Lifetime Citizen Portal Access — AI Briefings, Alerts & Unlimited Follows
Committee advances HB 4134, a 1.25% lodging-tax increase to fund wildlife, wildfire workforce and wolf compensation
Loading...
Summary
After days of testimony, the Finance and Revenue subcommittee moved HB 4134-A to the floor with a do-pass recommendation. Supporters — wildlife rehabilitators, conservation groups and ranchers — argued the 1.25 percentage-point lodging tax increase would create stable, tourism-tied funding; opponents warned of cumulative taxes on small lodging operators and unclear administrative assessments.
A legislative Finance and Revenue committee voted to advance House Bill 4134-A, a proposal to raise the state lodging (transient lodging) tax by 1.25 percentage points to fund wildlife conservation, habitat restoration, wildfire workforce programs and wolf depredation compensation.
Supporters who testified over multiple days said the modest increase would create a stable revenue stream tied to tourism and help services that currently operate on donations and unstable grants. "This modest TLT increase creates a reliable funding source directly tied to tourism so that the industry that benefits from our natural resources can turn marketing phrases like keep Oregon beautiful and leave no trace into actual action," said Sally Compton, executive director of ThinkWild, which she said handled 4,000 calls last year.
The bill drew backing from conservation and river-restoration groups, wildlife rehabilitators and ranchers. Brian Posowitz, testifying for Humane Voters Oregon and Water Watch of Oregon, said HB 4134 would fund habitat protection, safe highway crossings and enforcement against poaching and help diversify Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife funding beyond hunting and fishing licenses. Daniel Rolfe, president of the board of Bird Conservation Oregon and a Lewis & Clark law faculty member, urged passage to fulfill the state's obligations to manage wildlife.
Wildlife rehabilitation centers described operational strain and closures. Heather Gibbons of Chintimini Wildlife Center said her facility treated about 1,800 patients yearly and that the region-level wildlife hotline received "over 9,000 calls" in 2025; she said two rehab centers nearby have closed in the last decade and called dedicated grants a practical need.
Opponents included small lodging operators and some landowners who argued the lodging tax selectively burdens hospitality businesses. Mark Tolan, a second-generation owner of Seaside Vacation Homes, told the committee: "This isn't a 1.25% increase'I need you to think about it at the aggregate between the city, county and state," warning of cumulative rates across jurisdictions. Alan Pike, who manages two hotels in Roseburg, said the bill spreads funds to multiple agencies and raised concern that "administrative assessments" the bill allows were not clearly defined and could reduce funds reaching intended programs.
Committee members acknowledged the trade-offs. One senator said the state lacks a balanced revenue structure and urged that the measure be viewed in a broader revenue-reform context, while noting that the tax is paid by visitors, not hotels, which keep a modest administrative fee. After discussion the committee agreed to advance the measure.
Senator Anderson moved to send HB 4134-A to the floor with a do-pass recommendation. The roll call recorded explicit "Aye" statements from at least three members and two excused members; the chair announced the motion carried and said staff would follow up with bill carriers for the floor. The committee adjourned afterward.
What happens next: With the committee's do-pass recommendation, lawmakers on the floor will take up the measure next; if enacted, the bill would create a dedicated funding stream for wildlife conservation programs and related workforce and compensation efforts. The committee did not finalize precise allocations or administrative fee limits during the work session; those details remain subject to floor debate and possible amendment.
