[JURIST] The Oregon Supreme Court [official website] on Tuesday upheld [opinion text] a controversial property rights compensation law, reversing a circuit court decision and declaring the law constitutional. The law, known as Measure 37 [text; official backgrounder], requires the government to either provide compensation to landowners for reductions of property value caused by certain land use regulations or not to apply such regulations. The Supreme Court said state and federal constitutions don't require compensation to landowners, but that they also don't prohibit compensation.

Advocates of the law [Yes on 37 website] hailed the decision as a victory for property owners and developers. Opponents such as 1000 Friends of Oregon [advocacy website] say the measure is not fair and infringes on the rights of property owners. AP has more.