The Oregon Senate passed a bill March 4 to increase the hotel tax to pay for an array of wildlife conservation programs.
The bill passed 20-9, surpassing the required three-fifths majority to raise taxes. It now goes to the desk of Gov. Tina Kotek after passing the House 36-22 on Feb. 24.
House Bill 4134 would up Oregon’s lodging tax by 1.25% – from 1.5% to 2.75% – to generate revenue to fund nine wildlife programs.
The bill would generate $38 million per year to fund programs such as wildlife crossings and habitat projects, along with poaching enforcement. It also would fund compensating ranchers for livestock losses due to wolves.
Financial support for Oregon’s non-game wildlife — animals that aren’t hunted — has been an idea kicked around the Capitol for a decade, as the list of at-risk species has grown to 321, according to the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife. At one point, legislators considered a beer tax or other measures, but ultimately settled on a small increase to the transient lodging tax.
“I’ve listened to hours of expert conversation on the grim decline of Oregon wildlife and its habitat over the years, and what we can do about it,” said Sen. Jeff Golden, D-Ashland. “We know what we need to do to sustain healthy wildlife, and because of critical and rising demands on our general fund, we just haven’t been doing it. That all changes with House Bill 4134.”
In supporting the bill, many legislators argued that without a sales tax, the lodging tax was the best way to make out of state visitors pay for Oregon programs.
The bill passed on a bipartisan basis, with critical support coming from rancher Sen. Todd Nash, R-Enterprise, a chief sponsor of the bill.
Nash supported the bill largely because it funds programs that compensate ranchers whose livestock suffer attacks by wolves. However, in closing remarks on the Senate floor, he noted the importance of new groups supporting wildlife.
“Hunters have been paying the bill (for wildlife) for a long time,” he said. “It’s time we have more people drawn into that effort.”
Nash joined with Rep. Ken Helm, D-Beaverton, who had worked on the legislation for more than a decade, in one of the more novel political alliances in recent memory on the bill.
Lawmakers that opposed the bill noted that it was illogical for a hotel tax to pay for wildlife programs, and said it would increase prices not only on out of state visitors, but also Oregonians vacationing around the state.
“This is not good policy and it’s not the right approach,” Senate Minority Leader Bruce Starr, R-Dundee said.
The bill had been strongly opposed by the Oregon Restaurant and Lodging Association, which said it would discourage tourists and conventions from visiting Portland — which is already struggling with low occupancy.
