Author: Arran Robertson

Salem, Ore., – Today, the Oregon Senate passed HB 4134, the “1.25% for Wildlife” bill. The bill had previously passed the Oregon House of Representatives with bipartisan support and now heads to Governor Tina Kotek’s desk to be signed into law.

HB 4134 was supported by a broad coalition of conservation, hunting, fishing, forestry, farming, ranching, and business stakeholders. Public testimony has been overwhelmingly in favor of the bill, with over 84% in support.

“We applaud Oregon lawmakers for their efforts and recognize that this was not an easy vote for many. But it was the right vote,” said Danielle Moser, Wildlife Program Manager for Oregon Wild. “With 1.25% for Wildlife, we are investing in our fish and wildlife, in the landscapes and communities that sustain us, in our drinking water, health, and safety. While HB 4134 is focused on wildlife and their habitats, it is really a commitment to future generations: that the Oregon we know and love today is the one we are determined to pass along to those who come next.”

Through a modest increase in the statewide lodging tax, HB 4134 will fund wildlife and habitat conservation, primarily the implementation of the state’s Wildlife Action Plan, which has identified over 300 species as having the greatest conservation need.

“This landmark legislation is a labor of over a decade, and its success positions Oregon as a national leader in addressing species and habitat decline, many of which are also critical to our tourism industry,” said Sristi Kamal, Deputy Director at Western Environmental Law Center. “From the Oregon Coast to the Wallowas and all across the state, Oregonians have come together to support this bill and what makes Oregon special – our rich natural heritage. Over 300 of our most vulnerable wildlife, from northern red-legged frogs to northwestern pond turtles and spotted bats, have a lifeline now.” 

Species included as having the greatest conservation need are sea otters, Sierra Nevada red foxes, American pikas, silver-eared bats, North American porcupines, pygmy rabbits, western painted turtles, tufted puffins, great grey owl, desert horned lizard, Pacific lamprey, western bumblebee, and monarch butterfly. 

Also included in the proposal is support for fighting poaching, promoting habitat connectivity, combating invasive species, funding wildlife coexistence, wildfire risk reduction, and conservation workforce programs.

Salem, Ore., – Today, the Senate Committee on Finance and Revenue approved HB 4134, sending the bill to the full Senate for consideration. HB 4134 would fund wildlife and habitat projects across the state through a modest increase in the statewide lodging tax. The legislation has garnered support from a broad coalition of conservation, hunting, fishing, forestry, farming, ranching, and business stakeholders.

Testimony on the bill has been in favor of the proposal, with over 84% of the over 2000 pieces of submitted testimony indicating support.

“Oregonians have shown up in force for wildlife, rallying at the Capitol, calling and emailing, and submitting an overwhelming number of comments in support of this bill,” said Danielle Moser, Wildlife Program Manager for Oregon Wild. “The Senate should respect that broad, bipartisan backing and send HB 4134 to the Governor’s desk without delay.”

Background

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.

HB 4134 would modestly increase Oregon’s statewide lodging tax, currently one of the lowest in the country, so that visitors help fund the very natural beauty that draws them here 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.

Photo by Jacob Durrent

Vote of 36 to 22 moves the bill to the Oregon Senate

Salem, Ore., – Today, the Oregon House of Representatives voted 36 to 22 to pass HB 4134, the “1.25% for Wildlife” bill. The legislation has 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 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.

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.

HB 4134 would modestly increase Oregon’s statewide lodging tax, currently one of the lowest in the country, so that visitors help fund the very natural beauty that draws them here 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.

Advocates gathered in support of HB 4134

Salem, Ore., – Hundreds of wildlife and habitat advocates from across the state gathered in Salem today in support of HB 4134, the “1.25% for Wildlife” legislation. HB 4134 has garnered broad, bipartisan support from a diverse coalition of hunters, anglers, farmers, ranchers, conservationists, rural and urban communities, and over 100 businesses from across the state.  

“This bill must pass this year,” said Oregon Wild Wildlife Program Manager Danielle Moser before the crowd gathered on the Capitol steps. “The longer we wait to address species and the habitats that sustain them, the more costly it becomes, and the more difficult it becomes.” 

Oregon House Representative Ken Helm also addressed the crowd, calling the bill a “unicorn” because it had bipartisan, bicameral support.

After the rally, participants dispersed to attend pre-scheduled meetings with their elected representatives to discuss the importance of investing in Oregon’s natural heritage and how wildlife conservation and other aspects of the bill relate to their own experiences and values. 

Healthy ecosystems support clean drinking water, reduce wildfire risk, sustain Oregon’s outdoor economy, and protect public health. Early investments in conservation can prevent species from declining to crisis levels, avoiding higher costs and greater conflict in the future. 

HB 4134  would dedicate a small portion of Oregon’s lodging tax to support wildlife conservation, habitat restoration, wildfire risk reduction, and conservation workforce development. Supporters say the proposal represents a forward-looking and fiscally responsible approach to protecting Oregon’s natural legacy while investing in Oregon’s outdoor recreation economy.

Portland, Ore., – The Trump administration this week announced a sweeping series of rollbacks to wildlife and habitat protections under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). These actions revive efforts previously attempted during Trump’s first term, which were later blocked by the Biden administration. The newly proposed rules would weaken core safeguards for threatened species, limit habitat protections, and elevate the priorities of logging, mining, and oil industries over wildlife recovery.

Oregon is home to several endangered species, including Humboldt marten, coho salmon, western painted turtle, monarch butterfly, Oregon silverspot butterfly, Gentner’s fritillary, rough popcorn flower, and Howell’s spectacular thelypody.

One of the most significant proposals would eliminate the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s long-standing “blanket rule.” This rule automatically extends protections to species that are newly listed as threatened. Under the Trump proposal, threatened species would no longer receive automatic safeguards. Instead, agencies would be required to create individual rules for each species, creating a lengthy and cumbersome process that leaves wildlife vulnerable at critical stages of decline.

A second proposal would force officials to weigh economic impacts when deciding whether to protect critical habitat. This change would increase the influence of industry interests and reduce the role of science in agency decisions. 

These rollbacks are in addition to earlier proposals that weaken wildlife protections, including narrowing the definition of “harm” under the ESA and President Trump’s March 1 executive order, which threatened to sidestep species protections to accelerate logging projects in national forests and on public lands.

“Oregon Wild opposed these reckless rollbacks during Trump’s first term, and we will do so again,” said John Persell, Senior Staff Attorney at Oregon Wild. “The Endangered Species Act has saved 99 percent of the species under its protection. Weakening its core provisions at the request of industry lobbyists puts decades of conservation progress at risk.”

With the federal government once again turning wildlife protections into a political battleground, Oregon Wild is championing strong state-level action to safeguard species that are already declining.

“Under the Trump administration, the logging, mining, and oil and gas industries are calling the shots in Washington, DC. As a result, states will increasingly have to fill the gap,” said Danielle Moser, Wildlife Program Manager for Oregon Wild. “The extinction crisis is not something that’s just happening in other countries. Oregon has more than three hundred species of greatest conservation need, and that list continues to grow. This is why proposals like ‘1% for Wildlife’ are so important.”

The ‘1% for Wildlife‘ proposal, which is expected to be considered during the Oregon Legislature’s 2026 short session, would dedicate a modest increase in the statewide lodging tax to wildlife conservation, habitat restoration, and community resilience projects. Even with this increase, Oregon’s lodging tax would remain among the lowest in the country. Economic analysis has shown that the proposal would not harm tourism competitiveness. The funding would help preserve the landscapes and wildlife that draw visitors to Oregon.

“Oregon cannot afford to let wildlife conservation rise or fall based on the political landscape in Washington, DC,” added Moser. “By passing ‘1% for Wildlife,’ state leaders can ensure Oregon’s species and habitats have the stable funding they need regardless of federal politics.”

Oregon Wild will oppose the administration’s efforts to weaken the ESA and will continue its long-standing work to defend imperiled species and the habitats they depend on.

Photo by USFS