April 10, 2025 3:30 a.m.

State senators David Brock Smith and Noah Robinson, along with Senate and House Republican leadership legislative colleagues, David Hunnicutt of Oregon Property Owners Association, and others have successfully advanced legislation to repeal wildfire maps and associated mandates imposed on rural property owners by SB 762, which passed four years ago.

Robinson said, “The repeal of wildfire maps and associated regulations is an urgent matter”. Robinson said, “Many Oregonians fear they will not be able to afford to continue living in their homes with these fire maps and regulations. I am delighted with this first step and look forward to supporting SB 83 on the Senate floor”.

A joint release said both senators have been working with legislative colleagues, stakeholders, and others on this urgent issue for many months. Brock Smith drafted competing legislation against SB 762 during the 2021 Legislative Session that would have repealed the wildfire maps created by SB 762, however Senate Natural Resource and Wildfire Committee Chair Jeff Golden refused to hold a hearing and move the bill, so it died in his committee.

Brock Smith said, “Today is a good day for rural Oregonians”. Brock Smith said, “With SB 83 passing out of committee, we are one step closer to reversing the devastating impacts of SB 762’s wildfire maps that we have been trying to overturn for years”. Brock Smith said he is grateful to the thousands of residents that brought the pressure needed to move this forward and to his colleagues for their support of these efforts for rural residents.

House and Senate Republicans have also put forward wildfire maps repeal legislation in HB 3944.

For in-depth information on the issue, go to: https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/ORLEG/bulletins/3db30c6