SALEM — A Christian summer camp in rural Antelope is hoping to expand by some 1,500 overnight beds on its 65,000-acre ranch, which straddles both Jefferson and Wasco counties, but first the camp owners need approval from state lawmakers.

Proponents of the idea testified Tuesday that the youth camp changes young people’s lives and contributes positively both to the state and local areas. Opponents told lawmakers they shouldn’t consider a carve-out land-use bill for one entity.

The 62,000-acre camp, known as Rajneeshpuram in the 1980s, is looking to expand by an additional 1,500 overnight beds. Camp officials have identified 4,000 acres where they would like to expand. Within those 4,000 acres, the footprint of the actual camps would be four different 100-acre sites.

Camp officials estimated spending $75 million or more on the project.

Linda Swearingen, the Redmond-based lobbyist pushing the bill, said that without lawmakers’ approval, the camp could not expand.

She said she spoke with local officials in both Wasco and Jefferson counties and should the bill pass, county approval and public comment would still be required before the camp could break ground.

The property was once a cattle ranch, then converted by Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh, a guru from India, and thousands of his followers into a religious enclave. The camp is about an hour north of Madras.

“For those of us who lived in Wasco County during that time, it was an interesting time,” said Rep. John Huffman, R-The Dalles, a chief sponsor of House Bill 3098.

Without the Rajneeshees having created the “illegal city,” which at one time could accommodate 5,000 full-time residents, Young Life, the Christian nonprofit, could not operate its camps for middle school, high school and college students in what would otherwise likely be land zoned for agricultural use.

Swearingen said she’s not trying to “circumvent” the process but the only way to get approval is through legislation.

Jonathan Manton, a lobbyist for Central Oregon Landwatch, which opposes the bill, said “a special law” is not necessary. The camp should go through the destination resort land-use process, he said. They are, after all, proposing ball fields, archery, shooting ranches, aquatic facilities and horseback arenas, among other activities, coupled with the overnight lodging.

Continuing to “carve out” land-use exemptions for certain entities collectively threatens Oregon land-use laws, Manton said.

Former Jefferson County planner Jon Skidmore submitted written testimony to the committee. He supports the bill but urged the committee to go further. The state land-use system, he wrote, “isn’t a good fit for the county.”

“In the past four years, the Legislature has had to step in to create ‘work arounds’ to the land-use system. For instance, the Metolius Area of Critical State Concern was needed to protect the Metolius Basin,” Skidmore wrote.

These bills, Skidmore said, are “mere Band-Aids to a problem that is much more significant.”

“Oregon’s land-use system needs additional flexibility as it routinely prohibits legitimate economic development activities that will not adversely impact the productive farm and forest uses it aims to protect,” Skidmore wrote.

House Bill 3098

What it does: Creates a process by which The 62,000-acre Young Life camp may expand across 4,000 acres in two counties. The proposed expansion would still need local approval.

What’s next: Committee members will likely schedule a work session