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Oregon lawmakers to hold emergency session to fund wildfire expenses


Oregon Governor Tina Kotek announced on Tuesday that legislators will be meeting for a brief special session on December 12 to approve emergency spending of $218 million to cover the costs of this year’s unprecedented wildfire season. The funds will go towards state agencies dealing with expenses related to wildfires that burned a record 1.9 million acres. This decision comes after the Oregon State Treasury rejected a loan request from the Oregon Department of Forestry for $60 million to cover wildfire costs that exceed $133 million.

Legislative leaders reached a consensus that it is necessary to address the state’s wildfire costs and ensure that bills are paid by the end of the calendar year. Lawmakers are already scheduled to be in Salem from December 10-12 for interim committee hearings. House Speaker Julie Fahey stressed the importance of fulfilling commitments and paying bills to ensure that contractors who fought fires in Oregon are compensated.

There is bipartisan agreement that a narrowly-tailored session focusing on wildfire bills is necessary, though Republicans are cautious about potential additional legislation that may be introduced. The issue of funding wildfire prevention and response is expected to be a focal point during next year’s legislative session. This year’s wildfire season destroyed at least 42 homes and over 100 other structures, prompting Governor Kotek to declare a state of emergency in July. The regular legislative session is set to begin in January.

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