House committee advances bill to codify color-coded evacuation map levels

The House Community and Regional Affairs Committee on April 30 advanced SB 192, a measure to codify a standard, color-coded system for evacuation-designation maps, moving the bill to the Rules Committee with an attached fiscal note and recommendations.

Sen. Jesse Bjorkman, the bill sponsor, told the committee the proposal would standardize how evacuation risk is shown on maps so the public understands what action to take. "When an area is red on a map, it means danger is here. Danger is close. Get out now. Leave," he said, and described the yellow and green tiers as warnings to be ready or to prepare to act. Bjorkman said the scheme reflects months — and in some cases years — of collaboration among the state's emergency managers.

Co-chair Rebecca Himshut opened the session and noted the hearing was the bill's second; she and staff also noted that no amendments were filed by the deadline and that a fiscal note accompanies the measure. Himshut also recognized staff and recorders on the record.

Representative Kai Holland thanked the emergency manager participating online and the bill sponsor for collaborative follow-up work on the measure. Representative Steve St. Clair said he contacted DMVA, which he described as taking a neutral position, and characterized the bill as codifying standards already used in many states to ensure they are implemented correctly.

A committee member moved that SB 192 (work order 34-LS0863) be reported from committee "with attached fiscal note and individual recommendations." The motion passed by unanimous consent after the chair asked whether there were any objections and none were raised; the measure will proceed to the Rules Committee.

Sen. Bjorkman offered brief closing remarks and asked members to sign his materials. The committee adjourned at 8:08 a.m.

The next procedural step for SB 192 is consideration in the House Rules Committee; no vote tally was recorded in the committee transcript.