Policy and Legislation
Oregon's 2026 legislative session is underway!
It's a short session year in Oregon meaning our legislative process is a full on sprint, just 35 days long. We typically don't build big policy 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. Those reductions impact 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.; so much work before and during the session is aimed at protecting what we can. Things will change fast and pretty much daily on this webpage in a short session year so tune in often for updates on bills you are tracking!
Track Our Legislative Progress & Pitfalls
Below, you'll find a list of the key legislative bills are prioritizing this session, with highlighted opportunities for action. They are organized by our core initiatives, making it easy to follow the issues that matter most.
📌 Need tools to take action? On the right side of this page, you'll find resources to track bills and, more importantly, ways to raise your voice and get involved.
Want a quick overview of our outcomes from last session? ➡️ Check out our 2025 Oregon Legislative Recap & Outcomes
New to the Oregon Legislative Process?
Download our Oral & Written Testimony 101 Toolkit to learn how to be a rock star ocean 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 in Oregon this legislative session to protect conservation funding for programs like marine reserves and protected areas through ongoing budget advocacy as well as better pave the way for future investments in protecting climate resilient habitats. Many of these efforts are through our partnered work with the Oregon Ocean Alliance - read more on our priorities here.
Ocean Conservation Funding - With a hefty budget shortfall, much of the short session will be focused on the Ways and Means Committee where many agency budgets and natural resource programs have significant proposed budget cuts (marine reserves, wildlife and fisheries enforcement, hypoxia and acidification monitoring, etc. are all on the chopping block).
Action - Througout the month there will opportunities to submit written testimony to the Ways & Means committee. Read our Ocean Alliance coalition letter to guide your letter and encourage you to keep it simple and track the budget bill (at right).
1.25% For Wildlife: A key piece of legislation we are advocating for with the Oregon Ocean Alliance and Wildlife Coalition that would 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!
Action - Take easy action alert to send your support to legislators, now is a critical time!
Oregon Ocean Science Trust: An administrative fix to allow the Ocean Science Trust to operate like an NGO and apply for grants and funding outside the state's general fund. Protecting Oregon's ocean and coast means ensuring dedicated funding for ocean science to inform conservation and policy at the state level through the science trust.
Track the Bill (HB 4097)
Blue Economy: Initiates a task force to better synergize existing efforts and realize Oregon's opportunities for growing and sustaining our blue economy. From renewable energy to expanding mariculture and other blue economy businesses like recreation and tech, ocean protection and restoration is a critical theme for sustainable growth that we're advocating for in this bill
Track the Bill (SB 1525)
Ocean Protection Bill Resources
Ocean Conservation Budget: Track Natural Resource Budget Committee
No testimony allowed at this time
1.25% For Wildlife (HB 4134) Track the Bill
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! Signed by Governor! - read more
Past Actions: Passed Senate Concurrence, 4/29 Work Session, Passed - House Climate, Energy & Environment - bill was amended so will have to return to the Senate for concurrence. 05/20 Passed House Floor 33-19
Public Hearing House Committee on Climate, Energy & Environment, Watch/Read Testimony
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:
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: SB 526 did not advance this session.
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: HB 2960 did not advance this session.
Public Hearing Scheduled: 03/20 - Read 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: Signed by Governor & Recorded as Law - more info.
Past Actions:
Passed House Floor 52-0
Passed 05/01 House Ag., Land Use, Nat. Resources and Water
04/16 Public Hearing House Committee on Ag., Land Use & Water - Submit Testimony
Passed Senate Floor 29-1 - now headed to House
Senate 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: Passed Unanimous, Awaiting Governor's signature - more info
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, SB 504 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: Passed and waiting Governor's signature-more info.
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: Neither of these advanced this session
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: Signed by Governor & Recorded as Law
Past Actions: Passed House Floor
04/24: Hearing, House Judiciary Committee Submit Testimony
SB 179 referred to Senate Judiciary Committee.
Hearing Held.
SB 179 Passed Senate Judiciary 6-0 - now on Senate Floor
Passed Senate Floor
Bill Resources