HB 2817 Oregon House · 2025 Regular Session

Relating to forestland closures.

HB 2817 eliminates the "permit closure" option from Oregon's forestland fire safety rules, meaning forestland access during fire danger will no longer require a separate permit from the forester. The bill removes language authorizing permit-based closures from three sections of Oregon law (477.535, 477.540, and 477.545), leaving only "regulated closures" (with posted rules) and "absolute closures" (total access ban). This directly affects people using forestland during fire danger periods, such as hikers, campers, and landowners, by simplifying access rules. The change streamlines forestland safety measures by removing one closure type, keeping focus on fire hazard levels rather than permit processes.
Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Jan 2025
Committee Review
Apr 2025
House Passage
May 2025
Senate Passage
May 2025
Signed into Law
May 2025
Introduced Jan 13, 2025 Signed May 12, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Introduced Enrolled · 4 edits · May 12, 2025
MODERATE
This bill removes the 'permit closure' option for forestland closures, leaving only 'regulated' and 'absolute' closures. This simplifies the system by eliminating a middle-ground closure type that required individual permits, making it easier for foresters to manage fire risks without administrative permit processes.
Scope change
The bill narrows the types of forestland closures available, removing the ability to use permit-based restrictions as a closure option.
REQUIREMENT

Removed 'Permit closure' as an option in ORS 477.535(3), eliminating the ability to restrict forestland entry through a permit system.

Removed the requirement in ORS 477.540(1) to publish information about how permits may be secured, since permit closures are no longer an option.

Removed ORS 477.545(2) which defined permit closures and the forester's authority to issue, refuse, suspend, revoke, or restrict permits.

Reordered ORS 477.545(3) to become subsection (2) and renumbered accordingly, reflecting the removal of the permit closure section.

Floor votes · Senate May 1, 2025 · House Mar 4, 2025

How they voted

251
Passed · 3 other
Total votes 29
May 1, 2025
D Democratic17
16 Yea 1
94% Yea
R Republican12
9 Yea 1 Nay 2
75% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
21
Key actions
7
Committee
4
May 12, 2025
Signed into law
Governor signed.
lower
May 5, 2025
Upper · Passed
President signed.
upper
May 5, 2025
Lower · Passed
Speaker signed.
lower
May 1, 2025
Upper · Passed
Third reading. Carried by Golden. Passed.
upper
Apr 29, 2025
Upper · Passed
Recommendation: Do pass.
upper
Mar 6, 2025
Committee
Referred to Natural Resources and Wildfire.
upper
Mar 6, 2025
Introduced
First reading. Referred to President's desk.
upper
Mar 4, 2025
Lower · Passed
Third reading. Carried by Osborne. Passed.
lower
Feb 24, 2025
Lower · Passed
Recommendation: Do pass.
lower
Jan 17, 2025
Committee
Referred to Climate, Energy, and Environment.
lower
Jan 13, 2025
Introduced
First reading. Referred to Speaker's desk.
lower
0 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

No sponsor information available.