor. The bill doubles the maximum allowable acreage for solar photovoltaic power generation facility siting in the context of county land-use planning, allowing counties to approve more and larger solar projects while preserving existing protections for land use and wildlife. The amended bill now requires an applicant for a land use permit for a renewable energy facility to provide a decommissioning plan to restore the site to "a useful, nonhazardous condition," assured by bonding or other security. The Siting Table will continue and there may have been monies to continue conversations among the parties in other bills. As HB 2003 (2019) ( helpful DLCD website ) is implemented by cities, you might want to read pages 3 and 4 of Monmouth’s DRAFT Housing Production Strategy . (The cities of Milwaukie and Grants Pass have also completed a DRAFT—all of which can be commented on.) As cities are required to review their Housing every 6 (Metro) or 8 years, they are required to consider how to address their housing needs. You don’t have to wait until your city is required to do this exercise. You can begin the conversation now to help address your housing shortage. As part of the information on cost of housing, in January a presentation on Systems Development Charges (SDCs) was provided. The League supports state help with SDC costs and other infrastructure costs, especially for low-income housing, but also help for cities to provide infrastructure to create buildable lots within cities and to make urban growth boundary lands buildable. The Legislative Policy and Research Office provided this report on housing and land use. See also the Housing Report in the Social Policy section of this Legislative Report. Land Use Board of Appeals (LUBA) By Peggy Lynch The League provided support for the Land Use Board of Appeals budget ( HB 5028 ). Northwest Energy Coalition By Robin Tokmakian Our League representative worked on a resolution regarding gas utility decarbonization. LWVOR signed on to support the resolution . Oregon Dept. of Energy (ODOE) The League provided testimony in support of the Oregon Dept. of Energy (ODOE) budget ( HB 5016 ). Oregon Marine Board The League provided testimony in support of the Oregon Marine Board budget ( SB 5521 ). The League was pleased that the budget includes a focus on abandoned and derelict vessels. Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board (OWEB) The League did not provide written testimony on the Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board (OWEB) budget ( SB 5539 & SB 5540 ), but engaged during budget development and behind the scenes with legislators. Here is the July Director's Report on their budget and strategic plan. OWEB worked with others to review their 20 years of providing Operating Capacity Grants to Soil and Water Conservation Districts and others. Parks and Recreation The League provided comments on SB 5527 , the budget bill for the Oregon Parks and Recreation Dept. Radioactive Waste By Shirley Weathers The Oregon Department of Energy (ODOE) continues its work to protect Oregon from acceptance, accumulation, and storage of hazardous levels of radioactive waste. For a quick recap, the current effort now going on three years was triggered in 2020 by discovery that almost 1,300 tons of such waste generated through fracking for oil and gas out-of-state had been illegally accepted by Chemical Waste Management (CWM) at their Arlington OR landfill between 2016 and 2019. That triggered the understanding that decades-old rules and statutes needed updating. During the interim after the 2020 Session, ODOE and the first Rulemaking Advisory Committee (RAC) worked on aspects of OAR 435.029 (Notice of Violation, Civil Penalties, Revocation or Suspension) that didn’t require statutory changes. The resultant final rules provide significantly better prevention of illegal out-of-state dumping and provide the state with enforcement authority if and when it occurs. After successful passage in the 2021 Session of SB 246 , Radioactive Waste Disposal Definitions and Enforcement, another RAC embarked on changes to ORS 469.300 (Definitions) and 469.525 (Radioactive Waste Facilities Prohibited). The bill retains in full force Oregon’s commitment to stringent restriction of radioactive waste storage and emphasis on protecting the health and safety of the public. It called for review and necessary revision of technical provisions to reflect current-day science and federal standards where there were deviations, as well as rule changes pertaining to the classification, handling, and disposal of radioactive waste generated within the state, commonly as a byproduct of other operations. Medical and manufacturing waste figure importantly in discussions, but there are a number of other sources. Many of the technical issues arising from SB 246 are therefore beyond the expertise of many RAC members, including the League. Some member organizations have hired consultants to act on their behalf to interact on draft rules with ODOE staff. However, there are other important issues that can and need to be addressed by laypersons. In fact, a stark division in approach that surfaced with the first draft led staff and RAC members to agree to divide pertinent subsections into two parts (more below). Part I issues have resulted in three drafts, but RAC members will provide input by August 30 and likely the Energy Facility Siting Commission (EFSC) will consider a final draft in its September meeting. If accepted, a 30-day public comment period will be opened. It is hoped that more individuals and organizations with concerns about public health and safety and environmental issues will become involved. The Part II controversy stems from the cost of transporting out-of-state materials produced here but prohibited from disposal in Oregon. Charging that this is cost-prohibitive, some RAC members rejected the staff draft and instead collaborated with Chemical Waste Management on a proposal that would have allowed retention of bona fide radioactive waste in-state under certain conditions. However, the League was not surprised when the Oregon DOJ ruled that the proposal would violate ORS 426.525. That subsection has been shelved for now and further steps are unknown at this time. LWVOR has supported new legislation and held a seat on the two RACs involved to date and will continue to participate. Reduce/Recycle By Kathy Moyd/Greg Martin There were three “Zero Waste” bills related to polystyrene and plastics: SB 543 , prohibits food vendors from using polystyrene foam containers in sales of prepared food. LWVOR provided Testimony . The Governor has signed the bill which takes effect Jan. 1, 2024. SB 544 , directs the Environmental Quality Commission to establish a program for source reduction of single-use plastic food ware and single-use packaging and achieve 25 percent source reductions compared to 2023 levels by 2030. LWVOR provided Testimony ; however, the bill did not pass. SB 545 , directs the State Department of Agriculture and Oregon Health Authority to adopt rules allowing consumers to use their own containers for refilling with food at food establishments. The League provided testimony in support. The bill passed, was signed by the Governor on May 8 and is immediately effective. The Right to Repair bill, SB 542 , required original equipment manufacturers to make available repair information to owners of consumer electronic equipment or independent repair providers. The League provided testimony supporting the bill, but pointed out two areas where changes should be made: one dealing with clarifying what was included under the bill and the other dealing with the enforcement method. Preferred versions were included in the New York law. The bill did not pass this session but we expect a version to return in 2024 or 2025. DEQ is proposing rules to clarify and implement the Plastic Pollution and Recycling Modernization Act of 2021. More information on this rulemaking, including the draft rules, can be found on the Recycling Updates 2023 Rulemaking Page . DEQ continues to hold Recycling Modernization Act Rulemaking Advisory Committee meetings. To learn more about this rulemaking and the advisory committee, view the rulemaking web page at: Recycling Updates 2024 . Toxics By Paula Grisafi HB 3043 , a bill that revises provisions relating to chemicals in children’s products, was signed by the Governor and is effective as of Sept. 24, 2023. As a member of the Oregon Conservation Network, we were pleased to see the OCN Letter in support of HB 3043 , the Toxic Free Kids Act Modernization. LWVOR has engaged in this bill in past sessions. SB 546 requires the Oregon Health Authority to adopt and maintain a list of designated high priority chemicals of concern used in cosmetic products and to periodically review and revise the list. The bill was amended and passed. LWVOR provided testimony in support of SB 426 , the Toxics Free Schools bill, but again it did not pass the legislature. Water By Peggy Lynch The League provided testimony in support with comments on the Oregon Water Resources Dept. (OWRD) budget ( HB 5043 ). The budget includes a permanent staffer to follow the Integrated Water Resources Strategy (IWRS). The League has participated in the past two IWRS documents. That document is set to be updated again and OWRD is partnering with Oregon’s Kitchen Table (OKT) to provide outreach and engagement for the 2023 update to the IWRS. Here’s the latest Integrated Water Resources Strategy 2023 public engagement . Here's the agency’s full budget summary for 2023. A major water bill, HB 3124 , a $250 million Drought Relief and Water Scarcity pkg., was introduced and included some of the 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. The W&M Natural Resources Subcommittee used HB 2010 for the water package instead of HB 3124 , t he bill to which LWVOR provided comments . The -6 amendment was adopted and includes elements of: -Place-based Planning, a concept that the League has supported since its inception in 2014. We participated in the HB 5006 Work Group where members suggested updating that planning program. HB 3163 would have created a special Fund for these regional planning efforts. The League testified in support of the Fund. T he good news that the Place-Based Water Planning Fund, as described in HB 3163 , will become permanent with an initial $2,000,000 appropriation. See Sections 15, 16, 44, 57, 58,59, 60 & 61 of HB 2010 . - HB 3100 , a bill that updates requirements for the Integrated Water Resources Strategy (IWRS) was included. See Sections 10 and 11 of HB 2010 . LWVOR testified on the original bill. -The League provided testimony in support of HB 2813 , the Safe Drinking Water bill that directed OWEB to provide grants to protect drinking water sources. See Sections 1-4 of HB 2010 . Here is the Drought Package Press Release . LFO Recommendation and the Budget Report that shares the many programs and agencies that will benefit from this bill. You might also note the amount of cross-agency cooperation and collaboration expected from this package. Sen. Dembrow provided spreadsheets for the climate and drought packages here. The League also provided testimony in support of HB 3125 to create a new Ratepayer Fund to help low income people pay for sewer and water bills. A study of this issue was funded in the Christmas Tree bill. The League has been a voice for the safety of domestic wells and provided testimony in support of HB 3207 , a bill that would have required reporting to DEQ the results of well water tests during a real estate transaction. The bill did not pass out of Ways and Means. HB 3208 that expands the Environmental Quality Commission’s authority to annually adjust additional water quality fees up to 3% per year passed. The League has participated in a rules advisory committee related to 3% fees for other water quality permits and has been invited to do so again this year. In 2021, the legislature provided funds for a contractor to provide a report on the Business Case for Oregon Water Investments. Here is the Executive Summary . There was also a requirement to engage the nine tribes. Here is the Tribal Water Task Force Summary Report. Statement from the EPA on Waters of the U.S. rule: “EPA and Army statement regarding intent to amend WOTUS rule in wake of U.S. Supreme Court’s Sackett decision – On June 26, EPA and Army released the following statement regarding next steps for the agencies’ WOTUS rule: “The Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of the Army (agencies) are in receipt of the U.S. Supreme Court's May 25, 2023, decision in the case of Sackett v. Environmental Protection Agency. In light of this decision, the agencies are interpreting the phrase “waters of the United States” consistent with the Supreme Court’s decision in Sackett.” Oregon is reviewing the effect of this decision on our own wetlands rules and laws. We all need to pay attention to the potential for harmful algal blooms. HB 3409 (Sections 82 and 83 of the climate package) included HB 2647 A . The League supported HB 2647 A to continue to address harmful algal blooms., a public health issue. “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. 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 and Lake counties . On June 27, the Governor declared a drought emergency in Jackson County through Executive Order 23-15 , and directed state agencies to coordinate and prioritize assistance to the region. Gilliam County has also submitted a request for a state 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 SB 80 , one of the important wildfire bills passed this session, is detailed in this press release and this OPB article . LWVOR provided testimony in support of SB 80 with the -2 amendments. Senator Golden spoke at length in support of this overall bill, at one point calling it a refinement of certain aspects of SB 762 , the Omnibus Wildfire Legislation of 2021. Regarding the map, which, in part, this bill improved and refined, he said “ Senate Bill 80 simplifies the structure of the map and makes some changes to the way that reflects NOT the way that single homeowners maintain their property for fire readiness, but rather the hazard that wildfire presents to the wider landscape .” The League is hopeful that the new, required county collaboration on the map-making process will give Oregonians a better understanding that the map is to point out areas of fire HAZARD so that we all might help be better prepared for wildfires. “ We no longer have a fire season. We have a fire year .” - Mark Bennett, Chair, Wildfire Programs Advisory Council. Throughout the session, the League followed closely the work of the Governor’s Wildfire Programs Advisory Council , which makes recommendations regarding wildfire legislation to the Governor and the Legislature. Among the most consequential recommendations they made was to change the name of the Statewide Wildfire RISK Map to Hazard Map (the importance of which is mentioned in the previous paragraph) as is the practice in California, and to reduce the number of Hazard Zones from the previous 5, to 3, namely High, Moderate and Low. Their year-round, ongoing work is and will continue to be pivotal in the mission to inform future wildfire preparedness and mitigation legislation for the State and its residents. The League provided testimony in support of funding for the Oregon Conservation Corps in HB 5025 , the omnibus Higher Education Coordinating Commission budget bill. $10 million was included in SB 5506 , the end-of-session bill. The League monitored SB 82 , which enhances insurance carriers’ obligation to consider property owner’s efforts to reduce wildfire risk in rate-setting and policy coverage decisions and increases information available to policy-holders. It passed the Senate per this press release . State Forester Cal Mukumoto has decided not to renew the state’s wildfire insurance policy for 2023-24. The state would have to incur over $75 million before accessing the $25 million policy. This policy was for the state to help pay for the cost of fighting wildfires, not for personal fire insurance. Oregon has been the ONLY state to have this policy (Lloyds of London). The deductible of $75 million made it less useful to help the state pay for state fire fighting expenses. We also followed SB 509 , which would have required the Oregon Department of Forestry to study community-based programs for reducing wildfire risk, among other things, and would declare an emergency upon passage so that grant fundings and other program items would have begun immediately. LWVOR provided support for SB 509 A, which did not pass. However, there was some funding provided in the Oregon State Fire Marshal’s budget at the end of session. SB 872 , a bill to enable better cooperation between Federal agencies and Oregon Department of Forestry with regard to wildfire mitigation efforts during the non-wildfire months passed with the -4 amendment . It directs the Oregon Department of Forestry to endeavor toward further shared stewardship of federal forests through partnership with federal agencies to expand certain Good Neighbor Authority activities, and to request that the federal agencies fund these activities. In addition, a number of bills passed which dealt with housekeeping elements of the change of status of the Office of the State Fire Marshal, under the Oregon State Police, to an independent Department of the State Fire Marshal, a move that gives the State Fire Marshal’s office significantly more responsibility and autonomy, especially in the area of wildfire. The department will still be referred to as OSFM, for Oregon State Fire Marshal, as opposed to “Office of” the State Fire Marshal previously. Unfortunately, the funding requested for this new office fell well short of expectations and there remains much work to be done. Nevertheless, OFSM has launched a Defensible Space website , which provides a multitude of resources to help Oregonians make their home more resilient in the face of increasing wildfire risk, including the ability to schedule a home assessment based on entering your home address. Volunteers Needed What is your passion related to Natural Resources? You can help. V olunteers are needed. The 2023 legislative session is over, but 2024 is just around the corner. 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.

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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 Legislative Report Education Legislative Report - Week of 4/3 Education By Anne Nesse SB 1050 was introduced to Senate Education on 3/30 by Melissa Goff, advisor to Governor Kotek. Those testifying pointed out how important knowledge and understanding of other ethnicities, native American cultures, and religious persecution during the holocaust was to understanding the human condition. Even though curriculum legislation passed in 2017 on these subjects, teachers were still in need of funding for professional development opportunities, to succeed in teaching these concepts. Sen. Lew Frederick reminded us that this knowledge should be apparent throughout the curriculum in grades K-12. In House Education on 3/29, Rep. Neron announced that Congress recently made Federal funding available to allow all Oregon students to eat free and healthy breakfasts and lunches, without any type of discrimination, because all students will be eligible. More news on this coming soon, she stated. These House Education bills are moving to the floor this week: HB 2656 A , requires school districts to make informational surveys on healthy environment of their school available to students statewide and to provide parents and guardians with notice and opportunity to review the survey before it is administered. HB 3068 A , provides that high school students in grade 11 or 12 may be awarded a high school equivalency diploma if the student has received a certificate for passing approved high school equivalency test and meets other conditions. HB 3584 , directs schools to provide electronic communication to parents and guardians of students attending, at which safety threat action occurred. HB 3135 , preserves additional funding for small school districts that merge with one or more school districts if certain conditions are met. HB 2690 -1 , requires school districts to pay classified school employees not less than 10% more than minimum wage that applies to all employees who work in this state and not less than 15% more than minimum wage if classified school employees provide support to students with individualized education programs or who are enrolled in special education. HB 3014 -5 , directs ODE to adopt rules that allow for reimbursement of school district expenses incurred in lieu of transporting students, such as walking or biking patrols. HB 2281 -3, requires school districts and public charter schools to designate civil rights coordinator. HB 3178 A , expands criteria for awarding scholarships to diverse teacher candidates. HB 3236 A , authorizes expenditures from Statewide Education Initiatives Account for funding of regional career and technical education programs. HB 3204 A , shortens timelines and requirements for when a school district makes determination to give approval for students to enroll in virtual public charter school not sponsored by school district, above 3% cap. HB 2895 , removes cap on amounts distributed from State School Fund to school districts for students eligible for special education as children with disabilities. These bills in Senate Education are moving to the floor this week: SB 409 -6 , prescribes information related to courses of study offered by school districts that the district school board must ensure is provided on the school district's website. SB 758 -3 , prescribes timelines and redacting requirements for records related to provision of special education. SB 275 -4 , requires ODE, TSPC, and Educator Advancement Council to conduct study to identify best means of improving alignment among state education agencies. SB 421 -1 , establishes a youth advisory council. SB 426 -2 , modifies requirements of Healthy and Safe Schools Plan related to integrated pest management. SB 3 -3 , requires students to complete one credit of future planning as a requirement for high school diploma. SB 218 , requires ODE and law enforcement agencies to make available to TSPC certain information received during investigation of suspected sexual conduct or child abuse. SB 416 , requires public universities and community colleges to pay part-time faculty at the same rate, on a per-hour basis, as public university or community college pays full-time faculty to prepare for and teach courses. SB 756 -1 , requires school district employees assigned to work with students with specialized needs to have access to specified records related to students and to be consulted when the education plan for students is reviewed or revised. SB 215 -2 , allows ODE to adjust amounts charged related to distribution of agricultural products received from the United States Department of Agriculture for school food programs. SB 596 , requires school districts to submit specified information to ODE related to talented and gifted children. SB 736 , requires ODE to conduct study to identify how to increase access to advanced instruction for the purpose of preparing students for college and career.

Issues In Oregon Campaign Finance A historical look at campaign finance in Oregon. Read More Redistricting Learn more about ongoing redistricting reform efforts in Oregon. Find out how you can help. Read More Cybersecurity Learn more about LWVOR advocacy related to privacy and cybersecurity. Read More Childcare LWVOR's recently published study, Childcare In Oregon, is meant to inform our advocacy at the state and local levels. Read More

Back to All Legislative Reports Governance Internships Legislative Report - Week of 2/12 Governance Team Coordinator: Becky Gladstone and Chris Cobey Artificial Intelligence: Lindsey Washburn Campaign Finance Reform: Norman Turrill Conflicts of Interest/Legislative Ethics: Chris Cobey CEI - Critical Energy Infrastructure : Nikki Mandell and Laura Rogers Cybersecurity Privacy, Election Issues, Electronic Portal Advisory Board: Becky Gladstone Election Systems: Barbara Klein Emergency Preparedness: Cate Arnold Immigration, Refugee, and Asylum: Claudia Keith Redistricting: Norman Turrill, Chris Cobey State Audit Working Group: Sheila Golden Voting Rights of Incarcerated People: Marge Easley Jump to a topic: Senate and House Rules Committees House Rules Committee Senate Committee on Education Elections, Campaign Finance, and In Memoriam for Alice Bartelt By Norman Turrill, Governance Coordinator, and Team Senate Rules Committee SB 1538 is an election law clean-up bill that makes many changes, was amended in several details and passed out of the Senate Rules Committee on 2/15. The amendments concerned translating voters’ pamphlets; removing the redundant vote tally machine certification just before tallying begins; reducing the number of voter registration cards to 500 that could be obtained, issuing a certificate of ascertainment of presidential electors; increasing the upper limits for a candidate not to be required to file campaign finance reports; and allowing campaign contributions to be used to pay civil penalties for campaign violations. House Rules Committee HB 4021 , which requires the Governor to fill a vacancy in the office of U.S. Senator by appointment within 30 days until a special election can fill the vacancy, had a public hearing. HB 4031 , which requires the Public Records Advisory Council to study public records, passed out of committee without recommendation and was sent to the Revenue Committee. HB 4032 , which removes the requirement that the word “incumbent” appear on the ballot with the name of incumbent candidates for the Supreme Court, Court of Appeals, Oregon Tax Court, and circuit court, had a public hearing. HB 4117 , which authorizes the Oregon Government Ethics Commission to issue advisory opinions on the application of the public meetings law, and which provides a technical fix to a bill passed in 2023 session, passed out of committee to 2 nd reading, the rules of the House were suspended, and the bill was passed immediately and unanimously. Senate Committee on Education SB 1502 requires public schools and college boards to livestream their meetings and post the meeting recordings on their websites and social media sites. It allows remote testimony for most school and college board meetings. The bill passed out of committee and was referred to Ways and Means. Elections, Campaign Finance, and In Memoriam for Alice Bartelt By Rebecca Gladstone Three bills that received League testimony passed from committees this week. News swirls for others, and we are poised to act on them. These two bills were heard in Senate Rules and both passed, with League support: Increase Voters’ Pamphlet Languages SB 1533 : This bill would increase the number of languages other than English for State Voters’ Pamphlets, adjusted for predominating languages by county. We provided written testimony . As well as virtual League testimony starts at 1:25) . The bill passed unanimously, with one excused. Synthetic Media in Campaign Ads, aka Deep Fakes SB 1571 -1 : League testimony was quickly revised for the -1 amendment and our verbal testimony, (video starting at 50 minutes ), was targeted to issues raised during the public hearing. The -1 amendment replaced “artificial intelligence” with the applied term “synthetic media”. The bill passed unanimously, with four more amendments filed. See Oregon lawmakers consider regulating use of AI in campaign ads , OPB, 14 Feb, 2024. A third bill, from sponsor Sen. Manning, was heard in Senate Veterans, Emergency Management, Federal and World Affairs Committee: Automatic Voter Registration for students SB 1577 -3 : The original bill would have automatically registered students from their college applications via the Dept of Revenue. The amended bill would have Elections and County Elections departments study the feasibility of registering student citizen voters. The clear emphasis on eligible voters, with only citizens being eligible, was not clear to many who sent testimony. It passed from committee on partisan lines, with supportive League testimony (video starting at 1:19), and on the record . Campaign Finance: LWVOR supports IP 9 and is actively collecting signatures, as part of the Honest Elections Coalition . LWVOR and Common Cause are the good government groups mentioned in OPB this week: Democrats and Republicans often clash on the subject, but are hoping to avoid a messy ballot fight . A placeholder bill, HB 4024 , could be pressed into service from unusual partners, labor and business, who are otherwise promoting IP 42, against IP 9. This is presumably hoping to forestall the impending faceoff between the two competing campaign finance petitions. Campaign work for IP 9 is in high gear with discussions between Honest Elections, legislative members, top state leadership, and the press. Senate Commemorative Resolution, In Memoriam: Alice Bartelt, 1947-2023 , SCR 203: We understand from staff that the bill sponsor, Senate President Wagner, has moved the hearing date to Feb. 22, 3pm. It is not yet posted on OLIS. Staff requests that anyone wishing to testify please contact their office at carol.suzuki@oregonlegislature.gov , so that timing can be arranged.

Learn more about the League of Women Voters of Oregon. / About / About Our Principles The League of Women Voters believes in representative government and in the individual liberties established in the Constitution of the United States. The League of Women Voters believes that democratic government depends upon the informed and active participation of its citizens and requires that governmental bodies protect the citizen’s right to know by giving adequate notice of the proposed actions, holding open meetings and making public records accessible. The League of Women Voters believes that every citizen should be protected in the right to vote; that every person should have access to free public education which provides equal opportunity for all; and that no person or group should suffer legal, economic or administrative discrimination. The League of Women Voters believes that efficient and economical government requires competent personnel, the clear assignment of responsibility, adequate financing and coordination among the different agencies and levels of government. The League of Women Voters believes that responsible government should be responsive to the will of the people; that it should maintain an equitable and flexible system of taxation, promote the conservation and development of natural resources in the public interest, share in the solution of economic and social problems which affect the general welfare, promote a sound economy, and adopt domestic policies which facilitate the solution of international problems. The League of Women Voters believes that cooperation with other nations is essential in the search for solutions to world problems, and that the development of international organization and international law is imperative in the promotion of world peace. The League of Women Voters of Oregon is an organization fully committed to equity and diversity. We actively value differences and recognize that people from different backgrounds and experiences can bring valuable insights to the organization and the work we do. LWV of Oregon strives to be an inclusive organization, where diversity is valued, respected and built upon. There shall be no barriers to full participation in LWV of Oregon on the basis of gender, gender identity, ethnicity, race, age, sexual orientation, culture, religion or belief system, disability, political perspective or affiliation. The League seeks to empower citizens to understand governmental issues and to participate in the political process. Our Mission Our Mission LWVOR is a grassroots, nonpartisan political organization that encourages informed and active participation in government. Our Vision The League seeks to empower citizens to understand governmental issues and to participate in the political process. We seek to provide balanced, accurate, nonpartisan information to all Oregonians. We Need Your Support Today! Donate

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.

The distinction between “direct lobbying”, “grassroots lobbying” and “advocacy” is important. / Lobbying vs. Advocacy / Lobbying vs. Advocacy For the purposes of reporting to the IRS, all 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporations (that have taken the section (h) election on IRS Form 5768) must limit direct lobbying to 20% and grassroots lobbying to 5% of total expenses (averaged over a four-year period if yearly expenses are less than $500,000). However, these corporations are unlimited in the amount they can spend on general advocacy and education. The distinction between “direct lobbying ” , “grassroots lobbying ” and “advocacy ” is important. The distinction between “advocacy” and “education” is not important for IRS purposes, and they may be considered interchangeable. Link to the document in PDF format.

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.