Contact your Senator and Representative to support SB 762 A, the omnibus wildfire bill!
Date: June 9, 2021 To: All League Members From: Rebecca Gladstone, LWVOR President Peggy Lynch, Natural Resources Coordinator Josie Koehne, Forestry Portfolio Claudia Keith, Climate Emergency Coordinator Please email, or phone your representatives requesting support for SB 762 A ASAP. SB 762 A will prepare Oregon for the future related to wildfire preparedness and will provide appropriate resources to fight fires when they happen. The bill provides a section-by-section roadmap to help Oregonians prepare for the future of Oregon’s forests and our nearby cities and towns.
Requires electric utilities plans
Requires development of a statewide map of wildfire risk
Addresses the need for defensible space around homes at risk
Addresses the need for wildfire hazard mitigation building codes on new construction
Recognizes the need to support communities impacted by smoke
Requires an update to our statewide emergency plan for wildfire emergencies
Includes a treatment program to reduce wildfire risk by targeted thinning
Creates a NEW Wildfire Workforce Corps to train youth and young adults for future careers in a variety of important outdoor opportunities
Establishes a Small Woodland Owners Grant Program
Addresses the need for wildfire response capacity
Requires rules to identify the wildland urban interface in Oregon as is done in all other western states (See map.)
Establishes a Wildfire Program Advisory Council and State Program Director
Because this is a big bill, the Staff Measure Summary might be helpful. And the League is part of a larger group providing a website with a list of other advocates for this comprehensive but very important wildfire bill. We are now in the final weeks of the session. The Oregon legislature 2021 regular session must end by June 27 and bills must be heard in both chambers to be enacted. Please email or call now!