OR HB3501

Removes "public interest" as a consideration when the Water Resources Department evaluates applications to change water right place of use, point of diversion, or type of use—limiting review solely to whether changes would injure existing water rights

Requires the Water Resources Director to approve or deny water right transfer applications within 120 days of receiving a complete application, with automatic approval if no order is issued within that timeframe

Establishes a $10,000 fee for non-applicants to file protests against water right transfer applications, unless the protestor is a landowner or holder of an instream water right within the same hydrologic basin

Restricts contested case hearings on water right transfers to the single issue of potential injury to existing water rights, prohibiting consideration of public interest impacts

Applies these changes across multiple transfer types including permanent transfers, temporary transfers (up to 5 years), substitution of supplemental ground water rights for primary surface water rights, and district-level temporary transfers