The Oregon Senate passed House Bill 3910 to permit certain water districts to assume sanitation authority under coordinated agreements, a change sponsors said would help small communities with failing wastewater systems access funding and operate essential sanitation services.

Senator Anderson, carrying the bill on the floor, described Mapleton in Lane County — a community of about 500 people — whose drinking water system had been on the brink of collapse and is now recovering, but whose wastewater system is managed by a nonprofit owners association that is ineligible for state or federal funding. Anderson said HB 3910 would allow a water district to assume sanitation powers after meeting legal and technical requirements, providing “thoughtful community-driven solutions with guardrails.”

Senator Przonski and others voiced support, noting similar needs upriver and in other small communities. The bill was reported out of the Senate Natural Resources Committee on a 5–0 vote and passed the House 49–? on its prior passage; on the Senate floor it was declared passed after a roll call.

Sponsor statements and committee reports emphasized that the change is narrow and requires districts to meet statutory obligations to operate sanitation systems; supporters said it removes the need for one-off legislative fixes when towns face crises. The measure was declared passed and will proceed with enrollment and any required implementation steps by relevant state agencies.