Bill > HB3575

This bill directs the Oregon Department of State Lands to petition the U.S. Congress by January 1, 2027, to transfer specific federal public lands managed by the Bureau of Land Management or U.S. Forest Service to the state. The lands subject to transfer must be located in counties that have officially requested inclusion in the transfer plan. Once transferred, the Department of State Lands will have three primary options for managing these lands: first, offer them for sale to private buyers; second, transfer them to one of Oregon's nine federally recognized Native American tribes if the lands are in or adjacent to the tribe's current territory; and third, for any remaining lands, hold them in trust and annually distribute the profits and revenues to the counties where the lands are located, with the stipulation that these funds can only be used for local educational purposes. The bill includes a self-repealing mechanism, with the provisions set to automatically expire on January 2, 2028, though any programs or trusts established during this period will remain in effect. This legislative approach appears designed to provide more local control over federal lands while creating potential economic benefits for Oregon counties.

Agriculture and Natural Resources

https://olis.oregonlegislature.gov/liz/2025R1/Measures/Overview/HB3575