Baker County Senator McLane Co-Sponsors Bill Clarifying Corner-Crossing Access to Public Lands

Senator Mike McLane and Sen. Anthony Broadman introduced Senate Bill 1545 to clarify when Oregonians may step from one public parcel to another where parcels meet at a single corner. The measure, filed for the legislative session that begins Feb. 2, aims to remove what supporters call a legal gray area and to protect both public access and private-property rights in places with scattered public holdings.

Corner crossing occurs where two public parcels touch at a corner with private land on either side. The issue has particular resonance in eastern Baker County, where Bureau of Land Management parcels are interspersed with private ranches and timberland. Local mapping shows more than 20 locations in that area where public parcels meet at a corner, creating frequent situations for hunters, hikers, anglers and ranchers who move across the landscape.

The bill’s sponsors framed the proposal as balancing access and landowner protections. McLane stated, "Legal clarity improves access to public lands and protects landowners," and added, "Oregonians deserve common sense from Salem on how and when we can access public resources. Senate Bill 1545 makes Oregonians’ access to our lands clearer." Broadman emphasized the cultural and economic stakes, saying, "Our public lands are part of our heritage and who we are as Oregonians," and added, "Senate Bill 1545 will help preserve access for hunters exercising our rights to access federal lands across our state. We also owe it to the tribes, ranchers, farmers and timber owners to ensure corner crossing doesn’t interfere with working Oregon lands and their stewardship of our state. Our proposal strikes that balance."

The bill draws its immediate impetus from a Wyoming case in which hunters charged with trespassing after a corner crossing won on appeal in the 10th Circuit Court. Supporters contend the Ninth Circuit, which covers Oregon, has left the question unsettled. Backers in Salem say statutory clarification would reduce the risk that law-abiding residents face criminal or civil trespass claims when moving between public parcels.

Support for SB 1545 runs across party lines in its initial roll call: the bill reportedly has endorsements from 10 Republican and Democratic legislators representing both rural and urban districts. The Oregon Hunters Association also backed the measure. Amy Patrick, OHA’s policy representative in Salem, said, "Oregon’s public lands are incredibly important to hunters, hikers, bird watchers, anglers, and all Oregonians seeking to enjoy the state’s natural beauty," adding, "Providing some level of legal certainty ensures public land access when such access is vital to everything we do. OHA thanks Senators McLane and Broadman for spearheading this critical effort."

Some landowners and public-land advocates caution that land purchases or exchanges could be a longer-term solution to reduce access conflicts. For Baker County residents, the bill promises near-term legal clarity if enacted, but its ultimate effect will depend on legislative hearings and any amendments that surface once lawmakers convene Feb. 2. Residents who use BLM parcels for hunting, grazing or recreation can expect to see testimony and debate in Salem that will shape how corner crossings are treated across eastern Oregon.