March 4, 2022 – Today, despite overwhelming opposition and expert testimony refuting Senate Bill 1589’s scientific merit, it has passed the House and Senate. The bill is now headed to the Governor’s desk for signing. Our last chance to defeat Senate Bill 1589 is to urge Governor Brown to veto it. Sign our petition to the Governor today at: www.oregonfamiliesforboating.org/actnow.
We would like to thank the boating community for your unwavering commitment to speak out against this unnecessary legislation. Thousands of Oregonians voiced opposition to Senate Bill 1589. In the bill’s final moments on the House floor Democrats and Republicans alike urged their colleagues to vote no on the bill because of the lack of data available to support its claims and the impact it would have on local families and small business. The bill barely passed the House in a 33 – 25 vote.
This legislation will significantly impact boaters who recreate in the Newberg Pool and the small businesses that depend on their support. According to legislative analysts, almost 90% of tow boats currently offered by major manufacturers are over the 5,500-pound combined weight limit. Senate Bill 1589 also sets a dangerous precedent for future restrictions. Upon the Governor’s signature:
- The Newberg Pool will be extended from Willamette Falls all the way to the mouth of the Yamhill River
- Wake surfing will be banned outright
- All other users engaged in towed water sports such as tubing, water skiing and wakeboarding will be required to obtain a special safety certification
- Only boats under 5,500 pounds (dry weight + full ballast capacity) will be eligible for the special safety certification
“This is a devastating day for Oregon families and small businesses,” said Matt Radich, President of Active Water Sports. “Our public policies should be based on solid data, not unvalidated academic hypotheses, and scientific opinion. I’m disappointed our elected officials have knowingly put Oregonians out of good paying jobs and shrunk small business revenue without any proof that a weight limit or wake sports ban will have any positive impact on river health.”
This bill was pushed under the guide of environmental protection, yet local experts including fisheries scientist at Mount Hood Environmental and ecosystem restoration engineer David Gorman have testified that these assertions lack merit. The Oregon State Marine Board also confirmed with the Legislative Policy and Research Office that they are “not aware of where the 5,000-lb weight-limited proposed in Senate Bill 1589 is derived from.
Oregon is quickly becoming one of the least friendly places for recreational boating in the entire nation. Over the last two years bans or significant towed water sports restrictions have been enacted across an unprecedented 41 miles of the Upper and Lower Willamette River. In addition, earlier this month Portland Metro surprised residents of Blue Lake in North Portland with a motorized boat ban without any public hearing or discussion.
Oregon Families for Boating is committed to ensuring boating opportunities are accessible to all Oregonians. We are urging the Oregon State Marine Board to conduct the study proposed in the bill to increase the boat weight limit and will explore all avenues to come up with a more sensible solution for all users to safely share the Newberg Pool. Keeping our waterways safe and healthy is a top priority and we will continue to advocate for education and enforcement, rather than overregulation.
Those who would like to apply for the Newberg Pool Towed Watersports Certificate can find out more on the Oregon State Marine Board website. The new requirements should be updated in the coming months.
Another way Oregonians can advocate for fair access to our waterways is to support elected officials who voted against Senate Bill 1589. Many are coming up for reelection soon. Below is a complete list of how our elected officials cast their vote. You can confirm who your local legislators are at: https://www.oregonlegislature.gov/findyourlegislator/leg-districts.html
Legislators Who Voted FOR SB 1589 (AY)
Rep. Alonso Leon
Senator Anderson
Senator Armitage
Senator Beyer
President Courtney
Rep. Campos
Senator Dembrow
Rep. Dexter
Rep. Fahey
Senator Findley
Senator Frederick
Senator Gelser Blouin
Senator Golden
Rep. Gomberg
Senator Gorsek
Rep. Grayber
Senator Hansell
Rep. Helm
Rep. Hoy
Rep. Holvey
Rep. Hudson
Senator Jama
Senator Kennemer
Senator Knopp
Rep. Kropf
Senator Lawrence Spence
Senator Lieber
Senator Linthicum
Rep. Lively
Senator Manning Jr
Rep. Marsh
Rep. McLain
Rep. Nathanson
Rep. Nelson
Rep. Neron
Rep. Nosse
Senator Patterson
Rep. Power
Rep. Pham
Senator Prozanski
Rep. Prusak
Rep. Reardon
Rep. Reynolds
Speaker Rayfield
Rep. Sanchez
Rep. Salinas
Rep. Schouten
Rep. Smith G.
Rep. Smith Warner
Senator Steiner Hayward
Senator Sollman
Rep. Sosa
Senator Taylor
Rep. Valderrama
Senator Wagner
Rep. Wilde
Rep. Witt
Legislators Who Voted AGAINST SB 1589 (NAY)
Rep. Bonham
Rep. Bynum
Rep. Cate
Rep. Evans
Rep. George
Rep. Goodwin
Rep. Hayden
Rep. Hieb
Rep. Levy
Rep. Lewis
Rep. Meek
Rep. Morgan
Rep. Moore-Green
Rep. Noble
Rep. Owens
Rep. Reschke
Rep. Ruiz
Rep. Scharf
Rep. Smith DB
Rep. Stark
Senator Thatcher
Rep. Wallan
Rep. Weber
Rep. Williams
Rep. Wright
Rep. Zika