Bill > HB2345

This bill renames the Oregon Hatchery Research Center Fund to the Oregon Hatchery Monitoring and Maintenance Fund and modifies its purpose and governance. The fund will now focus on two primary activities: (1) programs to monitor and address the impacts of hatcheries on native fish species, and (2) work related to hatchery maintenance needs. The bill requires that expenditures from the fund be evenly split between these two purposes on a biennial basis. The fund will continue to receive revenue from a surcharge on angling licenses and an ad valorem fee on fish, with specific amounts specified for different types of licenses. The bill also extends the timeframe for these funding mechanisms from the original 2026 end date to 2036 or 2037, depending on the specific provision. Additionally, the bill repeals the statutes establishing the Oregon Hatchery Research Center and its board, effectively eliminating this specific organizational structure. The State Department of Fish and Wildlife will still be required to provide an annual financial report on the fund to legislative committees related to environment and natural resources. Any remaining balance in the fund upon its eventual repeal will be transferred to the Hatchery Construction Fund.

Agriculture and Natural Resources, Budget and Finance

https://olis.oregonlegislature.gov/liz/2025R1/Measures/Overview/HB2345