All Roll Calls
Yes: 77 • No: 20
OregonHB 39402025 Regular SessionHouseWALLET
Relating to wildfire; prescribing an effective date; and providing for revenue raising that requires approval by a three-fifths majority.
Sponsored By: Anthony Broadman (Democratic), Bobby Levy (Republican), John Lively (Democratic), Kate Lieber (Democratic)
Signed by Governor
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
10 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 5 costs, 2 mixed.
New wildfire retrofit grants for homeowners
The State Fire Marshal must create grants for eligible wildfire-resistant upgrades and materials, working with the state's consumer services department. Grants cover homes existing on the law's effective date and homes built following wildfire damage, directly or through counties. Priorities include wildland-urban interface homes, defensible-space work, socially vulnerable communities, low-income applicants with financial need, and qualifying wildfire victims. Applications must open at least annually for existing homes and as needed for homes built following wildfire damage. Award amounts are not specified; recipients must finish on approved timelines and report their work, and counties must also report.
Landowners get forest patrol assessment cap
Forest patrol assessments on non-public grazing land and timberland cannot exceed half the district's allocated protection cost per acre. This cap excludes distributions from the Oregon Forest Land Protection Fund and includes qualifying tribal fee-owned land. The law also changes which payments count toward the limit on owners' fire-protection obligations. The list removes payments under ORS 477.760(4) and 477.880 and includes fund payments under ORS 321.015(2), 477.277 and 477.295. District assessments also count; the net effect of this accounting change on each owner's bill is not stated.
New funding rules for forest protection
The law creates the State Forestry Department Large Wildfire Fund for wildfire mitigation and suppression, accepting state appropriations, federal receipts, and transfers. Necessary transfers to the department's continuously funded accounts are allowed, but transfers to the Oregon Forest Land Protection Fund are barred. Before each fiscal year, the Emergency Fire Cost Committee must fully distribute payments directed by district budgets to forestry agencies and districts. District budgets cover fire preparation, prevention, and suppression but exclude central administration, specified statewide or regional services, and related purchasing. The law also repeals ORS 477.415; the supplied text does not explain that repeal's practical effect.
Application rules for combining forestland lots
Owners seeking combined-lot assessment treatment must have adjoining forestland lots under identical ownership. Applications to the State Forester are due April 15 of the fiscal year before treatment begins. After approval, owners must reapply every five years. The State Forester may charge $25 per combined lot for each initial or later application.
Higher wildfire surcharge on improved forestland
When the forest protection fund's available balance is below $22.5 million, improved lots subject to forest assessments face a surcharge. The annual base charge rises from $47.50 to $58 per improved lot and goes to that fund. Inflation adjustments begin in 2025, and the charge cannot decrease. Improved lots include those classified as improved by county assessors or containing a manufactured dwelling. Owners with approved forest protection plans are exempt, and approved combined lots count as one lot.
Landowners face wildfire cost assessments
For grazing land in forest protection districts, the protection-cost rate used in assessments is at least 30 cents per acre. It adjusts annually for inflation since 2025 using the West Region consumer price index and cannot fall below the prior year's rate. When State Forester protection costs exceed a district's budget, the excess enters the next fiscal year's budget. Those excess costs are assessed against district grazing land or timberland. Costs eligible for emergency suppression funding from the State Forestry Department Large Wildfire Fund are excluded.
New tax on oral nicotine products
The oral nicotine tax applies to reporting periods beginning January 1, 2026. Distributors pay 65 cents per package containing 20 or fewer units. Larger packages are taxed at 3.25 cents per unit, with the package tax rounded to the nearest whole cent. It covers noncombustible oral products containing nicotine or nicotine analogs, but excludes moist snuff and FDA-regulated drugs or devices. Consumers can face higher prices when distributors pass along the tax.
Timber harvesters pay higher wildfire tax
The fire-suppression harvest tax rises from 62.5 cents to a $1 base rate per thousand board feet. Each taxpayer's first 25,000 board feet harvested annually is excluded. Beginning January 1, 2026, the inflation-adjusted system uses increases in the specified West Region consumer price index. The comparison period is the 12 months ending August 31, 2024, and rates round to the nearest one-tenth cent. The tax applies to merchantable forest products harvested on forestlands; customer price effects are not established.
Forestland minimum charges depend on reserves
The law raises the base minimum fire-protection assessment from $18.75 to $20 per separately assessed lot or parcel. The full base minimum goes to the Oregon Forest Land Protection Fund; inflation adjustments start in 2025 and cannot decrease it. Separate reserve-based rules set the minimum at $18.75 when the fund's available balance is $22.5 million or less. Above $22.5 million through $30 million, the minimum is $16.88, with $1.88 reserved for the fund. Above $30 million, the minimum is $15.
Wildfire funds receive taxes and interest
Starting January 1, 2026, net oral nicotine tax revenue supports two wildfire funds after expenses, refunds, and credits. The Landscape Resiliency Fund receives one-third, and the Community Risk Reduction Fund receives two-thirds. Each month, the state also divides General Fund interest tied to the Oregon Rainy Day Fund. Landscape resiliency gets 6.7%, community risk reduction gets 13.3%, and the Rainy Day Fund keeps 80%. These interest transfers are subject to the exception in ORS 293.148; no dollar totals are specified.
Sponsors & Cosponsors
Sponsors
Anthony Broadman
Democratic • Senate
Bobby Levy
Republican • House
John Lively
Democratic • House
Kate Lieber
Democratic • Senate
Cosponsors
There are no cosponsors for this bill.
Roll Call Votes
Senate vote • 6/26/2025
Rules suspended. Third reading. Carried by Broadman, Golden. Passed.
Yes: 20 • No: 8
Senate vote • 6/25/2025
Rules: Heard and Reported Out
Yes: 3 • No: 2
House vote • 6/23/2025
Third reading. Carried by Levy B. Passed.
Yes: 37 • No: 8
House vote • 6/19/2025
Revenue: Heard and Reported Out with Amendments
Yes: 6 • No: 1
House vote • 4/8/2025
Climate, Energy, and Environment: Heard and Reported Out with Amendments
Yes: 11 • No: 1
Actions Timeline
Chapter 581, (2025 Laws): Effective date September 26, 2025.
8/13/2025HouseGovernor signed.
7/24/2025HousePresident signed.
6/27/2025SenateSpeaker signed.
6/27/2025HouseNash declared potential conflict of interest.
6/26/2025SenateRules suspended. Third reading. Carried by Broadman, Golden. Passed.
6/26/2025SenateSecond reading.
6/26/2025SenateRecommendation: Do pass the B-Eng. bill.
6/26/2025SenateWork Session held.
6/25/2025SenatePublic Hearing held.
6/24/2025SenateReferred to Rules.
6/24/2025SenateFirst reading. Referred to President's desk.
6/24/2025SenateThird reading. Carried by Levy B. Passed.
6/23/2025HouseSecond reading.
6/20/2025HouseRecommendation: Do pass with amendments and be printed B-Engrossed.
6/19/2025HouseWork Session held.
6/19/2025HousePublic Hearing held.
6/18/2025HousePublic Hearing held.
5/1/2025HouseReferred to Revenue by prior reference.
4/15/2025HouseWithout recommendation as to passage, with amendments, be printed A-Engrossed, and be referred to Revenue by prior reference.
4/15/2025HouseWork Session held.
4/8/2025HousePublic Hearing held.
4/1/2025HouseReferred to Climate, Energy, and Environment with subsequent referral to Revenue.
3/18/2025HouseFirst reading. Referred to Speaker's desk.
3/18/2025House
Bill Text
HREV Amendment -A24 (Adopted)
6/19/2025
HREV Amendment -A21 (Proposed)
6/18/2025
HREV Amendment -A22 (Proposed)
6/18/2025
HREV Amendment A7 (Proposed)
5/1/2025
HREV Amendment A8 (Proposed)
5/1/2025
HREV Amendment A9 (Proposed)
5/1/2025
HCEE Amendment -1 (Adopted)
4/8/2025
HCEE Amendment -2 (Proposed)
4/8/2025
HCEE Amendment -5 (Proposed)
4/8/2025
HCEE Amendment -1 (Proposed)
4/3/2025
HCEE Amendment -2 (Proposed)
4/3/2025
HCEE Amendment -1 (Proposed)
4/1/2025
HCEE Amendment -2 (Proposed)
4/1/2025
A-Engrossed
B-Engrossed
Enrolled
House Amendments to A-Engrossed
House Amendments to Introduced
Introduced
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