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Oregon Legislative session 2003
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OPA involvement in monitoring legislative activities typically involves the review of bills in the legislature with a potential impact on aviation and related infrastructures.
Through its relationship with the Oregon Department of Aviation, the Oregon Pilots Assosciation examines the multiple sides of every bill and promotes the outcome that will benefit aviation without adding layers of bureacracy or redundant requirements.
Legislative Activities
Legislative Home
2001 Session
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The 2003 legislative session quickly distinguished itself as being overwhelmed with revenue shortfalls and budget stalmates. Aviation issues were few and readily dead in commitees by the May OPA meeting in Baker City.
| SB5503A |
The Dept of Aviation's proposed budget bill for the 2003-2005 biennium was approved with a minor amendment related to Oregon Emergency Management. ODA was one of the first state agencies to have their budget passed by both House and Senate and signed by the Governor. This is probably mostly due to the fact that it is one of the smaller agencies than that aviation is a top priority. However, aviation does have several strong supporters in the legislature so it is still a priority at state level government. |
| SB5504 |
This successful bill related to ODA's budget and approved changes to airport access from private property fees in accordance with recently adopted Administrative Rules. This bill passed in conjunction with SB5503A, ODA's budget. For most users (aircraft under 5000 pounds) the access was increased to $15/month. |
| HB2454A |
HB2454A successfully expanded tax exempt status to airport property owned or leased by airport districts. Prior to this bill, tax exemptions were limited to airport properties owned or leased by local governments. The exclusion of airport districts was seen as an oversight in the original wording. This bill passed. |
| HB2173 |
HB2173 was ODA's bill targeting increased compliance with Oregon statutes on aircraft and pilot registration. Currently violations are listed as a Class B misdemeanor. This bill would have elevated such violations to a Class A violation allowing for fees to be assessed for noncompliance. The bill passed in the House, but died in the Senate.
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| SB687 and SB688 |
SB687 and SB688 together sought to transition pilot and aircraft registration to a 3-year cycle. (Renewals currently take place on a 2-year cycle.) SB687 transitioned to a bill to eliminate pilot registration and replace the funding (used for search and rescue operations) with increased fuel taxes. ODA felt that the original wording of these bills would decrease operating costs for the department. These tandem bills passed in the Senate but died in the House.
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| HB2294 |
HB2294 sought to make it a crime of Criminal Trespass 2 to enter onto private property and fly a model aircraft or to fly a model aircraft below 500 feet over private property. This bill died very early in session and only received a first reading in the House. It never in reality affected ODA or general aviation interests.
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| HB2556 |
HB2556 was one of several bills introduced that proposed a state sales tax on tangible personal property (yes, that includes aircraft), but was soundly defeated.
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If anyone is interested in further investigating these or other bills, they can check them out at http://www.leg.state.or.us/03reg/measures/main.html.
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