Oregon bill would move off‑highway vehicle noise rules from DEQ to Parks and Recreation

Representative Virgil Osborne, House District 2, told the Joint Committee on Transportation that House Bill 2232 would transfer rulemaking on decibel ratings for off‑highway vehicles from the Department of Environmental Quality to the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department.

“My name is Virgil Osborne. I'm a House District 2 Representative,” Osborne said at the committee hearing. He described the measure as “a simple bill that basically takes the DEQ part of this out of the equation and puts it into the ORP's hands to manage the noise levels, basically.”

The nut graf: supporters said Parks has existing OHV rule experience and a multi‑member advisory committee; neighbors pressed for standardized noise limits and enforceable standards where recreational noise has affected private property.

Advocates with motorized recreation groups told the committee OPRD is better positioned to set and administer sound rules. Ethan Lodwig of the Emerald Trail Riders Association said the group “supports 22 32 because it will allow experts in all terrain vehicle recreation, Oregon Parks Recreation Department, and the ATV Advisory Committee to craft and modify rules that make sense for the stakeholders involved in OHV recreation.” Barrett Brown, land use director for the Oregon Motorcycle Riders Association and an ATV advisory committee member, said the committee had already approved moving rule authority to Parks in a prior resolution and that OPRD had signaled readiness to begin rulemaking once the authority is transferred.

Residents near coastal Sand Lake described persistent noise they attribute to OHV use. John Borean, representing the Sand Lake Community Group, said, “Sometimes it gets so noisy there, I think they're in my backyard at night,” and told the committee the noise has affected renters and local quality of life. Testimony from residents and riders framed the bill as a way to preserve recreation while giving neighbors enforceable standards.

Oregon Parks and Recreation Department staff confirmed the agency already has rulemaking authority over several ATV matters and does not anticipate a fiscal impact from adding noise rulemaking. Katie Gauthier of OPRD told the committee, “We did submit written testimony. We would not anticipate a fiscal. We do have rulemaking authority around ATV usage right now.”

Several committee members asked about enforcement and fiscal impacts. Witnesses and the sponsor said existing local law enforcement jurisdictions (county sheriffs) would continue to enforce equipment and noise violations; the bill would create statewide uniformity in permitted decibel limits and the processes used to measure them. Supporters emphasized that DEQ has not actively administered the noise rules for OHVs for decades and that Parks’ advisory committee includes representatives from recreation groups, fire and rescue, law enforcement and federal land managers.

The public hearing for House Bill 2232 closed with no recorded committee action; the bill will be considered further by the committee. The hearing transcript and multiple written submissions are attached to the committee record.