[{"_1":2,"_112":-5,"_113":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6343209,"mediaKeyId","2252779-744d8d8bfe190985ed2e0a69f4239091","parentId",2252779,"title","Committee moves SB 940 without recommendation to Housing and Development; motion passes","audioSeconds",64,"startMs",3404000,"endMs",3468000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2252779-744d8d8bfe190985ed2e0a69f4239091&start=3404&end=3468","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2252779-744d8d8bfe190985ed2e0a69f4239091/thumbnail_3404000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6343209/Oregon/Committee-moves-SB-940-without-recommendation-to-Housing-and-Development-motion-passes","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6343209-d498a69bbcabff019d5841fe698b56d5/orig.mp4?Expires=1776047770&Signature=jQehhS-0QHNQBIErZyHTEitl695QOiQkDsTM2xNmQkggSyPmxiK~C4Y9Mu-PtYN8b1BUns2P84HbMNfr3bZ-xVzDQpHBid0a0YrhPs9yHQ4csoCQ3fT11r5~bkqHxgWkFqgFN3PTNu4pidvWyyLNRe1ZGR9JEtgYLbwwB69CLL8QJW7zRh8seQN3Mp7H3ar2FGVjeKWKEgnzDdcQSK3Pxoy8SB4uMuLTm~KZuNCIBg7VwhR3AJUgzMajsy4sC3bB9un6OFJUoYYmuUL5kHaPqVmnl2zzGEdDy0~24x816lA8~2pC6~l1uFrOQfA9H6cH08yvQRcfY~kx4tRZdZGEEw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Oregon State Legislature","date","2025-02-06T00:00:00Z","article","During a brief work session the committee considered Senate Bill 940, a measure to allow certain accessory dwelling units, recreational vehicles or emergency shelters on farmland where non‑farm dwellings are sited.

Vice Chair Nash moved the motion \"to move Senate Bill 940 without recommendation as to passage and request that the bill be referred to the Senate Committee on Housing and Development.\" The motion was seconded verbally on the floor (second not specified in the record). Committee staff called the roll. The chair recorded the question and announced the motion carried: \"Aye. Chair votes aye. Motion passes,\" the record shows.

The committee therefore referred SB 940 to the Senate Committee on Housing and Development without a committee recommendation on passage.

Ending: The referral advances SB 940 to the next committee where the bill's housing and land‑use provisions will be considered further.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Senate Committee On Natural Resources and Wildfire 02/06/2025","oneSentenceSummary","Senate Committee on Natural Resources and Wildfire moved Senate Bill 940 without recommendation and referred it to the Senate Committee on Housing and Development. The motion was made by Vice Chair Nash and the chair recorded the motion as passing.","taxTitle","Natural Resources, Senate, Committees, Legislative, Oregon","taxId",17993,"location","Oregon","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6343212,"Bill would direct state study of forestry and wildland fire classifications amid recruitment, retention challenges",205,4485000,4690000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2252779-744d8d8bfe190985ed2e0a69f4239091&start=4485&end=4690","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2252779-744d8d8bfe190985ed2e0a69f4239091/thumbnail_4485000.jpg","/articles/6343212/Oregon/Bill-would-direct-state-study-of-forestry-and-wildland-fire-classifications-amid-recruitment-retention-challenges","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6343212-3d6abae34208355b3d0463d3175278c7/orig.mp4?Expires=1776047770&Signature=MfBCtENa0gDVmXJ5~~0YjYjUlg27aai6Xs5oU9cXxW4v39j3hE8vWDfQH9dfQBHn7B5WJAVkIeCI~50An2ow1Nipgf6QkAA4~VJOLmLwEAvn3tm~bvdawOrJI9deV5EUQYp8RFuNPKfOJiXLa9QZ9UqSpkuYQ0AphfgAZYw3SY2baFK1d0r5UaoKn3yAYydDxoDJ0krYdjdDbVQT3wBS8NP57kuhW0lnU~3BMXWbB81POqXnhusES-H~kRJYWPPVccu5fi5uUMUsFuB7WilVfi-yu8PIkMl7YG5OwmaufQCZBy7yfgJGxdA73lZ3CGq0bD~bRQb8Wck1jVCWYq2B-g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Senator David Brock Smith told the committee that Senate Bill 494 directs the Department of Administrative Services to study classification and compensation of forestry and wildland fire positions, identifying wage and management compression issues and recommending fixes for the Legislature.

\"This is a bill that helps start the process to fix a problem,\" Senator David Brock Smith said, describing the bill as a pathway for DAS to examine staffing and pay structures that make it difficult for firefighters to transition into year‑round fuels‑reduction work.

Kyle Williams, deputy director of fire operations at the Oregon Department of Forestry, told the committee the department struggles to retain firefighting staff because federal partners often can offer longer seasonal or near‑year‑round employment and, with recent federal contract wage increases, can outpace wages available to state and local fire crews. \"Our federal counterparts tend to offer more permanent or at least 10 month opportunities... they've outpaced, wage wise, some of our folks,\" Williams said, explaining how the seasonal workforce seeks longer income opportunities.

Committee members expressed support for examining classification and compensation; no final action was taken at the Feb. 6 hearing. The bill would require DAS to report findings and recommendations to interim committees related to natural resources and wildfire by Sept. 15, 2026.

Ending: Sponsors and agency officials said the study is an initial, overdue step to address recruitment and retention and to build employment pathways that let firefighters move into fuels‑reduction and other persistent roles.","Senate Bill 494 would require the Department of Administrative Services to study classification and compensation of forestry and wildland fire positions; Oregon Department of Forestry officials told the committee federal counterparts and recent contract wage changes make local retention and year‑round employment difficult.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6343217,"Committee hears bill to allow soil bioengineering and other non‑structural shoreline techniques; supporters seek amendments",1003,3469000,4472000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2252779-744d8d8bfe190985ed2e0a69f4239091&start=3469&end=4472","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2252779-744d8d8bfe190985ed2e0a69f4239091/thumbnail_3469000.jpg","/articles/6343217/Oregon/Committee-hears-bill-to-allow-soil-bioengineering-and-other-nonstructural-shoreline-techniques-supporters-seek-amendments","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6343217-71c3d9b7fccc64e458ff2f2ad44897e1/orig.mp4?Expires=1776047770&Signature=OGC5QCbILBGAzz6x9cPouhNHvbyx8N1jHzhXzUdYt0l0q4LTryUSjlBDGFPKdgW2vXr2tSPj3nBIK0IZKdEyAIpm4g7Jnx7N30eg1xbJ-EnvZdnR7IDCLevxoA849KrCtxagRDBiYs8cBbEf4NT7xTmHEHF4YG91FbFQ85xVPG~yLYurAaap6zjxuji~q0yL8Gd5C0xE0jIPZWxsGBFrI0bw~DrL5XYFz5GhIYmA9iXUTG~xYPM2Wd3Nkcn-YYnXG01DTLL64LVfZKhs~-BISbZubQ61HSClgoVRqv90LsMe3k9oqUYGblVUrwFadA~fARkCdsxv1-hVGJgf7Mocjg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Senate Bill 504 would direct the Land Conservation and Development Commission to adopt rules allowing soil bioengineering systems for shoreline stabilization along estuaries, coastal shorelands and the ocean shore, and would require the Department of State Lands and State Parks to participate in rulemaking and adopt conforming rules by Jan. 1, 2029, if enacted.

Sponsor Senator David Brock Smith said the measure is designed to expand the toolbox for coastal erosion and storm surge response and to “use natural materials whenever we’re protecting those shorelines.” Cam Perry, a restoration practitioner who has worked on coastal projects, told the committee that the bill is “the anti‑riprap bill” and urged the committee to authorize natural, engineered log jams and vegetated “green armor” as alternatives to hard armoring. \"When we do this sort of restoration in coastal areas and in estuaries, our oversight agencies expect certain language, and part of that is engineering,\" Perry said, adding that ecological engineering is intensely engineered but designed to look natural.

Charlie Plybon, Oregon policy manager for Surfrider Foundation, said the organization supports better guidance for nonstructural alternatives and called the bill “the anti‑riprap bill” as well. Plybon urged clarifying language for the ocean shore and recommended amendments to improve definitions and implementation guidance. He cited Goal 18 (which restricts armoring) and Goal 17 (preference for nonstructural measures) as existing land‑use frameworks that should guide rulemaking.

Annie Merrill of Oregon Shores Conservation Coalition said her group supports the bill’s intent but remains neutral on the present language and urged removal of the phrase \"soil bioengineering systems\" and the addition of tribal representatives and restoration practitioners to the advisory committee to ensure equity and effective implementation.

Department of State Lands staff provided a staff summary of the bill and the timetable for agency rulemaking obligations. Sponsor Smith and Mr. Perry indicated a willingness to work with coastal advocates and agencies on amendments to refine planting densities, materials lists and compliance language.

The committee heard no final vote on SB 504; committee members indicated openness to a follow‑up conversation and to reviewing proposed technical amendments.

Ending: Support for nonstructural shoreline stabilization is broad, but several coastal conservation groups and restoration practitioners urged targeted amendments and stronger tribal and practitioner participation in rulemaking to avoid unintended consequences on beaches and estuaries.","Senate Bill 504 would direct rulemaking to allow soil bioengineering systems for shoreline stabilization, a change supporters say could reduce riprap and seawalls; environmental groups support the intent but urged language changes, tribal inclusion and clearer guidance for ocean shore applications.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6343222,"Senate hearing spotlights ‘salmon credit’ pilot to pay landowners for habitat restoration in Coos and Coquille",671,2671000,3342000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2252779-744d8d8bfe190985ed2e0a69f4239091&start=2671&end=3342","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2252779-744d8d8bfe190985ed2e0a69f4239091/thumbnail_2671000.jpg","/articles/6343222/Oregon/Senate-hearing-spotlights-salmon-credit-pilot-to-pay-landowners-for-habitat-restoration-in-Coos-and-Coquille","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6343222-27fd686af1834f9dbd2faf4df7cbd770/orig.mp4?Expires=1776047770&Signature=SbiNUajs9naZqipsg4pFYkZhDdHbztDUWd7xZdfRqy8iav4daiwduC5iyqnvhmzLdLGjTUexQ5EM1aEH0f~p7v2PX1nEe8lVTArYsv93TylHNudOym8wZ-Fpo3EKGT5tlJ-7AqA18gJOkFDA1YgFsazRztrx~qQI~BE-jN3Es6FFMM2Vn63ehy1vCWZnbJ6f8Kee4NycyIU1hNsu1KLScj4w6DH426ZqhBVMsez40lpBXu5n1erB~URPSwWf3XuCuTE-3qRRT~8iPaaGjS6BPZ9NmmYR7pi51np5UCanLI9QFwwl4PDBLF~U8nKMERz6xOR~EX9vhydxwkJIvx7LPQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Senator David Brock Smith, sponsor of Senate Bill 511, told the Senate Committee on Natural Resources and Wildfire that the bill would create a voluntary Salmon Credit program, initially limited to the Coos and Coquille river basins, that would let developers purchase credits in lieu of conducting on-site mitigation.

The senator said the credits would cost twice the estimated restoration expense so half would pay for the restoration work and half would seed a permanent state Salmon Trust Fund to pay an annual “dividend” to the participating landowner. \"If it costs a hundred thousand to restore a required mitigation acre to salmon habitat, a salmon credit would cost 200,000, with $100,000 paying for the restoration and the other 100,000 going into a permanent state of Oregon salmon trust fund,\" said Senator David Brock Smith, sponsor of SB 511.

The program, proponents said, is intended to remove barriers that keep private landowners from allowing restoration on working lands. Cam Perry, who identified himself as a private landowner and long‑time restoration practitioner, told the committee the Salmon Credit “is a completely voluntary program for both landowners and developers” and framed it as a simpler alternative to the current, time‑consuming mitigation process.

John Ogan, executive director of the Natural Resources Office for the Coquille Indian Tribe, testified in support and emphasized local urgency. \"Coho salmon remain federally listed under the Endangered Species Act in both systems,\" Ogan said, and he described Chinook numbers in the Coquille as having fallen from “tens of thousands to hundreds.” He said the tribe, which has a co‑management agreement with the state, supports tools that can attract private landowner participation where \"the low hanging fruit has been picked\" over the past two decades.

Several conservation organizations urged the committee to oppose SB 511 or to proceed with caution. James Fraser, Oregon policy director for Trout Unlimited, said the bill is not just a restoration program but a mitigation and offset system that would pair restoration projects with impairments elsewhere. \"The salmon credit program would be akin to those efforts, but pair each restoration project with development or impairments elsewhere,\" Fraser said, adding that pairing risks producing net habitat loss if matches are not carefully controlled.

Jennifer Fairbrother, legislative and policy director at Native Fish Society, echoed concerns that not all habitats are equivalent and that preserved, functional habitat often yields the greatest conservation return. She also raised uncertainty about federal approvals, saying the program \"faces significant hurdles\" in obtaining necessary federal regulatory clearance.

Department of State Lands staff stated a neutral position in a written letter and in brief answers to the committee; DSL staff told the panel they were coordinating internally and would provide follow‑up clarification. \"The department's position is neutral,\" said Ali Fornes, government relations manager at the Department of State Lands.

Sponsor David Brock Smith and restoration practitioners described a one‑year work group that refined the concept and narrowed it to the two contiguous pilot basins. Cam Perry said the work group ranked potential projects and pre‑screened candidates to reduce permitting complexity and speed implementation.

Opponents pointed to forthcoming state funding sources as an alternative. James Fraser noted the SB 1561 (Monsanto settlement) endowment, which he said could yield substantial biennial interest for restoration projects and cautioned against diverting or duplicating that funding.

The committee took public testimony but did not take a final vote on SB 511 during the Feb. 6 hearing.

Ending: Proponents framed the Salmon Credit as a marketable way to bring private landowners into restoration by creating an ongoing payment stream; opponents asked the committee to preserve existing mitigation safeguards and to resolve federal permitting questions and whether the program would produce net habitat gains before authorizing the pilot.","Supporters say a market-style Salmon Credit pilot would create permanent payments to private landowners and a trust fund to accelerate salmon habitat restoration in two southwest Oregon basins; conservation groups and state staff raised concerns about offsets, federal approvals and whether the program would produce net habitat gains.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Committee moves SB 940 without recommendation to Housing and Development; motion passes

Bill would direct state study of forestry and wildland fire classifications amid recruitment, retention challenges

Committee hears bill to allow soil bioengineering and other non‑structural shoreline techniques; supporters seek amendments

Senate hearing spotlights ‘salmon credit’ pilot to pay landowners for habitat restoration in Coos and Coquille