HB 3309 creates a new Oregon Public Assistance Grant Account within the Oregon Disaster Response Fund and directs the Oregon Department of Emergency Management to use that account for emergency-related grants and matching funds. The bill is aimed at helping state agencies, local governments, special government bodies, federally recognized Indian tribes, and nonprofit organizations respond to emergencies by repairing or replacing critical infrastructure, restoring economic centers, and covering emergency protective measures and debris removal. It also expands and clarifies the statutory definitions of “emergency,” “emergency services,” and related terms in Oregon’s emergency management law.
The measure also updates the existing Oregon Disaster Response Fund and Oregon Local Disaster Assistance Loan and Grant Account. It authorizes the fund to support immediate disaster response and recovery for both federally declared disasters and state-declared emergencies, and it allows the local assistance account to provide loans and grants for disaster costs, including for non-federally declared disasters if certain conditions are met. The bill requires the department to adopt rules, establish a Local Disaster Assistance Review Board, and report to the Emergency Board or Legislature on expenditures, deposits, and the rationale for payments.
Impact
HB 3309 would amend ORS chapter 401 by adding a new grant account and revising the scope of existing disaster-response funding mechanisms. It would give the Oregon Department of Emergency Management continuous appropriation authority over the new account and broaden the types of emergency response and recovery costs that can be funded, including projects tied to state-declared emergencies that are not federally declared disasters. It also modifies the local disaster assistance program by defining eligible recipients, creating a review board with representation from counties, cities, schools, special districts, and state agencies, and setting rulemaking and reporting requirements.
Sentiment
Based on the bill text and the absence of recorded committee testimony or votes in the provided materials, the overall sentiment appears supportive and practical, focused on improving Oregon’s ability to respond to disasters and emergencies. The bill is framed as a funding and administrative tool rather than a controversial policy change, suggesting a generally favorable posture toward strengthening emergency management capacity. No formal vote history or recorded opposition is included in the provided context.
Contention
The main potential points of contention are likely fiscal and administrative rather than ideological. The bill creates a continuously appropriated account and expands the circumstances under which state funds can be used, which could raise questions about budget oversight, the size of the fund, and how grants and loans are prioritized. Another possible issue is governance: the bill assigns significant decision-making authority to the Department of Emergency Management and a newly created review board, so stakeholders may differ on eligibility standards, loan terms, and whether the program adequately balances state, local, and tribal interests. No specific objections or supporters are identified in the provided discussion materials.