SB 1037 and HB 2469 have died in legislature
Two bills that would have allowed local governments in Oregon to regulate genetically engineered crops have both died in the legislature.
Lawmakers prohibited most local governments from restricting seed in 2013, but Senate Bill 1037 and House Bill 2469 would have exempted genetically modified organisms, or GMOs, from that statewide pre-emption law.
Sen. Michael Dembrow, D-Portland, said he’s decided to let SB 1037 die during the April 13 meeting of the Senate Environment and Natural Resources Committee, which he chairs.
A legislative deadline previously killed HB 2469 in the House Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee.
There are still too many looming questions about the extent of cross-pollination from GMOs and the efficacy of mediation aimed at promoting coexistence, Dembrow said.
“I want to get a sense if there are problems with contamination or if there are problems with the mediation process,” he said.