Oregon legislation · 2025 Legislative Measures
Oregon HB3950: Relating to stored water; prescribing an effective date.
Status: Failed, June 27, 2025
Digest: The Act allows a landowner in a certain area to store water for preventing or fighting fires. (Flesch Readability Score: 60.1). Allows a person who owns property on which a certain spring originates to store water from the spring for use for fire prevention and fire suppression if the person obtains a permit. Takes effect on the 91st day following adjournment sine die.
What the bill says
A bill FOR AN ACT Relating to stored water; creating new provisions; amending ORS 537.147 and 537.409; and prescribing an effective date.
From the introduced text, March 21, 2025:
A BILL FOR AN ACT Relating to stored water; creating new provisions; amending ORS 537.147 and 537.409; and prescribing an effective date. Be It Enacted by the People of the State of Oregon: SECTION 1. Notwithstanding ORS 538.120, a person who owns property on which a spring originates and flows off premises may store water from the spring for use for fire prevention or fire suppression if the person is or (2) A permit to use stored water under ORS 537.147. SECTION 2. ORS 537.147 is amended to read: 537.147. (1) Notwithstanding the process for applying for a water right permit established in ORS 537.150 to 537.230, a person may, pursuant to this section, apply to the Water Resources Department for a water right permit to use stored water. A person applying under this section for a water right permit to use stored water shall submit: (a) A fee, in the amount required by ORS 536.050 for applications to appropriate stored water. (b) A completed application for a secondary permit, in a form determined by the department, that contains the information required of applications under ORS 537.140 and 537.400 (1). (c) Evidence that the proposed use of the stored water is one of the authorized uses under the water right permit, certificate or decree that allows the storage of water. …
Sponsors
- Rick Lewis (R, 18) · primary sponsor
- Fred Girod (R, 9) · primary sponsor
Latest actions
- : In committee upon adjournment.
- : Referred to Agriculture, Land Use, Natural Resources, and Water.
- : First reading. Referred to Speaker's desk.
Subjects: Agriculture, Land Use, Natural Resources, and Water
Common questions
- What is HB3950?
- HB3950 is a bill in the Oregon Legislature (2025 Legislative Measures): Relating to stored water; prescribing an effective date.
- What does HB3950 do?
- In its own words: A bill FOR AN ACT Relating to stored water; creating new provisions; amending ORS 537.147 and 537.409; and prescribing an effective date.
- What is the status of HB3950?
- Failed as of June 27, 2025. Latest action: In committee upon adjournment. (June 27, 2025).
- Who sponsored HB3950?
- Rick Lewis (R, 18), with 1 co-sponsor.
- Where is the official record for HB3950?
- On the Oregon Legislature website: https://olis.oregonlegislature.gov/liz/2025R1/Measures/Overview/3950
Source: official Oregon record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.