ACTION ALERT: Speak Up To Protect The Right To Live and Work On Your Property!

Two bills of concern are scheduled for a public hearing March 6th at 1:00pm in the Senate Committee on Natural Resources and Wildfire – SB 77 and SB 78. At the same time, a good bill to allow farmers to earn additional income is being heard – SB 788. 

SB 77 & SB  78 are presented as efforts to “close loopholes” in our planning system and preserve farmland. However, we know that Oregon isn’t losing farmland; it’s losing farmers. These bills don’t do anything to support farmers or their bottom lines. 

Instead, these bills impose limitations on rural homeowners who need to replace their homes if they are lost to disaster or decay, and small family-run home businesses that are trying to survive and earn a living. 

This hearing is a great opportunity for property owners to make their voices heard and defend their property rights! Please keep reading to learn more about these bills and how to submit testimony. 

Bills To Oppose

SB 78 Increases restrictions on rebuilding homes – Imposes size limitations on homes rebuilt after they are destroyed by fire, flooding, or decay. As drafted, the bill would not resolve any issues within the existing replacement dwelling process, and would instead limit the floor area home rebuilt on farm or forest land to no more than 10 percent of its original size or no greater than 2,500 square feet total.

SB 77 Tightens restrictions on rural at-home businesses – Imposes new restrictions for counties siting home occupations in ALL zones, even land inside of urban growth boundaries! Also, limits what types of businesses can be home occupations on farm and forestland, how they advertise, and the number of customers they may serve. As drafted, the bill would rewrite the existing home occupation statute and impose confusing (and arguably unenforceable) new restrictions that significantly limit the income of small at-home businesses, especially those in rural areas. 

Bill to Support

SB 788 Allows for events on farmland East of the Cascades – Allows a wedding or event venue that is conducted outdoors or in farm buildings, that comply with any limitations imposed by the county, such as public health and safety requirements. While OPOA would like to see this bill apply statewide, SB 788 is a step in the right direction of permitting events that are already extremely popular in rural areas, and allows for property owners to earn additional income and boost rural economies. 

TAKE ACTION & SUBMIT TESTIMONY

When working together, rural Oregonians are truly an unstoppable force. If these bills concerns you, please take at least one of the following steps to make your voice heard:

1. Sign up to testify during the hearing –  You can do so in person at the Capitol, on Microsoft Teams, or by phone. Be aware – advanced registration is required to testify! The online registration system opens when the public hearing is scheduled and closes 30 minutes before the meeting begins.

You can register to testify by clicking HERE and then filling out the “Register to Testify” form next to each bill on the agenda. You will need to sign up for EACH bill, will only be able to speak to each bill, and will not be able to give general testimony.  So if you want to speak on multiple bills, make sure to fill out separate forms. 

2. Submit written testimony – If you do not wish to speak in person, you can submit written testimony. Testimony must be submitted within 48-hours after the committee start time. 

• Click here to submit a letter on SB 77 
• Click here to submit a letter on SB 78
• Click here to submit a letter on SB 788

3. Email members of the Committee – Remember, bills must get voted out of the policy committee before it goes to the floor to be voted on by the full Senate or House. If a bill fails to get out of Committee, it is dead for the Session unless the idea is put in another bill. You can email members of the Committee by finding their contact information HERE. 

The opinions expressed in this post are those of the author and do not represent the opinions or positions of any party represented by the OPOA Legal Center on any particular matter.