Bill > HB3486

This bill modifies the existing Oceangoing Research Vessel Program by requiring the Research Vessel Council, which is based at Oregon State University, to include at least one trained scientist from the University of Oregon with a minimum of five years of marine research experience. The bill also appropriates $306,000 from the General Fund to the Higher Education Coordinating Commission for 30 days of research per year on two research vessels operated by the University of Oregon Institute of Marine Biology, and an additional $110,000 for the University of Oregon to purchase a dive vessel and construct a dock and dive platform. The Oceangoing Research Vessel Program, established to study Pacific Coast waters, focuses on research areas such as seabed mapping, marine ecosystem analysis, climate change effects, ocean health assessments, ocean dynamics, and monitoring marine energy systems and protected areas. The Research Vessel Council will continue to evaluate and schedule research proposals based on geographical area, research quality, and compatibility with existing federally funded projects. Notably, the bill declares an emergency and specifies that it will take effect on July 1, 2025, emphasizing the immediate importance of supporting marine research in Oregon.

Agriculture and Natural Resources, Budget and Finance

https://olis.oregonlegislature.gov/liz/2025R1/Measures/Overview/HB3486