the two bills have nothing to do with the story.  
The two bills are not exemptions, the small amount someone would move prospecting on weekends or mom and pop mining is less than would require a permit but the state wants money to declare they are excluded from permitting. and the other keeps the dredge ban in salmon habitat except on a federal mining claim. Even on a gold bearing stream mining on all these claims effects less than 2% of a stream, that leaves 98% of Salmon habitat unaffected.
the state is trying to claim jump its own citizens. With 2220 mining claims in Douglas, Josephine and Jackson County this is a hardship on the rural county's people. all small scale mining requires a DEQ water quality permit.