It's was a short session year in Oregon meaning our legislative process was a full on sprint, just 35 days long! Surfrider typically doesn't work on big policies in short session years, and much of the time is spent dedicated to unfinished business from the 2025 session and this year in particular, making up for significant budget shortfalls from reduced spending and federal reductions. Check out our full wrap up on our statewide Legislative & Policy Page and read on below for our quick highlights and outcomes.
Besides budget defense to protect many of the ocean and environmental programs we care about, like marine reserves and protected areas, ocean acidification and hypoxia monitoring, water quality testing, etc., we also set our sites on policies aimed at building better revenue sources and growing our coastal blue economy. Here's a quick summary with highlighted outcomes and key actions and roles Surfrider volunteers took to get us there.
Coastal and Ocean Agency Budgets (HB 5204)
Final Budget Outcomes: Natural Resource Agencies' Budget Reconciliation bill (HB 5204) minimized or eliminated nearly all cuts to ocean conservation programs we advocated for this session!
Our Actions - Surfrider Foundation volunteers conducted legislative outreach, engaged in our ocean lobby day to advocate and submitted testimony during the very short period of time. More broadly we worked as a member of Oregon Ocean Alliance to organize coalition testimony during the Ways and Means budget hearings.
Promoting ocean and coastal natural resource agency funding is a critical part of protecting what we love and constant for our Senior Policy Manager, Charlie Plybon, in the Captiol building in Salem
1.25% For Wildlife (HB 4134)
A key piece of legislation we advocated for with the Oregon Ocean Alliance and Wildlife Coalition that will provide significant revenue for wildlife and conservation programs at Oreg. Dept. of Fish & Wildlife, like the ones above that are being regularly cut from the budget above!
Final Bill Outcomes - passed House and Senate, now awaiting the Governor's signature!
Above: A gray whale rises for a breath amongst a very healthy looking bull kelp forest - two species and a significant habitat area for investment in 1.25% for Wildlife bill. Photo: Eric Urdahl
Our Actions - Surfrider Foundation volunteers conducted legislative outreach, engaged in our ocean lobby day to advocate and submitted both oral and written testimony several times throughout the legislative process. Our volunteers played a key role in helping to secure coastal voices for this landmark legislation! Read more on our campaign.
Blue Economy (SB 1525)
Initiates a task force to synergize existing efforts and realize new opportunities for growing and sustaining Oregon's blue economy. A critical concern and opportunity was ensuring a diversity of representation on the task force from recreation to restoration, cultural and labor interests, could help shape our state's furtherance in defining, investing and growing the blue economy.
Final Bill Outcomes - Passed both House and Senate, now awaiting the Governor's signature.
Our Actions: Not originally identified as a campaign this short session, Surfrider had a unique opportunity to help shape early amendments to significantly broaden the inclusion of important groups and stakeholders on the task force. Our members both met with sponsoring legislators early and had the opportunity to help shape bill amendments through testimony and engagement. Read more on our campaign and check out the recent press on this bill.