Fairground funding up for date during March 31 legislative work session

SALEM – Multiple bills related to the funding of Oregon’s county fairgrounds are up for discussion during a legislative work session on March 31, 2025. These include House Bill 2304, 3101, and 2145, all relating to the removal of the $1.53 million dollar cap on fairground funding provided by the Oregon State Lottery fund, among other allocations, along with House Bill 2527, which specifically appropriates money to the Union County Fairgrounds wastewater improvement project.

In brief, House Bill 2304 would, in addition to the removal of the lottery funding cap, allocate additional lottery funding to the state fair council, create a master plan for county fair building, and allow for the issuance of bonds for an emergency and evacuee center at county fairgrounds. House Bill 3101 would outline a similar allocation of funds, though also create a new Horse Racing Account distinct from the lottery general fund set at “an amount equal to two-tenths of one percent of the net proceeds from the Oregon State Lottery,” as written on lines 16 and 17 of the bill text. Finally, House Bill 2145 would also lift the lottery funding limit and create a master plan for building on county fairgrounds, in addition to providing “money for related services,”

All three bills would also require the Oregon Business Development Department to, as written in the summaries of all three, “to prepare and report a master plan for county fairground capital construction. Specifies content and procedural requirements for the report.”

Shifting from general funding to specific funding, House Bill 2527 would, as written in the full bill text:

“In addition to and not in lieu of any other appropriation, there is appropriated to the Oregon Department of Administrative Services, for the biennium beginning July 1, 2025, out of the General Fund, the amount of $2,500,000 for distribution to the Union County Fair Association for the purpose of water and sewer improvements to the Union County Fairgrounds.”

The improvements have been in development for several years, with Union County having requested, and been denied, state funding through several prior bills. If passed, the funds would be used to connect the Union County Fairgrounds to the City of La Grande’s Water and Septic system, in addition to constructing new restroom facilities on site. 

The work session begins at 8:00 a.m., March 31, 2025. Other house bills up for discussion include 3104, 2120, 2171, 3724, 2274, and 3315. More information on the upcoming work session can be found at https://olis.oregonlegislature.gov/liz/2025R1/Committees/HECDSB/2025-03-31-08-00/Agenda

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