Rep. Levy: Bipartisan call for Disaster Relief Act

Bipartisan Coalition Calls for Immediate Passage of Disaster Tax Relief Act
By Oregon State Representative Bobby Levy,

SALEM, OR – A bipartisan coalition is urging Congress to pass the federal Disaster Tax Relief Act of 2023, which would exempt disaster survivors from federal income taxes on recovery settlements and attorney fees.

The bill, which received near-unanimous House approval, would benefit survivors across 47 states, including Oregon wildfire victims.

“Adding the burden of federal income taxes on settlements and legal fees undermines the very purpose of disaster relief—to help survivors rebuild their lives,” said Representative Bobby Levy (R – Echo). “Many survivors, like those in Gates, Oregon, have lost everything and face steep rebuilding costs, made worse by inflation and insufficient insurance coverage.”

Senator Ron Wyden has pledged to expedite the legislation’s passage, potentially before Thanksgiving, building on Oregon’s successful Senate Bill 1520 model passed in 2024.