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Committee moves several bills to Ways and Means; amendments adopted on multiple measures
Summary
During work sessions March 3 the committee approved due‑pass recommendations and referred several bills to the Joint Committee on Ways and Means by prior reference after adopting amendments where noted.
The House Committee on Agriculture, Land Use, Natural Resources, and Water held multiple brief work sessions March 3 and forwarded several bills to the House floor and to the Joint Committee on Ways and Means by prior reference. Most items were acted on by voice vote after brief staff summaries and limited discussion.
Key actions taken
- House Bill 3341: Committee staff summarized the bill as appropriating $5,000,000 from the General Fund to the Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board for deposit in the Community Drinking Water Enhancement and Protection Fund; the bill declares an emergency and takes effect July 1, 2025. Vice Chair Fingerh McDonald moved HB 3341 to the floor with a “do pass” recommendation and that the bill be referred to the Committee on Joint Ways and Means by prior reference. The committee recorded no opposition and the motion passed.
- House Bill 2813 (dash‑3 amendment adopted): HB 2813 establishes the Harney (Harmony) Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program match fund, appropriates $500,000 from the General Fund for deposit into the fund, and directs continuous appropriation to the Oregon Water Resources Department to distribute to water users who cancel groundwater rights as part of enrollment in the federal Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP). The committee adopted the dash‑3 amendment (which opens eligibility statewide conditional on completion of the CREP process and federal match) and then moved the bill to the floor with a do‑pass recommendation and referral to Ways and Means by prior reference.
- House Bill 2558 (dash‑1 amendment adopted): The committee adopted the dash‑1 amendment to HB 2558, which modifies definitions related to outfitters and guides, adds a definition of crew member, establishes registration requirements for crew members, and changes the proposed registration fee structure and civil penalties. Vice Chair Fingerh McDonald moved HB 2558 as amended to the floor with a do‑pass recommendation and referred the bill to Ways and Means by prior reference. Representative Boyce recorded a “reluctant yes” in discussion.
- House Bill 3141 (dash‑1 amendment adopted): HB 3141 designates a day to recognize farmers and ranchers in Oregon. Representative Vicki Breece Iverson described an amendment changing the day from October 12 to a March date to align with National Ag Day; the committee adopted the dash‑1 amendment and moved the bill to the floor with a do‑pass recommendation.
Procedure and context
Most measures were advanced by Vice Chair Fingerh McDonald as the mover after staff summaries by committee staff (Miss Gluder). For the bills described above, the committee used voice votes; no recorded roll‑call tallies were taken in the work sessions reported in the transcript. A few members voiced brief concerns on the record (for example, Representative Boyce said he would give a “reluctant yes” on one item) but no recorded opposition blocked any of the motions on March 3.
What happens next
Each bill the committee referred by prior reference is expected to proceed to the Joint Committee on Ways and Means for fiscal review and possible further amendment. The committee closed the series of work sessions and moved to the public‑hearing portion of its agenda.
