Ag., Env., & Nat. Resources :: Oregon Citizens Lobby

HB 2803A Increase in Water fees

Posted on June 20, 2025 by Donna | 0 Comments

The Act increases fees related to water. The Act takes effect when the Governor signs it. If one of each fee were paid it would add $15,285.30 The fees are not raised equally, which begs the question if the fees are fair. Fees have historically constituted roughly 50% of the state’s processing cost, with the public supporting the remaining portion….

HB 3194A Farmworker camps and liability to landowners

Posted on June 20, 2025 by Comm | 0 Comments

The Act makes new laws about farmworker camps. (Gut and stuff) Establishes joint and several liability for landowners under certain circumstances involving the operation of farmworker camps. Creates a rebuttable presumption that a landowner did not know and could not reasonably have known of the operation of an unregistered farmworker camp on the landowner’s property if the landowner produces a…

HB 2548A Unionize agriculture workers

Posted on June 15, 2025 by Donna | 1 Comments

Creates laws about a labor standards board for agricultural workers. The Act would prohibit employers from firing such workers without cause. The Act takes effect when the Governor signs it. Oregon’s agriculture industry is already grappling with the aftermath of the recent agricultural overtime law, HB 4002 (2022). Now, House Bill 2548 proposes a sweeping, one-size fits-all mandate that could force many…

SB 1153 Restricts transfer of water rights

Posted on June 8, 2025 by Donna | 3 Comments

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. Directs the department to provide an opportunity for tribes to review certain…

SB 1154A Expansion of restrictions over water rights

Posted on June 8, 2025 by Donna | 3 Comments

Makes changes to laws about areas with ground water quality problems. Modifies provisions of law related to declarations of ground water quality concern areas and ground water management areas. Directs the Governor to appoint an agency or agencies to lead an interagency team in ground water quality concern areas and ground water management areas. Provides that ground water management committees…

SB 147A Shifts Elliot Forest to State Land Board

Posted on April 30, 2025 by Donna | 0 Comments

Bill is in full Ways & Means before going to both house floors for a vote. The Act renames a state forest and transfers the running of the forest to a different state agency. The Act makes the forest a research forest and sets forth the duties, powers and conditions for managing the forest. Renames the Elliott State Forest as…

SB 83 Repeals wildfire map and related buildings codes

Posted on April 28, 2025 by Donna | 0 Comments

PASSED SENATE The Act makes changes related to reducing wildfire risk. The Act makes changes related to fire protection. The Act takes effect when signed. Eliminates certain building code standards and mapping requirements for wildfire hazard mitigation. Directs the State Fire Marshal to develop a model code for defensible space to reduce wildfire risk. Modifies the membership of the Wildfire…

SB 1076A Animal breeding and rescue licensing program

Posted on April 27, 2025 by Donna | 1 Comments

The Act tells an agency to impose certain fees for licenses for animal rescue entities. The Act tells the agency to create a program for granting licenses to persons that breed certain animals. The Act gives money for the program. Directs the State Department of Agriculture to impose certain fees for licenses and license renewals for animal rescue entities $600+350…

HB 2332 Prohibits DEQ permitting air curtain incinerators

Posted on April 26, 2025 by Donna | 0 Comments

PASSED This Act stops the DEQ from making some air curtain incinerators get a Title V permit. Prohibits the Department of Environmental Quality from requiring a Title V operating permit for air curtain incinerators if it burns only wood waste, clean lumber or yard waste. Takes effect on the 91st day following adjournment sine die. An air curtain incinerator (ACI),…

HB 3103A State timber harvesting at sustainable levels

Posted on April 12, 2025 by Donna | 2 Comments

Directs 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 to prevent wildfires. Directs 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. Directs the State Forester to…

HB 2557 Prohibits farming octopus

Posted on April 7, 2025 by Donna | 0 Comments

Prohibits a person from raising octopus for the purpose of human consumption or participating in the sale or offer for sale of octopus that was raised for human consumption. Our coastal restaurants have a good seafood reputation. So requiring them to import octopus is nonsense. The coastal counties could become an octopus exporter, which would help their economy. That isn’t…

SJR 28 Mandating utopia

Posted on April 7, 2025 by Donna | 0 Comments

Proposes an amendment to the Oregon Constitution to establish a fundamental right to a clean, safe and healthy environment. Allows lawsuits against the state action or inaction just for the fun of it to make their point. Prevailing parties securing protection for public safety or health interests in this right shall be entitled to costs of litigation, including attorney and…

HB 3917 Creates Catastrophic Wildfire Fund

Posted on April 5, 2025 by Donna | 0 Comments

Creates a fund to pay for damage claims arising from catastrophic wildfires caused by public utilities. Creates the Catastrophic Wildfire Fund to pay for property damage claims arising from catastrophic wildfires that are ignited by the facilities of a public utility. Allows a public utility to participate in and capitalize the fund. Defines “public utility.” Requires the Public Utility Commission…

SB 78 Restrictions on rebuilding after disaster

Posted on March 21, 2025 by Donna | 0 Comments

This Act limits the size of replacement homes on forest or farm land and establishes the maximum size of replacement dwellings. This Act restricts what kind of, how big of, a replacement dwelling may be built on the land as a result of destruction or demolition of the dwelling. The law has already caused problems limiting the timeline of when…

SB 678/SB 83 Repeals wildfire mapping

Posted on March 18, 2025 by Donna | 0 Comments

Undoes wildfire protection provisions adopted in Senate Bill 762 (2021). Declares an emergency, effective July 1, 2025. Provides that the State Board of Forestry establish criteria by which the forestland-urban interface must be identified and classified. The criteria must recognize differences across the state in fire hazard, fire risk and structural characteristics within the forestland-urban interface. The criteria must include…

SB 77 Restricts home occupation on farm and forest lands

Posted on March 2, 2025 by Donna | 0 Comments

This Act describes work that may be done from within homes on forest or farmland. Describes allowable home occupations on lands zoned for forest or farm use. It adds limitations to county authorities, which has a one-size-fits-all effect that never works in this state. The addition of these restrictions will put wedding, retirement, birthday and special occasion venues out of…

HB 2528 Gives overreaching power to OHA

Posted on February 26, 2025 by Donna | 0 Comments

Adds “nicotine derived from any source” to the definitions of “inhalant delivery system” and “tobacco products.” Repeals existing criminal prohibition on the sale of inhalant delivery systems or tobacco products to a person under 21 years of age and replaces the repealed law with a civil prohibition enforced by the Oregon Health Authority. Authorizes imposition of civil penalties for violations….

SB 680 Prohibits marketing ‘net-zero’ without the science

Posted on February 25, 2025 by Donna | 0 Comments

Prohibits a person from publishing or causing to be published an environmental marketing claim, net zero claim or reputational advertising that is materially false, misleading, deceptive or fraudulent. Specifies what constitutes a materially false, misleading, deceptive or fraudulent environmental marketing claim or net zero claim or reputational advertising. Punishes a violation of the Act as an unlawful trade practice under…

HB 3419-3 Extends authority of Water Resources Dept. on existing owners

Posted on February 23, 2025 by Donna | 0 Comments

Amendment 3 is a gut-and-stuff. It will standardize and grow the authority of the Water Resources Department. It may cost share at 75% for eligible owners but no funding source is guaranteed. It targets existing owner water rights. HB 3573 is the appropriations bill. Testimony pointed out how the WRD has not utilized the current data they hold and would…

SB 526 Requires microfiber filtration on washing machines

Posted on February 17, 2025 by Donna | 0 Comments

Prohibits the sale of new clothes washers that are not equipped with a microfiber filtration system, beginning January 1, 2030 This bill would be too expensive for most households and would ruin the livability in Oregon. The Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers points out that in Oregon, the home appliance industry is a significant and critical segment of the economy….

SB 79 Bans homes in sensitive areas

Posted on February 10, 2025 by Donna | 0 Comments

This Act bans homes not for farm or forest uses in sensitive or unsuitable areas of lands zoned for farm or forest use. Prohibits certain dwellings in sensitive or unsuitable areas within resource lands. HISTORY OF SB 762, SB 80 & THE STATE WILDFIRE HAZARD MAP Property owners should not be penalized, fined, or harassed by the government if…

SB 747 Fines farms for overapplying fertilizers

Posted on February 9, 2025 by Donna | 0 Comments

The Act is a costly mandate on Oregon family farms. The bill would authorize state government to issue heavy fines and penalties against farmers who they deem to be “overapplying” fertilizers. Requires persons with ownership interests in at least 200 acres of irrigated land used for agriculture to annually report information about fertilizer application to the State Department of Agriculture….