2017 oregon Water Legislation
Recent updates in italics. Last update 04/17/2017.
HB 2027: Authorizes issuance of lottery bonds to finance water storage projects and water distribution projects.
House Committee On Agriculture and Natural Resources. Subsequent referral: Joint Committee on Ways and Means
HB 2029: Modifies definition of "native fish" for purposes of salmon and trout enhancement program. Hatchery fish that have spent a portion of their life under artificial conditions are considered native
House Committee On Agriculture and Natural Resources
HB 2097: Makes findings and declarations regarding use of state region approach to water resource management and drought resilience Directs Water Resources Department to establish and administer six target regions within state for purpose of addressing priorities and achieving goals to improve water resource management and drought resiliency. Requires establishment of transition team to aid in establishment of target regions.
House Committee On Agriculture and Natural Resources, subsequent referral: Joint Committee on Ways and Means
HB 2099: Relates to community water supply. Changes water management and conservation plan approval condition for extension of time to construct works or perfect right for municipal use of water.
House Committee On Agriculture and Natural Resources
HB 2131: Directs Environmental Quality Commission to adopt rules applying certain oil spill prevention and emergency response planning requirements to railroads that own or operate high hazard train routes in this state. Expands definition of "navigable waters" for purposes of applicability of oil or hazardous material spillage statutes to include inland watersheds and drinking water intakes that intersect with high hazard train routes.
House Committee On Energy and Environment, subsequent referral: Joint Committee on Ways and Means
HB 2137: Redefines scope of Public Utility Commission's general duties and powers. Establishes, for purposes of public utilities that provide electric power to consumers in this state, processes related to purchase of energy or energy and capacity from qualifying facilities and standards for purchase of energy or energy and capacity from qualifying facilities.
House Committee On Energy and Environment
HB 2179: Permits onsite treatment of reclaimed water, agricultural or industrial process water or biosolids prior to application on exclusive farm use land.
House Committee On Agriculture and Natural Resources
HB 2222: Relates to regional land use planning. Directs Land Conservation and Development Commission to study potential conversion to regional land use planning process. Requires commission to report to interim legislative committee related to land use by January 15, 2018. Declares emergency, effective on passage.
House Committee On Agriculture and Natural Resources, subsequent referral: Joint Committee on Ways and Means
HB 2241: Extends sunset for Task Force on Drought Emergency Response
House Committee On Agriculture and Natural Resources, subsequent referral: Joint Committee on Ways and Means
HB 2295: Increases fees, maximum fees and fee return thresholds for Water Resources Department services. Makes fee, maximum fee and fee return threshold increases operative July 1, 2017. Eliminates fee, maximum fee and fee return threshold reductions scheduled for July 1, 2017. Declares emergency, effective on passage.
House Committee On Energy and Environment, subsequent referral: Joint Committee on Ways and Means
HB 2296: Creates application process for use of special standard in construction, alteration, abandonment or conversion of well.
House Committee On Energy and Environment, subsequent referral: Joint Committee on Ways and Means
HB 2297: Extends sunset for Task Force on Drought Emergency Response. Applies retroactively. Validates lawful actions taken, or lawful obligations incurred, on or after original sunset date and prior to effective date of Act. Requires task force to report findings on or before November 1, 2018. Declares emergency, effective on passage.
House Committee On Agriculture and Natural Resources, subsequent referral: Joint Committee on Ways and Means
HB 2362: Provides that right and privilege to construct, maintain or operate water, gas, electric or communication service line, fixture or other facility along public roads, free of charge, does not extend to county roads.
House Committee on Business and Labor, subsequent referral: House Committee on Revenue
HB 2454: Provides credit against personal income taxes for costs associated with growing produce.
House Committee on Revenue
HB 2404: Requires Oregon Health Authority to analyze ground water contaminant data and provide education in areas with ground water contaminant problems.
House Committee On Energy and Environment, subsequent referral: Joint Committee on Ways and Means
HB 2485: Establishes water right pilot program to encourage and facilitate point of diversion changes requested by State Department of Fish and Wildlife for purpose of benefitting fish passage. Creates special process for Water Resources Department approval of point of diversion changes.
House Committee On Energy and Environment, subsequent referral: Joint Committee on Ways and Means
HB 2486: Permits irrigation district to conduct voluntary inspection and decontamination of recreational or commercial watercraft.
House Committee On Agriculture and Natural Resources
HB 2705: Requires water appropriator to install device at point of diversion or appropriation to measure amount, and allow determination of rate and duty, of water being used
House Committee On Energy and Environment
HB 2707: Appropriates moneys from General Fund to Water Resources Department for ground water studies and investigations, or other ground water data gathering and analysis, conducted in cooperation with United States Geological Survey in priority basins determined by department.
House Committee On Energy and Environment, subsequent referral: Joint Committee on Ways and Means
HB 5040: Directs Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board to allocate moneys from Watershed Conservation Operating Fund to various state agencies to implement Article XV, section 4b, of Oregon Constitution.
Joint Committee On Ways and Means, subcommittee on Natural Resources
HB 5041: Limits expenditures of lottery funds from Watershed Conservation Grant Fund for local grant expenditures by Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board for six-year period beginning July 1, 2017
Joint Committee On Ways and Means, subcommittee on Natural Resources
SB 172: Extends sunset for tax credit for fish screening devices.
Senate Committee On Environment and Natural Resources, subsequent referral: Joint Committee on Tax Credits
SB 197: Requires Environmental Quality Commission to adopt by rule program for regulating air contaminant emissions from dairy confined animal feeding operations.
Senate Committee on Environment and Natural Resources, subsequent referral: Joint Committee on Ways and Means
SB 322: Specifies that electricity generated by hydroelectric facility or other equipment that generates electricity through use of hydroelectric energy may be used to comply with renewable portfolio standard.
Senate Committee on Business and Transportation, subsequent referral: Senate Committee on Environment and Natural Resources
SB 408: Freezes minimum wage rate for agricultural workers at July 1, 2016, rate, adjusted annually for inflation.
Senate Committee on Workforce
SB 428: Exempts collection, storage or use of diffuse surface water from falling rain, melting snow or other precipitation from requirement to obtain water right permit or certificate.
Senate Committee On Environment and Natural Resources
SB 429: Requires Water Resources Department to establish expedited process for approval of permits and certificates to construct and operate ponds on agricultural lands to capture runoff or ephemeral or intermittent stream water.
Senate Committee On Environment and Natural Resources
SB 465: Requires nonapplicant to pay Water Resources Department higher fee for submitting protest if nonapplicant has filed nonapplicant protest under certain statutes within prior 12 months.
Senate Committee On Environment and Natural Resources
SB 466: Changes water management and conservation plan approval condition for extension of time to construct works or perfect right for municipal use of water.
Senate Committee On Environment and Natural Resources
SB 477: Requires unsuccessful protestant to pay Water Resources Department costs and reasonable attorney fees if protestant has filed or intervened under certain statutes in three or more protests within preceding 12 months.
Senate Committee On Environment and Natural Resources, subsequent referral: Senate Committee on Judiciary
SB 5502: Appropriates moneys from General Fund to State Department of Agriculture for certain biennial expenses.
Joint Committee on Ways and Means, subcommittee on Natural Resources
SB 5542: Appropriates moneys from General Fund to Water Resources Department for biennial expenses.
Joint Committee On Ways and Means, subcommittee on Natural Resources