A Powerful Presence in Salem

Oregon’s 2025 legislative session is heading into its final weeks, and LandWatch is proud to report that it’s shaping up to be a good year for us in Salem. Since January, we've tracked 330 bills, weighed in on more than 40 bills, and advanced key policies to protect Central Oregon’s lands, waters, and communities.

Here's one major win for wildlife: House Bill 2978 has passed! This bill strengthens collaboration, training, and transportation guidelines for highway safety and wildlife passage. It builds upon past progress at the legislature, and is a meaningful step forward for both people and animals on the move. 

We’re also championing House Bill 3806, which would create a water bank in the Deschutes Basin to help restore instream flows and support food-producing farms by making it easier to share water. 

On housing, LandWatch is backing House Bill 3031 and House Bill 2138 to fund infrastructure for affordable housing and ease restrictions on middle housing—vital tools for creating climate-resilient, complete communities.

As part of the Move Oregon Forward coalition, we’re helping shape Oregon’s next transportation bill and advocating for a balanced package that robustly funds safe, accessible and affordable transportation choices (think transit, biking, walking, and rolling, as well as driving) for all Oregonians. 

Notably, legislation to end spot zoning—Senate Bill 73—was introduced on LandWatch’s behalf this session. Its introduction raised awareness of the need to keep rural working farms and forests intact, while also preserving urbanization options adjacent to our existing urban growth boundaries. 

Equally important, we successfully countered a wave of bills that would have weakened protections for farm and forest lands. Thanks to the advocacy of our powerful community of LandWatch supporters, many of the most significant threats have been stopped in their tracks—and we’re working to ensure any remaining threats don’t advance this session.

There’s still work to do, but we’re in the home stretch. With this strong foundation, we are fired up about the possible legislative outcomes ahead.