Oregon committee approves new "farm store" pathway, sends HB 4,153 to Ways and Means
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Summary
The House committee approved a dash‑3 amendment to HB 4,153 that creates a new 'farm store' permitting pathway while preserving the existing farm‑stand statute; lawmakers debated county capacity and uneven benefits for different farm types before forwarding the bill to Ways and Means.
The House committee voted to adopt a dash‑3 amendment to House Bill 4,153 and sent the bill, as amended, to the Joint Committee on Ways and Means.
Supporters said the amendment preserves the existing farm‑stand statute while creating a separate "farm store" use intended to streamline permitting for larger retail operations and retain options for very small farms. Samantha Bear of the Oregon Property Owners Association told the committee the dash‑3 "leaves the existing farm stand statute as it is" while creating a new farm‑store use that provides "additional opportunity" and a more streamlined permit structure.
Lisa Sharpe Lohansen, introduced in the hearing as the department director, said the farm‑store permit groups multiple retail and agritourism allowances under a clarified retail definition and uses square footage rather than income restrictions to regulate incidental sales. "The farm store provides a more streamlined permit and allows for a larger operation," she said.
Lawmakers voiced mixed reactions. Representative Marsh and Representative McLean raised concerns that the dash‑3 could have unintended consequences — including uneven benefits across farms and potential county capacity issues for permitting and enforcement. "For this to work, counties are going to have to be very engaged and to make sure that operators are doing everything right," Marsh said, asking that counties be empowered to manage access, parking, noise and sanitation tied to farm retail operations.
Vice Chair Finger McDonald framed the amendment as an imperfect step forward that would give small farms additional options: "This dash 3 allows them to continue to navigate their system," he said, and urged colleagues to support the motion despite acknowledging the policy may need future fixes.
The committee recorded a roll‑call on adoption of the dash‑3 amendment and then voted to advance HB 4,153 as amended to the floor with a due‑pass recommendation and referral to Ways and Means. Committee discussion emphasized the bill's intention to expand retail opportunities on farms while leaving county code and agritourism event permits intact.
What happens next: HB 4,153 will go to the Joint Committee on Ways and Means for fiscal review. Lawmakers signaled they may return in a later session to refine permitting details and address county implementation capacity.
