Oregon’s escalating wildfire suppression bill consumed most of a $139.6 million funding package approved Thursday by the Joint Legislative Emergency Board, which also authorized money for Southern Oregon University, election operations and other state obligations during its September meeting.
The board approved 42 funding items, including $122.8 million for the Oregon Department of Forestry and Oregon State Fire Marshal as crews continue battling a wildfire season that has burned more than 2.5 million acres across Oregon.
The wildfire appropriation will cover continuing suppression costs through the remainder of the 2026 fire season, including expenses accumulating as state agencies deploy personnel and resources to fires throughout Oregon.
The overall $139.6 million package is supported by $100.4 million from special-purpose appropriations and $36.5 million from the General-Purpose Emergency Fund. The approvals leave $45.9 million available in the Emergency Fund.
“Today, the Emergency Board allocated resources to ensure that the state of Oregon has the funding needed to cover the cost of our catastrophic 2026 wildfire season,” House Speaker Julie Fahey said. “We’re grateful for the work of the agencies, and the firefighters, small businesses, and specialty contractors who are helping to protect life and property around the state.”
Wildfire expenses represented approximately 88 percent of the funding approved during the meeting, placing fire suppression far ahead of the board’s other September appropriations.
Southern Oregon University received another $7.5 million from a special-purpose appropriation to address a projected operational funding shortfall. The allocation followed a presentation to the board detailing implementation of the university’s strategic plan and its efforts to establish a financial bridge toward future operations.
The Ashland university has been working through its financial position while implementing that plan, bringing a Southern Oregon institution directly into the Emergency Board’s September funding decisions. The additional appropriation is designated for the projected operational shortage identified by the university.
Another $1.25 million was approved for the Oregon Secretary of State to expand BallotTrax, Oregon’s opt-in ballot tracking system, and increase the number of ballot drop boxes available across the state.
The board also received an update from the Oregon Public Defense Commission on defendants awaiting court-appointed attorneys. The commission reported a 68 percent decrease in unrepresented cases while updating the board on its 12-month plan for reducing the number of Oregonians without appointed counsel.
Oregon’s debt obligations produced another financial development during the meeting. The Department of Administrative Services reported $202.7 million in refinancing involving Article XI-Q and Article XI-M general obligation bonds, with projected savings of $23 million over the life of the refinanced debt.
The Oregon Department of Emergency Management received retroactive authorization to apply for a $3,235,717 federal nonprofit security grant administered through the Federal Emergency Management Agency and U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
The grant would provide money for physical security improvements and other security-related expenses at nonprofit organizations considered at high risk of terrorist or extremist attacks. Federal funding would cover the entire grant, with no matching contribution required from Oregon.
“The Emergency Board focused this week on critical time-sensitive challenges facing Oregonians, from financing for wildfire efforts, to stabilizing funding for Southern Oregon University, to allocating necessary resources to protect vote-by-mail,” Senate President Rob Wagner said.
Thursday’s appropriations place the largest share of the state money into wildfire suppression while directing smaller portions toward higher education and election administration. The separate federal grant authorization advances Oregon’s application for nonprofit security funding without drawing money from the state General Fund.
With $45.9 million remaining in the General-Purpose Emergency Fund following the September approvals, the Emergency Board concluded the meeting after directing nearly nine of every 10 dollars in the $139.6 million package toward Oregon’s continuing wildfire suppression costs.