SALEM — Deschutes County’s vegetation manager, Dan Sherwin, traveled to Salem on Tuesday to urge more spending on statewide invasive weed control.

At a hearing before the Senate Environment and Natural Resources Committee, Sherwin spoke in support of a bill, SB 629, that would set up a new statewide noxious weed grant program to support counties’ weed control efforts.

Supporters of the bill say 22 out of 36 counties statewide lack weed control programs. After the hearing, Sherwin noted that two neighboring counties, Lane and Wheeler, are among those without a vigorous county weed control effort, allowing more invasive weeds to enter Central Oregon.

The bill, which is supported by Central Oregon’s Salem delegation, was not voted on.