The Committee on Agriculture, Land Use, Natural Resources, and Water on Feb. 7 moved House Bill 2345 to the House floor with a due-pass recommendation after debate over a late-filed amendment and broader discussion about hatchery funding and program priorities.

Representative Brett Wright (identified in committee as Representative Boomer Wright during testimony) introduced a newly filed -1 amendment that he said would redirect funds originally designated for monitoring to support hatchery maintenance, expansion and educational programming. Wright told the committee the amendment would require the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) to work with the Confederated Tribes, the Coos, Lower Umpqua and Siuslaw Indians, the Coquille Indian Tribe and the Salmon and Trout Enhancement Program (STEP) to establish a chum salmon hatchery program in the Coos and Coquille river drainages and to prioritize the STEP educational program.

Committee members asked about the amendment paperwork and timing; committee leaders said the amendment was posted that morning but the paperwork was not yet ready for consideration, so the committee did not take a formal vote on the amendment. Representative Royce and others characterized the amendment as a compromise that included tribal participation and STEP program priorities. Some members urged caution about making late changes to the program and emphasized the importance of keeping the surcharge revenue intact to support ODFW work.

Representative Finger McDonald moved HB 2345 to the floor with a due-pass recommendation. The committee took a roll-call vote on the base bill as presented; members recorded “Aye” votes and the bill passed out of committee. Members noted the amendment could be considered on the Senate side and that further discussion was expected when the bill reaches the floor.

The transcript shows several members spoke in favor of maintaining the surcharge revenue and of using the programs to support conservation and education; committee leaders emphasized that additional debate on the amendment could occur in the Senate.