OregonSB 832025 Regular SessionSenate

Relating to wildfire; and declaring an emergency.

Sponsored By: Sponsor information unavailable

Signed by Governor

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

5 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 0 costs, 2 mixed.

Prior property wildfire hazard assignments canceled

The law voids State Forestry Department orders assigning property to wildfire hazard zones under ORS 477.490, 2023 Edition. This applies only to properties covered by those orders. The provision does not assign a replacement zone or provide a payment to property owners.

Local wildfire help prioritizes vulnerable communities

The State Fire Marshal must offer local governments a model code for defensible space—clear areas around buildings that reduce wildfire risk. It must use specified 2024 International Wildland-Urban Interface Code standards without exceeding them; local adoption is optional. The Fire Marshal may also fund local defensible-space work. Recipients must prioritize socially and economically vulnerable communities, including residents with low incomes or limited English. They must also prioritize critical or emergency infrastructure, schools, hospitals, and facilities serving seniors.

Rural counties gain employment site options

Baker, Gilliam, Grant, Harney, Lake, Malheur, Sherman, Union, Wallowa, and Wheeler counties gain employment-site options outside urban growth boundaries. Each county may designate up to 10 sites totaling no more than 50 acres. Sites must be identified in an economic opportunity analysis adopted in the county's comprehensive plan. No exception to statewide agriculture, forest-use, or urbanization goals is required, but high-value farmland is excluded and ORS 197.714 applies. For sites containing forest-use land, counties must give the State Forester written notice at least 21 days before designation. They must cooperate on wildland-urban interface classification and fire protection. Uses cannot conflict with rules implementing the Oregon Sage-Grouse Action Plan and Executive Order 15-18.

Fewer wildfire requirements for replacement homes

The law removes specific wildfire building standards for replacing a lawfully established home under Oregon's replacement-dwelling rules. Those standards applied in mapped high- or extreme-risk areas, or when no statewide map existed. It also removes certain defensible-space and wildfire building requirements for rural accessory homes. Those requirements depended on the lot's wildland-urban interface location, high-hazard status, or the absence of a statewide map. These changes remove approval requirements, but also remove those required wildfire protections.

Local choice on new-building wildfire standards

Oregon's Department of Consumer and Business Services must adopt the wildfire standards in section R327 of the 2023 residential code. It must create a process for municipalities to adopt them, but cannot require local adoption. The standards can apply only to construction of new buildings. Municipalities that adopt them must notify the department. Where adopted, the standards add wildfire protections but may affect construction costs.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 272 • No: 127

House vote • 6/24/2025

Third reading. Carried by Levy E. Passed.

Yes: 50 • No: 1

House vote • 6/23/2025

Motion to withdraw from Rules carried.

Yes: 44 • No: 1

House vote • 6/19/2025