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HB 2808 Oregon House · 2025 Regular Session

Relating to fees concerning wells; and declaring an emergency.

HB 2808 increases the fee for submitting a "start card" (a notification required before well construction, alteration, abandonment, or conversion) from $350 to $490. This directly affects well contractors, property owners, and developers who need to build or modify wells in Oregon. The bill mandates that this $490 fee be paid electronically for each well project and directs the funds into the Water Resources Department Operating Fund to cover costs for well inspections and staff. It also declares an emergency, making the fee increase effective immediately upon the governor's signature (July 17, 2025). The bill does not change the well construction process or requirements, only the associated fee.
Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2025
Committee Review
Jun 2025
House Passage
Jun 2025
Senate Passage
Jun 2025
Signed into Law
Jul 2025
Introduced Jan 13, 2025 Signed Jul 18, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Introduced → Enrolled · 4 edits · Jul 18, 2025
MODERATE
This bill updates fees and procedures for well construction in Oregon, increasing the start card fee from $350 to $490 and adding a new requirement that collected fees be used to fund well inspections. The bill also clarifies confidentiality rules for start card information and adds an exemption for drilling additional wells on the same property.
Scope change
The bill's scope remains focused on well construction regulations, but it expands the funding mechanism by explicitly appropriating fees for inspection costs.
FISCAL

Increased the start card fee for new, deepening, or converting wells from $350 to $490.

Added a new provision requiring start card fees to be paid into the Water Resources Department Operating Fund and continuously appropriated to pay for well inspection personnel costs.

REQUIREMENT

Clarified that start card information must remain confidential for one year or until a well log is received, with exceptions for enforcement actions.

ELIGIBILITY

Added an exemption allowing a second or additional water well on the same property to be filed on the day work begins, rather than following the standard 60-day advance notice requirement.

Floor votes · House Jun 23, 2025

How they voted

This bill passed the Senate by voice vote (no roll call recorded).
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
22
Key actions
9
Committee
8
Jul 18, 2025
Signed into law
Governor signed.
lower
Jun 26, 2025
Upper · Passed
President signed.
upper
Jun 26, 2025
Lower · Passed
Speaker signed.
lower
Jun 25, 2025
Upper · Passed
Rules suspended. Third reading. Carried by Anderson. Passed.
upper
Jun 25, 2025
Upper · Passed
Recommendation: Do pass.
upper
Jun 23, 2025
Committee
Referred to Ways and Means.
upper
Jun 23, 2025
Introduced
First reading. Referred to President's desk.
upper
Jun 23, 2025
Lower · Passed
Third reading. Carried by Helm. Passed.
lower
Jun 20, 2025
Lower · Passed
Recommendation: Do pass.
lower
Jun 10, 2025
Lower · Passed
Returned to Full Committee.
lower
Jun 3, 2025
Committee
Assigned to Subcommittee On Natural Resources.
lower
Apr 15, 2025
Committee
Referred to Ways and Means by order of Speaker.
lower
Apr 15, 2025
Lower · Passed
Recommendation: Do pass and be referred to Ways and Means.
lower
Jan 17, 2025
Committee
Referred to Agriculture, Land Use, Natural Resources, and Water.
lower
Jan 13, 2025
Introduced
First reading. Referred to Speaker's desk.
lower
0 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

No sponsor information available.