{"id":4160,"date":"2024-11-01T18:35:34","date_gmt":"2024-11-02T01:35:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.npsoregon.org\/wp\/?p=4160"},"modified":"2025-05-03T10:35:09","modified_gmt":"2025-05-03T17:35:09","slug":"legislative-support-for-oregonflora-lets-make-it-a-reality","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.npsoregon.org\/wp\/legislative-support-for-oregonflora-lets-make-it-a-reality\/","title":{"rendered":"Legislative Support for OregonFlora – Let’s Make it a Reality"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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NPSO has found a legislative ally of OregonFlora. Representative Pam Marsh (District 5, Ashland area) has\u00a0 submitted HB3173 in this year\u2019s legislative session to secure support for OregonFlora, a critical resource for both the NPSO and a wide variety of governmental agencies, businesses, educators, and Oregon residents.

\u00a0House Bill 3173 requests $400,000 per biennium of ongoing support for the OregonFlora program. This would represent an historic first for receiving sustainable financial support; it would let OregonFlora continue to keep plant diversity data freely available and up to date. Below is a fact sheet about the need for sustained OregonFlora resources, and how the bill will help.

\u00a0How can you help?
<\/strong>\u00a0NOW<\/strong> is the time to help secure sustained support for OregonFlora! HB3173 is assigned to the House Committee on Agriculture, Land Use, Natural Resources, and Water , and it will be presented in a committee hearing on Wednesday February 5<\/strong>.\u00a0 We want those committee members to enthusiastically support it when it is discussed in committee.
\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Most critical<\/em><\/strong>:\u00a0Submit written testimony<\/a>\u00a0in favor of HB3173 before the February 5 hearing. Every Oregonian can do this, and widespread support is the best way to demonstrate OregonFlora\u2019s relevance to our state\u2019s economy, environmental health, and quality of life.
\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Write your representative and your senator to request they sign on as a co-sponsor of the bill by contacting Rep. Pam Marsh. You can find your representative by entering your home address here<\/a>. Include in your email how OregonFlora personally impacts you as a constituent, and lift up the special concerns of your legislator that would be helped by OregonFlora resources, and include the fact sheet below (download here<\/a>).
\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Share this information with friends, co-workers, and businesses you frequent that appreciate OregonFlora\u2019s work and ask them to join you in supporting HB3173.

\u00a0As the bill advances through the legislative process, other committees will need to know about its importance; the Joint Committee on Ways and Means is one of those committees.

\u00a0If you have questions or need help writing a letter to your legislator, contact your chapter president who will connect you with a NPSO Legislative Committee volunteer.


\u00a0Thank you. We can do this.
\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u2013the NPSO Legislative Committee
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Informational fact sheet that describes the forthcoming legislation for support for the OregonFlora program.<\/h6>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n