House Bill 2509

<i>Requires State Department of Agriculture to provide mediation program services when person has reasonable belief that planting, growing or harvesting of agricultural or horticultural commodity on nearby land might interfere or is interfering with farming practices. Allows court or arbitrator to award costs if losing party to court or arbitration action refused mediation.</i>] <i>Requires department mediation if person files court action alleging interference. Creates exceptions. Allows court to impose sanctions if party refuses mediation.</i>] <i>Requires that, upon request, department employee be present at time sample is taken for crop testing purposes. Allows department to charge fee.</i>] <i>Requires department and Oregon State University to make educational materials and information available regarding tools and techniques for cultivation of land for conventional, organic, identity-preserved and genetically engineered crops.</i>] <i>Allows Oregon State University to provide technical assistance to grower groups and private agricultural entities to establish and operate voluntary systems for cooperative monitoring of crop isolation requirements for seed certification.</i>] <b>Allows person to file mediation request with State Department of Agriculture if person has reasonable belief that agricultural or horticultural practice on nearby land is interfering or might interfere with farming practice. Requires department to provide mediation services or refer person to federally certified mediation program. Caps department charges for mediation services. Allows court making determination whether to grant injunctive relief to consider party unwillingness to mediate. Requires parties to court action regarding alleged agricultural or horticultural practice interference with farming practice to attempt mediation of dispute by department or under federally certified mediation program. Creates exceptions. Provides for confidentiality regarding mediation communications and mediated agreement terms in dispute regarding alleged agricultural or horticultural practice interference with farming practice. Creates cause of action for improper disclosure of confidential communications or agreement terms. Exempts disputes regarding production of genetically engineered commodities in county with valid ordinance lawfully adopted on or before January 1, 2016, that regulates genetically engineered commodities.</b>

In the House of Representatives

• Brian Clem

  Sponsor

• House of Representatives, third reading57–1

  Passed · Apr 23 · 2 present

• Senate, third reading29–0

  Passed · Jun 11 · 1 present

• House of Representatives, concurrence59–0

  Agreed to the other chamber's changes · Jun 23 · 1 present

• House of Representatives committee amendmentAdopted

  Adopted Apr 21

• Senate committee amendmentAdopted

  Adopted Jun 9

l9n doesn't hold this bill's text yet.

In the House of Representatives Jan 12 – Apr 23

1. Jan 12Introduced
2. Jan 16Sent to Rural Communities, Land Use and Water
3. Apr 14Heard in Rural Communities, Land Use and Water
4. Apr 21Rural Communities, Land Use and Water recommended it as amended
5. Apr 22Read a second time
6. Apr 23Passed the House of Representatives, 57 to 1

In the Senate Apr 27 – Jun 11

1. Apr 27Arrived in the Senate
2. May 1Sent to Environment and Natural Resources
3. May 20Heard in Environment and Natural Resources
4. Jun 3Heard in Environment and Natural Resources
5. Jun 9Environment and Natural Resources recommended it as amended
6. Jun 10Read a second time
7. Jun 11Passed the Senate, 29 to 0

Back in the House of Representatives Jun 23 – Jun 25

1. Jun 23The House of Representatives agreed to the Senate's amendments and passed it again, 59 to 0
2. Jun 25Signed in the House of Representatives

To the Governor Jun 26 – Jul 8

1. Jun 26Signed in the Senate
2. Jul 1Signed by the Governor
3. Jul 8Became chapter 630 of Oregon Laws 2015, in force from January 1, 2016