News
Ag employers excluded from Oregon wage theft bill
2+ hour, 3+ min ago (593+ words) Published 12:18 pm Wednesday, February 25, 2026 SALEM " Oregon legislation meant to discourage wage theft will no longer apply to agricultural employers, instead focusing on the use of unlicensed labor contractors in the construction industry. Originally, House Bill 4089 expanded the definition of "theft…...
Oregon ag fights initiative to ban slaughter, husbandry practices
1+ day, 8+ hour ago (1141+ words) Published 5:30 am Tuesday, February 24, 2026 Farm groups can agree on at least one thing with proponents of a ballot initiative to outlaw killing animals in Oregon: It's unlikely to pass this year. Supporters of Initiative Petition 28 are expected to collect enough…...
Innovator: NAWG policy leader delivers relief, results for farmers
2+ day, 4+ hour ago (499+ words) Published 10:15 am Monday, February 23, 2026 The best thing U.S. farmers have right now in politics is that "people love farmers." "People very much respect farming," said Anthony Pe'a, vice president of policy and communications for National Association of Wheat Growers. "That doesn't…...
'Color of water' bill dies, but expected to be revived
1+ week, 8+ min ago (359+ words) Published 2:13 pm Wednesday, February 18, 2026 SALEM " Legislation intended to streamline the regulation of water from the Columbia river has died in committee but Oregon lawmakers expect to resurrect it next year after further negotiations. Though House Bill 4006, known has the "color…...
Washington senators say 'millionaire's tax' would damper farmers' good years
1+ week, 1+ day ago (526+ words) Published 3:36 pm Tuesday, February 17, 2026 OLYMPIA " Senate Democrats passed an income tax on millionaires, counting on the Washington Supreme Court to overturn precedent and uphold the tax. Senate Bill 6346 passed 27-22 on Feb. 16 and now goes to the House. Three Democrats joined…...
Washington House passes immigrant bill threatening employers with fines
1+ week, 2+ day ago (568+ words) Published 2:15 pm Monday, February 16, 2026 OLYMPIA " House Democrats passed a bill that would warn illegal immigrants a workplace raid may be coming, but it could be costly for farms, other private employers and even state agencies. Titled the "Immigrant Worker Protection…...
EPA cites benefits to farms as it stops regulating carbon dioxide
1+ week, 5+ day ago (420+ words) Published 12:15 pm Friday, February 13, 2026 The Environmental Protection Agency renounced its right to regulate greenhouse gases, a decision defended in part on how higher levels of carbon dioxide could help agriculture. EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin called it the largest deregulatory action…...
Bill would ease rezoning for housing in rural Oregon counties
1+ week, 5+ day ago (668+ words) Published 12:00 pm Friday, February 13, 2026 SALEM " A bipartisan group of Oregon lawmakers is sponsoring a bill to allow sparsely populated counties to rezone 50 acres outside urban growth boundaries for residential development. Senate Bill 1578 would also allow for more "accessory dwelling units,…...
Woodburn's proposed expansion draws 'super-siting' complaints
1+ week, 6+ day ago (552+ words) Published 7:56 am Thursday, February 12, 2026 SALEM " Lawmakers may allow the City of Woodburn to bypass Oregon's normal procedures for "urban growth boundary" expansion, raising familiar objections to "super-siting" development. Supporters of Senate Bill 1564 say that housing shortages in Woodburn are too…...
Environmental advocates attack Oregon 'color of water' proposal
2+ week, 12+ hour ago (681+ words) Published 7:00 am Wednesday, February 11, 2026 SALEM " Several environmental groups claim a bill meant to simplify government oversight of irrigation from the Columbia river will actually subvert water protections in Northeast Oregon. "This bill exempts Umatilla irrigators from important laws, legalizes enlargement…...