FAQ

The bill was originally introduced in the 2025 legislative session with a proposal of an increase of 1% in the statewide lodging tax (aka tourist tax), which would fund the State Wildlife Action Plan - hence the name, “1% for Wildlife”. The bill was negotiated further during the session to increase the percentage asked from 1% to 1.25% to include even more wildlife and habitat conservation programs. Check out the “About Us” ()page for a deeper dive into the legislative history.

Oregon’s current statewide lodging tax is 1.5% - third lowest in the country. By raising it by 1.25 percentage points (bringing the total statewide tax to 2.75% -- still keeping it at third lowest in the country), the 1.25% for Wildlife bill will fund the State Wildlife Action Plan to protect some of Oregon’s most vulnerable and imperiled species and habitats, along with other conservation programs such as habitat connectivity, wildlife rehabilitation facilities, and anti-poaching efforts.

Oregon’s robust tourism economy is heavily dependent on the outdoor recreation industry, which has seen significant growth over the last decade. What draws visitors to Oregon is our outdoors – from hiking, kayaking, birdwatching, to hunting and fishing opportunities. The lodging industry has benefited from the tourism boom, yet there is little to no investment into the resources that bring tourism to Oregon in the first place. Additionally, 65% of Oregon’s tourists are from out of state, yet, generally speaking, there isno mechanism for them to pay into the conservation of the resources that they come here to enjoy. By investing in the recovery and maintenance of these natural places and wildlife, we ensure that they can continue to provide critical ecosystem services to all Oregonians and sustain our robust tourism economy for decades to come.

Currently, a visitor in Oregon pays a combination of taxes when they book a room in a hotel or a vacation rental. The two most prominent are the statewide lodging tax (currently 1.5%) and a local lodging tax (which varies by cities and county and may be a combination of taxes). Our proposal adds 1.25% to the statewide lodging tax that is applied uniformly across the state. For context, if you book a room with a room rate of $150/night, the proposed increase will add less than $2 to your current tax amount. For less than $2, you will contribute to the recovery and conservation of Oregon’s unique but fragile ecosystems in a very meaningful way.

Oregon’s State Wildlife Action Plan (SWAP) – our state’s plan to recover the most imperiled fish, wildlife, and habitats – has no dedicated state funding source, and its (historically low) federal funding has been eliminated for 2026. A 2025 revision of the SWAP showed a total of 321 species now require urgent conservation action to recover from the risk of extinction - an increase from the 294 species in the last iteration of the SWAP. Oregon must establish stable funding to meet this critical conservation need for the sake of our extraordinary wildlife, natural resources, and the numerous communities and businesses that rely on healthy ecosystems to function.

Preventing species and habitat declines also benefits other industries that contribute to Oregon’s economy, such as outdoor recreation and agriculture. Oregon’s highly nature-dependent outdoor recreation industry makes up 2.6% of Oregon’s GDP (higher than the national average) and generates $16 billion in consumer spending, $8.2 billion in wages, and supports 192,000 jobs. On the other hand, healthy wildlife populations, such as native bats and other pollinators, are key to farmers’ livelihoods, preventing hundreds of millions of dollars in crop losses each year. For example, a 2017 study estimated agricultural losses from bat die-off were between $426 - $495 million per year.

No. The lodging tax does not tax businesses, and it does not add to the cost of living for Oregonians in their day-to-day lives, such as education, healthcare, food, income, or transportation. The tax will only apply to short-term rentals, such as hotels, lodges, resorts and vacation rentals. Additionally, the majority (65%) of those paying the tax will be visitors from other states and countries, who would pay similar or more tax if they were traveling to other states.

Oregon has the 3rd lowest state lodging tax rate out of all 50 states. Raising the rate by 1.25 percentage points would not change that ranking. Even considering local lodging tax rates, most Oregon communities are still below – or significantly below – similarly situated out-of-state communities.

This effort is supported by a diverse coalition of wildlife conservationists, hunters, anglers, recreationalists, and businesses associated with tourism from across Oregon. In the 2025 legislative session, over 70% of the written testimony was in support of “1.25% For Wildlife” (HB 2977). According to May 2025 polling, 71% of Oregonians believe protecting Oregon’s biodiversity should be a priority for state and national politicians, while 81% agree that biodiversity (the variety of plants, animals, and other living things) is important in their everyday lives.

An increase of 1.25% in the lodging tax would still keep Oregon at the 3rd lowest in the country. Additionally, an independent economic assessment for the “1.25% For Wildlife” proposal in 2025 found no correlation between tax rate changes (0% to 1% and then 1% to 1.8%) and visitor spending. They also concluded that neighboring states with state lodging taxes 2-5 times higher than Oregon’s consistently demonstrate comparable or stronger growth in lodging spending and no adverse effects on their outdoor economy performance.

We need YOUR help to make this historic win happen! Whether you’re a lifelong activist, an interested small business owner, a recreationist invested in Oregon’s wild natural beauty, or an Oregonian wanting to protect our natural legacy for future generations, check out the home page and scroll down to the section titled “What can I do?” for opportunities to get more involved.

If you’re not a resident of Oregon, but still visit, you can still help! This tax will be one you pay when you come to stay in our state. Calling or writing to the governor, or the state senator and reps of your favorite destination, and letting them know you are happy to help support biodiversity in Oregon’s wild places will hold a lot of weight. Use the same tool that Oregonians use to find their legislators, and simply put in the address of a place you like to stay or visit to find who represents that area, and let them know you support funding wildlife conservation.