Bipartisan Statewide Lodging Tax to Support Wildlife and Habitat Passes House

The Oregon House of Representatives has voted 36 to 22 to pass HB 4134, the “1.25% for Wildlife” bill. The legislation garnered broad support from conservation, hunting, fishing, ranching, and farming groups, as well as businesses across the state. The bill passed with the required three-fifths majority and now advances to the Oregon Senate.

HB 4134 increases Oregon’s statewide lodging tax, currently one of the lowest in the country. According to advocacy group Oregon Wild, the idea is to have visitors help fund the natural beauty that draws them to the state in the first place. From elk in Eastern Oregon to seabirds along the coast, wildlife is one of the state’s biggest tourism assets.

An economic analysis found that the fee increase would not deter tourism and could actually boost outdoor recreation spending in Oregon by improving visitor experiences and protecting iconic wildlife and landscapes.

“HB 4134 unites Oregonians from trailheads to working lands around the values we all share: safeguarding Oregon’s wildlife and habitats now, so future generations inherit the state we love,” said Danielle Moser, Wildlife Program Manager for Oregon Wild.

Also according to Oregon Wild, HB 4134 comes at a critical time for the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW), which has identified nearly 300 species in decline.

Under the Trump administration, federal agencies are cutting back on wildlife science and conservation, and dismantling protections for imperiled species and their habitats. States like Oregon are being told to take on a greater share of the burden, but ODFW lacks the funding needed to proactively conserve non-game species and the habitats they depend on. Investing now can help prevent future conflicts and avoid the far greater ecological and financial costs that arise when species become endangered.

Also included in the proposal is support for fighting poaching, combating invasive species, and funding wildlife coexistence programs.

By Hallie Greenberg.