SB 83 Oregon Senate · 2025 Regular Session

Relating to wildfire; and declaring an emergency.

Summary

] [ Makes changes related to building code standards for wildfire hazard mitigation. ] [ Makes changes to consultations that are required for a certain grant process. ] [ Makes changes related to fire protection for lands outside of forest protection districts. ] [ Makes certain changes related to a program to reduce wildfire risk. ] [ Appropriates moneys out of the General Fund to the Higher Education Coordinating Commission for funding certain grant-supported projects. ] Eliminates certain building code standards and mapping requirements for wildfire hazard mitigation. Directs the State Fire Marshal to develop a model code for defensible space to reduce wildfire risk. Modifies the membership of the Wildfire Programs Advisory Council. Directs the Department of Consumer and Business Services to adopt certain wildfire hazard mitigation code standards. Voids the State Forestry Department orders that had assigned property to a wildfire hazard zone. Makes changes to certain wildfire risk reduction reports that certain state agencies are required to prepare. Declares an emergency, effective on passage.

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2025

Committee Review

May 2025

Senate Passage

Jun 2025

House Passage

Jun 2025

Signed into Law

Jul 2025

Introduced Jan 13, 2025 Signed Jul 24, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

A-Engrossed → Enrolled · 5 edits · Jul 24, 2025

MODERATE

The bill was finalized from its A-Engrossed version to Enrolled status, with minor formatting updates and one substantive change to the defensible space requirements. The main policy change adds a requirement for the State Fire Marshal to administer a community risk reduction program focused on wildfire prevention and education, while also allowing the Fire Marshal to provide financial and technical assistance to local governments for creating defensible space, with priority given to vulnerable communities and critical infrastructure.

Scope change

The bill's scope remains focused on wildfire risk reduction and defensible space requirements, but the new community risk reduction program expands the State Fire Marshal's role from just establishing standards to actively administering prevention and education programs.

REQUIREMENT

Added a requirement for the State Fire Marshal to administer a community risk reduction program emphasizing wildfire prevention, education, and community preparedness.

FISCAL

The State Fire Marshal may now provide financial, administrative, and technical assistance to local governments to help them create defensible space.

ELIGIBILITY

Financial assistance must prioritize defensible space creation on lands where socially and economically vulnerable communities, non-English proficient persons, and low-income residents live, as well as for critical infrastructure and facilities serving seniors.

DEFINITION

The definition of 'defensible space' was updated to clarify it includes areas treated, cleared, or modified to slow fire spread and allow fire suppression operations.

TECHNICAL

The document was converted from A-Engrossed to Enrolled status with updated headers, removed summary section, and adjusted page numbering and formatting.

Introduced → A-Engrossed · 6 edits · Apr 22, 2025

MODERATE

This bill significantly restructures Oregon's wildfire hazard mitigation laws by repealing previous building code standards and mapping requirements, while establishing a new State Fire Marshal-led defensible space program. The changes shift authority from the Department of Consumer and Business Services to the State Fire Marshal, modify how wildfire hazard zones are designated, and update the statutes that govern wildfire risk reduction across multiple Oregon Revised Statutes chapters.

Scope change

The bill expands the scope of wildfire mitigation by adding new defensible space requirements and modifying which state agencies are responsible for enforcement and rule-making. It also broadens the list of amended statutes to include additional chapters related to wildfire programs and emergency declarations.

REQUIREMENT

Repealed ORS 455.612, which required the Department of Consumer and Business Services to adopt wildfire hazard mitigation building code standards for new dwellings in high wildfire hazard zones.

Changed defensible space requirements from being tied to specific Oregon Residential Specialty Code sections to being based on International Wildland-Urban Interface Code standards with flexibility for Oregon-specific best practices.

Repealed ORS 477.490, which established the statewide wildfire hazard map and high wildfire hazard zone designations that previously triggered specific building code requirements.

ENFORCEMENT

Added new ORS 476.392 establishing State Fire Marshal authority to create minimum defensible space requirements for wildfire risk reduction on wildland-urban interface lands.

Added new provisions allowing local governments to adopt stricter defensible space requirements and designating specific fire agencies to enforce state-established standards within their jurisdictions.

ELIGIBILITY

Repealed ORS 476.696 and related statutes that governed wildfire hazard zone assignments and property designations, replacing them with a new defensible space framework.

Floor votes · Senate Apr 22, 2025 · House Jun 24, 2025

How they voted

29–0

Passed

Total votes 29

Apr 22, 2025

D Democratic17

17 Yea

100% Yea

R Republican12

12 Yea

100% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Jul 24, 2025

Signed into law

Governor signed.

upper

Jun 26, 2025

Lower · Passed

Speaker signed.

lower

Jun 25, 2025

Upper · Passed

President signed.

upper

Jun 24, 2025

Introduced

Vote explanation(s) filed by Grayber.

lower

Jun 24, 2025

Lower · Passed

Third reading. Carried by Levy E. Passed.

lower

May 29, 2025

Committee

Referred to Rules by order of Speaker.

lower

May 29, 2025

Lower · Passed

Recommendation: Do pass and be referred to Rules.

lower

Apr 24, 2025

Committee

Referred to Climate, Energy, and Environment.

lower

Apr 22, 2025

Introduced

First reading. Referred to Speaker's desk.

lower

Apr 22, 2025

Upper · Passed

Third reading. Carried by Golden. Passed.

upper

Apr 18, 2025

Committee

Subsequent referral rescinded by order of the President.

upper

Apr 18, 2025

Upper · Passed

Recommendation: Do pass with amendments and subsequent referral to Ways and Means be rescinded. (Printed A-Eng.)

upper

Jan 17, 2025

Committee

Referred to Natural Resources and Wildfire, then Ways and Means.

upper

Jan 13, 2025

Introduced

Introduction and first reading. Referred to President's desk.

upper

0 primary · 0 co-sponsors

What changed between versions

How they voted

Actions timeline

Sponsors