Bill
Bill > HB4134
OR HB4134
OR HB4134Relating to funding for natural resource matters; prescribing an effective date; and providing for revenue raising that requires approval by a three-fifths majority.
summary
Introduced
02/02/2026
02/02/2026
In Committee
03/03/2026
03/03/2026
Crossed Over
02/24/2026
02/24/2026
Passed
04/13/2026
04/13/2026
Dead
Signed/Enacted/Adopted
04/13/2026
04/13/2026
Introduced Session
2026 Legislative Measures
Bill Summary
AN ACT Relating to funding for natural resource matters; creating new provisions; amending ORS 320.303, 320.305, 320.335, 496.303 and 496.571; prescribing an effective date; and providing for revenue raising that requires approval by a three-fifths majority. Whereas Oregon residents have a strong and growing interest in healthy populations of native fish and wildlife and the habitats that sustain them; and Whereas it is in the state’s interest to enhance the State Department of Fish and Wildlife’s ability to conserve Oregon’s fish, wildlife and habitats, including marine species and habitats; and Whereas population growth, development, climate change, wildfire and other natural and human impacts contribute to increasing pressures on Oregon’s fish, wildlife, habitats and landscapes; and Whereas it is in the state’s interest to protect the stability of tourism revenues by maintaining and restoring Oregon’s fish, wildlife and habitats and by ensuring healthy, fire-adapted landscapes; and Whereas it is in the state’s interest to diversify and broaden the resource base of the State Department of Fish and Wildlife in an equitable and sustainable manner; and Whereas the ability to address these issues and deliver on these goals will require a well-trained natural resources workforce; now, therefore,
AI Summary
This bill modifies the existing transient lodging tax, which is a tax on hotel stays, by creating new revenue streams and reallocating existing ones to fund natural resource conservation efforts. Specifically, it increases the total transient lodging tax rate and then divides the revenue among different purposes: a portion goes to the Oregon Tourism Commission to support tourism, another portion is directed to the Recovering Oregon’s Wildlife Fund Subaccount to conserve fish and wildlife, and a smaller portion is distributed to various agencies for specific conservation and enforcement activities, including combating poaching and managing invasive species. The bill also mandates that invoices for transient lodging clearly label the portion of the tax dedicated to nature conservation as a "nature conservation fee." These changes aim to diversify and broaden the funding base for the State Department of Fish and Wildlife and other natural resource programs, acknowledging the growing interest in protecting Oregon's natural resources and the increasing pressures they face from development, climate change, and other factors. The bill also specifies an effective date for these changes, requiring them to apply to lodging charges on or after January 1, 2027.
Committee Categories
Budget and Finance
Sponsors (34)
Lew Frederick (D)*,
Jeff Golden (D)*,
Chris Gorsek (D)*,
Ken Helm (D)*,
Susan McLain (D)*,
Todd Nash (R)*,
Mark Owens (R)*,
Floyd Prozanski (D)*,
Janeen Sollman (D)*,
Jules Walters (D)*,
Tom Andersen (D),
Wlnsvey Campos (D),
Farrah Chaichi (D),
Willy Chotzen (D),
Sarah Finger McDonald (D),
Lisa Fragala (D),
Mark Gamba (D),
Sara Gelser Blouin (D),
Dacia Grayber (D),
Kayse Jama (D),
Cyrus Javadi (D),
Bobby Levy (R),
Pam Marsh (D),
Lesly Muñoz (D),
Travis Nelson (D),
Courtney Neron Misslin (D),
Rob Nosse (D),
Deb Patterson (D),
Hai Pham (D),
Katherine Pham (D),
Sue Rieke Smith (D),
Thuy Tran (D),
Suzanne Weber (R),
Lamar Wise (D),
Last Action
Chapter 140, (2026 Laws): Effective date June 5, 2026. (on 04/13/2026)
Bill Topics
Agriculture
- ‐ Fisheries and Fishing
Environment
- ‐ Species and Forest Protection
Macroeconomics
- ‐ Taxation, Tax Policy, and Tax Reform
Official Document
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