Committee advances bill to expand disability definition for angling and shellfish harvesting

The House Committee on Agriculture, Land Use, Natural Resources, and Water on Monday voted to advance House Bill 21‑63 to the House floor with a due‑pass recommendation.

The measure, presented during a short work session, would expand ODFW’s consideration of a disability under wildlife laws related to angling or shellfish harvesting to include an intellectual or developmental disability that prevents a person from holding or operating angling or shellfish‑harvesting equipment.

"House Bill 21 63 expands Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife's consideration of having a disability under wildlife laws related to angling or shellfish harvesting to include an intellectual or developmental disability that prevents a person from holding or operating angling and or shellfish harvesting equipment," Vice Chair Finger McDonald told the committee when summarizing the bill. Committee staff confirmed the measure had no amendment, minimal fiscal impact, no revenue impact and no set referral.

During the work session Vice Chair Finger McDonald moved the bill to the floor "with a due pass recommendation." The motion passed; the committee record does not include a roll‑call vote tally in the transcript. Representative Helm closed the work session and designated Vice Chair Finger McDonald to carry the bill on the floor.

No substantive public testimony or amendment debate was recorded during the committee's work session on HB 21‑63, and the committee did not adopt changes on the floor of the work session.

The committee opened a public hearing immediately afterward on a different measure. The bill will proceed to the House floor for further consideration.