Oregon agriculture fared well in 2018 Oregon Short Session
By the OFB Governmental Affairs team
After a marathon 28-day session, the Legislature officially adjourned the 2018 Oregon Short Legislative Session on Saturday, March 3. Early signals indicated that the 2018 session would be divisive and potentially harmful to farmers and ranchers. Fortunately, many of the most harmful policies were sidelined this year.
Oregon Farm Bureau is proud to report that all of our priority bills made it across the finish line! This would not have been possible without Farm Bureau’s dedicated grassroots!
We thank OFB President Barry Bushue for his testimony in opposition to the California cap-and-trade bill and Polk County Farm Bureau’s Anna Scharf for her work to help pass HB 4068, the bill that brought slow-pay, no-pay protection to all seed growers.
Countless other Farm Bureau members came to Salem to speak out against harmful policies or in favor of beneficial policies. Many communicated directly with their legislators. We thank each of you for your passion and advocacy on behalf of Oregon agriculture. You make us Farm Bureau Proud!
It’s important to note that many of the bills that died in 2018 will be revisited by the 2019 Legislature. In the last days of session, legislative leadership went on record to commit to cap-and-trade legislation in 2019. The House Speaker and Senate President created a new Joint Committee on Carbon Reduction to study the policy. Also, legislators allocated $1.4 million dollars in the final budget bill, HB 5201, to move the policy forward in the interim. We will keep you updated as conversations on cap-and-trade advance over the next year. It is important that policymakers continue to hear from Oregon farmers and ranchers about the costs associated with cap-and-trade.
Below is a summary of bills that OFB followed this session, including final action by the Oregon Legislature.
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