HB 4153 Update: Real Progress for Oregon Farms
Hi friends,
We wanted to share a quick update on HB 4153, the proposed Farm Store bill, because this one really matters to farms like ours.
The bill has now passed out of committee with bipartisan support and is moving forward. That may not sound like much, but in Salem, getting a bill this far is a big deal. It takes real work, real compromise, and a lot of persistence to keep a bill alive.
We’re also grateful for the support from a broad coalition to move something like this forward, including:
Association of Oregon Counties (AOC)
Department of Land Conservation and Development (DLCD)
Governor Kotek
Oregon Department of Agriculture
Oregon Farm Bureau
Oregon Property Owner’s Association
From where we sit, this is real momentum for small and mid-sized farms across Oregon.
What’s changed, and why it matters
The latest version of the bill strikes an important balance.
It protects every farm operating under today’s rules. Nothing is taken away.
It creates a new, optional path, a “Farm Store” permit, for farms that have outgrown those limits and need a clearer, more workable way to operate.
It keeps the focus where it belongs, on active farming of the land required.
To us, that’s the right approach. Protect what exists, and create a path forward.
What didn’t happen
There was a competing proposal pushed by a two special interest groups that would have gone in the opposite direction, adding restrictions and costly requirements that many farms simply couldn’t meet. In nearly every way, it would have left farms worse off than we are today under already outdated rules. That proposal did not move forward.
We think that matters. It reflects a growing recognition that farms don’t need more barriers right now, we need practical, workable ways to stay viable.
Why this matters
Farming today looks very different than it did 50 years ago.
Most small and mid-sized farms can’t survive on commodity crops alone. We rely on a mix of growing food, selling directly to our community, and inviting people onto the farm for u-pick, dinners, workshops, and events.
Those aren’t side activities, they’re what make it possible to keep farming. But the rules haven’t kept up.
This bill doesn’t fix everything, but it moves us in the right direction, aligning policy with the reality of modern farming while still protecting farmland.
That balance is critical.
What’s next
The bill now moves to Ways and Means, and if it continues forward, to votes in the House and Senate.
There’s still work ahead. If there’s a moment when it would be helpful for folks who care about local farms to speak up, we will let you know.
For now, we’re encouraged, and we’re going to keep pushing.
Thanks, as always, for being part of this community and supporting Oregon farms.
Jim & Kat