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Senate passes farm‑store bill after emotional debate over farmland protections
Summary
The Senate approved House Bill 4153 to create a farm‑store permit for EFU lands, allowing limited indoor retail and agritourism with county siting standards. Supporters said it helps family farms diversify revenue; critics warned it risks commercializing prime farmland and urged more stakeholder work.
The Oregon Senate passed House Bill 4153 after extended floor debate that divided senators representing rural and urban districts. Proponents described the measure as a balanced, county‑administered permitting option that modernizes rules for farm stands, allows limited indoor agritourism and caps unrelated retail at a percentage of building area. Supporters said the change will help family farms remain viable while preserving farmland as working land.
Senator Gerard, reading language and sponsor comments on the floor, said the bill provides a new path for rural businesses to increase income "while keeping farm land protected." Supporters highlighted existing guardrails: acreage minimums or sales thresholds for small farms, limits on retail floor area (25% cited by sponsors), county authority over noise, traffic, parking and hours, and prohibitions on uses such as drive‑throughs or hotels.
Opponents urged caution and more stakeholder work. Senator Golden warned the bill was produced without the full original work‑group and could "encourage farms in name only" by enabling large (up to 10,000 sq ft) structures and permit opportunities that might raise land prices or enable commercial striping of farm parcels. Senator Niran Mislan and others pointed to the large volume of written testimony and concerns from small farms and farmland advocates and offered amendments to tighten footprint and percentage limits.
After votes and amendment discussion, the Senate repassed HB 4153. Several senators urged continued interim work to refine siting standards and ensure small‑farm protections. The bill now advances per legislative enrollment procedures.
