Officials with the Oregon Department of Agriculture are drafting rules that could allow for the industrial production of hemp by next spring, according to a reportin the Oregonian newspaper (Portland, Ore.). Although industrial hemp comes from a non-intoxicating relative of the marijuana plant, the state has been hesitant to enact a 2009 law permitting production […]
The governor’s signature
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OAN issued the following press release this afternoon: The Oregon Association of Nurseries (OAN) and its more than 1,300 members are grateful that Gov. Ted Kulongoski signed a bill protecting nurseries against the threat of an unfair new tax, OAN Director of Government Relations Jeff Stone said today. “Many of our growers are relieved they […]
Weed all about it
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Garbage is a threat to Oregon’s beauty, but invasive weeds are worse. They damage the health of ecosystems. Now, thanks to a recently-passed Oregon law, you get the same credit under the Adopt-A-Highway program whether it’s garbage or weeds you remove. This article from the Bend Bulletin, published back in January, tells the tale of […]
Hoop house bill passes House, also
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Yesterday we told you that House Bill 2904 (HTML|PDF) passed the Oregon Senate. Today we can report that it passed the Oregon House by a 59-0 vote. The bill blocks a move by the Oregon Department of Revenue to treat hoop houses as permanent structures on property tax statements. Without the bill, nursery owners would […]
Hip hoop hooray
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Hoop house growers are no doubt rejoicing as House Bill 2904 passed the Oregon Senate this afternoon, 28-0. Next the bill goes back to the House for concurrence.
Headed to the governor
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Senate Bill 570 (HTML|PDF) received final approval from the Legislature today and is headed for Gov. Ted Kulongoski’s desk. The bill would address metal thefts by requiring scrap dealers to keep more thorough records, produce them when demanded by law enforcement, and pay sellers by check mailed to their street address, rather than cash.
Legal language
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The new version of House Bill 2904 that deals with threatened hoop house taxation is now posted on the Web (HTML|PDF). It’s a multipurpose bill dealing with exclusive farm use designations and other matters; the pertinent language for hoop house owners specifically is contained way down at the bottom: A real property building, structure or […]
Hoop house relief
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A whole lot of nurseries may soon be breathing a sigh of relief. Earlier this week we talked about the possibility that hoop houses – the unheated, frame-and-plastic enclosures growers use to protect plants and ready them for market – could be assessed on property tax statements as if they were permanent structures. It’s a change […]
Knocked for a hoop
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This spring, the Oregon Department of Revenue (ODR) proposed a rule change that would tax hoop houses as if they were permanent structures – a move that could greatly add to the tax bills of growers who own dozens if not hundreds of the poly-film enclosures. OAN Director of Government Relations Jeff Stone testified before […]
‘Rich’ on paper
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How will yesterday’s votes to approve state corporate and personal tax hikes affect small businesses? Sen. Larry George, R-Sherwood, a hazelnut grower, says it won’t be a good thing. “This tax is about one thing. It’s about taxing entrepreneurs,” he said. “This is an incredibly personal bill to me.” Watch his eight-minute floor speech: