Oregon Public Broadcasting

Redmond planners are watching carefully as a bill that would rezone 465 acres of undeveloped city land makes it way through the legislature. The bill unanimously passed the Senate -- but could come out of the House a different bill entirely.

Republican State Senator Chris Telfer says her bill was designed to restore the land’s original zoning designation to ensure space for Redmond’s industrial growth. But in the House, Democrat Dave Hunt attached legislation for a slew of statewide infrastructure, transportation and education projects, to be paid for with an increase in lottery bonds.

Telfer says the that funding plan for Hunt's bill is risky. But she’s also worried about her own bill. Should the amended version pass the House, she says it will need to be reread on the Senate floor.

Telfer explains, "Which means maybe Monday or Tuesday it would be heard. Now, we’re due to be out of here Wednesday - done - session over. So if there’s a hold up on the Senate floor, we run out of time."

Telfer was once confident that her bill would pass. Now, she says she’s not so sure. Hunt says he believes Telfer’s bill will pass with or without the addition.