HB 3573
Appropriates moneys from the General Fund to the Water Resources Department for specified purposes relating to water resources data collection and monitoring for the biennium beginning July 1, 2025.
Jurisdiction
Oregon
Session
2025 Regular Session
Committee
Agriculture, Land Use, Natural Resources, and Water
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Sign in to take actionPublic sentiment
Support
6%
Oppose
94%
- Introduced
- Passed House
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became Law
Bill overview
This bill allocates $2.3 million from the state’s General Fund to the Water Resources Department for the biennium beginning July 1, 2025. The funds will be used for various water resources data collection and monitoring activities, including groundwater investigations, monitoring, and gaging stations. An emergency declaration allows the bill to take effect immediately.
Key provisions
- Allocates $800,000 for groundwater investigations.
- Allocates $450,000 for groundwater monitoring.
- Allocates $300,000 for gaging stations.
- Allocates $300,000 for water use management cost share funds.
- Allocates $100,000 for evapotranspiration monitoring and studies.
- Allocates $100,000 for AgriMet.
- Allocates $250,000 for contract funding for public engagement related to groundwater budgets.
Who is affected
- Water Resources Department
- State of Oregon Residents
- Agricultural Sector
- Environmental Monitoring Professionals
Notable changes
- Establishes specific funding allocations for various water resources data collection activities.
- Declares an emergency, allowing the bill to take effect immediately.
Fiscal impact
The bill appropriates $2,300,000 from the General Fund.
Sponsors
Official sponsors from legislative records.
Primary sponsors
Arguments in favor
Reasons to support this legislation.
Supporters of the bill emphasize the need for proactive measures to address declining well water levels, which are impacting agricultural production in certain areas. Farmers and landowners, like one testifier who relies on aquifer levels for wine production, stress the importance of understanding these levels to ensure sustainable use of groundwater resources. Additionally, supporters highlight the benefits of funding related to groundwater well and water monitoring systems, as advocated by another testifier, which will enable the Office of Water Resources and Policy (OWRB) to better manage public resources effectively, ultimately protecting public health and environmental sustainability.
Source: Testimony Summaries
Arguments opposed
Reasons to oppose this legislation.
Opponents of HB3573 express concerns about government overreach, infringing on individuals' privacy and water/land use rights, and imposing unnecessary regulatory burdens. Many testifiers fear that the bill will increase utility costs for Oregonians, particularly those with private wells, exacerbating their financial struggles. Some believe that requiring meters on private well water is an overreach of government authority, while others argue that it would infringe upon individuals' right to use water as they see fit and their property rights. Additionally, concerns about the potential environmental impact, financial burden, and redirection of water from rural Oregon farmers and citizens. Many also believe that the bill's vague language and proposed data collection methods raise constitutional concerns, and that the state should not have authority to install and maintain private well equipment or charge for water use without explicit authorization.