Bill to repeal of the Wildfire Hazard Map moves forward
By Terry Murry on Wednesday, April 9th, 2025 in Columbia Basin News Eastern/Southeast Oregon News More Top Stories Northeastern Oregon News
SALEM – Oregon Legislature Republicans celebrated a major victory as Senate Bill 83 moved out of the Senate Committee on Natural Resources and Wildfire. The committee voted for the repeal of Oregon’s Wildfire Hazard Map to advance to its next step.
The bill empowers local communities to make decisions tailored to their unique needs, enabling them to take effective steps to protect their homes. It also ensures taxpayer dollars are spent where they have the most impact, its sponsors say. That would be supporting local efforts like defensible space, forest thinning, and wildfire readiness programs.
The bill was filed prior to the session beginning by Senate President Rob Wagner at the request of the Senate Interim Committee on Natural Resources and Wildfire. While the news release from the Oregon Republican Party stated the next step for the legislation would be a vote on the floor of the Senate, it’s path could require it first go before the Joint Ways and Means Committee.
“We are celebrating with the thousands of Oregonians who have fought for this change,” the GOP lawmakers wrote in an official statement. “Rural Oregonians raised their voices and demanded action and as a result we’re finally seeing real progress. Senate Bill 83 puts power back in the hands of the people, not government bureaucrats. The wildfire hazard map caused fear and uncertainty, burdening families with costly and unfair one-size-fits-all mandates. This bill repeals that mess, empowers people to protect their homes without the threat of government interference, and focuses on practical solutions for wildfire prevention. With this step forward, we’re delivering the change that rural Oregon has long deserved.”
