ORS 401.980
Access to disaster sites by news media representatives

(1)

Notwithstanding the provisions of any law, rule, ordinance, policy or order to the contrary, any official of a public body, as defined in ORS 174.109 (“Public body” defined), must grant credentialed or documented representatives of news media organizations access to scenes of wildfires or natural disasters on public lands that are otherwise closed to the public.

(2)

Access by news media representatives to scenes of wildfires or natural disasters may be denied at the sole discretion of an on-site scene commander or the designee of an on-site scene commander.

(3)

In compliance with voluntary guidelines for recognition of news media representatives established under ORS 401.981 (Committee to establish guidelines), an official of a public body may request news media representatives to present credentials verifying completion of basic fire and natural disaster site safety training approved by an association representing professional news media and an association representing public safety agencies. The training must include at least all of the following:

(a)

Protocol for early phases of a fire or natural disaster before a formal public safety command structure is established.

(b)

Appropriate types of personal protective equipment and the uses of that equipment.

(c)

Driving and parking practices at wildfire and natural disaster sites.

(d)

Basic safety practices at wildfire and natural disaster sites.

(e)

Authority of on-site scene commanders.

(4)

Intentionally left blank —Ed.

(a)

Except as described in subsection (2) of this section, an on-site scene commander or a designee of an on-site scene commander may, in their sole discretion, grant credentialed or documented news media representatives access to a scene of a wildfire or natural disaster without escort, provided that the news media representatives agree that entry is at their own risk and without promise of rescue.

(b)

Nothing in paragraph (a) of this subsection may be interpreted to require that credentialed or documented news media representatives be granted access to a scene of a wildfire or natural disaster without escort.

(5)

News media representatives must carry personal protective equipment appropriate for the scene of a wildfire or natural disaster they intend to enter. News media representatives must provide their own personal protective equipment and are responsible for the condition of the equipment. Public bodies are not required to supply personal protective equipment to news media representatives and are not required to assess the appropriateness or condition of the personal protective equipment of news media representatives.

(6)

A public body or public employee may not be held liable for the injury or death of a news media representative after the representative has entered the scene of a wildfire or natural disaster.

(7)

The State Forestry Department, Department of State Police and any other state agency with responsibility for wildfire or natural disaster response may provide technical assistance to professional or trade associations representing news media or public bodies for the purpose of facilitating safety education.

(8)

Representatives of news media organizations may not impede wildfire or natural disaster response vehicles through actions including but not limited to inappropriately parking a vehicle or failing to yield to a public safety vehicle. Any unattended vehicle that impedes public safety or emergency vehicle access to a scene of wildfire or natural disaster may be towed without notice.

(9)

Nothing in this section alters the applicability of Federal Aviation Administration regulations that govern the closure or restriction of airspace over incidents that constitute the scene of a wildfire or natural disaster.

(10)

This section does not apply to privately owned property and does not serve as an impediment to application of trespass laws, rules or ordinances.

(11)

This section does not apply to property owned by:

(a)

School districts, as defined in ORS 332.002 (Definitions for chapter);

(b)

Public charter schools, as defined in ORS 338.005 (Definitions for chapter);

(c)

Education service districts, as defined in ORS 334.003 (Definitions for chapter);

(d)

Community college districts, as defined in ORS 341.005 (Definitions); or

(e)

Public universities listed in ORS 352.002 (Public universities).

(12)

Nothing in this section may be construed to require a public body to issue news media credentials or to maintain a list of credentialed news media representatives. [2022 c.59 §1]
Note: 401.980 (Access to disaster sites by news media representatives) and 401.981 (Committee to establish guidelines) were enacted into law by the Legislative Assembly but were not added to or made a part of ORS chapter 401 or any series therein by legislative action. See Preface to Oregon Revised Statutes for further explanation.

Source: Section 401.980 — Access to disaster sites by news media representatives, https://www.­oregonlegislature.­gov/bills_laws/ors/ors401.­html (accessed May 26, 2025).

401.025
Definitions for ORS chapter 401 401.032
Statement of policy and purpose 401.035
Responsibility for emergency services systems 401.038
Emergency incident training for certain officials 401.052
Responsibilities of Oregon Department of Emergency Management 401.054
Liaisons with Oregon Department of Emergency Management 401.062
Oregon Department of Emergency Management 401.067
Compliance Division 401.072
Appointment of deputy director 401.076
Rules 401.082
Advisory and technical committees 401.088
Interagency agreements 401.092
Duties of director 401.094
System for notification of emergencies 401.096
Federal grants for emergency management and services 401.109
Oregon Homeland Security Council 401.111
State plan for emergency stockpile 401.114
Emergency preparedness functions 401.116
Emergency response exercises 401.121
Technical assistance to local entities 401.123
Support for community organizations active in disaster 401.165
Declaration of state of emergency 401.168
Governor’s powers during state of emergency 401.175
Additional powers during emergency 401.178
Removal of disaster debris or wreckage 401.185
Providing temporary housing during emergency 401.186
Waiver of waiting period for unemployment benefits 401.188
Management of resources during emergency 401.192
Effect of rules and orders during emergency 401.198
Seizure of firearms during emergency 401.204
Termination of state of emergency 401.232
Federal financial assistance to political subdivision 401.234
Federal financial assistance to individuals or families 401.236
Rules 401.239
Critical service providers 401.256
Oregon Safety Assessment Program 401.305
Emergency management agency of city, county or tribal government 401.307
Emergency management agency appropriation 401.309
Declaration of state of emergency by city or county 401.315
City or county authorized to incur obligations for emergency services 401.335
Temporary housing for disaster victims 401.341
Building inspections by private qualified professionals 401.358
Definitions for ORS 401.358 to 401.368 401.362
Application 401.364
Coverage under Oregon Tort Claims Act 401.368
Workers’ compensation benefits 401.378
Leaves of absence for disaster relief or recovery volunteers 401.505
Acceptance of aid for emergency services 401.525
Use of moneys and property for emergency services authorized 401.532
Oregon Pre-Disaster Mitigation Fund 401.534
Oregon Disaster Response Fund 401.536
Oregon Local Disaster Assistance Loan and Grant Account 401.541
Oregon Disaster Response Assistance Matching Fund 401.551
Emergency preparedness equipment grant program 401.552
Resiliency Grant Fund 401.651
Definitions for ORS 401.651 to 401.670 401.654
Registry of emergency health care providers 401.655
Practice by out-of-state health care provider during emergency 401.656
Provision of health care services by members of Oregon National Guard during emergency 401.657
Emergency health care facility 401.658
Provision of health care services by former health care provider during emergency 401.661
Provision of health care services after declaration of emergency 401.664
Emergency operations plan 401.667
Coverage under Oregon Tort Claims Act 401.670
Rules 401.680
Legislative findings 401.685
Definitions 401.690
Exemption from certain taxes, registration and licensing requirements 401.695
Reporting by registered business to Oregon Department of Administrative Services 401.851
Wildfire planning and coordination 401.900
State and local agency earthquake drills 401.902
Private employer earthquake drills 401.904
Rules 401.910
Grant program for seismic rehabilitation of certain facilities 401.913
State Resilience Officer 401.915
Seismic Safety Policy Advisory Commission 401.918
Mission of commission 401.920
Officers 401.922
Support services 401.925
Advisory and technical committees 401.930
Assignment by Governor of local resources under direction of State Fire Marshal 401.932
Powers and duties of local personnel acting under direction of State Fire Marshal 401.935
Liability for expenses incurred and for loss or damage to local equipment 401.938
Liability for expenses incurred using local personnel 401.940
Immunity from liability for local personnel acting in line of duty 401.950
Definitions 401.952
Uniform tsunami warning signal 401.955
Contributions to finance tsunami warning system 401.960
Definitions for ORS 401.960, 401.962, 401.965 and 401.970 401.962
Legislative findings 401.965
Abnormal disruption of market 401.970
Applicability of remedies 401.975
Legislative findings 401.977
Animal emergency operations plan 401.978
Livestock emergency operations plan 401.980
Access to disaster sites by news media representatives 401.981
Committee to establish guidelines 401.990
Penalties

Current through early 2026

§ 401.980. Access to disaster sites by news media representatives's source at oregon​.gov