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Farm store bill splits Oregon farmers and counties in wide-ranging public hearing
Summary
HB 4153, the farm-store/farm-stand reform, would replace the 75/25 rule with acreage or income-based tests, a 10,000 sq ft retail cap and preserved county siting authority; proponents called it a lifeline for family farms, while many rural counties and advocates warned it risks weakening exclusive farm-use protections.
Representative Vicki Breese Iverson and Senator Janine Solman introduced House Bill 4153 on Feb. 4, describing the dash-2 amendment as a compromise to modernize farm-stand law and preserve "farm first" protections while allowing farmers greater ability to sell direct to consumers.
Sponsors and proponents, including the governor's senior policy advisor and representatives of the Association of Oregon Counties and the Oregon Property Owners Association, said the dash-2 amendment replaces the old 75/25 rule with tiered guardrails: more than half of a property must remain in active farm use (with acreage thresholds by parcel size)…
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