11 February 2025 News, Events, Reminders In Case You Missed It ICYMI shorts One Good Thing! Early-2025 Market Factors Boost Outlook: American International Forest Products on Jan. 10 discussed a favorable outlook for U.S. structural lumber, due to: Trump Administration, tariff impacts, weather/fires, builder fir-preference, tight supplies, strong economy, solid housing, and stable interest rates to spur housing. AOL Association Health Plan. Health insurance coverage is available to member employers at very competitive rates—over 25 companies now insured. Health Net Insurance is a statewide PPO network with 21,000 providers, 75 hospitals, and no network gaps in any counties. To request a quote, contact: [email protected]/ or 503.364.1330. Beginning in 2025, OPL Requires Individual Qualification. Any company seeking OPL-qualification—but has not yet finished all new OPL requirements— should proceed to complete four individual tasks: 1) four courses (one-time only); 2) continuing education credits; 3) valid first aid/cpr; and 4) company AOL membership. Contact AOL for details. AOL Retiree Aletha. After nearly 13 years with AOL as Fiscal Operation & Publication Coordinator, Aletha Henderson has retired following a four-decade career with Oregon and California businesses. She is looking forward to traveling and gardening. Thank you, Aletha, for your dedicated AOL member service! Final Wildfire Hazard Maps Now Available. Maps of wildfire hazard zones and wildland-urban interface, for Oregon’s 1.9 million property tax lots, are available on Oregon Explorer: https:// oregon-explorer.apps.geocortex.com/ webviewer/. Maps identify high-hazard interface tax lots, where defensible home codes apply and to prioritize treatments. Congress Republican Majority. Business optimism abounds, as newly-elected members of Congress were sworn-in Jan. 3, ushering in the 119th U.S. Congress with a narrow Republican- majority in both chambers. Representatives confirmed incumbent House Speaker, Rep. Mike Johnson (R-LA), and Senators voted a new Majority Leader, Sen. John Thune (R-SD). Oregon Legislature Democrat Dominance. Democrats picked up one seat each in House and Senate elections, to gain a super-majority with their Governor. Democrats can pass bills without a single Republican vote. AOL’s lobby team with our business coalition negotiates bill-by-bill to tip needed Democrat legislators to favorable positions. Housing Affordability: Portland Worst Case. U.S. housing unaffordability slows demand for Oregon wood. Unaffordability is severe in Portland, where terrible government impels high home prices. Zoocasa.com reports Portland’s median mortgage cost rose in five years by 61%, while median income increased just 29%—pushing housing affordability beyond many buyers. Proposal Canceled. A rare win for industry, the U.S. Forest Service on Jan. 7 terminated its harmful proposed policy to add limits on U.S. old growth national forests, mandated in 2022 by President Biden. AOL lobbied against the proposal; and are relieved that President-elect Trump helped spark the disarray that derailed this proposal. Search for New Forester. Oregon State Forester, Cal Mukumoto resigned suddenly Jan. 9, exiting after just three years heading Oregon’s Department of Forestry. Recent ODF controversies contributed to rumors that Governor Tina Kotek (D) pushed him out, as a scapegoat to assuage faltering agency optics. LA Tragic Fires. Santa Ana wind-driven wildfires devasted Los Angeles County in early-January, reigniting fierce debates over vegetation managing, water supply, firefighting, climate, and government role. By Jan. 10, five fires burned 36,000 acres, destroyed 10,000 structures, killed 11 people, evacuated 130,000, de-powered 450,000, cost $150 billion, and polluted the air. t
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