Bill > HB3544

This bill makes several changes to Oregon's water rights laws, focusing primarily on standardizing and improving the contested case hearing process for water rights applications and transfers. The key provisions include establishing a uniform process for contested case hearings, creating more specific requirements for filing protests, and streamlining the administrative procedures for water right applications. Specifically, the bill sets a default 180-day timeline for completing contested case hearings, requires more detailed and specific protests, limits the issues that can be raised in hearings, and provides a clear process for requesting party status in water rights proceedings. The bill also makes technical amendments to various sections of Oregon Revised Statutes related to water rights, including modifying fee structures, clarifying application requirements, and standardizing language across different water rights-related statutes. Additionally, the bill includes provisions for how these changes will be implemented for existing and pending applications, providing a transition period and guidance for cases in progress at the time the law takes effect.

Agriculture and Natural Resources, Budget and Finance

https://olis.oregonlegislature.gov/liz/2025R1/Measures/Overview/HB3544