LOC News
Cities Invited to Join “Water Day at the Capitol”
Oregon’s “Water Day at the Capitol” event will take place Monday, February 2, the first day of the 2026 legislative session, and the LOC encourages cities to participate by contacting their legislators and submitting a letter of support for Water Professionals Appreciation Week (House Bill 4005).
“Water Day” provides an important opportunity to elevate local water, drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater priorities directly with legislators and key partners. The event will include information tables in the Capitol Galleria throughout the day. A detailed schedule can be found here.
During “Water Day” a hearing on the creation of Water Professionals Appreciation Week (House Bill 4005) is tentatively scheduled for 1 p.m. in the House Committee on Agriculture, Land Use, Natural Resources, and Water. The LOC encourages members to submit a letter of support for House Bill 4005 when the bill is scheduled for a public hearing.
A simple letter of support could include reference to your local water professionals and the following:
- Water Professionals Appreciation Week is being created to highlight the important role of water industry professionals and local public water utilities in ensuring safe and reliable tap water, and wastewater for Oregon.
Cities are strongly encouraged to use “Water Day” as a springboard to connect with their legislators while they are in Salem or via email. Even if a city can’t make it to Salem, this is a great opportunity to build relationships with state legislators and elevate local water needs.
Contact: Michael Martin, Lobbyist – mmartin@orcities.org
Last Updated 1/30/26