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Lane County adopts January 2026 legislative principles; staff flags cannabis omnibus and burn funding tradeoffs
Summary
The Lane County Board unanimously adopted a January 2026 set of legislative principles to guide the short 35‑day Oregon legislative session; staff briefed commissioners on a cannabis omnibus proposal and a separate bill that could shift control or revenue for the state's burn funding, and sought board direction on priorities.
The Lane County Board of Commissioners on Jan. 27 adopted the county's January 2026 legislative principles and priorities to guide staff advocacy during Oregon's upcoming 35‑day short legislative session.
Steve Adams, the county policy director, summarized federal budget uncertainties and then turned to state priorities. "Monday begins the legislative session here in Oregon, the short session," Adams said, noting that much of the county's short‑session planning will hinge on a revenue forecast due next Wednesday.
Vanessa Cornwall, intergovernmental affairs manager, outlined priorities the legislative committee recommended for the board to lead with, including expanded transient lodging tax (TLT) flexibility, producer responsibility for batteries and food waste, transportation funding solutions, and budget defense to preserve county service delivery. She said staff will use a principles‑and‑priorities document to inform rapid decisions during session and offered to provide tailored bill tracking and briefings to individual commissioners.
Staff also briefed the board on a 12‑component cannabis omnibus expected to be introduced by Representative Wallen. Mr. Buffet described 11 non‑monetary measures plus one proposal that would divert a portion of cannabis tax revenues to fund law‑enforcement and victim services (including fully funding an IMMEGP grant that supports local sheriff deputies) and would move intoxicating hemp products behind the counter at OLCC with a 17% sales tax. Buffet said the diversion could reduce "burn" fund distributions; he estimated burn funding at roughly $180 million per biennium and said the omnibus provision could cut that by about 10%.
Buffet said staff also plan to advance a senate bill to give counties more control over burn money; movement of that proposal was uncertain. He asked the board whether staff should prioritize defending burn funding distributions or pursue local control changes that could reassign oversight.
Commissioners praised staff for the updated principles and discussed communication and tracking during the fast session. Vice Chair Buck moved to adopt Order 26012713; Commissioner Treager seconded. The motion passed unanimously.
Staff will monitor bills, provide situational updates, and submit testimony on behalf of the county consistent with the adopted principles and any further direction from the board.
