Lawmakers Hear Divided Testimony on Bill to Direct Lodging‑Tax Dollars to Wildlife Conservation

SALEM, Ore. — The House Committee on Agriculture, Land Use, Natural Resources, and Water held an extended public hearing Feb. 21 on House Bill 2,977, a proposal to increase the statewide transient lodging tax (TLT) by 1 percentage point and direct the revenue to state wildlife conservation and species recovery work.

Proponents, including conservation groups and some outdoor businesses, urged the committee to adopt a modest, dedicated funding source for Oregon’s State Wildlife Action Plan. Opponents from the hospitality and destination marketing sectors said raising the TLT would make Oregon less competitive for conventions and group business and would siphon locally controlled revenue to the state.

What HB 2,977 would do

The bill would raise the statewide transient lodging tax from the current 1.5 percent to 2.5 percent (a 1 percentage‑point increase) and dedicate the additional revenue to the Oregon Conservation and State Wildlife Action Plan implementation fund. Supporters framed the tax as a user‑pay approach…