Committee advances bill clarifying agricultural-protection-area applications; substitute to delay fails 3-12

Representative Kevin Andrus, the bill sponsor, opened the committee hearing on Senate Bill 1133 and told the Local Government Committee the measure is “just a minor little cleanup from the bill that we passed last year.” The committee voted to send the bill as amended to the House floor with a do-pass recommendation after testimony from farmers, seed-industry representatives and a city association representative.

The bill amends the statutory framework created by last year’s House Bill 608 for agricultural protection areas (APAs). Sponsor Kevin Andrus said the changes clarify that: administrative application fees “shall not exceed the administrative expenses that it incurs,” APA maps are created separately from county zoning so designation does not require rezoning or a comprehensive-plan amendment, and applicants retain judicial-review rights. Roger Batt, executive director of the Bridal Eastern Oregon Seed Association, told the committee the bill reverses a Canyon County zoning practice that prevented otherwise-eligible landowners from applying for APA designation.

“This clarifies that you’re not restricted from applying for…