The 2025 Oregon Legislative Session officially adjourned on Friday, June 28th
This session was marred by federal uncertainty and a down revenue forecast, while legislators attempted to tackle big issues like sustainable wildfire funding, agency budgets, a transportation package, housing, education and more.
The constrained budget environment of this session impacted natural resources programs across multiple agency budgets, but there are still conservation wins to celebrate! You can read here to find more detail on what happened with transportation, housing, mental health and education.
The Wins
Oregon Agricultural Heritage Program (OAHP)
COLT and our partners worked with Rep. Ken Helm (D-Beaverton) and Rep. Mark Owens (R-Crane) to introduce H.B. 3131, a bill that would have provided $17.3 million in grant funding for Oregon Agricultural Heritage Program grants and administration. Governor Kotek’s Requested Budget (GRB) also included support for OAHP, including $2 million in program funds for the biennium.
H.B. 3131 ultimately “died” in the Ways and Means Committee, but the program was allocated $2 million in funding for grants and administration in the budget bill (H.B. 5039) for the Oregon Watershed Enhancement Board (OWEB). This funding is a one-time appropriation and far below the project demand for OAHP funds, but it is a first step towards institutionalizing the program as a core component of OWEB’s budget and work. More information here.
Permanent Recreational Immunity Protections
The Oregon Public Use of Lands Act provides liability protections for landowners – both public and private – who make their land available without charge for recreational use by the public. After a 2023 Oregon Court of Appeals undermined the protections guaranteed in the Act, our coalition worked with Senator Prozanksi (D-Eugene) to pass S.B. 1576A, which temporarily amended the Public Use of Lands Act to restore recreational immunity protections by adding “walking, biking, and running” to the list of recreational activities.
These protections would have ended on January 2, 2026, so we worked this session to pass S.B. 179, a bill that removed the sunset clause and made these protections permanent! This means public and private landowners can continue to safely allow public access for recreational opportunities this summer.
Private Forest Accord Investments
The Private Forest Accord is a landmark agreement between timber and conservation organizations to update forest practice guidelines on private forestlands. Across the Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) and the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) there were multiple PFA-related investments our coalition tracked. Here is where they landed:
Private Forest Accord Mitigation Grant Fund: The PFA Grant Program supports projects that benefit the fish and aquatic wildlife species and habitats covered under the developing Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP).
- COLT advocated for $20 million for program grant funds for the biennium. ODFW’s budget bill (H.B. 5009) included $10 million in program funds for 2025-2027.
Adaptive Management Program Committee: The AMPC and Independent Research and Science Team support research and adaptive management for private forest activities and the developing Habitat Conservation Plan. The AMPC and Independent Research and Science Team support research and adaptive management for private forest activities and the developing Habitat Conservation Plan.
- COLT advocated for $6 million in biennium funds to support activities of AMPC and the IRST.
- ODF’s budget bill (S.B. 5521) included $4.5 million for AMPC and an additional $4.5 million to support the IRST. The budget also allocated $2 million to support the Small Forestland Investment in Stream Habitat (SFISH) Program Fund, which provides grants to support small forestland owners for projects benefiting fish species and mitigating risks to natural resources.
Wildfire Funding
A major topic of discussion and debate this legislative session was a long-term and sustainable source of funding to wildfire mitigation and suppression. After a December special session to pay off the state’s 2024 wildfire costs and discussions among the 35-member Wildfire Working Group determined a $140 million per year wildfire funding need, lawmakers passed H.B. 3940 this session.
H.B. 3940 would raise an estimated $43 million from a 65-cent tax on nicotine pouches and interest generated from Oregon’s Rainy Day Fund. Although far below the funding needed for wildfire, lawmakers celebrated this win as the first time Oregon will have a permanent source of funding dedicated for wildfire mitigation and prevention.
The end of session “Christmas tree” bill included additional wildfire investments to the tune of $13 million for the Community Risk Reduction Fund for home hardening and $7 million for the SB 762 Landscape Resiliency Fund.
The Losses
Drinking Water Source Protection Grant Program
Despite more than $27 million in estimated demand across Oregon for funds to protect, restore and acquire drinking watersheds, legislators failed to pass H.B 3341 or direct any additional funding for the Drinking Water Source Protection Grant Program. You can learn more about the program and its impact here.
Oregon Conservation and Recreation Fund (OCRF)
This program funds projects that protect and enhance species and habitats in the Oregon Conservation Strategy while creating opportunities for wildlife recreation. The program did not receive any funding this session.
Natural and Working Lands
Another top priority of the conservation community was $5 million in additional funding for the Natural and Working Lands Fund for the biennium, which was ultimately not included in OWEB’s final budget.
1% for Wildlife
H.B. 2977 would have raised Oregon’s transient state lodging tax from 1.5% to 2.75% to support ODFW’s work to implement the Oregon Conservation Strategy and Nearshore Strategy for wildlife and habitat recovery. This bill failed in the last week of the legislative session.
Photo credit goes to George Gentry.
