HB 4015 Fish & Wildlife Advisory & Fund

VOTE: NO – Died In Committee – Establishes Oregon Conservation and Recreation Fund and Oregon Conservation and Recreation Advisory Committee to carry out activities protecting, maintaining or enhancing fish and wildlife resources.

HB 4118A Good Neighbor Authority Bill

VOTE: YES – Died In Committee – Requires Governor to work with US Forest Service to give priority to projects that increase services to produce increased timber harvest volumes, are self-sustaining and maximize financial return to Oregon. Requires Secretary of State to audit lottery expenditures made by the State Forestry Department.

HB 4148 Establishes Oregon Energy Board

VOTE: NO – Died In Committee – Establishes the Oregon Energy Board, appointed by the governor, as the governing body for the Department of Energy, as well as for matters involving climate change.

SB 1508/HB 4002/SB 1541 Surcharge Fee for Toxic Air Program

VOTE: NO – Died In Committee – Rrequires Environmental Quality Commission to establish fee on top of fees to pay to develop and implement a program to reduce public health risks of emissions of toxic air contaminants from industrial and commercial air contamination sources.

SB 1519/SB 1537 Creates Oregon Energy Commission

VOTE: NO – Died In Committee – Creates Oregon Energy Commission as policy and rule-making body for State Department of Energy and required to develop a statewide strategic energy plan…

HB 4109 Study on Carbon Sequestration

VOTE: YES – Died In Committee – Directs a study to promotes carbon sequestration through wood products and natural resources by managing resources, promoting forest health and habitat, while mitigating wildfire, creating jobs through regional approaches for reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

HB 4001/SB 1507 Cap and Trade

VOTE: NO – Died In Committee – Places a cap on greenhouse gas emissions by creating a market-based compliance mechanism buying and selling credits and levy fees on private corporations that can’t demonstrate compliance…

HB 3245A Streamlines City Comprehensive Plan Changes

VOTE: YES – Governor Signed
Allows city governing body to authorize planning commission or hearings officer to conduct hearings and make decisions on applications for amendments to city comprehensive plan. Authorizes appeal of decision to city governing body.

HB 2269A Modifies Business Fees Subject to Clean Air Act

Governor signed – Adds fee schedule for business subject to federal operating permit program under Title V of federal Clean Air Act and a one-time supplemental fee. Authorizes the state to receive funds according to the Volkswagen Environmental Mitigation Trust Agreement and establishes grants and loans for diesel engine replacement or retrofit (similar to SB 1008).

HB 2711A Moratorium on Hydraulic Fracturing

VOTE: NO – Died in Committee – Extends moratorium until December 31, 2027, on use of hydraulic fracturing for oil and gas exploration and production, excluding coal bed methane extraction wells.

HB 3312 Freezes Minimum Environmental Regulations

VOTE: NO – Died in Committee – Requires the Department of Environmental Quality to establish environmental regulations at least as stringent as those provided under federal law on January 19th, 2017.

SB 608 Expanding Urban Growth Boundary

VOTE: YES – Died In Committee – Allows local governments to expand the Urban Growth Boundary when the number of new households in a jurisdiction exceed the number of new housing units and vacancy rates drop below six percent.

SB 432A Boundary Growth Exception

VOTE: YES – Died In Committee – Allows rural county with no population growth, and certain local governments in county, to adopt comprehensive land use plan without complying with statewide land use planning goals until population growth invalidates their qualification for the exception.

HB 3050 Permits Solar on High Value Farmland

VOTE: NO – Died In Committee – Permits siting of commercial solar photovoltaic power generation facility on land not designated as high value farmland unless county adopts exceptions where no high value farmland is available.

HB 2466 New Tax on Timber Harvest

VOTE: NO – Died In Committee – Reduces proposed taxes by fifty-percent to go to the Forestland and County Reserve Fund. Imposes inordinate tax on timber harvest to fund fire suppression, redemption of burned areas, watershed conservation and distribution to counties.

HB 3226 Forest Management Plans

VOTE: NO – Died In Committee – Puts State Board of Forestry in total control of forests via establishing a criteria for preserving natural resource values on forestland, periodically updating geological numerical criteria, and approving forest management plans for every forest over 5,000 acres that includes harvesting priorities, DEQ requirements, waterway management and preserving of old-growth.

SB 198 Scientific Review Board

VOTE: NO – Died In Committee – Establishes scientific review of natural resources by an Oregon Independent Science Review Board, Independent Scientific Review Secretariat, scientific review panels and Independent Scientific Review Fund within Oregon State University appointed and serves at the pleasure of the Governor.

HB 2705 Metered Water Measurements

Died In Committee – Requires gathering data from tributaries at the point of diversion or appropriation to meter water needs and effectively manage water flow and report measured amounts and allow determination of rate and duty.

HB 2706 Fees on Water Rights

Died In Committee – Imposes annual management fee of $100 on each primary or supplemental water right. Provides for deposit of management fee moneys into Water Resources Department Water Right Operating Fund to fund field, technical, scientific and administrative activities.

HB 2707 Ground Water Study

Died In Committee – Provides General Fund money for additional ground water studies and evaluation conducted in cooperation with United States Geological Survey in priority basins determined by Water Resources Department.

HB 2320 Non-Motorized Boating Program

Died In Committee. Establishes a Non-Motorized Boating Program that requires education on use and safety, and regulations adopted by rule; and provide safe access to waters. Safety is not the issue so the program is to increase funding.

HB 2296A New Program to Evaluate Well Applications

Governor signed – Establishes special standards application fee for obtaining advice and evaluation on wells to increase likelihood of approval, and increases fees for property owner permits for wells.

HB 2365 – Task Force to Transfer Forest Lands

Died In Committee – Establishes Task Force on the Transfer of Federal Land Ownership in Oregon to research the impact, problems and benefits. Sunsets December 31, 2018. Declares emergency.

HB 2256A Labeling Dietary Supplements

Vote:YES – Signed into Law by Gov Kitzhaber
Adds dietary supplements subject to labeling and Oregon Food Laws to ensure sanitation of supplements and establishments, and ensures sanitation, enforced by the State Department of Agriculture and Oregon Health Authority.

SB 308 Task Force on Barriers Using Marijuana

Establishes a Task Force to identify barriers for social and private consumption of Cannabis to accommodate for marijuana user beyond what is done for tobacco users creating a privileged group, and report on recommended legislation by September 15, 2018.

HB 2203 Distribution of Marijuana Retail Taxes

Changes distribution of moneys collected as tax on retail marijuana items adding 30% to counties and increasing funds to cities for licensing, while cutting 40% for school funds leaving them to deal with student use from other school funds.

HB 4046B Increases penalties for unlawful taking or killing of wildlife

VOTE:NO Passed SUMMARY: Adds black bear and cougar to list of penalties for unlawful taking or killing of wildlife, increases other penalty fines, and adds Class A misdemeanor that includes “worry or disturb any wildlife” and Class C felony conviction that includes confiscation of properties. AMENDMENT A: Adds 180 day mandatory sentence for failure to comply with a citation. PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY: The adding of black…

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SB 1563A New loan program for septic systems

SB 1563A VOTE: NO Passed Status (overview) of bill: https://olis.leg.state.or.us/liz/2016R1/Measures/Overview/SB1563 SB 1563   Authorizes Environmental Quality Commission to develop low-interest loan program for on-site septic system repairs, replacements, upgrades or evaluations.  Declares emergency. PERSONAL CHOICE: Makes loans more accessible for repair or replacement of septic systems. FREE MARKET: The participating lenders must agree to subordinate their liens to the borrowers’ consensual…

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HB 4040A Removes gray wolves from endangered species list

HB 4040A VOTE: YES Passed   Status (overview) of bill: https://olis.leg.state.or.us/liz/2016R1/Measures/Overview/HB4040   SUMMARY: Ratifies decision of State Fish and Wildlife Commission to remove Canis lupus from state list of endangered species. Declares emergency. PERSONAL: Collectively known as the gray wolf.  Once could be found throughout the US until federal and state government exterminated them prior to 1930. Canada did their…

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SB 1574A Greenhouse gas emissions goals by rule

VOTE: NO Died In Committee Status (overview) of bill: https://olis.leg.state.or.us/liz/2016R1/Measures/Overview/SB1574   Heathy Climate Act (SB 1574)    SUMMARY: Repeals greenhouse gas emissions goals and requires EQC to adopt by rule statewide greenhouse gas emissions goal for 2025, and limits for years 2035 and 2050.   This Cap and Invest program would establish a program in which carbon emissions from transportation fuels,…

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HB 2503 Regulates hunting ammunition and fishing gear by Legislature

VOTE: NO In Committee upon adjournment Status (overview) of bill: https://olis.leg.state.or.us/liz/2015R1/Measures/Overview/HB2503 This bill vests sole authority to regulate hunting ammunition and fishing gear with Legislature, except that Dept of Fish and Wildlife may dictate caliber and rounds that may be in a firearm. Personal Choice Takes away personal control of caliber and rounds that may be in a firearm, which…

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HB 3554 creates GMO free market production district formation

Expands the authority of Department of Agriculture to establish tighter controls on GMO ‘commodity plants’ including eradicating or excluding GMO plants, and establishes labeling requirements for GMO seeds.

SB 202 Establishes Oregon Academy of Sciences

Vote:NO – Signed into Law by Gov Kitzhaber
Establishes Oregon Academy of Sciences as nonprofit corporation to serve as principal source of scientific investigation at request of the Governor and Legislature.

HB 2092A Zero-Emission-Incentive Fund

Establishes Zero-Emission Incentive Fund used to auction tax credits and give rebates for zero emission vehicles or alternative fuels vehicles.

HB 2718 increases fees for fertilizer products

Increases limit on annual registration fees and inspection fees for fertilizer, agricultural amendment, agricultural mineral and lime products

HB 2537 Increases damages for unlawful killing of wildlife.

Indirectly puts every wild animal on the “endangered species” list

SB 248 Includes state forester on contracts

Vote:YES – Signed into Law by Gov Kitzhaber
Authorizes State Forester to enter into and administer contracts for activities necessary or convenient for sales of timber from lands owned or managed by State Board of Forestry or State Forestry Department.

SJM 10 designates National Heritage Area and funds Willamette Falls Locks

Urges Congress to designate Willamette Falls and surrounding communities as National Heritage Area and increases land use bureaucracy and decreases property rights.

HB 2632 Encourages solar energy production

Self explanatory.

HB 5003 Establishes fees for nursery and greenhouse growers

Vote:NO – Signed into Law by Gov Kitzhaber
Approves certain new fees adopted by State Department of Agriculture on nursery and greenhouse operations.
These fees will come from rural areas that can’t absorb the expense.

SB 324 Repeals sunset on low carbon fuel standards.

Vote:NO – Signed into Law by Gov Kitzhaber
Proposes a constitutional amendment to ‘allow’ carbon taxes, and raise the tax on Oil and Natural Gas

HB 2503 Places authority for ammunition and fishing gear with legislature

Vests sole authority to regulate hunting ammunition and fishing gear with Legislative Assembly with specified exceptions.