Congressman Cliff Bentz introduced the O&C Renewal Act of 2026.
The legislation will reaffirm timber production as the primary purpose of Oregon & California (O&C) lands and restore responsible, sustained-yield forest management across more than two million acres of federal timberlands in western Oregon.
The bill amends the 1937 Oregon and California Lands Act to clarify that permanent timber production under the principle of sustained yield is the primary purpose of O&C lands.
Revenues generated from responsible timber harvests are intended to directly support county governments and fund schools, roads, public safety, and other essential services, while sustaining rural jobs, improving forest health, and reducing the risk of catastrophic wildfire.
The legislation restores O&C lands to healthier, more resilient forest conditions while providing long-term economic stability for Oregon's timber industry.
The O&C Renewal Act directs the Bureau of Land Management to modernize and finalize new Resource Management Plans within two years to ensure compliance with the law, includes O&C counties as cooperating agencies in the planning process, and maintains proven cooperative wildfire protection agreements with the State of Oregon.
By reaffirming congressional intent and requiring active, responsible forest management, the O&C Renewal Act provides clarity, certainty, and a durable path forward for O&C land management. The legislation strengthens rural economies, protects communities and watersheds, supports family-wage jobs, and ensures these federally designated timberlands once again serve the people and counties they were intended to benefit.
