Oregon lawmakers advance House Bill 2988 for integrated water data system

The Oregon House Committee on Agriculture, Land Use, Natural Resources, and Water convened on April 7, 2025, to discuss significant legislative measures, including House Bill 2988 and House Bill 3106.

The meeting began with a motion to adopt the dash 5 amendment to House Bill 2988, which was passed without objection. This bill, as amended, will now move to the floor with a recommendation for a "due pass" and will be referred to the Joint Committee on Ways and Means for further consideration.

House Bill 3106 was also a focal point of the session. This bill aims to appropriate funds from the general fund to the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) to support the Oregon Water Data Portal. However, the dash 5 amendment proposes a significant shift in leadership for this initiative, transferring oversight to the Oregon Department of Geology and Mineral Industries (DOGAMI). The amendment seeks to establish an integrated water resources data team to enhance data sharing among 17 state agencies involved in water management.

Co-chair Owens highlighted the importance of this bill, noting that it aims to create a more robust platform for data transparency and governance. He emphasized that the current fragmented data systems among agencies create confusion for both the agencies and the public. The proposed changes are intended to streamline data management and improve decision-making processes regarding water resources.

Concerns were raised about whether DEQ was the appropriate agency to lead this initiative, but the committee settled on DOGAMI due to its expertise, likening it to the U.S. Geological Survey in Oregon. The fiscal implications of the amendment indicate a need for approximately $4 million to adequately staff DOGAMI for this project over the next biennium.

The committee's discussions reflect a commitment to improving water resource management in Oregon through better data integration and governance, with the next steps involving further review by the Joint Committee on Ways and Means.