HB2819 • 2025

Authorizes the State Forester or a person authorized by the State Forester to issue citations if there is probable cause to believe violations have occurred.

Enacted

This bill passed the Legislature and reached final enactment based on the latest official action.

Sponsor
Last action: 2025-08-07
Official status: Chapter Number Assigned
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

Using official source text because the generated explanation was unavailable or could not be confirmed against the official bill text.

Authorizes the State Forester or a person authorized by the State Forester to issue citations if there is probable cause to believe violations have occurred.

Digest: The Act relates to fire protection.

What This Bill Does

Digest: The Act relates to fire protection.
The Act allows citations on certain bases.
(Flesch Readability Score: 63.5).
Authorizes the State Forester or a person authorized by the State Forester to issue citations if there [<i>are reasonable grounds</i>]<b> is probable cause</b> to believe violations have occurred.

Limits and Unknowns

This entry is temporarily using official source text because the generated explanation could not be confirmed against the official bill text during the last sync.

Bill History

2025-08-07 House
Chapter 493, (2025 Laws): Effective date January 1, 2026.
2025-07-17 House
Governor signed.
2025-06-24 Senate
President signed.
2025-06-23 House
Speaker signed.
2025-06-20 House
House concurred in Senate amendments and repassed bill. Ayes, 43; Nays, 5--Boice, Cate, Edwards, Reschke, Scharf; Excused, 10--Diehl, Elmer, Harbick, Munoz, Osborne, Pham H, Skarlatos, Valderrama, Wallan, Yunker; Excused for Business of the House, 2--Levy B, Speaker Fahey.
2025-06-16 Senate
Third reading. Carried by Broadman. Passed. Ayes, 24; Nays, 3--Girod, Linthicum, Robinson; Excused, 3--Gorsek, Thatcher, Weber.
2025-06-12 Senate
Carried over to 06-16 by unanimous consent.
2025-06-11 Senate
Carried over to 06-12 by unanimous consent.
2025-06-10 Senate
Carried over to 06-11 by unanimous consent.
2025-06-09 Senate
Second reading.
2025-06-06 Senate
Recommendation: Do pass with amendments to the A-Eng. bill. (Printed B-Eng.)
2025-05-19 Senate
Work Session held.
2025-05-14 Senate
Work Session held.
2025-05-08 Senate
Work Session held.
2025-04-30 Senate
Public Hearing held.
2025-03-20 Senate
First reading. Referred to President's desk.
2025-03-20 Senate
Referred to Judiciary.
2025-03-18 House
Third reading. Carried by Tran. Passed. Ayes, 38; Nays, 18--Boice, Boshart Davis, Breese-Iverson, Cate, Diehl, Drazan, Edwards, Harbick, Helfrich, Levy B, McIntire, Osborne, Reschke, Scharf, Skarlatos, Smith G, Wright, Yunker; Excused, 4--Evans, Nguyen H, Owens, Walters.
2025-03-17 House
Second reading.
2025-03-14 House
Recommendation: Do pass with amendments and be printed A-Engrossed.
2025-03-11 House
Work Session held.
2025-02-05 House
Public Hearing held.
2025-01-17 House
Referred to Judiciary.
2025-01-13 House
First reading. Referred to Speaker's desk.

Official Summary Text

Digest: The Act relates to fire protection. The Act allows citations on certain bases. (Flesch Readability Score: 63.5).
Authorizes the State Forester or a person authorized by the State Forester to issue citations if there [<i>are reasonable grounds</i>]<b> is probable cause</b> to believe violations have occurred.
Relating to: Relating to fire protection enforcement procedures.
Current location: Chapter Number Assigned

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

83rd OREGON LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY--2025 Regular Session
Enrolled
House Bill 2819
Introduced and printed pursuant to House Rule 12.00. Presession filed (at the request of Governor
Tina Kotek for State Forestry Department)
CHAPTER .................................................
AN ACT
Relating to fire protection enforcement procedures; amending ORS 477.985.
Be It Enacted by the People of the State of Oregon:
SECTION 1.
ORS 477.985 is amended to read:
477.985. (1) As used in this section:
(a) “Credible witness” means a person who has observed conduct alleged to constitute a
violation and whose statement about the observation is reliable based on:
(A) The content of the observation;
(B) The circumstances around the observation; and
(C) Whether the observation is consistent with any other evidence.
(b) “Enforcement officer” means the State Forester or a person authorized by the State
Forester.
(2) [In addition to any other persons permitted to enforce violations, the State Forestry Department
and the State Forester, or any employee specifically designated by the department or by the State
Forester, ] An enforcement officer may issue [ citations for violations ] a citation for a violation
established under ORS 477.993 in the manner provided by ORS chapter 153.
(3) Notwithstanding ORS 153.042, an enforcement officer may issue a citation for a vio-
lation as described in subsection (2) of this section when the enforcement officer did not
observe the conduct alleged to constitute a violation if the enforcement officer has probable
cause to believe that the conduct constitutes a violation based on physical evidence or a
statement provided by a credible witness.
Enrolled House Bill 2819 (HB 2819-B) Page 1
Passed by House March 18, 2025
Repassed by House June 20, 2025
..................................................................................
Timothy G. Sekerak, Chief Clerk of House
..................................................................................
Julie Fahey, Speaker of House
Passed by Senate June 16, 2025
..................................................................................
Rob Wagner, President of Senate
Received by Governor:
........................M.,........................................................., 2025
Approved:
........................M.,........................................................., 2025
..................................................................................
Tina Kotek, Governor
Filed in Office of Secretary of State:
........................M.,........................................................., 2025
..................................................................................
Tobias Read, Secretary of State
Enrolled House Bill 2819 (HB 2819-B) Page 2