Senate panel backs bill shifting state forester appointment to governor with new qualifications

The Senate Committee on Rules on Wednesday adopted the A‑4 amendment to Senate Bill 1051, which changes the appointment authority for Oregon’s state forester from the State Board of Forestry to the governor and sets new term and qualification requirements.

Under the A‑4 amendment, the state forester will serve a four‑year term and be eligible for reappointment. The bill requires the state forester to have organizational management experience and either executive experience overseeing forest and wildfire management on Western forest lands or operational experience and expertise overseeing the same. The measure declares an emergency effective on passage.

Jeff Huntington, senior policy adviser to Governor Kotek on natural resources, told the committee the revised language modernizes the qualifications and reflects consensus among stakeholders. “We have a general consensus of folks that there’s a lack of opposition to the bill,” Huntington said, and reported that conservation groups such as the Wild Salmon Center and Oregon Wild signaled neutrality on the amended language.

Chris Edwards, president of the Oregon Forest Industries Council, testified that his organization supported the A‑4 amendment and the bill’s changes. “We’re pleased to support the dash 4, which replaces the base bill,” he told the committee.

Committee discussion touched on process and the governor’s role in hiring. Several senators said shifting appointment authority to the governor is appropriate given the demanding management responsibilities of the forester’s office; some also noted similar proposals for other agency leadership roles elsewhere in session.

The committee adopted the A‑4 amendment and voted to move SB 1051 as amended to the floor with a due‑pass recommendation.

The bill contains a minimal fiscal impact and declares an emergency so the change would take effect upon passage.