Rep. Breese-Iverson’s bill to boost farm stands, improve ‘farm store’ permits passes in session’s final hours
SALEM, Ore. (KTVZ) — The Oregon Senate passed a Central Oregon lawmaker's bill during Friday's final hours of the legislative session to preserve Oregon’s farm stands and create new opportunities for farmers through the enhanced Farm Store permit.
House Bill 4153-A passed the Senate by a 21-8 vote, after previously passing the House 40–14.
Representative Vikki Breese‑Iverson (R‑Prineville), the bill’s chief sponsor, released the following statement in a news release that continues below:
“I brought forward HB 4153-A to support Oregon’s family farms as they face economic and regulatory challenges. These farms are the heart of our communities and showcase the best of Oregon agriculture. This bill preserves the future of farming by modernizing outdated rules, clarifying the law, and giving counties tools to fairly administer permits. I am grateful to the Governor, counties, and all our cosponsors for their partnership.”
Additional chief sponsors and supporters also released statements:
“As the saying goes, we saved the best for last. HB 4153-A allowing farm stores is without a doubt the best bill of the session. I am proud be a chief sponsor and to have carried it on the Senator floor.” – Sen. Fred Girod (R-Silverton)
“HB 4153-A helps support Oregon’s farmers by creating a clearer pathway for farm stores and agritourism activities that allow families to buy directly from the people who grow their food. By setting reasonable guardrails—like limits on store size and requirements that land remain in active agricultural production—we can strengthen local farm economies while protecting Oregon’s farmland. This bill is about helping working farms diversify their income while keeping agriculture at the heart of our rural communities.” - Rep. Sue Rieke Smith (D-King City)
“I am proud to support this bill because it protects the small-scale agriculture that defines my coastal district. Even the very smallest farms now have a clear path to a farm stand or farm store permit, ensuring they can continue connecting with our community while staying in business.” - Senator David Brock Smith (R-Port Orford)
“We applaud the passage of HB 4153-A, the Farm Store bill, earlier this week in the House and today in the Senate. The overwhelming and bipartisan support for the legislation is the culmination of years of collaborative work, among stakeholders, that balances economic opportunity and farmland protections. Importantly, it introduces farm stores as a critical, commonsense tool for our state’s producers that encourages profitability at a time when our farmers need it the most. The Oregon Farm Bureau thanks Representative Breese-Iverson for her steadfast leadership and is grateful to the many legislative supporters of Oregon agriculture.”- Angela Bailey, President of Oregon Farm Bureau
Current farm stand permits come with major limitations, including significant limits on indoor gathering spaces, restrictions on simple family‑friendly structures like play areas, strict income caps, and significant prohibitions on educational events.
HB 4153‑A creates a new Farm Store permit. It allows an active farm to sell farm products, offer local goods from other producers, and host limited agritourism events such as pumpkin patches, corn mazes, flower festivals, and farm tours.
The bill gives counties modern, clear, and enforceable rules to regulate access, egress, parking, hours of operation, noise, sanitation, and public health and safety. The bill prohibits using a farm store as a residence, hotel, café, or drive thru.
HB 4153‑A was developed though a robust process including a wide coalition of stakeholders including the Governor’s Office, Oregon Department of Agriculture (ODA), Department of Land Conservation and Development (DLCD), Oregon Property Owners Association, Oregon Farm Bureau, Association of Oregon Counties, and farm operators large and small across the state.
HB 4153‑A will be signed by the Governor at a date to be determined.
