OHA Legislative Report 

The 2019 Legislative Session is over.  This session was a trying one on many fronts.  But good things did occur for OHA members.  Here is a run down of some of the bills that passed and did not pass.

  • there was passage of an anti-poaching program,
  • a large amount of general fund dollars was allocated for the anti-poaching program,
  • a tough new law to deal with violators of wildlife laws became a reality.

 

Here is the final status of bills that OHA was following:

 

Final Bill Status

  • SB 978 Gun Sales & Storage Restrictions: This gun bill did not pass due in large part to the first walkout by the Senate Republicans.
  • HB 3035 This is the bill we worked on with OSP and ODFW to increase maximum penalties for wildlife violations.

Status: This bill has been signed by the Governor.

  • HB 2834 Safe Wildlife Passage: Bill requires ODFW, in consultation with Department of Transportation, to develop Wildlife Corridor and Safe Road Crossing Action Plan for use by state agencies. OHA has testified in favor of this bill

Status:  This bill has been signed by the Governor.

  • HB 2068 Percentage of Nonresident Tags: Increases percentage of nonresident tags that can be issued for hunting of black bear, cougar and antelope within areas that may be issued by drawing.

Status: The bill has been signed by the Governor.

  • HB 2069 Unallocated Big Game Tags: Removes requirement that State Fish and Wildlife Commission issue leftover game mammal hunting tags to anyone first-come, first-served; allows ODFW to restrict leftover tags to those who have not drawn a tag.

Status: The bill has been signed by the Governor.

  • HB 2293 Residency Requirements: Amends residency requirements for purposes of licenses, tags and permits related to wildlife.

Status: The bill was in Ways and Means at the end of the session.  The bill is dead.

  • HB 2294 Commercial Urine Products: Requires that any commercial product that contains or is derived from cervid urine and designed for luring, attracting or enticing cervids be from herd free of chronic wasting disease.

Status: The bill has been signed by the Governor.

  • HB 2841 Information Disclosure: This bill allows ODFW to refuse disclosure of information relevant to department ability to manage or protect described fish or wildlife species or individual members or populations of species. Exempts information from disclosure as public record.

Status: On Governor’s desk awaiting her signature.

  • SB 723 Coyote Hunting Contest Ban Bill:

Status: The bill was in the House Committee on Rules at the end of the Session.  The bill is dead.

SB 5510 The ODFW Budget Bill.  This bill has the funding for the new anti-poaching program that OHA worked on during the interim with legislators, the Oregon State Police, the Department of Justice, and the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife.

Status:  The bill is on the Governor’s desk awaiting her signature.

 

OHA Lobbyist Al Elkins Email: alvinelkins@yahoo.com

Looking for bills?  Try these links:

This one takes you to the main Bills page, where you can search by bill number:

https://www.oregonlegislature.gov/bills_laws

This page allows you to subscribe for bill updates and alerts:

https://www.oregonlegislature.gov/citizen_engagement/Pages/e-Subscribe.aspx

You’ll see a “sign up” box towards bottom of page, which allows you to sign up and customize the bills you want to get updates on.

Sign up for OHA updates and alerts at:

https://oregonhunters.org/sign-up/