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83rd OREGON LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY--2025 Regular Session
Senate Bill 674
Sponsored by Senator BONHAM (at the request of Senator Noah Robinson) (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 as introduced.The statement includes a measure digest written in compliance with applicable readability
standards.
Digest: The Act tells an agency to allow the use of water from the Columbia River at a certain
rate. The Act tells agencies to grant easements to help the use occur. (Flesch Readability Score:
68.2).
Instructs the Water Resources Commission to allow the appropriation of water from the
mainstem of the Columbia River at a total rate and duty of two percent of average annual flow.
Requires state agencies to convey easements to facilitate the appropriation of water from the
mainstem of the Columbia River.
A BILL FOR AN ACT
Relating to the Columbia River; creating new provisions; and amending ORS 270.165.
Be It Enacted by the People of the State of Oregon:
SECTION 1. (1) To the extent consistent with federal law and the interstate compact
described in ORS 507.010, and notwithstanding ORS 537.801 to 537.860 and any other contrary
provision of law in this state, the Water Resources Commission shall allow the appropriation
of water from the mainstem of the Columbia River for beneficial use, including irrigation, in
this state at a total rate and duty of two percent of the average annual flow of the mainstem
of the Columbia River.
(2) The provisions of ORS chapters 536 to 540 apply to the appropriation of water required
under subsection (1) of this section to the extent the provisions are not inconsistent with the
requirements of subsection (1) of this section.
SECTION 2. ORS 270.165 is amended to read:
270.165. (1) The Oregon Department of Administrative Services acting on behalf of the State of
Oregon may grant an easement or right of way on any real property under its control if the de-
partment determines that the easement or right of way would be in the public interest.
(2) A state agency shall grant an easement over any real property under its control if the
easement is necessary to facilitate the appropriation of water from the mainstem of the
Columbia River pursuant to section 1 of this 2025 Act.
(3) A state agency that grants an easement described in subsection (2) of this section
may charge an amount for the easement that does not exceed the fair market value of the
easement.
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 3369