Sen. David Smith

Maddy summarySB 332 directs Oregon's State Department of Fish and Wildlife to create a game fish carcass recovery project. The bill requires the department to develop a program encouraging the use of discarded game fish carcasses (from fishing) as commercial bait, rather than waste. This would directly affect commercial bait suppliers and fishery management practices by establishing a formal process for recovering and repurposing these carcasses. The bill does not change existing fishing regulations but creates a new state-led initiative to repurpose fish waste.

Directs the State Accident Insurance Fund Corporation to establish a division or subsidiary for the purpose of issuing policies of fire insurance and property insurance against the peril of wildfire. Provides that the corporation shall preferentially issue policies of insurance in locations and insurance markets in this state in which other insurers do not provide fire insurance or property insurance against the peril of wildfire or in which existing policies are inadequate. Establishes the Wildfire Risk Insurance Fund within the State Treasury for the use of the corporation in providing insurance under the Act. Declares an emergency, effective on passage.

Increases the exempt amount and the filing threshold for purposes of the corporate activity tax. Applies to tax years beginning on or after January 1, 2026. Takes effect on the 91st day following adjournment sine die.

Appropriates moneys from the General Fund to the Legislative Assembly to support a year-round legislative assistant position for each member of the Legislative Assembly. Declares an emergency, effective July 1, 2025.

Appropriates moneys from the General Fund to the State Department of Agriculture for deposit in the Wolf Management Compensation and Proactive Trust Fund. Provides that the moneys must be used for relocating wolves that have preyed on livestock to public lands in Hood River County, Multnomah County and Washington County. Declares an emergency, effective on passage.

Directs the State Department of Agriculture to establish a grant program to facilitate the eradication of gorse for wildfire mitigation in southwest Oregon. Establishes the Southwest Oregon Gorse Wildfire Risk Reduction Fund to support the grant program. Appropriates moneys to the department for deposit into the fund. Sunsets the grant program and fund on January 2, 2030. Takes effect on the 91st day following adjournment sine die.

Appropriates moneys from the General Fund to the Oregon Department of Administrative Services for distribution to the Tsuga Community Commission for the Oregon Summer Star program. Declares an emergency, effective July 1, 2025.

Prohibits the Governor or a state officer or agency from requiring a lawful ongoing business concern to close or suspend operations during a declared state of emergency or a declared state of public health emergency. Declares an emergency, effective on passage.

Proposes an amendment to the Oregon Constitution to establish the right of a parent to choose the school that the parent's child attends. Requires the establishment of school choice accounts for parents who choose nonpublic education. Allows parents who choose nonpublic education to pay for expenses incurred in relation to the education of a child with moneys from a school choice account. Refers the proposed amendment to the people for their approval or rejection at the next regular general election.

Allows the owner of property outside an urban growth boundary to site an additional dwelling on the property for occupancy by a relative of the owner. Takes effect on the 91st day following adjournment sine die.