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Lawmakers recall land‑use law as farmland loss cited in floor remarks
Summary
Representative Scharf told the House that some of Oregon’s most fertile farmland is paved over in East Portland and urged colleagues to consider long‑term land‑use impacts when crafting laws.
Representative Scharf reminded colleagues that much fertile farmland in Oregon was paved over before land‑use laws such as Senate Bill 100 and urged caution when considering bills that affect farmland.
Scharf said the Department of Agriculture had identified highly fertile ground on the east side of the Willamette River that is now under buildings and pavement, lost “long before Oregon had land use laws.” He referenced Senate Bill 100, passed more than 50 years earlier, as the landmark land‑use law and asked colleagues to consider the compounding effects of bills addressing housing, labor, wildfire and pesticide policy on farmland preservation.
Why this matters: Land‑use decisions affect long‑term food production, local economies and growth patterns; Scharf framed the issue as an intergenerational choice for the legislature.
Discussion versus action: The floor remarks were a policy appeal during remonstrances; no bill was introduced or amended on the floor as part of these remarks.
Context: Scharf said the 1980s/1970s era law (Senate Bill 100) was enacted “just over 50 ago” and urged colleagues to weigh the effect of current bills on farmland conversion. Specific statutory amendments or committee referrals were not included in the House floor record of this session.
Next steps: Scharf signaled the issue should inform committee work and legislative deliberations, but no formal motion or referral was made on the House floor that day.
