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83rd OREGON LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY--2025 Regular Session
House Bill 3263
Sponsored by Representative EVANS
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 as introduced.The statement includes a measure digest written in compliance with applicable readability
standards.
Digest: The Act tells an agency to create a specific area in which trees must be replanted. The
Act creates a task force. The Act ends the task force a while later and creates an advisory board.
(Flesch Readability Score: 84.2).
Requires the State Forestry Department to establish the Western Oregon Regional Carbon Sink
as a geographical area and take certain actions regarding the area on or before January 1, 2035.
Establishes the Task Force on the Western Oregon Regional Carbon Sink. Sunsets the task force
on December 31, 2026.
Establishes the Western Oregon Regional Carbon Sink Advisory Board.
Declares an emergency, effective on passage.
A BILL FOR AN ACT
Relating to carbon sequestration; and declaring an emergency.
Be It Enacted by the People of the State of Oregon:
SECTION 1. The State Forestry Department shall:
(1) Establish the Western Oregon Regional Carbon Sink as a geographical area;
(2) In addition to replanting required by State Board of Forestry standards adopted pur-
suant to ORS 527.745, require planting of one billion shrubs or trees within the Western
Oregon Regional Carbon Sink identified pursuant to subsection (1) of this section;
(3) Authorize public-private partnerships to advise the department on locations for
planting, harvest sustainability and other aspects of preparing for longer harvest cycles;
(4) Designate at least 25 percent of tree plantings required under subsection (2) of this
section for harvest at approximately 80 years of growth; and
(5) Designate at least 25 percent of tree plantings required under subsection (2) of this
section for strengthening forest resilience and meeting salmon habitat goals.
SECTION 2. The State Forestry Department shall take the actions required under section
1 (2) of this 2025 Act on or before January 1, 2035.
SECTION 3.(1) The Task Force on the Western Oregon Regional Carbon Sink is estab-
lished.
(2) The task force consists of 11 members appointed as follows:
(a) The President of the Senate shall appoint:
(A) One member from among members of the Senate.
(B) Two members who are forestry professionals.
(b) The Speaker of the House of Representatives shall appoint:
(A) One member from among members of the House of Representatives.
(B) Two members who are environmental advocates.
(c) The Governor shall appoint five persons who are knowledgeable about Oregon forests.
(3) The task force shall prepare a report on the establishment of a Western Oregon Re-
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 3370 HB3263
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gional Carbon Sink.
(4) A majority of the voting members of the task force constitutes a quorum for the
transaction of business.
(5) Official action by the task force requires the approval of a majority of the voting
members of the task force.
(6) The task force shall elect one of its members to serve as chairperson.
(7) If there is a vacancy for any cause, the appointing authority shall make an appoint-
ment to become immediately effective.
(8) The task force shall meet at times and places specified by the call of the chairperson
or of a majority of the voting members of the task force.
(9) The task force may adopt rules necessary for the operation of the task force.
(10) The task force shall submit a report in the manner provided by ORS 192.245, and
may include recommendations for legislation, to an interim committee of the Legislative
Assembly related to natural resources no later than September 15, 2026.
(11) The State Forestry Department shall provide staff support to the task force.
(12) Members of the Legislative Assembly appointed to the task force are nonvoting
members of the task force and may act in an advisory capacity only.
(13) Members of the task force who are not members of the Legislative Assembly are not
entitled to compensation or reimbursement for expenses and serve as volunteers on the task
force.
(14) All agencies of state government, as defined in ORS 174.111, are directed to assist
the task force in the performance of the duties of the task force and, to the extent permitted
by laws relating to confidentiality, to furnish information and advice the members of the task
force consider necessary to perform their duties.
SECTION 4. Section 3 of this 2025 Act is repealed on December 31, 2026.
SECTION 5.(1) The Western Oregon Regional Carbon Sink Advisory Board is established.
(2) The State Forestry Department shall appoint members of the board. Members of the
board shall consist of forestry professionals, environmental advocates and other persons
knowledgeable about Oregon forests.
(3) The board shall advise the department on management of the Western Oregon Re-
gional Carbon Sink.
SECTION 6.Section 5 of this 2025 Act becomes operative on January 1, 2027.
SECTION 7.This 2025 Act being necessary for the immediate preservation of the public
peace, health and safety, an emergency is declared to exist, and this 2025 Act takes effect
on its passage.
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