(SALEM, OR) – The Oregon Senate today unanimously passed legislation brought by Senate Suzanne Weber (R-Tillamook) that ensures families who lose their homes to wildfire, flood, or other tragedies can rebuild without unnecessary bureaucratic delays.
“Senate Bill 1561 reduces unnecessary red tape, helps protect our housing supply, and brings compassion and efficiency to families when they need it most. When families are trying to recover from tragedy, government should be part of the solution, not another obstacle,” said Senator Weber.
The bill was inspired by a tragic 2023 incident in which a mother and her two children died in a house fire, leaving grieving grandparents to navigate a complicated rebuilding process due to incomplete county records. SB 1561 A addresses this problem by allowing homes destroyed by disaster to be rebuilt through a straightforward administrative process rather than a full land use review, providing certainty and relief to families during difficult times.
SB 1561 builds on precedent established after the 2020 wildfires, when the Legislature temporarily allowed disaster-stricken homeowners to rebuild quickly. As natural disasters become more frequent, this commonsense measure ensures government serves as part of the solution rather than an obstacle for Oregonians recovering from tragedy.