Wildfire hazard map is finally repealed
By Terry Murry on Wednesday, June 25th, 2025 in Columbia Basin News More Top Stories
SALEM – The Oregon House of Representatives passed Senate Bill 83, which lifts the regulations imposed on communities by the Statewide Wildfire Hazard Map. The vote was 50 to 1.
On several occasions, House Republicans tried to bring the bill forward for a vote. The GOP leadership said that Democrat leaders blocked those efforts in an attempt to leverage taking funds from the income tax kicker to citizens in the form of a tax on the kicker to fund wildfire prevention costs.
“Despite an incredibly frustrating political process, we appreciate the members who have chosen to do the right thing in appealing these maps,” House Republican Leader Christine Drazan (R-Canby) said.
After the Republicans failed on five attempts, it took a Democrat to move the bill out of committee and to the floor of the House for a vote. Rep. Emerson Levy (D-Bend) made the move shortly after the House approved a new nicotine tax to fund wildfire prevention efforts.
The measure had passed the Senate unanimously on April 22. It now goes to Governor Kotek for her signature.
