Signed by Governor Tina Kotek

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that repeals a map that identified parts of Oregon as high risk for catastrophic wildfires.

Highlights:

• Repeals a map that identified parts of Oregon as high risk for catastrophic wildfires (Sec. 1-21).

• Specifies that the map (Sec. 1-21):

• Identified areas at high wildfire risk;

• Required stricter building codes; and 

• Created defensible space for roughly 100,000 properties in the name of wildfire prevention.

• Requires state agencies to produce fire regulations that property owners can choose to follow or municipal governments can adopt and enforce locally (Sec. 1-21).

• Amends and makes additional changes to the state’s wildfire system, including (Sec. 1-21):

• Directs the Public Utility Commission to report on actions taken to reduce wildfire risk from utility infrastructure;

• Adding 2 members to the state Wildfire Programs Advisory Council, one from the firefighting field and one from the insurance industry; and

• Requiring the Department of Environmental Quality to report on community smoke monitoring and response.

• Specifies that the provisions of this bill shall declare an emergency and shall take effect immediately upon passage and approval by the Governor (Sec. 22).

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that repeals a map that identified parts of Oregon as high risk for catastrophic wildfires.

Highlights:

• Repeals a map that identified parts of Oregon as high risk for catastrophic wildfires (Sec. 1-21).

• Specifies that the map (Sec. 1-21):

• Identified areas at high wildfire risk;

• Required stricter building codes; and 

• Created defensible space for roughly 100,000 properties in the name of wildfire prevention.

• Requires state agencies to produce fire regulations that property owners can choose to follow or municipal governments can adopt and enforce locally (Sec. 1-21).

• Amends and makes additional changes to the state’s wildfire system, including (Sec. 1-21):

• Directs the Public Utility Commission to report on actions taken to reduce wildfire risk from utility infrastructure;

• Adding 2 members to the state Wildfire Programs Advisory Council, one from the firefighting field and one from the insurance industry; and

• Requiring the Department of Environmental Quality to report on community smoke monitoring and response.

• Specifies that the provisions of this bill shall declare an emergency and shall take effect immediately upon passage and approval by the Governor (Sec. 22).

Full Bill Text