OR HB2409

Office of Outdoor Recreation must establish a rural community and land stewardship technical assistance and planning pilot program to help local communities develop place-based solutions for natural resource stewardship

Grants will support wildlife conservation, fisheries/stream restoration, watershed/forest restoration, wildfire resilience activities, and renewable energy development on public or private land

Priority given to projects benefiting communities facing natural resource stewardship challenges arising from outdoor recreation that impact community development, housing, or workforce development

Local Stewardship Fund created in State Treasury with $500,000 appropriated from General Fund for the 2025-2027 biennium

Program sunsets January 2, 2031, with a required report to the legislature by September 15, 2030; declared an emergency effective upon passage