As you’ve seen in our recent action alerts, the legislative session in Salem is about to end for the year, and a number of important environmental bills are still jockeying for votes.
One bill that would make major improvements to Oregon’s fish and wildlife conservation funding is close to passing, but we need your help to give it a final push over the line.
House Bill 2977 would add a 1.25 percent charge to “transient lodging,” i.e. hotels, motels, and other short-term rentals to help pay for a variety of wildlife programs. One percent would go to help carry out the Oregon Conservation Strategy, which is the state’s action plan to protect and recover Oregon’s imperiled fish, wildlife, and their habitats. The additional 0.25 percent would go to a similar variety of programs, including a wildlife stewardship program to promote humane responses to human-wildlife conflict, enforcement of anti-poaching laws, and preserving wildlife migration corridors.
HB 2977 passed the House of Representatives last Friday. Now it needs approval from a Senate committee, and then the full Oregon Senate before heading to the governor’s desk. Approval also needs to happen fast — the state legislature must adjourn by this Sunday the 29th, and could do so as early as this Wednesday. There’s not much time!
What You Can Do Now
Help get HB 2977 across the finish line by contacting your state senator by phone, email, or both. Let them know you’re a constituent, i.e. you live in their district and are a registered voter. You can get your state senator’s contact information here using your address.
You’re welcome to copy, paste, and edit this letter, and feel free to add your own words and personal experience.
Dear Senator:
I am one of your constituents. I hope you will support of HB 2977, which was recently approved by the House of Representatives and is now in the Oregon Senate.
HB 2977 would make a small addition to Oregon’s already small transient lodging tax to provide dedicated funding for fish and wildlife conservation in Oregon. Oregon needs more funding for fish and wildlife conservation, especially funding that does not come from the sale of hunting and fishing licenses.
Funding conservation through a small additional tax on hotel and motel stays in Oregon would help ensure that wildlife conservation in Oregon helps all wildlife in Oregon for the benefit of all people in Oregon. An additional charge on hotel/motel stays also makes sense as a way to fund wildlife conservation because healthy wildlife populations are a draw for travelers, which will benefit the short-term lodging industry.
Thank you for considering my comments.
Sincerely,
[ your name ]
Thank you for helping advocate for Oregon’s fish and wildlife with your support for HB 2977!
