Oregon House OKs McLane bill to aid wildfire victims
The Oregon House on Wednesday unanimously passed House Bill 3148-A, legislation that seeks to provide critical relief to low-income wildfire victims through the creation of the Wildfire Damage Housing Relief Account.
Chief sponsored by House Republican Leader Mike McLane (R-Powell Butte), the bipartisan measure serves as an additional resource for Oregon families that lose their homes or housing due to a wildfire, the lawmaker said.
“I’ve seen firsthand the sweeping, long-term damage caused by wildfires and have met families who have lost everything,” McLane said. “When a natural disaster strikes our state and devastates our communities, we must take action to help our neighbors get back on their fee.,”
McLane he drafted the bill after meeting with wildfire victims in Klamath County last summer.
“Oregon suffered a devastating wildfire season last year, and our firefighters and forestry teams are out right now battling several large fires around the state,” he said. “These wildfire relief grants will ensure that vulnerable families that lose their homes in a wildfire have access to assistance and resources to rebuild their homes and their lives.”
Under HB 3148-A, the Housing and Community Services Department shall administer the Wildfire Damage Housing Relief Account to assist households of lower income that suffer a loss of housing due to a wildfire.
The department shall provide assistance from the account as grants in the amount of $5,000 each.
As applies to this relief account, “households of lower income” means persons or families residing in the state whose federal adjusted gross income for the tax year preceding the year in which a loss of housing due to a wildfire does not exceed 75 percent of the federal poverty guidelines.
Last August, McLane and state and local officials toured the Moccasin Hill Fire site in Klamath County and met families who lost their homes and possessions in the fire, which spread quickly and injured at least one firefighter.
The fire burned through more than 2,500 acres of land and destroyed 17 primary and 18 additional homes and structures. HB 3148-A seeks to assist victims like the Moccasin Hill fire victims, many of whom were uninsured or not insured.
According to the Oregon Department of Forestry fires consumed nearly 53,000 acres of land in ODF protection, largely concentrated in central, southern and eastern Oregon.
HB 3148-A passed the House 57-0. Along with Rep. McLane, HB 3148-A was chief sponsored by Representative Gail Whitsett and Senate President Peter Courtney and sponsored by Representatives Cliff Bentz, Sal Esquivel, Wayne Krieger, Sherrie Sprenger and Gene Whisnant and Senator Doug Whitsett. The bill now moves to the Senate for consideration.
