1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
83rd OREGON LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY--2025 Regular Session
A-Engrossed
House Bill 3486
Ordered by the House March 27
Including House Amendments dated March 27
Sponsored by Representative WRIGHT; Representative LEVY B
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: The Act includes a member of the Research Vessel Council from UO. The Act declares
an emergency. The Act becomes law on July 1, 2025. (Flesch Readability Score: 63.0).
Requires at least one member of the Research Vessel Council to be a trained scientist from the
University of Oregon.Appropriates moneys to the Higher Education Coordinating Commission for
distribution to theOceangoing Research Vessel Program and the University of Oregon for pur-
poses related to the University of Oregon Institute of Marine Biology.
Declares an emergency, effective July 1, 2025.
A BILL FOR AN ACT
Relating to marine research; creating new provisions; amending ORS 352.829; and declaring an
emergency.
Be It Enacted by the People of the State of Oregon:
SECTION 1. ORS 352.829 is amended to read:
352.829. (1) The Oceangoing Research Vessel Program is established at Oregon State University
in order to assist in the research and study of the waters of the Pacific Coast. Potential areas of
research include, but are not limited to:
(a) Mapping the seabed in Oregon’s territorial sea, as defined in ORS 196.405;
(b) Analyzing marine ecosystems, including but not limited to existing marine reserves, existing
marine protected areas, proposed marine reserves and proposed marine protected areas;
(c) Analyzing the potential effects of climate change, including but not limited to ocean
acidification;
(d) Compiling comprehensive assessments of overall ocean health;
(e) Understanding ocean dynamics, including but not limited to natural hazards such as
tsunamis;and
(f) Installing instruments to effectively monitor the impact of wave energy systems, marine re-
serves and marine protected areas on marine ecosystems and fish populations.
(2) The Oceangoing Research Vessel Program shall solicit from state agencies and from students
and faculty of public universities listed in ORS 352.002 proposals for the use of a research vessel
operated under the program.
(3) In order to effectively allocate the use of research vessels operated under the Oceangoing
Research Vessel Program, there is established a Research Vessel Council, consisting of seven mem-
bers appointed by the President of Oregon State University. The president shall appoint to the
council:
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 1551 A-Eng. HB 3486
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
(a) At least one member who is a trained scientist with at least five years of marine research
experience, including at least one scientist from the University of Oregon;
(b) Upon request from the agency, at least one member from each of the following agencies:
(A) State Department of Fish and Wildlife;
(B) State Department of Geology and Mineral Industries;
(C) Department of Land Conservation and Development; and
(D) Department of Environmental Quality; and
(c) At least one member who has expertise in marine operations or marine education.
(4) The Research Vessel Council shall evaluate proposals submitted under subsection (2) of this
section on the basis of the:
(a) Proposal’s geographical area of study;
(b) Quality of the submitted management, research or educational rationale; and
(c) Feasibility of accommodating the proposed work within the schedule of federally funded
projects for the research vessel.
(5) The Research Vessel Council shall schedule the use of a research vessel for selected pro-
posals as part of the University-National Oceanographic Laboratory System ship scheduling process.
SECTION 2. In addition to and not in lieu of any other appropriation, there is appropri-
ated to the Higher Education Coordinating Commission for distribution to the Oceangoing
Research Vessel Program, for the biennium beginning July 1, 2025, out of the General Fund,
the amount of $306,000, to be used for 30 days of research per year on two research vessels
operated by the University of Oregon Institute of Marine Biology.
SECTION 3.In addition to and not in lieu of any other appropriation, there is appropri-
ated to the Higher Education Coordinating Commission for distribution to the University of
Oregon, for the biennium beginning July 1, 2025, out of the General Fund, the amount of
$110,000, which may be expended for the purchase of a dive vessel and for the construction
of a dock for a dive vessel and a dive platform.
SECTION 4.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
July 1, 2025.
[2]