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SB998 • 2025

Removes authority to appoint the Director of the Department of Environmental Quality from the Environmental Quality Commission and provides appointment authority to the Governor.

Removes authority to appoint the Director of the Department of Environmental Quality from the Environmental Quality Commission and provides appointment authority to the Governor.

Passed Legislature

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

Sponsor
Senator Bonham
Last action
2025-06-27
Official status
In Senate 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.

Removes authority to appoint the Director of the Department of Environmental Quality from the Environmental Quality Commission and provides appointment authority to the Governor.

Digest: This Act makes the Governor choose the head of DEQ and makes the Senate approve the choice.

What This Bill Does

  • Digest: This Act makes the Governor choose the head of DEQ and makes the Senate approve the choice.
  • (Flesch Readability Score: 85.0).
  • Removes authority to appoint the Director of the Department of Environmental Quality from the Environmental Quality Commission and provides appointment authority to the Governor.
  • Makes appointment subject to Senate confirmation.

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 Senate

    In committee upon adjournment.

  2. 2025-02-10 Senate

    Referred to Rules.

  3. 2025-02-06 Senate

    Introduction and first reading. Referred to President's desk.

Official Summary Text

Digest: This Act makes the Governor choose the head of DEQ and makes the Senate approve the choice. (Flesch Readability Score: 85.0).
Removes authority to appoint the Director of the Department of Environmental Quality from the Environmental Quality Commission and provides appointment authority to the Governor. Makes appointment subject to Senate confirmation.
Relating to: Relating to the Director of the Department of Environmental Quality.
Current location: In Senate Committee

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
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83rd OREGON LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY--2025 Regular Session
Senate Bill 998
Sponsored by Senator BONHAM
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 makes the Governor choose the head of DEQ and makes the Senate approve
the choice. (Flesch Readability Score: 85.0).
Removes authority to appoint the Director of the Department of Environmental Quality from the
Environmental Quality Commission and provides appointment authority to the Governor. Makes
appointment subject to Senate confirmation.
A BILL FOR AN ACT
Relating to the Director of the Department of Environmental Quality; creating new provisions; and
amending ORS 468.040.
Be It Enacted by the People of the State of Oregon:
SECTION 1.
ORS 468.040 is amended to read:
468.040. (1) [The Environmental Quality Commission shall appoint a director who shall hold office
at the pleasure of the commission. ] The Governor shall appoint the Director of the Department
of Environmental Quality, who holds the office at the pleasure of the Governor. The salary
of the Director of the Department of Environmental Quality shall be fixed by the [ commission]
Governor unless otherwise provided by law.
(2) The appointment of the Director of the Department of Environmental Quality is
subject to confirmation by the Senate as provided by ORS 171.562 and 171.565.
SECTION 2. (1) Notwithstanding the amendments to ORS 468.040 by section 1 of this 2025
Act, the Director of the Department of Environmental Quality on the effective date of this
2025 Act may continue to serve as the director until the question of confirmation of the Di-
rector of the Department of Environmental Quality is acted upon by the Senate pursuant to
ORS 171.562 and 171.565.
(2) The Governor shall expeditiously submit the name of an individual to be appointed or
reappointed as the Director of the Department of Environmental Quality so that the Senate
may take up the question of confirmation at the regular session next following the effective
date of this 2025 Act or the time at which the Senate convenes to carry out its duties under
section 4, Article III of the Oregon Constitution, next following the effective date of this 2025
Act, whichever is earlier.
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 3898