Oregon examines bill to encourage bed bug reports

Oregon State Capitol - The Oregon legislature will examine a bill to encourage home and business owners to report bed bug infestations.

Oregon bed bug infestations may be kept under wraps if a new House bill passes next week. According to Oregon Public Broadcasting, the Oregon legislature is examining a new measure to shield bed bug reports from being leaked to the public.

This measure is an attempt to encourage home and business owners to come forward when bed bug issues arise instead of trying to hide them.

Property owners aren’t required to report pest problems to public health officials, and many hesitate to share infestations because they fear the stigma associated with bed bugs. Oregon’s public health officials hope that by guaranteeing reports are kept private, those affected by bed bugs will share information to guarantee infestations are quickly contained.

The suggested bill begins with the following text:

“Requires certain information pertaining to bedbug infestations to be held confidentially by public health authorities and exempts information from disclosure under public records law. Authorizes disclosure of information to specified other public agencies. Declares emergency, effective on passage.”

If you find bed bugs in your apartment or office, it’s crucial to report them to a public health official or pest control exterminator immediately. As always, preventative measures such as Protect-A-Bed’s Bug Lock Protection Pack are the best way to ensure those dreaded pests stay out of your home from the start.