Bill > SB639

This bill requires the State Forester to actively manage state forestlands with the specific goal of maintaining low forest fuel load levels. In forestry terms, "fuel load" refers to the amount of combustible vegetation (like dead trees, branches, and undergrowth) present in a forest that could potentially feed a wildfire. By mandating active management techniques to reduce these fuel loads, the bill aims to promote forest health and decrease the risk of severe wildfires. The bill specifically references ORS 530.050, which is an existing Oregon Revised Statute describing forest management responsibilities, and directs the State Forester to implement strategies that will keep forestlands less susceptible to rapid and intense fire spread. This approach is part of a broader wildfire prevention and forest management strategy that seeks to reduce the potential for catastrophic wildfires by proactively managing forest vegetation.

Agriculture and Natural Resources

https://olis.oregonlegislature.gov/liz/2025R1/Measures/Overview/SB639