Oregon Senate Advances Bill to Protect Public Lands

Legislation would prohibit state agencies from assisting federal land sales to private parties

Feb. 25, 2026 at 12:00am

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The Oregon Senate has advanced a bill, Senate Bill 1590, that would prohibit state agencies from using any funding, data, equipment or staff to help the federal government sell or transfer federal lands to private parties. The measure is a response to efforts by congressional Republicans to include plans to sell between 2 to 3 million acres of federally-managed land across 11 Western states, including in Oregon.

Why it matters

Over half of the land in Oregon is managed by the federal government, including national forests, wildlife refuges, and other public lands that are important for recreation, conservation, and natural resource management. This bill aims to prevent the privatization of these public lands, which could limit public access and lead to the exploitation of natural resources.

The details

Senate Bill 1590 was sponsored by Sen. Anthony Broadman, D-Bend, and advanced in a 17-11 party-line vote in the Oregon Senate. Republicans expressed concerns that the bill would limit public-private partnerships meant to manage the state's natural resources. The bill now heads to the Oregon House of Representatives.

  • The Oregon Senate voted on the bill on February 25, 2026.
  • The bill was introduced in response to federal land sale proposals in the summer of 2025.

The players

Sen. Anthony Broadman

A Democratic state senator from Bend, Oregon who sponsored Senate Bill 1590.

Oregon Senate

The Oregon state legislature's upper chamber, which voted to advance the public lands protection bill.

Bureau of Land Management

A federal agency that manages over 245 million acres of public lands, including in Oregon.

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

A federal agency that manages the National Wildlife Refuge System, including refuges in Oregon.

U.S. Forest Service

A federal agency that manages national forests and grasslands, including in Oregon.

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What they’re saying

“We must not let individuals continue to damage private property in San Francisco.”

— Robert Jenkins, San Francisco resident

What’s next

The bill will now be considered by the Oregon House of Representatives.

The takeaway

This legislation aims to protect public access and conservation of Oregon's federally-managed lands, which make up over half the state, by prohibiting state agencies from assisting in any potential federal land sales to private parties.