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OregonHB 33642025 Regular SessionHouse

Relating to water; and prescribing an effective date.

Sponsored By: Ken Helm (Democratic), Mark Owens (Republican)

Signed by Governor

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

6 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 1 costs, 3 mixed.

Water projects gain long-term monitoring support

The Water Resources Department can use Water Supply Development Account money to provide monitoring equipment for projects funded through the account. It can also fund long-term checks that projects follow established seasonal streamflow requirements. The law specifies no funding amount for this support.

Water study grants require smaller matches

Water feasibility study grants now require a cash or in-kind match of at least 25% of the grant amount. This replaces the dollar-for-dollar match, and the law removes the former $500,000 per-project cap. Based on available funds, the Water Resources Commission can set project caps or increase matches for upcoming funding cycles.

Named water projects face tighter exemptions

The law limits when water projects named in legislation can bypass specified application and public-benefit scoring rules. Unless that legislation says otherwise, it must also fund the account through General Fund money or authorized lottery bond transfers. Before payment, recipients must provide requested information and sign a grant or loan agreement. Those recipient duties do not apply when the legislation excludes the governing water-account laws.

Funded water projects face seasonal safeguards

Covered account-funded projects need seasonal streamflow requirements before payment if those requirements are not already established. This covers above-ground storage or aquifer recharge authorized outside the official irrigation season. Projects must also impound perennial streams, divert from streams supporting listed sensitive, threatened, or endangered fish, or divert over 500 acre-feet of surface water yearly. The department must use the commission's flow-setting method, and the requirements become conditions on covered water rights. They also apply to later account-funded, off-season storage projects using a diversion point subject to those flows. For existing aquifer-recharge authorizations, the department can condition only water use tied to the funded project, not unrelated uses.

Water funding opens year-round, comments shorten

The Water Resources Department accepts Water Supply Development Account applications year-round, using its form and required information. The commission makes funding decisions at least twice yearly while money is available, with separate filing deadlines. Applicants needing a water management and conservation plan must submit it before application acceptance; approval is required before an award. New applications are posted online for 30 days of public comment before review, down from 60 days. Technical reviewers score and rank projects using public benefits and statutory preferences, and those rankings receive public comment. The department recommends awards using scores, comments, and available money; the commission makes final scoring, ranking, and funding decisions.

Water study aid shifts project priorities

Oregon provides grants or direct study services to eligible people, public bodies, nonprofits, and qualifying tribes in Oregon. Studies cover conservation, reuse, groundwater recharge and storage, stream restoration, and water storage, including environmental-justice impacts and dam safety. Storage studies need extra analyses when projects impound perennial streams, divert from streams supporting sensitive, threatened, or endangered fish, or divert over 500 acre-feet of surface water yearly. Above-ground storage projects that use stored water to support ecological streamflows keep priority. Projects identified in the statewide water assessment no longer get priority.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsors

  • Ken Helm

    Democratic • House

  • Mark Owens

    Republican • House

Cosponsors

  • Court Boice

    Republican • House

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 90 • No: 6

Senate vote • 5/6/2025

Third reading. Carried by Golden. Passed.

Yes: 24 • No: 4

Senate vote • 4/29/2025

Natural Resources and Wildfire: Heard and Reported Out

Yes: 5 • No: 0

House vote • 4/16/2025

Third reading. Carried by Helm, Owens. Passed.

Yes: 52 • No: 2

House vote • 4/7/2025

Agriculture, Land Use, Natural Resources, and Water: Heard and Reported Out with Amendments

Yes: 9 • No: 0

Actions Timeline

  1. Chapter 82, (2025 Laws): effective on the 91st day following adjournment sine die.

    6/6/2025House

  2. Governor signed.

    5/14/2025House

  3. President signed.

    5/8/2025Senate

  4. Speaker signed.

    5/8/2025House

  5. Third reading. Carried by Golden. Passed.

    5/6/2025Senate

  6. Second reading.

    5/5/2025Senate

  7. Recommendation: Do pass the A-Eng. bill.

    5/5/2025Senate

  8. Work Session held.

    4/29/2025Senate

  9. Public Hearing held.

    4/24/2025Senate

  10. Referred to Natural Resources and Wildfire.

    4/21/2025Senate

  11. First reading. Referred to President's desk.

    4/17/2025Senate

  12. Third reading. Carried by Helm, Owens. Passed.

    4/16/2025House

  13. Rules suspended. Carried over to April 16, 2025 Calendar.

    4/15/2025House

  14. Second reading.

    4/14/2025House

  15. Recommendation: Do pass with amendments and be printed A-Engrossed.

    4/10/2025House

  16. Work Session held.

    4/7/2025House

  17. Public Hearing held.

    2/19/2025House

  18. Referred to Agriculture, Land Use, Natural Resources, and Water.

    1/30/2025House

  19. First reading. Referred to Speaker's desk.

    1/28/2025House

Bill Text

  • HALNRW Amendment -4 (Adopted)

    4/7/2025

    PDF

  • A-Engrossed

    PDF

  • Enrolled

    PDF

  • House Amendments to Introduced

    PDF

  • Introduced

    PDF

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