OSC Releases 2026 Legislative Report
The 83rd Oregon Legislative Assembly convened for the 2026 Legislative Session on Monday, February 2, and adjourned Sine Die on Friday March 6. In the 32 days of Session, legislators passed dozens of bills of the more than 300 introduced. The Oregon Seed Council tracked more than one sixth of the total bills over the course of the Session. Issues ranged from employment to estate tax, to land use, to climate, to water, to taxes, to transportation – and many more.
The short Legislative Session, held in even numbered years, is authorized for 35 days by the Oregon Constitution and was intended to focus on adjusting budgets, and small, technical policy changes.
STATE’S TOP ISSUES
The Legislature started its short Session with a heavy emphasis on budgets and a focus on where to trim. Following the 2025 Legislative Session, the federal spending bill, H.R. 1 passed Congress and was estimated to leave a $900 million shortfall in the state’s coffers.
Budget cut options were reviewed during the Interim Legislative Days, and within the first couple of days of Session, Ways and Means Co-Chairs scheduled a public hearing on proposed program reductions.
The Oregon Seed Council submitted testimony advocating for four programs:
- Funding for OSU Statewides
- Maintaining funding for Future Farmers of America
- Retaining grant funding for the Oregon Agricultural Heritage Program (OAHP)
- Japanese Beetle Eradication
Following this hearing, the February revenue and economic forecast was released, highlighting more receipts than anticipated from the close of the last fiscal year and additional revenue anticipated. Total budget reductions hit around $128 million, generally through keeping vacant positions open and reducing agency supply budgets.
Other large areas of focus areas for the Session included:
- Transportation package referendum and funding
- Providing funding for improvements to the Moda Center (up to $365 million approved through SB 1501)
- Response to federal immigration policies
- Campaign finance
For OSC and the seed industry, major policies included:
- Taxes (SB 1507, the federal disconnect bill; SB 1511, estate tax restructure)
- Land Use (SB 1586)
- Seed Industry Regulation (HB 4065)
- Budgets
- Cost drivers
LEGISLATIVE RELATIONSHIPS
OSC met with numerous legislators and staff to build relationships, elevate the partnership of the seed industry overall, and begin the conversations of how OSC can be a resource for the Legislature.
During the Session, OSC President Dave Goracke and I were able to meet with several legislators, county commissioners, and leaders from the San Francisco Chinese Consulate to build partnership between agricultural industries in Oregon, Oregon government officials, and Chinese officials.
We are excited for the potential to build more relationships and bring positive outcomes to our industry.
THANK YOU!
Finally, I want to thank each of you for thoughtful conversations, your input, and your support as we navigated the 2026 Session.
A special thank you to the OSC Board of Directors, Government Affairs Committee, and Executive Committee for quick action and in-depth discussion on policies and how OSC can best support industry in the legislative process and policy discussions.
Our industry members were quick to react to Action Alerts and engage legislators, and for that, we want to offer a big thank you! Your engagement truly makes a difference, and this, we hope will be clearly evidenced in the 2026 OSC Legislative Report available here.
Megan Chuinard Graser
Executive Director
Oregon Seed Council
