Senate Committee on Finance and Revenue held a public hearing April 7 on Senate Joint Resolution 11, a measure to dedicate a portion of Oregon Lottery revenue to wildfire response and mitigation. Senator Fred Girod (transcribed variably in the record) described the resolution as one leg of a three‑part funding plan.

Girod told the committee his three‑leg plan would: (1) front-load $150 million from the state rainy-day fund to cover immediate suppression costs; (2) direct about $160 million from the existing retaliatory tax paid by insurers into wildfire response; and (3) refer a percentage of lottery revenue to wildfire (Girod suggested 10%, which he estimated would generate about $200 million on a roughly $2 billion lottery revenue base).

Girod said the approach would avoid raising new taxes on individuals and argued the plan aligns funding to the problem without drawing heavily from the general fund. He described equipment and capacity needs — including improved aerial attack — and told the committee that dedicated, predictable funding would support purchases and long-term planning.

Supporters including The Nature Conservancy and the Oregon Forest Industries Council told the committee they back referring a dedicated lottery share to voters. Michael Eliason of the Oregon Forest Industries Council said voters should decide whether to dedicate the slice of lottery revenue. Several witnesses testified that a stable funding stream would support home hardening, community mitigation, and aircraft and suppression capacity.

The committee closed the public hearing with no committee action recorded; witnesses submitted written materials for the record and sponsors asked the Legislature to consider the resolution alongside related proposals.