Subcommittee approves measure to formalize interagency water reuse team and funds staff support

The Ways and Means Natural Resources Subcommittee moved House Bill 2169, as amended, to the full committee with a due‑pass recommendation on June 3, 2025. The bill directs the Department of Environmental Quality to establish and lead a formal interagency water reuse team that includes the Water Resources Department, Oregon Health Authority, Oregon Department of Agriculture and Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife.

DEQ told the committee the team will provide training and technical assistance, identify internal agency barriers, evaluate environmentally protective approaches, develop guidance, propose regulatory changes and set goals and performance metrics for water reuse. The measure takes effect July 1, 2025. To carry out the work, the LFO recommended and the subcommittee adopted a dash‑5 amendment that appropriates $295,126 general fund in 2025–27 for a permanent Natural Resource Specialist 4 position in DEQ’s Water Quality Division; the department intends to have the position filled at the start of the biennium. The bill’s reporting requirement is biannual to the legislature during each odd‑numbered session; reporting requirements are set to repeal Jan. 2, 2032.

Representative Owens and other supporters said Oregon should expand water reuse as a response to increasing water constraints and that the team reflects work already underway. Susie Smith, identified as former executive director of Oregon Aqua and a current special projects manager assisting reuse efforts, told the subcommittee that the work continues projects begun in 2023–25; formalizing the team would create clearer accountability and help capture available federal funds for on‑the‑ground upgrades. Smith said the more formal structure would help secure federal grant money for irrigation districts and other users who need planning and permitting to access upgrades.

Opponents or skeptical members raised concerns about providing general fund dollars to create a new permanent position instead of directing funds to other agencies or agency needs; some expressed concern about DEQ’s existing workload and capacity. The subcommittee recorded a courtesy ‘no’ and one other dissent during the amendment discussion but adopted the dash‑5 amendment and moved HB 2169 as amended to the full committee.

Discussion versus decision: the subcommittee’s formal votes adopted the amendment to appropriate funds and forwarded the bill; debate highlighted competing priorities for general fund dollars and the need for clearer interagency accountability to implement reuse projects.