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HB2135 • 2025

Allows battery-charged fences on properties not used as residences.

Allows battery-charged fences on properties not used as residences.

Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor
Representative Wallan, Representative Helm,, Levy B,, Owens,
Last action
2025-06-27
Official status
In House Committee
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

Using official source text because the generated explanation was unavailable or could not be confirmed against the official bill text.

Allows battery-charged fences on properties not used as residences.

Digest: This Act amends where battery-charged fences are allowed.

What This Bill Does

  • Digest: This Act amends where battery-charged fences are allowed.
  • (Flesch Readability Score: 61.2).
  • Allows battery-charged fences on properties not used as residences.
  • Relating to: Relating to battery-charged fences.

Limits and Unknowns

  • This entry is temporarily using official source text because the generated explanation could not be confirmed against the official bill text during the last sync.

Bill History

  1. 2025-06-27 House

    In committee upon adjournment.

  2. 2025-02-03 House

    Public Hearing held.

  3. 2025-01-17 House

    Referred to Agriculture, Land Use, Natural Resources, and Water.

  4. 2025-01-13 House

    First reading. Referred to Speaker's desk.

Official Summary Text

Digest: This Act amends where battery-charged fences are allowed. (Flesch Readability Score: 61.2).
Allows battery-charged fences on properties not used as residences.
Relating to: Relating to battery-charged fences.
Current location: In House Committee

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
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83rd OREGON LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY--2025 Regular Session
House Bill 2135
Sponsored by Representative WALLAN; Representatives HELM, OWENS (Presession filed.)
SUMMARY
The following summary is not prepared by the sponsors of the measure and is not a part of the body thereof subject
to consideration by the Legislative Assembly. It is an editor’s brief statement of the essential features of the
measure as introduced. The statement includes a measure digest written in compliance with applicable readability
standards.
Digest: This Act amends where battery-charged fences are allowed. (Flesch Readability Score:
61.2).
Allows battery-charged fences on properties not used as residences.
A BILL FOR AN ACT
Relating to battery-charged fences; amending ORS 195.870.
Be It Enacted by the People of the State of Oregon:
SECTION 1.
ORS 195.870 is amended to read:
195.870. (1) As used in this section:
(a) “Alarm system” means any electrical, mechanical or electronic device or sensor used to
prevent, detect or alert law enforcement or occupants of burglary, theft, or intrusion of a structure
or a vehicle used as a commercial structure.
(b) “Battery-charged fence” means a fence that interfaces with an alarm system in a manner that
enables the fence to cause the connected alarm system to transmit a signal intended to summon law
enforcement in response to an intrusion and has an energizer that is driven by battery.
(c) “IEC standards” means the standards set by the International Electrotechnical Commission
as most recently published on or before January 1, 2021.
(2) A battery-charged fence:
(a) Must use a battery that is not more than 12 volts of direct current;
(b) Must produce an electric charge on contact that does not exceed energizer characteristics
set for electric fence energizers by IEC standards;
(c) Must be surrounded by a nonelectric perimeter fence or wall that is not less than five feet
in height;
(d) May not be higher than the greater of 10 feet in height or two feet higher than the height
of the nonelectric perimeter fence or wall; and
(e) Must be marked with conspicuous warning signs that are located on the fence at not more
than 30-foot intervals and that read: “WARNING: ELECTRIC FENCE.”
(3) Except as required by state building code, a local government, as defined in ORS 197.015,
may not adopt or enforce any ordinance, land use regulation or building code for property [ not zoned
or used ] zoned to allow for commercial or industrial use and not used for residential use that:
(a) Prohibits the installation or use of a battery-charged fence.
(b) Imposes installation or operational requirements inconsistent with IEC standards or this
section for an alarm system or battery-charged fence.
(c) Requires a permit for the installation or use of a battery-charged fence that is additional to
NOTE: Matter in boldfaced type in an amended section is new; matter [ italic and bracketed] is existing law to be omitted.
New sections are in boldfaced type.
LC 721
HB 2135
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an alarm system permit issued by the local government.
[2]