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Bill > HB3501


OR HB3501

Relating to water rights.


summary

Introduced
02/04/2025
In Committee
04/10/2025
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead

Introduced Session

2025 Legislative Measures

Bill Summary

The statement includes a measure digest written in compliance with applicable readability standards. Digest: The Act is about changing aspects of certain water rights. (Flesch Readability Score: 69.7). Prohibits the consideration of whether certain changes related to water rights would impair or be detrimental to the public interest.

AI Summary

This bill modifies Oregon's water rights laws to remove considerations of public interest when evaluating water right transfers and changes. Specifically, the bill prohibits the Water Resources Department and Water Resources Commission from considering whether proposed water right transfers would impair or be detrimental to the public interest when reviewing applications. Instead, the agencies can only evaluate whether a proposed transfer would cause injury to existing water rights. The bill applies this standard across multiple contexts, including temporary transfers, point of diversion changes, and water right substitutions. Key modifications are made to several sections of Oregon Revised Statutes, including ORS 540.510, 540.520, 540.523, 540.524, 540.530, 540.531, and 540.570. The changes create a more streamlined process for water right transfers by narrowing the scope of review to focus solely on potential injury to existing water rights, removing broader public interest considerations from the evaluation. The bill also includes provisions for notice, hearing processes, and potential conditions to protect existing water rights during transfers.

Committee Categories

Agriculture and Natural Resources

Sponsors (1)

Last Action

Referred to Rules by order of Speaker. (on 04/10/2025)

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