Update: The Public Comment period is now closed.
The purpose of this rulemaking is to (1) implement legislation, including House Bill 3342 (Chapter 282, 2025 Oregon Law) relating to water rights transactions, House Bill 3544 (Chapter 575, 2025 Oregon Law) relating to contested case processes, Senate Bill 1154 (Chapter 605, 2025 Oregon Law) relating to issuing water rights for public water systems to replace domestic wells in groundwater quality management areas, and pre-2025 legislation relating to split season leasing and transfers of stored water rights; (2) implement other policy and process improvements relating to water rights transactions; and (3) make other changes, including aligning definitions with updated rules and cleaning up impacted rule divisions by fixing spelling, grammar, formatting, rule numbering, statutory and rule references, and other statutory minor corrections (ORS 183.335(7)).
Filing Caption: Updates to Water Rights Transactions, Contested Cases, and Forfeiture Rules
Notice of Proposed Rulemaking - with Errata sheet
Corrected: Notice of Change to Land Use Program
Summary of Proposed Changes
Written Comments Received
Phase 2 – OAR Chapter 690, Division 52, 53, 54, 320, and 330 (Coming Soon)
The purpose of the Phase 2 Water Rights Transaction related rulemaking is to (1) provide standardization related to issuance of orders and notice as it pertains to hydroelectric with other minor updates and (2) reorganize, repeal, cleans up, and align with statute the rules in Divisions 320 and 330.
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Water Rights Process Improvement
For updated information about other water right process improvement work, please visit our webpage.
2025 Statutes and Current Rules
2025 Statutes
Current Rules
Phase 1 - Proposed Rules Following Public Comment (February 27, 2026)
Proposed Rules by Division
Division 2 – Protests and Contested Cases
Division 14 – Certified Water Rights Examiners
Division 300 - Definitions
Division 305 (new) - General Map Criteria
Track changes (022726)
Division 310 – Water Right Application Processing
Track changes (022726)
Rule Revision Tracker (022726)
Division 315 – Water Right Permit Extensions
Division 325 – Assignment of a Water Permit and Request for Issuance of Replacement Permits
Division 340 – Water Use Authorization
Proposed Rules by Division
Division 2 – Protests and Contested Cases
Division 14 – Certified Water Rights Examiners
Division 17 – Cancellation of Perfected Water Rights
Division 18 – Allocation of Conserved Water
Division 77 – Instream Water Rights
Division 300 - Definitions
Division 305 (new) - General Map Criteria
Division 310 – Water Right Application Processing
Division 315 – Water Right Permit Extensions
Division 325 – Assignment of a Water Permit and Request for Issuance of Replacement Permits
Clean version (122225)
Division 340 – Water Use Authorization
Division 380 – Water Right Transfers
Division 382 – Groundwater Registration Modifications
Informational Sessions and Public Hearings Held
2025 Rules Advisory Committee Meeting Materials
Rules Advisory Committee Meeting #1 – September 17, 2025
Rules Advisory Committee Meeting #2 – September 24, 2025
Draft Rules
Division 2 (with updated rule summary cover sheet)
Rules Advisory Committee Meeting #3 – October 14, 2025
Rules Advisory Committee Meeting #4 – October 15, 2025
Rules Advisory Committee Meeting #5 – October 21, 2025
Rules Advisory Committee Meeting #6 – October 29, 2025 (morning meeting)
Rules Advisory Committee Meeting #7 – October 29, 2025 (afternoon meeting)
Rules Advisory Committee VIRTUAL Meeting: Follow up on OAR 690-002 – October 31, 2025 (10 a.m. – noon)
Rules Advisory Committee Meeting #8 – November 12, 2025 (8:30 a.m. – noon)
Rules Advisory Committee Meeting #9 – November 21, 2025 (8:30 a.m. – noon)
Agenda
Draft Rules
Available documents are linked below:
Rules Advisory Committee – Post Meeting Follow Up