PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) – The Oregon House of Representatives passed a bill on Tuesday repealing the state’s controversial wildfire hazard maps.
Senate Bill 83 repeals the maps and directs state agencies to create new defensible space standards that property owners can choose to follow, or municipal governments can adopt regulations to enforce at the local level.
If signed into law, this bill would repeal SB 762, a 2021 bill that created the maps. Homeowners living in high wildfire-risk areas on the map faced stricter building codes and were required to reduce vegetation on their properties.
A provision in 2023 disallowed insurers to cancel or decline to renew homeowners’ insurance policies or increase premiums. Despite this, the backlash against the Wildfire Hazard Map persisted, with some lawmakers noting the maps did not represent various individual property conditions.
In a press release issued Monday, before the House voted to pass the bill, Representative Emerson Levy (D-Central Oregon) explained, “SB 83 returns control back to our communities. The 2025 Legislative Session is over in six days, and I need to go back to my community knowing I did everything I could to protect our community from wildfire risks. Repealing the wildfire maps is an important step in advancing our conversation about wildfire safety in this state.”
SB 83 passed the House in a 50 to 1 vote on Tuesday, with the lone no vote from Rep. Dacia Grayber (D-SW Portland & East Beaverton).
In her written vote explanation, shared with KOIN 6, Rep. Grayber said even though she voted against the bill, she did not urge her House colleagues to follow suit.
“The incredibly sad and frustrating reality is that the existing insurance maps (often based on federal maps) are far more specific and restrictive, and SB 83-A will not change the insurance issues people are facing,” Grayber said in part.
She added, “It will not lower insurance rates, nor prevent insurance cancellation. The maps of SB 762 become a political scapegoat. As the lone firefighter in this legislature, I also know that repealing these maps means that your firefighters will not have them to pre-plan, to guide response, or to use for mitigation in the off-season.”
The bill now heads to Governor Tina Kotek’s desk for signature.
“Oregonians desperately need relief from the wildfire hazard maps that have created chaos and fear across rural Oregon,” said House Republican Leader Christine Drazan (R-Canby). “Despite an incredibly frustrating political process, we appreciate the members who have chosen to do the right thing in repealing these maps.”
Rep. Virgle Osborne (R-Roseburg) added, “This bill provides financial relief to threatened homeowners and ensures that taxpayer dollars are spent where they have the most impact—supporting local efforts like defensible space, forest thinning, and wildfire readiness programs.”
Tuesday’s House passage comes after the Oregon Senate unanimously passed the bill April 22.
KOIN 6 News reached out to Governor Kotek’s office for comment. This story will be updated if we receive a response.
