Editor’s Note: As we predicted in our story this AM, Janeen Sollman has pulled her Senate Bill 1586 from the Legislative Agenda. More on this to follow. But thanks to all of the people and organizations who fought this massive and abnormal land grab here in Hillsboro and Washington County!
Voices Of The People- A Community Service of the Hillsboro Herald:
PRESS RELEASE: SALEM, Ore. — Farmers and farmworkers, grassroots conservation and smart growth organizations, local labor unions, and other local leaders are now breathing a sigh of relief: SB 1586, which would have rezoned 1,700 acres of world-class farmland for industrial development and created a new corporate tax credit, is not moving forward this session. This bill was identified as a major threat to a healthy Oregon by the Oregon Conservation Network, which represents over 40 state-level and local environmental organizations.
“Our voices, when banded together, matter. Today shows that people—not big tech—still have the power here in Oregon,” said Washington County Commissioner Nafisa Fai. “I am so, so proud of Oregonians, our allies in the Legislature, the over 35 groups and two dozen local, regional, state elected officials who opposed SB 1586.”
Almost 90% of nearly 900 pieces of testimony submitted on SB 1586 was in opposition, with a common concern being the sacrifice to some of Oregon’s—and the world’s—highest-quality farmland. Under the guise of bringing jobs, SB 1586 would have paved over Hillsboro’s world-class soils and put over 30 farms out of business, including Jack Bee Little Acres, owned and operated by Scott and Justine Ellis.
“We are so grateful for all the people who testified against this bill; it means so much to us and to our farm that this bill is being withdrawn,” said Scott and Justine.
Another major concern from the public testimony was the allowance of data center development. While the bill was described by its proponents as supporting advanced manufacturing, a significant loophole also allowed for this farmland to be turned into an unlimited, unregulated amount of accessory data centers.
“Destroying irreplaceable farmland for temporary data centers is not viable economic development,” said Nellie McAdams, executive director of Oregon Agricultural Trust. “We must stop bulldozing over our farms and discrediting the value, innovation, and economic power that farmers, farmworkers, and ranchers bring to our state.”
SB 1586 would have offered hundreds of millions of dollars in corporate tax breaks—including to data centers—at a time when the state is slashing budgets for basic social services, and Hillsboro’s three major industrial technology manufacturers have laid off thousands of advanced manufacturing employees in the past year. Meanwhile, data centers have been found to provide relatively few jobs; a 2025 report by Food and Water Watch found that, in Virginia, “data centers generate just 1 permanent job for every $13 million invested.”
“SB 1586 would have done nothing to address the root causes of recent layoffs in our region,” said Hillsboro City Councilor Kipperlyn Sinclair. “We need data-driven decisions and binding commitments that deliver real economic security for local working families while diversifying economic opportunity—without paving over farmland.”
Over 55% of the testimony that opposed SB 1586 expressed concerns about data centers specifically. In addition to concerns about low job development, testimony also noted the impacts that data centers have on increased energy costs; reduced quality of life for residents (data centers cause noise and air pollution); and negative impacts to global climate, local ecosystems, wildlife, and watersheds.
Many streams run alongside and within the acreage that was targeted by SB 1586—including McKay, Waible, and Storey Creeks—which simultaneously benefit communities and wildlife. Vulnerable species, such as coho salmon, run through the creeks in this rural reserve and rely on cool and clean water for survival.
“When farmlands are converted to industrially zoned land, we lose valuable wildlife habitat and flood resilience as the area is paved over,” said Tualatin Riverkeepers Policy and Advocacy Director Kelsey Shaw Nakama. “The destruction of wetlands and riparian areas result in increased erosion and pollution, as well as warmer water temperatures that are particularly harmful to the sensitive Tualatin River system and the salmon that return to our waters to reproduce.”
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This was just one of many attempts by the Oregon state legislature to bring these 1,700 acres into Hillsboro’s UGB over the years. Each time, strong public opposition prevailed—but the legislature’s repeated attempts at industrial development of this important farmland have harmed public trust in state and local officials.
“We’re thrilled for this positive outcome again, and we’re proud of the collective effort that brought about this victory,” said Faun Hosey, president of Save Helvetia. “History has shown us that we need to continue to keep an eye out for continued attempts to destroy farmland. We’ll be ready to fight again when necessary.”
Another element of looking towards the future is economic development; this bill claimed to be crucial to the state’s economic future, but it did not contain or reference a comprehensive, statewide look at the needs of Oregonians.
“SB 1586 skipped over a fundamental truth that we should and could be addressing together: There is a surplus of vacant land and empty buildings inside our urban growth boundaries,” said Sam Diaz, executive director of 1000 Friends of Oregon. “Instead of pushing to pave over our farmers’ and farmworkers’ livelihoods and destroy some of the world’s best soils, we ask our elected officials and our business leaders to partner together to revitalize our cities and towns.”
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Organizations who contributed to this press release
1000 Friends of Oregon
Founded in 1974, 1000 Friends of Oregon is Oregon’s land use policy watchdog and a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. 1000 Friends partners with Oregonians, local businesses, and community organizations to enhance quality of life for all Oregonians. We accomplish this by strengthening our land use planning protections for a strong democracy, healthy working lands, shared prosperity, and vibrant cities and towns. friends.org
Oregon Agricultural Trust
Oregon Agricultural Trust partners with farmers and ranchers to protect agricultural lands for the benefit of Oregon’s economy, communities, and landscapes. OAT is an agricultural land trust that works collaboratively around the state to safeguard Oregon’s farm and ranch lands and the rural communities that depend upon them. We permanently protect ag land, help it stay in production, educate our community, and help advocate for farmland preservation. oregonagtrust.org
Oregon Conservation Network
The Oregon Conservation Network, a coalition of over 40 organizations throughout the state, comes together to pass pro-conservation priorities, protect our unique quality of life, and ensure a better Oregon for our children. OCN is coordinated by the Oregon League of Conservation Voters’ Education Fund and powered by the tens of thousands of Oregonians who belong to OCN’s member organizations. ocn.org
Oregon League of Conservation Voters
Since 1972, the Oregon League of Conservation Voters has been a unique and valued member of Oregon’s environmental community. We work within local and state governments to demand clean air and water, healthy forests and wildlife, and a renewable energy future for all Oregonians. Alongside our members, we take political action to stand up for Oregon’s people and places. olcv.org
Save Helvetia
Save Helvetia is a coalition of farmers, business owners, concerned citizens, neighbors, and residents of the greater Helvetia, Oregon area who are working to protect the Helvetia community and its neighboring agricultural lands from unlawful uses. savehelvetia.org
Tualatin Riverkeepers
Tualatin Riverkeepers protects, restores, and expands recreational access to the Tualatin River watershed through advocacy and fostering broad community engagement. We envision a thriving Tualatin River watershed sustained by an engaged community who enjoys all of the benefits a healthy river system has to offer. tualatinriverkeepers.org
Sign up for the OAT newsletter here
Nellie McAdams | Executive Director
she | her | hers
PO Box 7359 | Salem, OR 97303
(971) 409-6806 | nellie@oregonagtrust.org
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So now that you have nixed this are you going to do anything for the residents that live on Scotch Church Road. It is now a “commuter road” instead of a neighborhood. The speed limit is 55 with most people going over that. We take our lives into our hands each and every time we try to leave or enter or driveways. There are accidents almost daily. What are you going to do to take care of the residents that have lived here for over 80 years??????
Well, I did not Nix anything. The good Senator did and she and others were reminded about the Grand Bargain that was made and one of the leaders of the NWLA agreed to it and made it – even if he did not tell everyone. Traffic effects everyone- everywhere. I watched as my Orenco homeland was overtaking over the last 40 years and lived in the middle of 40 years of non-stop 24 hours a day of construction. Every neighborhood and sector of Washington County has been overtaking my traffic. That basdge belongs to people like Bob Terry, And Duyck, Steve Callaway, Jerry Willey, Sollman, Treece, Harrington – and a long list of Growth Over Everything players. I have fought for safer and better roads everywhere including helping the good people of Kinton and Scholls try to stop the tens of thousands of car trips a day that have now ruined their roads and rural lifestyle. I get it- it is horrible and we have lived with it everyday at every property we have owned. I will help- I will advocate for your road at others at every turn. But your neighbors and land owners ulitmately need to do the heavy lifting and show up at every level. Otherwise you will just get more of the same. You can fight to get the speed limit dropped and other traffic calming measures too.
Cheryl, you have more allies on that front than you might realize.
I don’t like hearing that the Hodgeses can’t harvest their blueberries without idiots on Jackson School tailgating their equipment. I don’t like seeing that accident-mitigating circles from Meek and Jackson out to Forest Grove are being used as excuses to bypass 26 and 47 and turn Scotch Church, Zion Church, Wren, Cornelius Schefflin and Verboort into a drag strip.
If those of us down on Evergreeen can get an enforced 45-mph limit (though the turn on Jackson South remains treacherous and cars still fly through front lawns on Glencoe), there is no reason that the whole county can’t fight for speed and cargo restrictions on rural roads including Scotch Church. 26 and TVH exist for a reason, and the back roads should exist primarily for farm equipment and through traffic… not high-speed commuting.
The county and cities like Hillsboro, Cornelius, and Forest Grove like touting urban growth near rural spaces, but they do little to help the two meaningfully coexist. Slowing things down back there is a huge step, and for the sake of the folks planting and harvesting the surrounding fields, you have my support. Also, Nafisa Fai pledged that she’d ride along on a combine to see what traffic and speeds were like on our seemingly quiet back roads. I’d hold her and other officials to that.
Thank you Dirk and to everyone who fought hard to save our community and farmland from big money, more huge ugly concrete buildings, and bought off politicians. We appreciate you!
Interesting to see the “friends” of a certain local politician respond on Sollman’s social media this morning. Beyond the assertion that Oregon is withering on the vine, that “prosperity” lies only in the “roads, venues, and services” that Hillsboro provides (no mention of TVH, OR-8, the original Hill High, the poor farm or some of the other legacy infrastructure and services that haven’t exactly held), and that those 1,700 acres are all that stand between Oregon’s schoolchildren going off to college and coming home to “a dead state,” there’s this little rejoinder:
“Threats, and intimidation, and lies have dissuaded other lawmakers from making courageous decisions. It is deeply disturbing and unfortunate.”
When public meeting, letters and calls to representatives, and media scrutiny around legislation are considered “threats, intimidation, and lies,” the person on the receiving end of all of it isn’t a legislator anymore—they’re a lobbyist.
Kudos to you Jason,
Calling names and character assassination, instead of substantive objections to objectionable policies, derive popularity from us getting all wound up by self serving folks seduced by their emotions, instead of the results of the policies they object to . . If I have learned anything from goats, 4 legged or 2, it is that reason, civility, and fair play are almost ALWAYS, at least in the short term, “trumped” by foolish/childish fear, invective, and outbursts, which, as we now get to watch on the many screens available to us, usually ends up leading to seemingly endless destruction of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness . . while I am saddened by policies that seem poorly thought out, short sighted, or just plain dumb, I am relieved to read an objection phrased to make evident that foolishness, without offending the sensibilities of my 2d grade teacher, if she heard it on an elementary school playground . . . . thank you . . . my apologies for running-on-n-on sentences.
The Editor Notes, “Janeen Sollman has pulled her Senate Bill 1586 from the Legislative Agenda.”
How Noble of her!
In the Press Release it states that Senate Bill 1586 “is not moving forward this session.”
BEWARE, however!
While I am very grateful to all of you who worked so hard to oppose 1586, you, of course, are aware that if the Evil Ms. Sollman is reelected in November she undoubtedly will reintroduce this Pig Legislation albeit with some fresh Lipstick.
I’ve known Ms. Sollman since her HSD1J days and wouldn’t trust her an inch, and along with her sidekick Ms. Pace we all need to prepare for next years Looooong Legislative session now. The same characters who have and will continue to $ponsor the likes of Sollman, Pace, Treece, and the rest of their ilk will want results for their investments!