HB 3089
Defines "wildfire risk" for the purpose of determining certain obligations of insurers related to homeowner insurance.
Jurisdiction
Oregon
Session
2025 Regular Session
Committee
Commerce and Consumer Protection
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Sign in to take actionPublic sentiment
Support
75%
Oppose
25%
- Introduced
- Passed House
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became Law
Bill overview
This bill defines "wildfire risk" for the purpose of homeowner insurance regulations. It specifies that wildfire risk is determined by uncontrollable brush fires fueled by native vegetation declared as wildfires by a governmental authority. The bill also outlines actions that can mitigate wildfire risk, such as creating defensible space or participating in community risk reduction programs, and requires insurers to provide detailed information to policyholders about wildfire risk assessments and potential mitigation measures.
Key provisions
- Defines "wildfire risk" as uncontrollable brush fires fueled by native vegetation declared as wildfires.
- Establishes ‘wildfire risk mitigation actions’ including property-level and community-level measures.
- Requires insurers to notify policyholders of cancellations or premium increases related to wildfire risk.
- Mandates insurers to provide a plain-language explanation of how wildfire risk scores are determined.
- Requires insurers to disclose the range of potential wildfire risk scores.
- Requires insurers to describe the impact of mitigation actions on wildfire risk scores.
- Specifies information insurers must provide regarding factors considered in classifying wildfire risk.
- Outlines requirements for premium increases related to wildfire risk, including potential discounts for mitigation actions.
Who is affected
- Homeowners
- Insurance Companies
- State Government (specifically the Department of Consumer and Business Services)
Sponsors
Official sponsors from legislative records.
Primary sponsor
Emerson Levy
Arguments in favor
Reasons to support this legislation.
Supporters of House Bill 3089 advocate for redefining wildfire as its own catastrophic peril, separate from the broader category of fire, to improve coverage accessibility and affordability for homeowners in high-risk areas. They argue that current insurance market practices fail to account for the unique risks associated with wildfires, leading to inadequate or unaffordable policies. Proponents also emphasize the need for transparency requirements in insurer assessments of fire risks, citing frequent and destructive wildfires as a threat to communities and environments. By addressing these concerns, the proposed legislation aims to provide much-needed relief to those affected by wildfire-related disasters.
Source: Testimony Summaries
Arguments opposed
Reasons to oppose this legislation.
Opponents of HB 3089 believe that the proposed legislation would undermine decades of regulatory progress, leading to increased costs for comprehensive homeowners insurance coverage nationwide. They argue that the bill's provisions would disproportionately benefit large insurers at the expense of smaller companies and ultimately result in higher premiums for consumers. Testifiers also express concerns that the bill's relaxed standards would put vulnerable homeowners, such as those living in high-risk areas or with pre-existing conditions, at greater risk of financial hardship and reduced access to essential coverage.