[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6284917,"mediaKeyId","2576447-5d9d0e845d1065b6e337c055af0c5d72","parentId",2576447,"title","Committee debates processing reforms in House Bill 3,342; agencies and water providers raise concerns","audioSeconds",2238,"startMs",912000,"endMs",3150000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2576447-5d9d0e845d1065b6e337c055af0c5d72&start=912&end=3150","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2576447-5d9d0e845d1065b6e337c055af0c5d72/thumbnail_912000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6284917/Oregon/Committee-debates-processing-reforms-in-House-Bill-3342-agencies-and-water-providers-raise-concerns","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6284917-695dadd14816c98ab445e5e100a3fa16/orig.mp4?Expires=1770707841&Signature=UfZegZK4PS7T4FJpF~masUvJ9BEttYdYqGTmblTYjEv7~JJN5WHtsIcR6Z-4KiHyNMj4AIe63iPs1Lcam3NqDylipIZDtXnAVwmNee~Hp0KIy4oLcNmeFj2cibWhZfYZYDG1gSrsXKGVq0zRiiIzza0pQGxQ57hjQoln89iOj8bRzdXWi8R0TxwHn7cRlV7ZMjjNEJF-yW7uQM~IBwLvsRtihUMftKAs9PewayfEQuhPwQTJ4dyCEXbNUhLN5k1ooV7HBEcOr4FldNoG8q2mpM2SPHNGvSpRbJGnpeKZXnwgKSlXW8t9~2uCfHqmV4lzdh0Ss8WYxdz-Ike9YQxUmg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Oregon State Legislature","date","2025-03-12T00:00:00Z","article","The House Committee on Agriculture, Land Use, Natural Resources, and Water opened a public hearing March 12 on House Bill 3,342 and proposed dash‑1 amendments that would change several Oregon Water Resources Department (OWRD) processes for new water rights, transfers and extensions.

Co‑chairs Representative Ken Helm and Co‑Chair Owens described the bills as aiming to reduce backlogs by improving front‑end processing and by creating procedural clarity on transfers and extensions. Brynn Hudson, legislative coordinator for the Water Resources Department, provided a technical overview of the dash‑1 amendments and said the department was not taking a position; she described changes that include defaulting to electronic documents (with paper copies on request), replacing required newspaper notice with the department’s online weekly public notice, and allowing the department to pass through credit/debit card processing fees once infrastructure is set up.

The dash‑1 language also would change key processing rules: it would allow the department to return applications filed in closed or withdrawn areas before performing a full initial review; give the department authority to deny transfers or permanent amendments into critical groundwater areas or withdrawn/restricted areas; change the non‑municipal permit development timeline from five to seven years for new permits and limit extensions for newly filed permits to a maximum two‑year extension subject to conditions; require a phased fee model with an initial review and a 30‑day applicant confirmation window to continue processing; and apply many of these provisions retroactively to applications that have not yet received a proposed final order (PFO).

Stakeholders split on parts of the package. April Snell of the Oregon Water Resources Congress said the group is neutral because many districts had insufficient time to vet amended language; she supported the concept of voluntary, locally based solutions but urged caution on items that affect multiple districts. Doug Riggs and Michael Martin welcomed modernization but flagged concerns for cities, quasi‑municipal providers and small systems about a 30‑day confirmation window and the broad authority to deny applications in groundwater management areas.

JR Cook of the Northeast Oregon Water Association opposed the dash‑1 amendments, saying his basin (which includes four of seven critical groundwater areas statewide) had not been consulted and that the automatic denials could prevent remediation projects (for example pumping and treating contaminated shallow aquifers) and other projects that rely on new permits. Mark Landauer of the Special Districts Association and the Oregon Association of Water Utilities said sections 25–27 would significantly affect quasi‑municipal and group domestic permits and could jeopardize storage projects that need long development timelines.

OWRD staff explained current refund practice: when applicants stop processing after the initial review, the department typically returns fees minus a processing holdback (Brynn Hudson and Amanda Mata described a standard retained amount of $310 for some applications; transfers are adjusted based on work completed). Committee members and witnesses repeatedly urged clearer public education materials, an explanatory graphic of the departmental stages (application, initial review, proposed final order, protest), and careful drafting to avoid unintended retroactive effects.

Committee members repeatedly emphasized the need for further stakeholder work before final language; co‑chairs said additional amendments were expected and that they would continue negotiations. The committee closed the public hearing on HB 3,342 and did not take final action.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","House Committee On Agriculture, Land Use, Natural Resources, and Water 03/12/2025 8:00 AM","oneSentenceSummary","The House Committee on Agriculture, Land Use, Natural Resources, and Water opened a March 12 public hearing on House Bill 3,342 and dash‑1 amendments to modernize OWRD processes, change timelines for non‑municipal extensions, and add screening and denial authority for applications in closed groundwater areas.","taxTitle","Agriculture, Land Use, Natural Resources, and Water, House of Representatives, Committees, Legislative, Oregon","taxId",17399,"location","Oregon","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6284921,"Committee hears bill to authorize Deschutes River water‑bank pilot",1052,728000,1780000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2576447-5d9d0e845d1065b6e337c055af0c5d72&start=728&end=1780","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2576447-5d9d0e845d1065b6e337c055af0c5d72/thumbnail_728000.jpg","/articles/6284921/Oregon/Committee-hears-bill-to-authorize-Deschutes-River-waterbank-pilot","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6284921-48698f4c9d43935dc2ddaa4c44518427/orig.mp4?Expires=1770707841&Signature=E6Ag68vnC9JWgGMSnlBHPe6g0P1H165ECzLCu0MlE5r2XfyCauMc4ayqkK71-WLqms6-ixf~lC1zbssqsQTl3SD-X-eEBb-QjnrooV~4QV02zs2uz~U0U5GMpJDGnC-lhzu7bIJzCbEm9NMRvxmubpibjUnEvqkz~GKhRV~Zxv0QCWyC1GcHSh3jD7gflQuLkCZaS0NOGo0Ns5DxTeHYh0vr6q6xTJd4fwGfci2038FqNRQhKWudVCeQXY3j5jpgM5KC9fxwk3EEgOKa4Blje73K2~2tjs1oO3TEe-h8I8aYq~GxFn5q9ewQFkUydc8OZls8vmCgHnqDYtN8Wm8Fhw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The House Committee on Agriculture, Land Use, Natural Resources, and Water opened a public hearing March 12 on House Bill 3,806, which would authorize the Oregon Water Resources Commission to approve a Deschutes River Water Bank pilot in Deschutes County.

Representative Emerson Levy, sponsor of the bill, said the proposal “would develop a water bank…in Deschutes County.” Kate Fitzpatrick, executive director of the Deschutes River Conservancy, told the committee the bank would scale up existing tools — temporary leases, trades and mitigation credits — to “make it easier to move water around to meet needs in a voluntary way using incentives.”

Josh Bailey, general manager of North Unit Irrigation District, described repeated shortfalls for his district, saying North Unit is a junior water‑rights holder that irrigates nearly 60,000 acres and that recent drought years have cut allotments and harmed local agriculture. Bailey said the pilot aims to expand voluntary market transactions to access more reliable sources for North Unit.

Jeremy Austin of Central Oregon Land Watch and Mike Butner, water services director for the city of Bend, testified in support. Austin cited the basin study findings of recurring annual shortfalls and said market‑based tools should complement infrastructure investments. Butner said Bend is “fully supportive” and called the pilot “one step” toward flexible basin management.

Doug Riggs of Central Oregon Cities and other local partners described long‑running basin collaboration. Kate Fitzpatrick emphasized centering tribal priorities, noting the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs reserve rights across much of the basin. Testimony noted that about 86% of current basin water is used for irrigated agriculture, about 12% has been protected in‑stream through projects, and about 2% is used by cities, based on the basin study the panel cited.

Several witnesses stressed that the bank would be voluntary and locally managed; panelists said the pilot is intended to learn and adapt. Committee members asked about public concerns — including media stories about speculation — and witnesses said the proposal is a locally controlled program. Lawmakers asked for a later report on pilot performance; one co‑chair suggested a one‑ to two‑year check‑in to assess results and transferability to other basins.

The committee closed the public hearing on HB 3,806 and did not take final action during the March 12 meeting.","The House Committee on Agriculture, Land Use, Natural Resources, and Water opened a public hearing March 12 on House Bill 3,806, which would authorize a Deschutes River Water Bank pilot in Deschutes County.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6284913,"Committee hears proposal to standardize contested‑case schedule to reduce backlog",364,3158000,3522000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2576447-5d9d0e845d1065b6e337c055af0c5d72&start=3158&end=3522","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2576447-5d9d0e845d1065b6e337c055af0c5d72/thumbnail_3158000.jpg","/articles/6284913/Oregon/Committee-hears-proposal-to-standardize-contestedcase-schedule-to-reduce-backlog","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6284913-1cb2964fe3c37052771ad176240d9d2f/orig.mp4?Expires=1770707841&Signature=ds0~hbhS6stkedxgKT6~JpzG7gydLkchROiOxJ9OOMDYMBFYSaTMJllWk4WI7~7~yKlQpYa0ldkT5rGPnfwaAhA9tewbXzc749MafcklQyYLDK2MDgsOS3OjO1r0d2ltNhuV6NhtQLDvxtxzxnrz1tr~cHY~jmF6NwVW0ZzgJ2q8MgtiYLKPvCPS8rHll7Bs0rldOctXHqos-5m5GqoVr73s-lilUgXcegdpUHOUnKJIBbDx0LQXyxWPRBBzKbXgXK~xh14XH5zoTCzYsyj7cyt8~3opku5-Fd63fOZbO8Zv~LyzQPPH0WidYKlkAjv~ROADY0k7YFNpBDBLh0gmDA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The House Committee on Agriculture, Land Use, Natural Resources, and Water opened a public hearing March 12 on House Bill 3,544, a bill that would revise contested‑case procedures for water‑rights‑related protests and hearings.

Co‑chairs described the measure as an attempt to reduce a growing contested‑case backlog and to make settlement earlier and more likely. Deputy Director Raquel Ranciere and Will Davidson, the department’s protest program coordinator, gave a technical overview and said the bill’s principal changes are in sections 2 and 3; many later sections are conforming deletions or renumberings. The bill would apply a uniform contested‑case process to water‑rights application types handled by the department, establish a default hearing schedule, and require rulemaking to implement some procedural elements.

Davidson said parts of the legislation could be implemented by rule today, some would require Attorney General approval of model rules, and some require statutory changes. He noted the bill excludes enforcement contested cases and large adjudications; it is aimed at water‑rights application types that currently have varied contested‑case language across statute. The department characterized the bill as a technical and procedural consolidation intended to standardize and accelerate hearings.

Committee members and staff discussed timing and implementation. Co‑chairs said they plan further stakeholder engagement and another hearing; they noted that while the department has received additional staff and funding in recent biennia, contested cases are arriving faster than the department can process them. The committee closed the public hearing on HB 3,544 and scheduled follow‑up work rather than taking final action.","House Bill 3,544 would create a uniform contested‑case process for water rights applications, establish a default hearing schedule and require rulemaking; department staff described scope and said sections 2–3 contain most substantive changes. Co‑chairs signaled further amendments and will hold another hearing.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Committee debates processing reforms in House Bill 3,342; agencies and water providers raise concerns

Committee hears bill to authorize Deschutes River water‑bank pilot

Committee hears proposal to standardize contested‑case schedule to reduce backlog