SB 5521
Appropriates moneys from the General Fund to the State Forestry Department for certain biennial expenses.
Jurisdiction
Oregon
Session
2025 Regular Session
At the request of
(at the request of Oregon Department of Administrative Services)
Take action
Record your position on this measure.
Sign in to record your position, submit testimony, or contact your legislator.
Sign in to take actionPublic sentiment
Support
100%
Oppose
0%
- Introduced
- Passed Senate
- Passed House
- To Governor
- Became Law
Bill overview
This bill allocates funds from the state’s General Fund to the State Forestry Department for the 2025-2027 biennium. Specifically, it provides appropriations for agency administration, fire protection, forest resources, debt service, and capital improvements. The bill also establishes maximum spending limits for various revenue sources, including fees, federal funds, and lottery moneys, with a specific allocation for land acquisition in the Gilchrist State Forest.
Key provisions
- Allocates $758,644 to the State Forestry Department for agency administration.
- Provides $82,519,290 for fire protection.
- Approves $59,908,716 for forest resources.
- Establishes a debt service allocation of $17,468,121.
- Sets maximum spending limits for fees, miscellaneous receipts, and certain federal funds.
- Allocates $2,558,120 from lottery moneys for land acquisition in the Gilchrist State Forest.
- Provides $2,000,000 for the Small Forestland Investment in Stream Habitat Program Fund.
- Authorizes appropriations from federal funds for agency administration, fire protection, state forests, forest resources, and equipment pool.
Who is affected
- State Forestry Department
- Oregon Residents (through forestry services)
- Federal Government (through federal funding)
- Small Forestland Owners
- Stream Habitat Program Recipients
Notable changes
Sponsors
Official sponsors from legislative records.
Primary sponsor
Oregon Department of Administrative Services
Arguments in favor
Reasons to support this legislation.
Supporters of the Private Forest Accord emphasize the importance of securing funding for this agreement to protect Oregon's forests, waterways, and wildlife habitats. They highlight the need for a federally-approved Habitat Conservation Plan to safeguard clean water and fish habitats, as well as core conservation programs and wilderness areas. The submitters stress that without full funding, these protections will be lost, reverting to outdated standards. They also emphasize the significance of adaptive management in ensuring effective new logging rules and supporting small forestland owners through the SFISH grant program. Many strong support for the legislation, citing its potential to address human impact on the planet and promote cooperation between ecological and commercial interests. Ultimately, supporters urge the committee to maintain full funding for the Private Forest Accord and critical programs to ensure Oregon's path to federal approval by 2027.
Source: Testimony Summaries
Arguments opposed
Reasons to oppose this legislation.
Opponents of the proposed plan express concerns that it fails to address the root causes of wildfires, citing the Oregon Department of Forestry's alleged inadequate forest management practices as a major contributor to the problem. They argue that the department's current approach is insufficient and that a more comprehensive strategy is needed to prioritize fire prevention and mitigation. Additionally, critics point out that the proposed plan's Habitat Conservation Plan is ineffective in balancing human needs with environmental concerns, potentially leading to further conflicts over land use and resource management.