Broad coalition celebrates win for conservation, rural economies, and Oregon’s outdoor legacy
SALEM, OR – In a major victory for Oregon’s fish, wildlife, and outdoor heritage, the Oregon House of Representatives has passed HB 2977, a bipartisan bill that would raise the state’s transient lodging tax (TLT) to provide long-overdue funding for wildlife conservation. The bill passed with the required three-fifths majority and now advances to the Oregon Senate.
The bill comes at a critical time for the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW), which has identified nearly 300 species in decline, including some on the brink of extinction. Yet the agency lacks the funding necessary to proactively conserve these species and their habitats.
“This is a smart, fair, and urgently needed investment in the future of Oregon’s wildlife and the habitats that make this state such a great place to live and visit,” said Danielle Moser at Oregon Wild. “Hunters, anglers, birders, ranchers, and conservationists have all come together to say: it’s time to act.”
HB 2977 would modestly increase Oregon’s statewide TLT, currently one of the lowest in the country, so that visitors help fund the very natural beauty and biodiversity that draw 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.
A recent economic analysis found that the tax increase would not deter tourism and could actually boost outdoor recreation spending in Oregon by improving visitor experiences and protecting iconic species and landscapes.
“This is a win-win,” said Moser. “This proposal supports healthy ecosystems and rural economies, and it ensures that future generations will be able to enjoy the incredible wildlife that makes Oregon special.”
The legislation follows in the footsteps of Hawaii, which recently increased its hotel tax to help fund conservation and climate resilience. With similar broad support and momentum, Oregon is poised to lead the way in showing how tourism and wildlife can thrive together.
The bill now heads to the Senate, where its coalition of supporters hopes it will soon become law.
