Instructs the Oregon Seed Certification Service of Oregon State University to continue to periodically produce, and make available to the public, the Oregon Seed Certification Handbook.

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83rd OREGON LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY--2025 Regular Session
House Bill 2231
Sponsored by Representative SCHARF (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: The Act defines the term “quality standard” for certain seed contracts. (Flesch Read-
ability Score: 64.9).
Instructs the Oregon Seed Certification Service of Oregon State University to continue to peri-
odically produce, and make available to the public, the Oregon Seed Certification Handbook.
Defines the term “quality standard” for certain seed contracts as a specification in the hand-
book.
A BILL FOR AN ACT
Relating to seed quality standards; creating new provisions; and amending ORS 576.715.
Be It Enacted by the People of the State of Oregon:
SECTION 1.
Section 2 of this 2025 Act is added to and made a part of ORS 576.715 to
576.744.
SECTION 2. The Oregon Seed Certification Service of Oregon State University shall:
(1) Periodically produce an Oregon Seed Certification Handbook that, among other things,
describes certified seed; and
(2) Make the handbook available to the public.
SECTION 3.
ORS 576.715 is amended to read:
576.715. As used in ORS 576.715 to 576.744:
(1) “Agricultural seed” means grass seed of a type commonly sold for use in turf lawns or as
forage seed.
(2) “Authenticate” has the meaning given that term in ORS 79.0102.
(3) “Producer” means a person that grows agricultural seed in this state on a commercial basis
for a seed dealer.
(4) “Quality standard” means certified seed as described in the most current version of
the Oregon Seed Certification Handbook produced by the Oregon Seed Certification Service
of Oregon State University.
[(4)] (5) “Seed bailment contract” means a seed production contract under which the seed dealer
retains title to all seed, seed stock and plant life grown or used by the producer under the terms
of the contract.
[(5)] (6) “Seed dealer” means a person that in the ordinary course of business contracts to buy
agricultural seed grown in this state by a producer or contracts with a producer for the growing
of agricultural seed in this state.
[(6)] (7) “Seed delivery” means the date on which the seed grower delivers grass seed to the seed
dealer pursuant to a notice from the dealer.
[(7)] (8) “Seed grower” means a person that grows grass seed in this state on a commercial basis
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 1431
HB 2231
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without entering into a contract with a seed dealer prior to harvesting of the seed.
[(8)] (9) “Seed production contract” means a written agreement between a producer and a seed
dealer for the growing of agricultural seed in this state.
[(9)] (10) “Seed purchase contract” means a written agreement for a seed dealer to purchase
grass seed that has been grown by a seed grower. “Seed purchase contract” does not include a seed
production contract.
[(10)] (11) “Variety Not Stated Seed” means agricultural seed that is sold in unmarked plastic
bags or other unmarked containers without any reference to a variety name for the seed.
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