THE FOLLOWING IS A PRESS RELEASE FROM THE ASSOCIATION OF FISH AND WILDLIFE AGENCIES
The Association of Fish & Wildlife Agencies (Association) applauds Oregon’s enactment of HB 4134, that provides dedicated funding for at-risk species and wildlife habitat. Under this Act the state will use a share of its transient lodging tax to generate ~$37 million yearly to drive much-needed funds into Oregon’s State Wildlife Action Plan, which serves as the state’s blueprint for conserving and recovering 321 species of greatest conservation need.
“The Association recognizes this historic legislation as a landmark moment for conservation,” said Paul Johansen, Chief of the Wildlife Resources Section of the West Virginia DNR and President of the Association. “State agencies are the frontline of wildlife protection, and this critical investment is vital to safeguarding our most vulnerable species.”
For all states, wildlife conservation funds are raised through the sale of hunting and fishing licenses, coupled with federal excise taxes on hunting, shooting, and fishing equipment, plus taxes on motorboat fuel, and can mainly be used for conservation of those species hunted or fished. However other species such as songbirds, reptiles, and small mammals lack money-making revenue streams. HB 4134 will increase Oregon’s statewide transient lodging tax by 1.25 percentage points, from 1.5 percent to 2.75 percent, beginning January 1, 2027. Oregon will remain among the lowest lodging tax states in the nation after the increase. Money from the tax will go toward funding Oregon’s State Wildlife Action Plan.
State Wildlife Action Plans (SWAPs) serve as the nation’s blueprints for proactively conserving fish and wildlife to prevent species from becoming endangered. Collectively, SWAPs identified over 12,000 species in greatest conservation need, which includes federal and state threatened and endangered species and other rare or declining species. In Oregon, funding from this Act will support several key SWAP initiatives, including:
- Controlling invasive species,
- Enforcing fish and wildlife laws,
- Creating wildlife connectivity projects such as highway crossings,
- Funding wildlife stewardship grants.
“The Association would like to thank Gov. Tina Kotek for the enactment of House Bill 4134 which represents a historic advancement for conservation of at-risk species in Oregon,” said Ron Regan, Executive Director of the Association.
