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Committee hears support and opposition for 1% state lodging tax increase to fund wildlife conservation
Summary
Proponents told the House Revenue Committee that a one-percentage-point increase in the state transient lodging tax would provide steady funding for Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife priorities and federal matches; opponents, including tourism and lodging groups, warned of competitive harm to conventions and fragile rural economies.
The Oregon House Committee on Revenue heard several hours of testimony Thursday on House Bill 2,977, which would raise the state transient lodging tax (TLT) by one percentage point — from 1.5% to 2.5% — and direct the additional revenue to a Recovery Oregon’s Wildlife Fund subaccount to support species and habitat conservation and federal matching funds.
Representative Ken Helm, sponsor of the bill, walked the committee through the types of wildlife- and recreation-based visitation the state attracts and said the proposal is a modest way to fund nongame species conservation that benefits tourism.…
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