Oregon Farm Bureau
Oregon Farm Bureau#
Oregon Farm Bureau (OFB) is a grassroots, nonpartisan, nonprofit agricultural advocacy organization headquartered in Salem, Oregon. Founded at the county level in 1919 and organized at the state level in 1932, it is Oregon’s largest general agriculture advocacy organization, representing nearly 7,000 member families across all farm sizes, production methods, and commodities.1
OFB’s mission centers on the survival, success, and sustainability of family farms and ranches in Oregon. With 32 active County Farm Bureaus covering all 36 Oregon counties, the organization provides a unified voice for farmers and ranchers in legislative, regulatory, and legal arenas.1 In the housing policy space, OFB is primarily focused on protecting agricultural land from conversion to residential and industrial development, while also supporting farmworker housing improvements and rural housing flexibility.
Policy Positions#
- Farmland protection: Opposes legislation that would streamline or bypass Oregon’s land use planning process to bring agricultural land into urban growth boundaries, viewing such measures as threats to the state’s agricultural economy and food production capacity.2
- Urban growth boundary expansion: Consistently opposes bills that would allow cities to expand UGBs onto farmland without following established land use planning procedures, including proposals for semiconductor manufacturing sites and manufactured dwelling parks.34
- Farmworker housing: Supports reforms to farmworker housing regulations, particularly efforts to distinguish permanent employer-provided housing from temporary farmworker camps under Oregon OSHA rules, arguing that overly strict camp regulations discourage farmers from providing housing to employees.5
- Rural housing flexibility: Supports expanding accessory dwelling unit allowances on farmland and rural residential development options for low-density counties, while opposing measures that would broadly rezone agricultural land.6
- Middle housing and land use reform: Has engaged with middle housing legislation, supporting HB 2001 (2023) which established the Oregon Housing Needs Analysis and required cities to plan for housing needs, while opposing HB 2138 (2025) which expanded middle housing requirements to include urban unincorporated lands.78
- Dwelling restoration: Supports streamlined processes for restoring or replacing dwellings on rural land that were damaged or destroyed by involuntary causes such as wildfires.9
Key Legislative Involvement#
- SB 1522 (2026): Testified in opposition to changes in urban growth boundary planning that would have allowed cities to skip established land use review and directly develop undeveloped farm and forest land.4
- SB 1564 (2026): Opposed adding specified lands to the City of Woodburn’s urban growth boundary.10
- HB 4082 (2026): Opposed legislation allowing cities to add sites to their UGB for manufactured dwelling parks or senior housing, reflecting concerns about farmland conversion.11
- HB 4035 (2026): Opposed expanding eligibility for cities to amend their urban growth boundaries under a temporary program.12
- SB 1561 (2026): Supported requiring local governments to approve restoration or replacement of dwellings rendered uninhabitable, streamlining a process important for rural property owners after disasters.9
- HB 2138 (2025): Opposed the expansion of middle housing requirements to urban unincorporated lands.8
- SB 999 (2025): Supported modifying the definition of “farmworker camp” to distinguish permanent employer-provided housing from temporary seasonal camps, arguing that applying temporary camp standards to permanent dwellings discouraged farmers from providing housing benefits to employees.5
- HB 2316 (2025): Opposed the designation of state-owned and locally nominated lands within UGBs as “home start lands” for affordable housing development.13
- SB 4 (2023): Opposed provisions allowing the Governor to designate farmland for inclusion within urban growth boundaries to support semiconductor manufacturing under the federal CHIPS Act.3
- HB 2001 (2023): Supported the omnibus housing bill that established the Oregon Housing Needs Analysis and required cities to plan for housing needs.7
News Coverage
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Legislative Testimony
2026
6 testimonies
| Bill | Name | Position | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| SB 1522 Requires the Housing and Community Services Department to study housing. |
Ryan Krabill | Oppose | 2026-02-12 |
| SB 1561 Requires local governments to approve restoration or replacement of dwellings rendered uninhabitable under an alternative process that is not a land use decision. |
Ryan Krabill | Support | 2026-02-10 |
| SB 1564 Adds specified lands to the City of Woodburn's urban growth boundary. |
Ryan Krabill | Oppose | 2026-02-10 |
| SB 1578 Allows counties with a population density of less than 30 people per square mile to rezone up to 50 acres to be divided and developed for residential dwellings of at least five units per acre. |
Ryan Krabill | Oppose | 2026-02-10 |
| HB 4035 Expands eligibility for cities and Metro to amend their urban growth boundaries under a temporary program. |
Ryan Krabill | Oppose | 2026-02-07 |
| HB 4082 Adds to a temporary UGB addition program an option for each city or Metro to also add to its urban growth boundary a site for manufactured dwellings, prefabricated structures or manufactured dwelling parks, or for housing that is predominantly for older persons and affordable for households with incomes not more than 120 percent of area median income. |
Ryan Krabill | Oppose | 2026-02-05 |
2025
15 testimonies
| Bill | Name | Position | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| SB 999 Modifies the definition of "farmworker camp" so that the relevant statutes apply to farmworker camps specifically in connection with workers who work on a seasonal or temporary basis. |
Jenny Dressler | Support | 2025-04-03 |
| SB 1034 Removes provisions that allow the Energy Facility Siting Council to find that an energy facility is in compliance with statewide planning goals even when the council determines that the facility does not comply with applicable substantive criteria from the affected local government's land use plan and regulations that the facility must be evaluated against if the council determines that the facility otherwise complies with applicable statewide planning goals. |
Ryan Krabill | Support | 2025-04-02 |
| SB 999 Modifies the definition of "farmworker camp" so that the relevant statutes apply to farmworker camps specifically in connection with workers who work on a seasonal or temporary basis. |
Jenny Dresler | Support | 2025-04-02 |
| SB 75 Removes requirements related to wildfire hazards for purposes of developing an accessory dwelling unit on lands zoned for rural residential uses or a replacement dwelling on lands zoned for resource uses. |
Ryan Krabill | Oppose | 2025-03-29 |
| HB 2138 Expands allowable middle housing and expands middle housing requirements to include urban unincorporated lands. |
Ryan Krabill | Oppose | 2025-03-28 |
| HB 2316 Allows designation by the Oregon Department of Administrative Services of certain state-owned and locally nominated lands within an urban growth boundary as home start lands to be used for affordable housing. |
Ryan Krabill | Oppose | 2025-03-28 |
| SB 999 Modifies the definition of "farmworker camp" so that the relevant statutes apply to farmworker camps specifically in connection with workers who work on a seasonal or temporary basis. |
Jenny Dresler | Support | 2025-03-26 |
| SB 1023 Requires the Attorney General to adopt and maintain a list of foreign adversaries who are ineligible to receive conveyances of certain land, mineral or water interests. |
Ryan Krabill | Support | 2025-03-13 |
| SB 788 Allows lands zoned for exclusive farm use to be used for weddings or events east of the summit of the Cascade Range. |
Ryan Krabill | Support | 2025-03-06 |
| SB 1095 Authorizes cities and counties to impose a fee on noncommercial residences that are vacant for more than 180 consecutive or cumulative days in a calendar year. |
Ryan Krabill | Oppose | 2025-03-05 |
| SB 78 Establishes maximum size of replacement dwellings on lands zoned for forest or farm use. |
Ryan Krabill | Oppose | 2025-03-05 |
| SB 438 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. |
Ryan Krabill | Oppose | 2025-02-28 |
| SB 878 Allows an occupying homeowner outside of an urban growth boundary to site one additional family dwelling unit on the tract of the home. |
Ryan Krabill | Oppose | 2025-02-28 |
| HB 3525 Requires, for each dwelling unit rented by a landlord for which the source of drinking water is an exempt well in a ground water quality management area, that the landlord collect and test samples of drinking water from the dwelling unit for arsenic, coliform bacteria, lead and nitrates. |
Ryan Krabill | Oppose | 2025-02-18 |
| HB 2950 Requires the Land Conservation and Development Commission to update the statewide land use planning goal relating to "citizen involvement" by rule byJune 30, 2029. |
Ryan Krabill | Oppose | 2025-02-13 |
2024
2 testimonies
| Bill | Name | Position | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| HB 4026 Limits the review of certain local government proposals to modify the local government's urban growth boundary to the process outlined in statute. |
Lauren Poor | Oppose | 2024-02-22 |
| HB 4026 Limits the review of certain local government proposals to modify the local government's urban growth boundary to the process outlined in statute. |
Lauren Poor | Oppose | 2024-02-20 |
2023
4 testimonies
| Bill | Name | Position | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| SB 4 Directs Oregon Business Development Department to develop grant and loan program to support businesses applying for financial assistance under Creating Helpful Incentives to Produce Semiconductors for America Act of 2022 (P.L. 117-167). |
Lauren Poor | Oppose | 2023-03-15 |
| SB 4 Directs Oregon Business Development Department to develop grant and loan program to support businesses applying for financial assistance under Creating Helpful Incentives to Produce Semiconductors for America Act of 2022 (P.L. 117-167). |
Lauren Poor | Oppose | 2023-03-13 |
| HB 2078 Extends sunset for tax credits for owner or operator of agriculture workforce housing. |
Lauren Kuenzi | Support | 2023-03-09 |
| HB 2001 Establishes Oregon Housing Needs Analysis in Oregon Department of Administrative Services. |
Lauren Kuenzi | Support | 2023-02-27 |
2022
1 testimony
| Bill | Name | Position | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| HB 4118 Allows city to expand its urban growth boundary, or to require Metro to expand its urban growth boundary, in order to include land designated as urban reserve that supports workforce housing and commercial development supportive of workforce housing if certain conditions are met. |
Mary Anne Cooper | Oppose | 2022-02-14 |
2021
23 testimonies
| Bill | Name | Position | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| HB 2096 Increases maximum agriculture workforce housing tax credits issued by Housing and Community Services Department to $16.75 million per biennium. |
Samantha Bayer | Support | 2021-06-03 |
| HB 3109 Limits certain restrictions by local governments on use of property for child care facilities. |
Samantha Bayer | Unknown | 2021-05-10 |
| HB 2289 Establishes alternative process for alteration, restoration or replacement of certain uses affected by 2020 wildfires. |
Samantha Bayer | Support | 2021-05-10 |
| HB 2160 Authorizes Land Conservation and Development Commission to approve plans for urban growth boundary expansion to accommodate affordable housing in Pendleton. |
Samantha Bayer | Support | 2021-05-03 |
| HB 3218 Expands allowable uses for Housing and Community Services Department's manufactured dwelling programs to support dwellings and parks destroyed by natural disaster. |
Samantha Bayer | Support | 2021-04-19 |
| SB 405 Tolls time city or county may consider nonconforming use interrupted or abandoned during emergency that limits resumption of use. |
Samantha Bayer | Support | 2021-04-19 |
| HB 2524 Places limits on certain restrictions by local governments, planned communities and condominiums on use of property for child care facilities. |
Samantha Bayer | Oppose | 2021-04-07 |
| HB 2488 Requires that statewide land use planning goal relating to citizen involvement address participation and engagement for disadvantaged groups. |
Samantha Bayer | Unknown | 2021-03-29 |
| HB 2488 Requires that statewide land use planning goal relating to citizen involvement address participation and engagement for disadvantaged groups. |
Samantha Bayer | Oppose | 2021-03-29 |
| HB 3308 Requires State Forestry Department to develop and maintain comprehensive statewide map of wildfire risk, including boundaries of wildland-urban interface within state. |
Samantha Bayer | Unknown | 2021-03-18 |
| SB 8 Requires local governments to allow development of certain affordable housing on lands not zoned for residential uses. |
Samantha Bayer | Oppose | 2021-03-16 |
| HB 3219 Amends definition of "manufactured dwelling park" to include parks with certain prefabricated structures. |
Samantha Bayer | Support | 2021-03-15 |
| HB 2809 Allows temporary siting for up to 24 months of recreational vehicles on properties with dwellings that natural disasters have made uninhabitable. |
Samantha Bayer | Support | 2021-03-15 |
| HB 2488 Requires that statewide land use planning goal relating to citizen involvement address participation and engagement for disadvantaged groups. |
Samantha Bayer | Unknown | 2021-03-08 |
| HB 3072 Allows local government to expand its urban growth boundary to include land designated as urban reserve that supports workforce housing and commercial development supportive of workforce housing if certain conditions are met. |
Samantha Bayer | Oppose | 2021-03-03 |
| SB 405 Tolls time city or county may consider nonconforming use interrupted or abandoned during emergency that limits resumption of use. |
Samantha Bayer | Support | 2021-02-24 |
| SB 465 Requires counties to allow commencement of restoration or replacement of nonconforming uses damaged or destroyed by certain wildfires until September 30, 2025. |
Samantha Bayer | Support | 2021-02-24 |
| HB 2006 Defines "emergency shelter." Requires local governments to allow siting of qualifying emergency shelters by qualifying entities notwithstanding land use laws and regulations. |
Samantha Bayer | Unknown | 2021-02-22 |
| HB 2708 Authorizes Department of Land Conservation and Development to approve local governments' plans for urban growth boundary expansion areas to accommodate affordable housing. |
Samantha Bayer | Oppose | 2021-02-09 |
| HB 2234 Requires Director of Department of Consumer and Business Services to prescribe in appropriate specialty codes standards, safeguards and guidelines for incorporating fire prevention and fireproofing or fire resistance measures into construction, repair, renovation, rehabilitation, retrofitting or maintenance of buildings and other structures that are located in areas of this state that are subject to or susceptible to wildfires. |
Samantha Bayer | Oppose | 2021-02-09 |
| HB 2160 Authorizes Land Conservation and Development Commission to approve plans for urban growth boundary expansion to accommodate affordable housing in Pendleton. |
Samantha Bayer | Support | 2021-02-08 |
| SB 16 Allows counties to partition and rezone up to 200 acres of lands within Eastern Oregon Border Economic Development Region from exclusive farm use to residential uses. |
Samantha Bayer | Neutral | 2021-02-08 |
| HB 2096 Increases maximum agriculture workforce housing tax credits issued by Housing and Community Services Department to $16.75 million per biennium. |
Samantha Bayer | Support | 2021-01-25 |