Oct 5, 2026 | AOC News
In September, a delegation of Association of Oregon Counties (AOC) members and staff traveled to China for a fact-finding mission organized by the Oregon China Council. Led by Senator Dembrow, the trip focused on fostering economic connectivity and building subnational partnerships.
“This mission has been a success in strengthening our Oregon-China ties and fostering meaningful economic connectivity,” said Executive Director Gina Nikkel. “It also marked a significant milestone for the Association of Oregon Counties, as this was the first time counties were invited to participate in such a vital fact-finding mission.”
Joining Nikkel and Administrative Services Director Sara Gamaney on the trip were AOC members representing counties with diverse economic drivers and industries:
- AOC President Erin Skaar (Tillamook)
- AOC First Vice President Joe Dabulskis (Sherman)
- AOC Second Vice President Jeremy Gordon (Polk)
- Commissioner Walter Chuck (Lincoln)
- Commissioner Seth Crawford (Crook)
- Commissioner Casey Garrett (Columbia)
- Commissioner Patrick Hollinger (Curry)
- Commissioner Kit Johnston (Yamhill)
- Commissioner Meghan Moyer (Multnomah)
- Commissioner Will Tucker (Linn)
Over the course of a two-week itinerary, the delegation visited Xiamen, Zhangzhou, Fuzhou, Qufu, Tianjin, and Beijing. Throughout the mission, members met with provincial representatives to identify trade opportunities and cultivate lasting regional partnerships.
A key highlight in Beijing was an official meeting at the Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM). Delegation members discussed the economic bridges connecting Oregon counties to international markets, emphasizing that subnational dialogue directly benefits our local economies.
A deeply memorable moment of the trip occurred in Tianjin, where the delegation participated in a friendship tree watering ceremony. Gov. Tina Kotek originally planted the tree during her tenure as the Speaker of the House to honor the official Oregon-Tianjin sister relationship. Tending to this living landmark served as a meaningful tribute to years of shared economic, cultural, and subnational ties, highlighting the enduring bridge between Oregon’s local communities and our international partners.
While the itinerary was packed with high-level economic dialogues and cultural exchanges, the true strength of the mission lay in the delegation itself. Representing a wide spectrum of geographic regions, background experiences, and county sizes across Oregon, county leaders developed a sense of camaraderie throughout the journey. Travelling together across the distinct regions fostered strong peer-to-peer relationships and collaborative insights that delegates will bring back to their local boards and communities.
The insights and relationships gained from this mission will support Oregon suppliers and growers in future trade relations with China. AOC extends its sincere gratitude to the Oregon China Council and our hosts for coordinating this impactful trip.
Contributed by: Erin Good | Communications Coordinator
Oct 1, 2026 | Natural Resources
In September, the Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) received the first of three federal approvals needed to manage state forests under the new Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP). The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA Fisheries) issued the incidental take permit (ITP) for regulatory certainty under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) for 10 specific covered fish species. The remaining two approvals (one for the remaining five terrestrial species and the final HCP approval) are anticipated by early 2027.
The 745,000 acres of Oregon’s state forests are required to be managed for social, economic, and environmental benefits – this is known as Greatest Permanent Value (ORS 530.050 as well as OAR 629-035-0020). ODF believes the protections found in the HCP’s management plan with the newly issued ITP will benefit fish through improved habitat over the long term while also allowing for harvesting to occur outside of the set aside habitat areas.
For eight years, ODF has been working on an HCP for long-term management of the Western Oregon state forests and 15 threatened or endangered species under the ESA. The Board of Forestry submitted the final plan to the federal government for approval in March of 2024. Since that time, ODF has been working to update the Forest Management Plan (FMP) to be in line with this HCP, assuming approval would occur.
The 10 fish covered by this ITP issuance include Oregon Coast Chinook and Coho, Lower Columbia River Chinook and Coho, Columbia River Chum, Upper Willamette River Spring-run Chinook, Upper Willamette River Winter Steelhead, Southern Oregon/Northern California Coast Choo and Chinook, and the Eulachon (a species of smelt found in Oregon).
ODF anticipates the second ITP issuance later this fall or early 2027. This ITP will include the Spotted Owl, Marbled Murrelet, Oregon Slender Salamander, Coastal Marten and the Red Tree Vole.
The purpose of an ITP is to allow the landowner, in this case ODF, the legal protections from potential legal ramifications for the covered species if the forest management activities cause ‘take’ of the species. Without an ITP, the landowner would be required to follow a take avoidance management style. Take avoidance is the practice of designing or implementing a management activity in a way that completely prevents any prohibited “take” of an endangered or threatened species. It is worth noting that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has issued an internal memorandum with a new interpretation of “take” under the ESA. This new interpretation states the agency will “no longer consider the incidental killing or injuring of a threatened or endangered animal to be illegal.” Going forward, the law will only prohibit actions that are intentionally and purposefully designed to kill or injure a listed species. A coalition of 21 attorneys general and multiple environmental organizations have filed suit over this change to the ESA “Harm Rule.” If the lawsuit fails, it is unclear whether the ITP and HCP will still be necessary in its current version.
Contributed by: Branden Pursinger | Legislative Affairs Manager
Oct 1, 2026 | AOC Advocacy
From Sept. 8-10, the Oregon State Legislature convened in Salem for interim committee hearings. The Association of Oregon Counties (AOC) Legislative Affairs Department actively engaged in these hearings, monitoring key discussions, and connecting with legislators and stakeholders around AOC’s 2027-28 Legislative Priorities.
Ahead of the Sept. 11 pre-session filing deadline, AOC worked with lawmakers to introduce key legislative concepts. These concepts align with AOC’s policy priorities and will be discussed during AOC steering committee meetings on Oct. 9 and 12. The Legislature is scheduled to reconvene for Legislative Committee Days on Dec. 1-3. Check the Legislative Calendar to view all legislative dates.
Below is a summary of committee highlights, links, and materials that impact county governance, services, and budgets.
Governance, Revenue, Economic Development
Senate Interim Committee on Finance and Revenue
- Report on Senior Property Tax Deferral Program Outreach to increase applicants and overall program users, presented by the Department of Revenue
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- Presentation by the Portland Metro Chamber on the state of the Federal Deduction for State and Local Taxes (SALT) cap
House Interim Committee on Revenue
- Report on the utilization and stability of the senior deferral program
House Interim Committee on Economic Development, Small Business, and Trade
- Report from the Governor’s Prosperity Council on economic development policy recommendations for the 2027 Legislative Session.
- Updates on modernization and industrial symbiosis as part of a statewide economic development strategy
- 10-year review of recreational cannabis policy in the state
House Interim Committee on Rules
- Election integrity and security presentation from the Secretary of State’s office
House Interim Committee on Climate, Energy, and Environment
- The status and operation of the data center industry
Health and Human Services
House Interim Committee on Early Childhood
- Overview of the department and the early learning system development by the Department of Early Learning and Childcare
- Overview of child care deserts in Oregon by Oregon State University
Senate Interim Committee On Early Childhood and Behavioral Health
- Child Care Resource and Referral Overview from the Children’s Institute
- Early Learning and Child Care Programs from Oregon Department of Early Learning and Care
- Home Visiting services redesign initiative presentation by the Children’s Institute
- OHSU Oregon Behavioral Health Coordination Center
- OHA – Youth Psychiatric Care in Oregon
- Oregon Alcohol and Drug Policy Commission 2026-30 Comprehensive Plan
- HB 2015 (2025) Executive Summary Legislative Study (2026) from Oregon Health Authority
- HB 2015 (2025) Executive Summary Section 2 Final Progress Report (2026) from Oregon Health Authority
Senate Interim Committee on Health Care
- H.R. 1 and Medicaid update from the Oregon Health Authority
- Health care and Oregon’s economy presentation from the State of Oregon
- Health insurance market update from the Department of Consumer and Business Services
- Oregon insurance coverage mandate impact statement update from the Legislative Policy and Research Office
House Interim Committee On Behavioral Health
- HB 2015 (2025) final progress report from the Oregon Health Authority
- HB 2015 (2025) legislative study from the Oregon Health Authority
- HB 2015 (2025) presentation from the Oregon Health Authority
- HB 4070 (2026) presentation from the Oregon Health Authority
- HB 4092 (2024) presentation from the Association of Oregon Community Health Programs
- HB 4092 (2024) presentation from the Oregon Health Authority
- Psilocybin Services Research presentations from Healing Advocacy Fund and Synaptic Institute
House Interim Committee On Housing and Homelessness
- Update on homelessness and housing production from the governor’s office
- Federal legislation updates from Oregon Housing and Community Services
House Interim Committee On Health Care
- Rural Health Transformation Program presentation from the Oregon Health Authority
- DCBS 2027 health insurance rates presentation from the Department of Financial Regulations
- OHA CCO rates from the Oregon Health Authority
- OHA 1115 OHP waiver renewal update
- OHA HR1 update
- Oregon insurance coverage mandate impact statements preliminary report from the Legislative Policy and Research Office
Natural Resources
House Interim Committee on Agriculture, Land Use, Natural Resources, and Water
- The impact smoke has on agriculture by Oregon State University
- Update on the fish conditions in the Klamath River from OWRD
- Delays in mineral permitting and pathways to making the system better from the Department of Geology and Mineral Industries
House Interim Committee on Climate, Energy, and Environment
- Data centers presentations from ECOnorthwest, the Legislative Revenue Office, and the Water Resources Department
Senate Interim Committee on Natural Resources and Wildfire
- 2026 wildfire season overview from the State Forester and State Fire Marshal
- Update on the infrastructure investments in hatcheries throughout the state from Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife
- Status update on the Winchester Dam in Douglas County by the Oregon Water Resources Department and the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife
- Rural land use updates from the Department of Land Conservation and Development
Senate Interim Committee on Energy and Environment
- Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in drinking water in Oregon presentation from Oregon State University
- Water usage by data centers presentation from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources
Public Safety and Veterans
House Interim Committee on Judiciary
- Report on progress on the public defense crisis from the Public Defense Commission
- Updates on the Jail MOUD grant program from the Criminal Justice Commission
Senate Interim Committee on Judiciary
- Oregon Law Commission 2027 Legislative Concepts
House Interim Committee on Emergency Management and Veterans
- Veterans in Crisis Task Force update
- Plan for Resilient Oregon briefing from the State Resilience Officer
- Strategies to prevent spread of wildfires
Senate Interim Committee on Veterans, Emergency Management, Federal and World Affairs
- Department of Emergency Management Update
- Wildfire update from Oregon State Fire Marshal
- Oregon Department of Veterans Affairs update
Transportation and Community Development
Senate Interim Committee on Transportation
- Update on Governor Kotek’s Rebuilding Our Transportation Vision Workgroup from Co-Chair Grace Crunican and workgroup member Umatilla County Commissioner Dan Dorran
House Interim Committee on Transportation
- Update on Governor Kotek’s Rebuilding Our Transportation Vision Workgroup presented by Grace Crunican and Umatilla County Commissioner Dan Dorran
- 2027 Legislative Concept preview: Abandoned RV removal and parks funding
