House Bill 683 changes the requirement of reporting pesticide use by water basin to reporting use by watershed. The change could complicate reporting and increase state expenditures to operate the system.

The bill would change reporting requirements from water basin to watershed, and would increase the number of reporting units in Oregon from 16 to 91, according to ODA.

“It would require reprogramming the system,” Oregon Department of Agriculture Deputy Director Lisa Hanson said. “And any change in the system is going to require a hefty outreach effort to educate and notify people what the requirements are,” she said.

House Bill 2794 requires commercial pesticide applicators provide the state 30 days advanced notice of plans to apply a pesticide.

Applicators would be required to provide the ODA information on the location and size of the application, approximate date and name of the product being applied.

The bill has been called unworkable.

The third bill causing a stir is Senate Bill 20. It restricts application of pesticides within one mile of a school between Sept. 1 and June 15.

All three bills are in initial committee stages in the Oregon Legislature.