Senate Bill 1536

Requires electric company to operate in compliance with risk-based wildfire protection plan approved by Public Utility Commission. Requires periodic submission of new plan. Specifies minimum required contents for plan. Creates plan exception. Requires submission of initial plan no later than December 31, 2020. Requires consumer-owned utility to operate in compliance with risk-based wildfire mitigation plan approved by governing body of utility. Requires periodic submission of new plan. Creates plan exception. Requires submission of initial plan no later than December 31, 2021. Requires consumer-owned utility to conduct wildfire risk assessment of utility facilities. Requires review and revision of assessment as required by governing body of utility. Requires Public Utility Commission workshops to develop and share information for best practices regarding wildfire. Authorizes insurer to use maps and data of, and work in cooperation with, Department of Land Conservation and Development and State Fire Marshal. Requires State Forestry Department to develop and maintain statewide map of wildfire risk.<b> Requires State Forestry Department to report regarding map development to legislative committee no later than February 1, 2021.</b> <i>Requires State Fire Marshal to establish minimum defensible space requirements. Allows local government to adopt local defensible space requirements in excess of State Fire Marshal requirements.</i>] <i>Authorizes State Fire Marshal to contract for local government enforcement of minimum defensible space requirements. Requires contracting local government to periodically report to State Fire Marshal regarding compliance with defensible space requirements. Requires State Fire Marshal to maintain map of defensible space requirements and compliance.</i>] <i>Requires State Fire Marshal to administer and enforce program to provide assistance to local governments for administration and enforcement of defensible space requirements. Establishes Wildfire Defensible Space Fund. Establishes creation of defensible space on lands of certain underserved populations as priority use of financial assistance.</i>] <i>Requires Oregon Health Authority to establish standards for smoke filtration systems in certain buildings. Requires authority to establish program to increase availability of systems among vulnerable persons residing in areas susceptible to wildfire smoke. Authorizes authority to issue grants to increase availability of systems. Creates Wildfire Smoke Abatement Fund.</i>] <i>Establishes task force to identify barriers to installation of smoke filtration systems in areas susceptible to wildfire smoke and provide advice to Oregon Health Authority. Requires task force report no later than September 15, 2021. Sunsets task force December 31, 2021.</i>] <i>Requires Office of Emergency Management to establish personnel positions related to wildfire.</i>] <i>Expresses state policy and goals for reduction of fuel loads on forestlands and rangelands. Requires State Forestry Department to establish program for reducing fuel load on forestlands and rangelands. Establishes Forestland and Rangeland Treatment Fund.</i>] <i>Requires State Forester to establish baseline levels of wildfire protection for lands susceptible to wildfire.</i>] <i>Authorizes county, State Forester and State Fire Marshal to assist landowners and jurisdictions to form, expand or change boundaries of jurisdiction that provides wildfire protection and assist jurisdiction in developing adequate wildfire protection facilities, equipment, training and other resources. Requires that county ensure lands susceptible to wildfire are provided with wildfire protection meeting or exceeding baseline level no later than January 1, 2025.</i>] <i>Requires State Forestry Department to contract for services of private consultant to evaluate and make recommendations on specified issues regarding wildfires. Requires consulta

• Senate committee amendmentAdopted

  Adopted Feb 14

• Senate committee amendmentAdopted

  Adopted Mar 3

l9n doesn't hold this bill's text yet.

In the Senate Jan 27 – Mar 8

1. Jan 27Filed before the session
2. Feb 3Introduced
3. Sent to Wildfire Reduction and Recovery
4. Heard in Wildfire Reduction and Recovery
5. Feb 5Heard in Wildfire Reduction and Recovery
6. Feb 10Heard in Wildfire Reduction and Recovery
7. Feb 12Heard in Wildfire Reduction and Recovery
8. Feb 14Wildfire Reduction and Recovery recommended it as amended, and that it go to Ways and Means
9. Sent to Ways and Means
10. Feb 26Sent to Capital Construction Subcommittee
11. Feb 28Heard in Capital Construction Subcommittee
12. Heard in Capital Construction Subcommittee
13. Returned to Ways and Means
14. Mar 3Ways and Means recommended it as amended
15. Mar 8Died when the session ended