Senate committee advances bills on tribal retrocession, maritime pilots, solar-event study and veterans' remains

The Senate Committee on Veterans Emergency Management Federal and World Affairs on Tuesday, March 18, 2025, moved several bills to the Senate floor with "do pass" recommendations, advancing measures on tribal retrocession, maritime pilot licensing residency, a study of solar events, and rules governing unclaimed cremated remains of veterans.

Chair Manning presided over a string of work sessions that produced unanimous or near‑unanimous committee support for the measures after brief overviews and procedural votes. Committee staff provided bill summaries and fiscal notes were reported as minimal or not revenue‑generating for the items discussed.

The most detailed measure, Senate Bill 10 11, would allow a federally recognized Indian tribe in Oregon to adopt and submit a request to the governor for retrocession of Public Law 280 jurisdiction and would set timelines for the governor’s response and action. Mr. Rancic presented the overview and said the fiscal impact paper is available on OLIS and that the public hearing was held March 6. Vice Chair Thatcher moved the bill to the floor "with a due pass recommendation." After a roll call and a subsequent unanimous‑consent request to record an additional aye vote, the motion carried; the committee named Senator Broadman as the carrier of the bill.

Senate Bill 4 5 9, presented by Mr. Rancic, removes the requirement that the three licensee members of the Oregon Board of Maritime Pilots be Oregon residents. The staff overview said there is no fiscal or revenue impact and that the bill had a public hearing on Feb. 27. Vice Chair Thatcher moved the bill to the floor with a due‑pass recommendation; the committee voted to advance it and designated Senator Weber as the carrier.

Senate Bill 3 9 3 directs the Oregon Department of Emergency Management to study potential effects of solar events on the well‑being of Oregonians, defining "solar events" to include solar flares and coronal mass ejections that produce geomagnetic effects on Earth. Mr. Rancic described the study charge and noted a fiscal impact statement is available on OLIS. Vice Chair Atatur moved the bill to the floor with a due‑pass recommendation; the committee approved it and named Senator Gerard as the carrier.

House Bill 23 86 would allow the Oregon Department of Veterans Affairs to adopt rules to implement provisions covering unclaimed cremated remains of veterans or their spouses, dependents or survivors; the department’s veterans' remains coordinators or county veteran service officers would be directed to carry out duties under department rules. The bill was introduced by staff, moved to the floor with a due pass recommendation, and approved by the committee; Senator Brock Smith was named as the carrier.

House Bill 25 81 expands the duties of the state resilience officer to cover hazards beyond seismic safety — including tsunamis, wildfires and flooding — and directs the officer to lead implementation of the Oregon Resilience Plan and other state resilience planning efforts. The bill carried a minimal fiscal impact, was moved to the floor by Vice Chair Thatcher and approved; Vice Chair Thatcher was named the carrier.

The committee also deferred two bills to a later date. Senate Bill 1 50 and Senate Bill 9 47 were carried over to Thursday, March 20, for further consideration; the committee said fiscal reports were pending for at least one of those items.

Votes at a glance: Senate Bill 10 11 — moved to floor with "do pass" recommendation; motion moved by Vice Chair Thatcher; recorded ayes on the roll call included Chair Manning, Vice Chair Patrick, Senator Meek and Senator Woods; outcome: motion carried; carrier: Senator Broadman. Senate Bill 4 5 9 — moved to floor with "do pass" recommendation; mover Vice Chair Thatcher; recorded ayes included Chair Manning, John Steinbeck, Senator Woods and Senator Meek; outcome: carried; carrier: Senator Weber. Senate Bill 3 9 3 — moved to floor with "do pass" recommendation; mover Vice Chair Atatur; recorded ayes included Chair Manning, Vice Chair Shatcher, Senator Wood and Senator Meade; outcome: carried; carrier: Senator Gerard. House Bill 23 86 — moved to floor with "do pass" recommendation; mover identified as committee member on the record; recorded ayes included Chair Manning, Vice Chair Dasher, Senator Woods and Senator Meade; outcome: carried; carrier: Senator Brock Smith. House Bill 25 81 — moved to floor with "do pass" recommendation; mover Vice Chair Thatcher; recorded ayes included Chair Manning, Vice Chair Thatcher, Senator Woods and Senator Meade; outcome: carried; carrier: Vice Chair Thatcher. Senate Bill 1 50 and Senate Bill 9 47 — carried over to Thursday; fiscal reports pending for at least one item.

Committee members made no substantive amendments on the bills during the March 18 work sessions; most items were advanced after staff overviews, fiscal notes and confirmation of prior public hearings. The committee adjourned after scheduling the carryovers and confirming the Thursday agenda.

The meeting record shows brief procedural discussion about missing or late fiscal reports and a short recess while members completed roll‑call business. No public testimony or extended debate on the merits of the bills was recorded in these work sessions.