Bill > HB2977

This bill increases the state transient lodging tax (also known as a hotel or short-term rental tax) by establishing three distinct tax rates that will generate revenue for different purposes. Specifically, the bill imposes a 1.5% tax for tourism promotion, a 1% tax for wildlife conservation, and a 0.25% tax that will be distributed across various conservation and wildlife-related initiatives, such as combating wildlife poaching, wolf management, wildlife connectivity, and invasive species control. The bill changes the name of the "Oregon Conservation Strategy Subaccount" to the "Recovering Oregon's Wildlife Fund Subaccount" and specifies how the new tax revenues will be allocated. Transient lodging providers will be required to list the wildlife-related portion of the tax as a "wildlife conservation tax" on customer receipts. The tax increase will take effect on January 1, 2026, and the bill itself will become law 91 days after the 2025 legislative session adjourns. The overall aim of the bill is to generate additional funding for wildlife conservation and related environmental efforts in Oregon through a modest increase in lodging taxes.