Mar 31, 2025 | AOC Advocacy
Friday, March 21, marked the first major legislative deadline this session, known as the “first chamber posting deadline.” Any bills not posted for a work session in their first policy committee by the deadline will not move forward this session. It is important to note that not all bills that have been posted for a work session will actually move forward through the process. Committee chairs often post bills to keep them “alive” and amendable until the first chamber work session deadline on April 9, after which any bill that has not moved out of its first chamber policy committee cannot move forward this session.
The Association of Oregon Counties’ (AOC) priority bills are almost all moving forward through this deadline, while several bills that AOC opposed will not.
Legislative Affairs Director Mallorie Roberts expressed gratitude to all members and county staff that have responded to AOC’s Action Alerts so far this session. “Public hearing engagement and legislator outreach from individual counties, commissioners, judges, and chairs has a significant impact on AOC’s advocacy efforts,” Roberts said.
Many work sessions will be canceled over the next two weeks. An important caveat – several committees are not subject to the first session deadline – Senate and House Rules, Senate and House Revenue, Ways and Means, and other joint committees, including the Joint Committee on Transportation and the Joint Committee on Addiction and Community Safety Response. Bills in these committees are alive until the second chamber posting and work session deadlines in May.
AOC reviews all introduced legislation and amendments for an impact to county services, budgets, and governance. As always, your AOC Legislative Affairs Department relies on AOC’s adopted principles, member input in our policy process, strategy conversations with steering committee co-chairs, and consultation with county staff subject matter experts to analyze legislation and inform our advocacy.
A comprehensive status update on AOC’s 2025 session priorities and bills on which we have been actively engaged so far this session can be viewed here. A bill list is available on AOC’s Legislative Committee Website and is regularly updated throughout the legislative session.
Contributed by: Mallorie Roberts | Legislative Affairs Director
Mar 31, 2025 | AOC Advocacy, Natural Resources
Senate Bill 777, introduced this legislative session to change the methodology used to determine wolf attack loss grants, easily passed the Senate on Tuesday, March 25, and now heads to the House for consideration.
The bill removes the “missing” category from the types of depredations eligible for compensation and places a multiplier on depredation that occurs based on the type of animal impacted and the recommendation of the county advisory committee. It also increases the amount of grant program funds that must be put toward non-lethal deterrents from 30% to 50%.
Although similar bills have been introduced in prior sessions, the Association of Oregon Counties took the lead this session in working with the Oregon Cattleman’s Association and impacted Oregon counties and provided testimony on the program to articulate why, from an administrative standpoint, the bill was necessary. Although many ranchers in south-central and eastern Oregon participate in the program, there are some counties that see less than 10% of their entire ranching population participate. The changes from SB 777 are expected to encourage more participation in the program, ensuring that more deterrents are on the landscape and that ranchers will be justly compensated.
The Wolf Depredation Compensation and Financial Assistance Grant Program was established as a complementary and necessary program for the full implementation of Oregon’s Wolf Plan, when the Legislature unanimously passed House Bill 3560 in 2011. HB 3560 stipulated grant money would be made available to assist counties in compensating those who suffer loss, injury, or missing livestock due to the presence of wolves in their area. The bill also allocated financial assistance to counties that implement livestock management or nonlethal wolf control techniques. These methods could include, but are not limited to, range riders, spotlighting, pasture monitoring, fox lights, air cannons, non-lethal projectiles, carcass removal and drones with thermal optics, to name a few. HB 3560 also required counties to allocate a minimum of 30% of the funds they request to livestock management or nonlethal deterrents.
To participate in the program, counties were required to establish a county wolf depredation committee. The makeup of a county committee, per ORS 610.150, includes one sitting county commissioner, two livestock owners, two wolf conservationists, and two members of the business community (agreed upon by the other members). In 2012, only eight counties were eligible for funding; however today 18 of Oregon’s 36 counties have established wolf depredation committees.
With the Senate vote of SB 777, this is the first major change to the wolf depredation program in over 10 years.
Contributed by: Branden Pursinger | Legislative Affairs Manager
Mar 25, 2025 | AOC Advocacy
The Joint Committee on Ways and Means kicked off their 2025 community budget hearing meetings on Saturday, March 22, in Gresham. Legislators are travelling around the state to hear from community members about what programs should be prioritized this budget cycle. The Association of Oregon Counties (AOC) encourages members to sign up and testify about your community needs and AOC’s top priority budget items this session. Below are talking points on AOC’s 2025 budget priorities and the committee hearing schedule.
JOINT COMMITTEE ON WAYS AND MEANS ROADSHOW SCHEDULE
Warm Springs
Friday, April 4, 5-7 p.m.
Old Warm Springs Elementary School
Members of the public can register to testify here
La Grande
Friday, April 11, 5-7 p.m.
Eastern Oregon University, Hoke Union Building #339
Members of the public can register to testify here
Salem, Statewide Virtual Testimony Prioritized
Wednesday, April 16, 5-7 p.m.
Oregon State Capitol Building, Hearing Room F
Members of the public can register to testify here
Klamath Falls
Friday, April 25, 5-7 p.m.
Klamath Community College, Building 4 Commons
Members of the public can register to testify here
AOC 2025 BUDGET PRIORITIES TALKING POINTS
Mar 11, 2025 | AOC Advocacy
Since the 2025 Legislature gaveled into session seven weeks ago a record number of bills have been introduced – well over 3,200. The Association of Oregon Counties (AOC) is tracking over 2,200 bills that have a potential impact on county budgets, services, or governance. The AOC Legislative Affairs Department has been in the Capitol every day advocating on behalf of county governments and AOC’s 2025 priorities.
Two of AOC’s top priorities will receive their first public hearings this week:
- House Bill 3518 – Modernizing County Assessment Funding
This bill modernizes the funding mechanisms that support the County Assessment Function Funding Assistance (CAFFA) Program. Introduced as a House Revenue Committee bill, a public hearing will be held on Tuesday, March 11, at 3 p.m. An action alert was sent last week to encourage all counties to submit testimony in support. A one-pager with background and a summary of the concept can be found here.
- House Bill 5004 – Funding Community Corrections
The Department of Corrections (DOC) budget, House Bill 5004 and Policy Option Package (POP) 102 which includes $68 million to fully fund Community Corrections, will be heard in the Joint Ways and Means Subcommittee on Public Safety on Thursday, March 13, at 8 a.m. AOC is working closely with the DOC and the Oregon Association of Community Corrections Directors to advocate for POP 102 and full funding of the cost study conducted this summer. An action alert will be sent out this week to encourage testimony in support.
Additionally, two bills introduced at AOC’s request advanced out of the House last week and now move on to the Senate for consideration.
- House Bill 3175 allows county governing bodies to increase the document recording fees that fund our County Surveyors Public Land Corner Preservation Programs and passed off of the House Floor 47-9.
- House Bill 2154 makes the County Safety Corridor Pilot Program permanent and passed out of the House last week with only one nay vote.
AOC members are encouraged to stay tuned for action alerts related to priority bills and Legislative Session email updates with details on dozens of bills on which the AOC Legislative Affairs Department has engaged so far this session.
Contributed by: Mallorie Roberts | Legislative Affairs Director
Jan 27, 2025 | AOC Advocacy
The 83rd Oregon Legislative Assembly convened on Tuesday, Jan. 21, to begin the 160-day session. The Association of Oregon Counties (AOC) Legislative Affairs Department had a productive first week in the Capitol meeting with legislators, attending hearings, and networking with our colleagues. We are already well on our way to achieving our team’s goal of meeting with all 90 legislators in the first 30 days of session to introduce the AOC team and our 2025 policy priorities.
AOC members are encouraged to engage in AOC’s policy process this session – our advocacy is strongest when it is informed by our counties across the state. If you’re not already receiving steering committee meeting notices and agendas, you can sign up through the 2025 AOC Committee Interest Form. AOC steering committee meetings are a critical forum for our members to learn about and weigh in on legislative concepts impacting county services, budgets, and governance.
The AOC Legislative Committee meets in Salem at the AOC office on the second Monday of every month – “AOC Day” – to consider steering committee recommendations. AOC steering committees meet on a rotating schedule the preceding Friday (virtual only) and Monday (hybrid). The most up-to-date information can be found on the calendar on AOC’s website, and calendar invitations are sent out monthly.
Members can also expect emailed communications from AOC’s Legislative Affairs Department with timely legislative updates, information about action taken by the AOC Legislative Committee, and issue-specific action alerts urging our members to contact legislators or submit testimony on high priority bills.
The AOC Legislative Committee adopted the below 2025 Policy Priorities based on steering committee recommendations in June 2024. These priorities, along with positions and principles recommended throughout the legislative session by AOC steering committees, guide the advocacy work of the AOC Legislative Affairs Department.
AOC 2025 POLICY PRIORITIES
Assessment and Taxation Funding
- Sustain and protect the property tax asset to the benefit of all property owners and taxing districts through adequate, equitable, and stable funding for county assessment and taxation programs.
Contact: Legislative Affairs Manager Justin Low, Governance, Revenue, and Economic Development
Health and Human Services
- Provide counties with the resources to address Oregon’s addiction and homelessness crises by removing administrative burdens and funding county public health and behavioral health services, deflection programs, and local homelessness response coordination for youth and adults.
Contact: Legislative Affairs Manager Jessica Pratt, Health and Human Services
Natural Resources
- Protect and strengthen county authority, funding, and flexibility in managing local natural resource policies.
Contact: Legislative Affairs Manager Branden Pursinger, Natural Resources and Land Use
Community Corrections
- Fully fund a revised community corrections formula that accurately reflects the costs incurred by counties.
Contact: Legislative Affairs Manager Tim Dooley, Public Safety, Broadband, and Solid Waste
Transportation Funding
- Ensure a comprehensive transportation funding package prioritizes investments in operations, maintenance, and safety; incorporates diverse and modern funding mechanisms to ensure the growth and stabilization of the State Highway Fund (SHF); maintains the 30% county share of SHF revenues; and reduces barriers to local revenue sources.
Contact: Legislative Affairs Director Mallorie Roberts, Transportation
Contributed by: Mallorie Roberts | Legislative Affairs Director
Dec 17, 2024 | AOC Advocacy, Natural Resources
The 82nd Legislative Assembly officially convened for a special session on wildfire funding on Dec. 12, called by Gov. Kotek on Nov. 26, to allocate roughly $218 million to the Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) and the Oregon State Fire Marshal (OSFM) to cover all pending expenses and outstanding bills from the 2024 wildfire season. By 3 p.m., the sole funding bill, Senate Bill 5801, had passed out of the Joint Special Session Committee on Wildfire Funding and was headed to the Senate and House for final passage. SB 5801 passed the Senate 25-2 and the House 41-2. By noon on Friday, Dec.13, the bill was signed by Gov. Kotek and the funds were being directed to ODF and OSFM.
The Association of Oregon Counties (AOC) testified in support of SB 5801. Without the passage of SB 5801 and the necessary finances to cover these costs, Oregon would have run the risk of not having the workforce or the vendors to fight fires during future wildfire seasons. The $191.5 million allocated to ODF will be used to pay 2024 gross large fire costs and ensure the agency is able to distribute roughly $17 million in timber sales revenue to counties and local taxing districts in 2024. The $26.6 million allocated to OSFM addresses cash flow concerns and reconciles the state’s obligations from this past fire season.
“This special session was an opportunity to receive funding for the 2024 wildfire season, however it was much more,” said Oregon State Fire Marshal Mariana Ruiz-Temple. “It sparked the conversation from partners and our legislators that Oregon needs a modernized wildfire funding methodology ─ one that focuses on the prevention and mitigation on the front end and adequate suppression. I am hopeful that as we move into session this work will continue to gain momentum and finally find solutions that meet the wildfire crisis and the conditions on the ground where they are at. Thank you to all our partners for their support.”
Between 2010 and 2019, the 10-year average of acres burned increased from 100,000 acres to roughly 500,000 acres annually. In 2020, over 1 million acres were burned and in 2024 that number reached 2 million acres. Since 2010, the total area in Oregon that has burned is equivalent to the combined land mass of Massachusetts and New Jersey.
Oregon’s gross wildfire costs averaged around $11 million per year from 2002 to 2012. From 2014 to 2024 these costs surged to an average of $75.5 million annually. The 2020 and 2021 calendar years exceeded $120 million, and the wildfire response costs alone in October of 2024 were $250 million and were continuing to climb. The full financial impact of the 2024 wildfires on the state is $352 million ─ $212 million higher than the previous record set in the 2020 Labor Day fires. However, the complete financial impact, when costs to local governments are fully factored, is not yet known but is expected to total well over half a billion dollars.
AOC will continue to advocate in the 2025 session for a long-term funding mechanism to support state and local government wildfire mitigation and response efforts.
Contributed by: Branden Pursinger | Legislative Affairs Manager
