US EditionWildfire survivors face tax burden after Oregon bill fails
OREGON, JUL 25 – The new law allocates $150 million for wildfire disaster response and $117 million for community prevention to reduce reliance on emergency borrowing, officials said.
- On Thursday, Governor Tina Kotek signed House Bill 3940, securing $150 million over two years for wildfire response.
- The State Forestry Department Large Wildfire Fund ensures resources are ready before severe fires occur, aiming to reduce reliance on ad-hoc borrowing and delayed payments.
- It also involves ongoing funding from the state's Rainy Day Fund and taxes on oral nicotine products, and bars utilities from cost recovery.
- Gov. Tina Kotek warned, 'Oregonians are paying the price of delayed action in smoke-choked summers, forest loss, and displacement,' while Bobby Levy said, 'This wasn’t a partisan effort—it was a people-first solution that brought together legislators, industry leaders, landowners, and advocates.'
- Despite the one-time funding, Governor Tina Kotek is committed to securing ongoing support, and on July 16 she declared a state of emergency under a warm, dry forecast.
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Oregon wildfire survivors to pay federal taxes on settlements after state bill failed
Wildfire survivors who receive settlements from an at-fault utility after January 2026 will have to pay federal income taxes on the settlement, pending intervention from Congress. A federal law exempting such settlements from federal income taxes expires at the end of the year.
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Total News Sources13
Leaning Left1Leaning Right0Center4Last UpdatedBias Distribution80% Center
Bias Distribution
- 80% of the sources are Center
80% Center
L 20%
C 80%
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