Senate OKs bill letting state set fees, compensation for undersea cable easements

The Oregon Senate approved Senate Bill 793 A to allow the Department of State Lands (DSL) to set application, renewal fees and compensation rates for undersea cable easements in Oregon's territorial sea through administrative rulemaking.

Senator Weber, sponsor of the measure, told the Senate that DSL stewards the territorial sea (from high tide to three nautical miles offshore) and that the current statutory framework limited the agency to a $5,000 one-time application fee — an amount the department said does not cover its administrative costs for complex easements. Weber said the bill implements decommissioning and review steps directed by 2021’s House Bill 2603 and gives DSL flexibility to set fees tied to the agency’s costs and to negotiate fair long-term compensation for the public use of seabed resources.

Weber argued the change brings Oregon in line with Washington and California and ensures coastal communities benefit through clearer processes and timely application handling. Senate floor remarks noted DSL has negotiated some one-time payments previously but lacked statutory authority to seek long-term compensation for territorial sea use. The bill passed the Senate after committee support; the clerk declared SB 7 93 A passed following the roll call.

Floor clarifications emphasized that fee amounts must be tied to actual administrative costs and that the measure is intended to support DSL’s ability to implement the decommissioning and recovery plans and joint-agency reviews required under the 2021 law.

Supporters described the measure as a tool to balance ocean-resource protections, economic development, and public compensation for long-term seabed easements.