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83rd OREGON LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY--2025 Regular Session
A-Engrossed
House Bill 2256
Ordered by the House February 28
Including House Amendments dated February 28
Sponsored by Representative FRAGALA, Senators PROZANSKI, MANNING JR; Representatives ANDERSEN,
GAMBA, LIVELY, OWENS, Senators GELSER BLOUIN, GOLDEN, PHAM K, TAYLOR (Presession filed.)
SUMMARY
The following summary is not prepared by the sponsors of the measure and is not a part of the body thereof subject
to consideration by the Legislative Assembly. It is an editor’s brief statement of the essential features of the
measure. The statement includes a measure digest written in compliance with applicable readability standards.
Digest: This Act limits risk from selling unlawful units of land to protect nature. (Flesch Read-
ability Score: 63.7).
Exempts the seller and [the nonprofit purchaser of] a nonprofit, public body or tribe that
purchases property for conservation purposes from civil or criminal liability for selling certain
units of land not lawfully established. Cancels exception for a purchaser who resells the land
to the private market within five years of the land being deeded for conservation purposes.
A BILL FOR AN ACT
Relating to sales of units of land not lawfully established for conservation purposes; amending ORS
92.018 and 92.990.
Be It Enacted by the People of the State of Oregon:
SECTION 1. ORS 92.018 is amended to read:
92.018. (1) If a person buys a unit of land that is not a lawfully established unit of land, the
person may bring an individual action against the seller in an appropriate court to recover damages
or to obtain equitable relief. The court shall award reasonable attorney fees to the prevailing party
in an action under this section.
(2) If the seller of a unit of land that was not lawfully established is a county that
[involuntarily] acquired the unit of land by means of foreclosure under ORS chapter 312 of delin-
quent tax liens, the person who purchases the unit of land is not entitled to damages or equitable
relief.
(3) A purchaser is not entitled to damages or equitable relief against a seller under this
section if:
(a) The purchaser of the unit of land is a holder, as defined in ORS 271.715;
(b) The unlawfully established unit of land was separately described in an instrument that
was executed on or before January 1, 2025; and
(c) The deed from the seller reflects an intention that the purchaser use or convey the
property for conservation purposes, such as:
(A) Retaining or protecting the land’s natural, scenic or open space values;
(B) Ensuring the land’s availability for agricultural, forest, recreational or open space
use;
(C) Preserving the land’s historical, architectural, archaeological or cultural aspects; or
(D) Protecting natural resources or maintaining or enhancing air or water quality.
NOTE:Matter in boldfaced type in an amended section is new; matter [italic and bracketed] is existing law to be omitted.
New sections are in boldfaced type.
LC 1588 A-Eng. HB 2256
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(4) A person acquiring an interest from a purchaser described in subsection (3) of this
section or from someone subsequent in title to the purchaser is not entitled to damages or
equitable relief under this section against:
(a) The original seller under subsection (3) of this section; or
(b) Any purchaser or subsequent purchaser under subsection (3) of this section, except
for the seller under this subsection, if:
(A) The acquisition of the property is not for conservation purposes described in sub-
section (3)(c) of this section; and
(B) The first acquisition subject to subsection (3) of this section was less than five years
prior to the acquisition under this subsection.
SECTION 2. ORS 92.990 is amended to read:
92.990. (1)(a) Violation of any provision of ORS 92.010 to 92.090, 92.100 and 92.120 to 92.170 or
of any regulation or ordinance adopted thereunder, is a Class C misdemeanor.
(b) This subsection does not apply to a sale of property that is not a lawfully established
unit of land made to or from a purchaser as described in ORS 92.018 (3) or (4).
(2) Any person who violates any of the provisions of ORS 92.325 (1), 92.345 to 92.365, 92.405 (1),
(2) and (3), 92.425, 92.433, 92.460 to 92.475 and any alternative requirements of the Real Estate
Commissioner prescribed pursuant to ORS 92.425 (3), not waived by the commissioner pursuant to
ORS 92.395, or who provides false information or omits to state material facts pursuant to ORS
92.337, commits a Class C felony.
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