Rep. Mark Owens

Maddy summaryHB 2135 allows battery-charged fences (electric fences powered by battery) on commercial and industrial properties not used for residential purposes. It requires these fences to use ≤12 volts, meet IEC safety standards, include a 5-foot non-electric perimeter barrier, and display warning signs every 30 feet. The bill prohibits local governments from banning such fences or imposing additional requirements beyond state standards on non-residential properties. This directly affects business and property owners in commercial/industrial zones, ensuring consistent safety rules across Oregon.

Establishes the Move Oregon-Idaho Border Task Force to document the state and federal legal and legislative processes that must take place to relocate the Oregon and Idaho state boundaries to include specified Oregon counties in Idaho. Directs the task force to study and document the impacts of the proposed relocation on residents, businesses and other specified entities. Establishes the membership of the task force. Directs the task force to prepare a report and make recommendations on the relocation to the Legislative Assembly on or before January 15, 2027. Takes effect on the 91st day following adjournment sine die.

Directs the State Forestry Department to study funding for preventing, responding to and recovering from natural disasters. Directs the department to report on the study to the committees or interim committees of the Legislative Assembly related to natural resources no later than September 15, 2026.

Establishes the Task Force on Law Enforcement Interdiction Against Financial Scams on [ the Elderly ] Older Oregonians . Directs the task force to prepare a list of standard terms, based on relevant federal law, regarding identification, investigation and prosecution of fraudulent schemes targeting the elderly and report to the interim committees of the Legislative Assembly related to information management and technology with recommendations for legislation. Declares an emergency, effective on passage.

Changes the requirements for an energy resilience plan that a county develops under the Act. Extends the sunset of a grant program that a county may use to help the county develop an energy resilience plan. Declares an emergency, effective on passage.

Increases the Oregon standard deduction allowed for personal income taxpayers. Applies to tax years beginning on or after January 1, 2026. Takes effect on the 91st day following adjournment sine die.

Directs the Water Resources Commission to establish a program for compensating ground water right holders for voluntarily relinquishing all or portions of ground water rights in basins designated as critical ground water areas. Appropriates moneys to the commission for the purpose of funding the program. Declares an emergency, effective on passage.

Renames the "Greater Harney Valley Groundwater Area of Concern" the "Harney Basin Groundwater Management Area." Establishes certain authorities and duties of the Water Resources Department related to the Harney Basin Groundwater Management Area.

Maddy summaryHB 2331 prohibits parents from delegating parental decision-making authority for a child in the Department of Human Services' (DHS) care or custody due to abuse or suspected abuse by the parent. It directly affects parents whose children are under DHS supervision because of alleged abuse, preventing them from using power of attorney to transfer custody or care decisions to others. The bill amends Oregon law to explicitly state that such delegation is invalid when DHS has custody for abuse-related reasons, while maintaining existing delegation rules for school administrators and servicemember-parents. This change creates a clear restriction on parental delegation only in cases where DHS has taken custody due to child abuse concerns.

Maddy summaryHB 3980 expands eligibility for state financial assistance to help fund levee projects, specifically adding cities and towns (municipalities) as qualifying recipients alongside existing groups like drainage districts and private entities. The bill requires that levee projects receiving assistance must substantially improve infrastructure and be essential for farm, industrial, or commercial land use in Oregon. It amends state law to include municipalities in the list of eligible applicants for loans or grants under the Oregon Infrastructure Finance Authority. The bill declares an emergency, making it effective immediately upon passage to address urgent flood protection needs.