Representative Brian Stout

Happy Birthday Oregon - your beauty is all our Valentines Day present.

Crazy weather last night. For those of you in Clatskanie area this may help keep you updated on power being restored.

Clatskanie PUD outage update:

Map Viewer

Wishing all of you in House District 31 and beyond a happy and merry Christmas Day!

SALEM, Ore. – The Oregon Legislature convened for a one-day special legislative session to provide the Oregon Department of Forestry and State Fire Marshal with the resources needed to pay the state's unpaid bills associated with the 2024 wildfire season.
The Legislature voted with overwhelming bipartisan support to appropriate $191.5 million to the Oregon Department of Forestry and $26.6 million for the State Fire Marshal. In large part, these payments will allow the agencies to pay the wide range of contractors who provided firefighting and related support services. Wildfire fighting costs are typically covered by the interim Emergency Board committee, but the 2024 wildfire season ended up costing more than double the next most expensive fire season.

All told, more than 1.9 million acres in Oregon burned this year, including hundreds of thousands of acres of grazing and timber lands in Eastern Oregon, along with more than 150 buildings destroyed.

“Oregon experienced one of the worst wildfire seasons in history this year, and it was particularly painful for Eastern Oregon,” said Senate President Rob Wagner (D-Lake Oswego). “I am proud the Legislature was able to come together today to pay our bills to these firefighters, small businesses, and specialized vendors who helped protect lives and property during a very challenging time."

“We are grateful for the efforts made by firefighters, small businesses, and others who supported the effort to fight the historic fires we saw this summer,” said House Speaker Julie Fahey (D-West Eugene & Veneta). “Today’s special session demonstrates how we can come together to make government work, make good on our bills, and make Oregon a better place for all.”