Policy and Legislation
Oregon's 2025 legislative session is underway!
It's a big year across all of our initiatives with over 50 policies and bills that intersect with Surfrider's mission work in Oregon being introduced this year. Below you can track each legislative bill we are prioritizing for the 2025 Oregon Legislative Session. They are organized by our key initiatives and on the right side of the page below we offer you resources for tracking and more importantly tools to help you raise your voice to engage in any of these issues. To learn more generally about our priorities this session, visit our 2025 Policy Shop Blog.
Are you new to learning about and engaging in the Oregon Legislative Process? Download our Oregon Legislative Oral & Written Testimony Toolkit to learn how to be a rock star ocean legislative advocate!
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Protecting Ocean Habitats
In line with both our Ocean Protection and Coast and Climate Initiative, Surfrider Foundation is working in these key areas in Oregon this legislative session to protect climate resilient ocean and estuary habitats. Many of these efforts are through our work within the Oregon Ocean Alliance - read more on our ocean habitat priorities here.
Eelgrass Action Bill - Sets conservation targets for these estuary habitats which serve as climate heroes - read more
Current Status: HB 3580 referred to House Committee on Ag., Land Use, Natural Resources and Water
Public Hearing Held 03/05 - 8:00am - Read testimony
Rocky Habitat Protection Bill: Invests in management of newly designated rocky habitats critical for recreation, wildlife and climate resilience - read more
Current Status: Field as HB 3587 and referred to the House Committee on Ag., Land Use, Natural Resources and Water
Public Hearing Held 03/05 - 8:00am - Read Testimony
Oregon Ocean Science Trust Bill: Appropriate $3 million in funds to the Oregon Ocean Science Fund for research related to ocean acidification, beach and dune management and monitoring nearshore ecosystems.
Current Status: Filed HB 3786 referred to the House Committee on Ag., Land Use, Natural Resources and Water
Public Hearing Scheduled: 03/17 Submit Testimony
Marine Reserves & Conservation Program Budgets: Protecting investments in key ocean protection programs within our state agencies - read more / Status: Ongoing Agency Budgets
Ocean Protection Bill Resources (coming soon)
Eelgrass Action: Track Bill
Take action
Testimony toolkit
Rocky Habitat: Track Bill
Take action
Action toolkit
Beyond the Bag Ban: SB 551
Working with our Zero Waste Coalition we are working to expand Oregon's bag ban to do 3 key things: 1) eliminate all film plastic at checkout 2) "Skip the Stuff" - reducing single use take out at restaurants and 3) eliminate single use toiletries in lodging establishments.
Current Status: Passed Senate Floor 22-8 headed to House Committee on Climate Energy & Environment
Hearing Held - 2/12 in Senate Energy & Environment - Watch Hearing & Read Testimony
SB 551 resources:
Campaign page (soon!)
Read & Track Bill
One-pager background
Prevent Microfiber Pollution: SB 526
A significant portion of microfibers and plastics in our ocean and waterways comes directly from our washing machines. This bill would require manufacturers to install filters on newly sold washing machines in Oregon to prevent microfiber plastic pollution. Both the pollution issue and the science behind environmental impacts and the even the use of filters is well understood in Oregon.
Current Status: Senate Energy & Environment
Hearing Held - 2/12 and carried over 2/17 - Watch Hearing and Read Testimony
SB 526 Resources:
Ban Chemical Recycling: HB 2960
The petrochemical industry is promoting plastic conversion technologies, sometimes called “chemical” or “advanced recycling,” as the quick-fix solution to the plastic pollution crisis to argue against the upstream changes needed to really tackle this crisis. But these systems are anything but a quick fix - these false solution technologies further intensive pollution and production of plastic rather than reducing or truly recycling.
Current Status: Referred to the House Committee on Climate Energy & Environment
Public Hearing Scheduled 03/20 - Submit Testimony
HB 2960 Resources:
Marine Debris Cleanup: SB 795
Two bills this session are aimed at improving and better funding marine debris cleanup related to our inland waterways and submerged lands. Cleaning up derelict docks, vessels and other infrastructure associated with waterway leases has long been an issue for us in Oregon. Community groups and local governments often bear the costs of cleanup and disposal. These bills would better fund Department of State Lands cleanup and enforcement of derelict debris.
Current Status: Referred to the House Committee on Ag., Land Use, Natural Resources and Water
Passed Senate Floor 29-1 - now headed to House
Hearing Held 01/30 - Read our testimony
SB 795 Resources
One Page Background
Ocean Shore Protection: HB 2925
Oregon's public beaches are special recreational areas to Oregonians. Managed as the "ocean shore" under Oregon Parks and Recreation (OPRD), Oregon's beaches and public access are caught in the coastal squeeze between static development and mother nature's rising seas and increased erosion. This bill supports OPRD's ability to adapt permitting along the ocean shore to better manage our changing coastlines and preserve our public beaches.
Current Status: Work Session 03/17: House Committee on Ag., Land Use, Natural Resources and Water
Public Hearing Held 2/26 - Read our Testimony
HB 2925 Resources:
Nature-Based Solutions
Traditional shoreline management of our beaches has relied heavily on rock armoring or rip rap and seawalls, which erode public beaches. The solution is to incorporate more dynamic "nature-based" shoreline management methods such as natural cobble revetments, native dune restoration and natural berms that help nourish the beaches sand supply. While HB 2925 offers opportunities to further permitting such efforts, some further clarity and guidance is necessary. This bill introduces the idea of "bioengineering" coastal solutions. While not currently supported by Surfrider given some concerns with land use consistency and potential loopholes for development, the bill is in the direction of better addressing nature-based solutions.
Current Status: SB 504 - Referred to Ways and Means, Natural Resource Subcommitee
Work Session: Passed 5-0 Senate Committee on Natural Resources and Wildfire on 2/25
Hearing Held 02/05 - Read our testimony
SB 504 Resources:
Ocean Beach Fund
During Oregon's 50th Anniversary of the Beach Bill (2017), Surfrider introduced the legislative concept with coastal lawmakers to establish a dedicated fund to support stewardship and protection of Oregon's Beaches and expanding OPRD's ocean shore management capacity. The concept failed during the 2017 session but has been reintroduced every session since by a variety of coastal lawmakers, this year by two coastal Senators!
Current Status: SB 434 Referred to Senate Committee on Natural Resources and Wildfire & SB 358 also in the Senate Committee on Natural Resources and Wildfire.
Bill Resources:
Legislative Scoping
Surfrider currently has no statewide legislative campaigns within our Clean Water priority. At the federal level we continue our strong advocacy for the BEACH Act to support state water quality monitoring on our recreational beaches. At the state level, we are continuing to scope opportunities to improve the state's beach monitoring program which currently relies solely on federal funding and only tests in the summer months. Along the coast and more locally in Oregon, our chapters operate and maintain 8 volunteer water quality testing labs in Oregon and test year-round our recreational beaches and notify ocean users if it is safe to swim and surf.
Recreational Immunity: HB 2295 & SB 179
A recent ruling and opinion on "recreational immunity", a law that protects landowners from liability, has resulted in a number of public access closures along beaches and trails managed by cities and counties along the coast. Following an interim solution in 2024, a more permanent solution is being sought during the 2025 session by multiple lawmakers. Surfrider is tracking and engaging with a broad coalition to support the best solution for expanding the definition of Oregon's recreational immunity law to best accommodate continued public access to our most treasured coastal places!
Current Status: HB 2295 - Referred House Judiciary Committee SB 179 referred to Senate Judiciary Committee.
SB 179 Passed Senate Judiciary 6-0 - now on Senate Floor
Bill Resources