LOC News
Wildfire Policy Expected to Pass
SB 762 B is expected to move through both the House and Senate before the end of the legislative session. Late this week, there was a last-minute flurry for one final amendment to address the issue of defining the Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) in Section 31. There is concern that the definition is too broad, and could bring in a much more expansive land base than what really is reflected in the WUI that is adjacent to an urban edge.
A special committee was formed to run a -B17 amendment, effectively dropping the definition of WUI in the legislation and authorizing the Oregon Department of Forestry to develop the definition using an advisory committee process. This deal was brokered when Senate President Peter Courtney learned he did not have enough votes to move SB 762 B, which had passed out of the Ways and Means Committee earlier this week.
Wildfire policy has been one of the most consequential bills to make it through the 2021 session. With the latest amendment, SB 762 received significant Republican support. It was important that this bill move forward with bipartisan support, and the changes will strengthen SB 762 because the definition of WUI will be left to professionals with technical expertise and not be part of a political process.
To ensure that wildfire policy would come out of this session, the LOC supported SB 762 B as it passed through the full Ways & Means Committee. The real policy work will start after the session, and the LOC will be at the table to make sure SB 762 is implemented and Oregon can move closer to reducing wildfire risk to communities across Oregon. As we adapt to climate change, it will take time, energy and a lot of funding to work toward a better future. Communities across the state will be dealing with record-high temperatures this week, and likely red-flag warnings, burn bans and perhaps rolling brownouts.
Contact: Jim McCauley, Legislative Director - jmccauley@orcities.org
Last Updated 6/25/21