SJR13 • 2025

Proposes an amendment to the Oregon Constitution to declare a constitutional right to fish, hunt or harvest wildlife or gather wild foods, subject to certain legal restrictions. Refers the proposed amendment to the people for their approval or rejection at the next regular general election.

Elections

Passed Legislature

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

Sponsor: Senator Smith DB
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.

Proposes an amendment to the Oregon Constitution to declare a constitutional right to fish, hunt or harvest wildlife or gather wild foods, subject to certain legal restrictions. Refers the proposed amendment to the people for their approval or rejection at the next regular general election.

Digest: The Resolution proposes a constitutional change.

What This Bill Does

Digest: The Resolution proposes a constitutional change.
The change would declare a right to fish, hunt or gather wild foods.
The Resolution refers the change to voters.
(Flesch Readability Score: 61.3).

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

2025-06-27 Senate
In committee upon adjournment.
2025-01-17 Senate
Referred to Rules.
2025-01-13 Senate
Introduction and first reading. Referred to President's desk.

Official Summary Text

Digest: The Resolution proposes a constitutional change. The change would declare a right to fish, hunt or gather wild foods. The Resolution refers the change to voters. (Flesch Readability Score: 61.3).
Proposes an amendment to the Oregon Constitution to declare a constitutional right to fish, hunt or harvest wildlife or gather wild foods, subject to certain legal restrictions.
Refers the proposed amendment to the people for their approval or rejection at the next regular general election.
Relating to: Proposing an amendment to the Oregon Constitution relating to fishing, hunting, harvesting wildlife or gathering wild foods.
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 Joint Resolution 13
Sponsored by Senator SMITH DB (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 Resolution proposes a constitutional change. The change would declare a right to
fish, hunt or gather wild foods. The Resolution refers the change to voters. (Flesch Readability
Score: 61.3).
Proposes an amendment to the Oregon Constitution to declare a constitutional right to fish,
hunt or harvest wildlife or gather wild foods, subject to certain legal restrictions.
Refers the proposed amendment to the people for their approval or rejection at the next regular
general election.
JOINT RESOLUTION
Whereas Oregon residents have a strong interest in sourcing their own foods, both wild and
foraged; and
Whereas the self-reliant sourcing of wild foods has been, and continues to be, a part of Oregon’s
heritage; and
Whereas the right to fish, hunt or harvest wildlife and gather wild foods will not supersede
wildlife conservation and management laws and regulations, nor public and private property rights;
now, therefore,
Be It Resolved by the Legislative Assembly of the State of Oregon:
PARAGRAPH 1.
The Constitution of the State of Oregon is amended by creating a new section
48 to be added to and made a part of Article I, such section to read:
SECTION 48. Residents of this state have the right to fish, hunt or harvest wildlife and
gather wild foods by traditional methods or manners, subject only to laws enacted by the
Legislative Assembly and rules adopted by state agencies to promote sound wildlife conser-
vation and management. The right to fish, hunt or harvest wildlife and gather wild foods is
a valued part of Oregon’s heritage and shall be forever preserved. This section does not
abrogate any public or private property rights or the sovereignty of this state over its na-
turalresources.
PARAGRAPH 2.
The amendment proposed by this resolution shall be submitted to the
people for their approval or rejection at the next regular general election held throughout
this state.
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 1325