After three legislative sessions and more than a decade of advocacy, a bipartisan coalition secures Oregon’s most significant conservation funding victory in a generation

Yesterday, the Oregon legislature passed HB 4134, the “1.25 Percent for Wildlife” act, which will generate approximately $38 million annually for fish, wildlife, and habitat conservation across the state. The bill now heads to Governor Kotek’s desk to be signed into law. The measure passed the Senate with bipartisan support after clearing the House on a 36–22 vote, marking the culmination of more than a decade of work by hunters, anglers, landowners, conservation organizations, and community leaders.

The legislation was championed by Representatives Ken Helm (D–Beaverton), Mark Owens (R–Crane), and Senator Todd Nash (R-Joseph) among others, who built bipartisan support across both chambers to advance the proposal.

“This is what happens when sportsmen and sportswomen, ranchers, conservation organizations, and community leaders refuse to give up,” said Tristan Henry, Oregon field representative for the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership. “The Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership has worked to advance this funding in some form for three sessions now. Today, Oregonians reaffirmed our commitment to the fish, wildlife, and landscapes that define this state. Hunters and anglers have shouldered the financial load of conservation for over a century. This bill asks the broader public, and the visitors who come here to enjoy what we’ve helped build, to share in that investment.”

Where the Money Comes From

HB 4134 increases 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. Roughly two-thirds of the tax is paid by out-of-state visitors. For Oregonians, the cost amount rises to roughly $1.25 to $2.50 on an average overnight stay.

The new revenue is dedicated to nine clearly defined conservation and natural resource programs through predictable funding that does not depend on biennial budget negotiations or one-time General Fund deposits.

Where the Money Goes

The scale of this investment is best understood in context. ODFW’s entire biennial budget is approximately $562 million, funded primarily through a combination of hunting and fishing license revenue, federal grants, and limited General Fund support. Before this bill passed, the agency had zero dedicated funding for implementing Oregon’s State Wildlife Action Plan, the science-based blueprint that identifies 321 species of greatest conservation need and 11 habitat types requiring proactive restoration. One-time General Fund deposits of $10 million per biennium had been used in prior budget cycles, but those are phased out entirely in the current 2025–27 budget.

HB 4134 changes that picture. The largest allocation, approximately $27.4 million per year, flows to the newly renamed Recovering Oregon’s Wildlife Fund Subaccount to implement the State Wildlife Action Plan and Oregon Nearshore Strategy. allocating 0.9% of Oregon’s transient lodging revenue for habitat restoration, species recovery, and conservation strategy implementation. For an agency that has been forced to cut $1.3 million from anti-poaching campaigns, $1.9 million from fish research and monitoring, and $1.5 million from hatchery operations in recent budgets, this is not incremental. It is transformative. The remaining [approximate] $10.6 million per year is allocated across eight additional programs.

Oregon Conservation Corps (0.10% [of transient lodging revenue]): Stable funding for wildfire risk reduction, community resilience, and natural resources workforce development. This investment supports young Oregonians working in land management careers while building fire-adapted communities across the state.

ODFW Wildlife Connectivity Program (0.050%): Funding for wildlife crossing structures, passage improvements, and research to reduce wildlife-vehicle collisions and reconnect fragmented habitats. Oregon’s highway system intersects critical migration corridors for elk, mule deer, and other species, and connectivity work is among the highest-return conservation investments available.

Oregon State Police Fish and Wildlife Division (0.050%): New resources for the troopers on the front lines against poaching, a persistent threat to Oregon’s fish and wildlife that directly undermines the work of hunters and anglers. ODFW’s most recent budget included a $600,000 cut to OSP enforcement funded by the agency. This allocation more than reverses that reduction and provides a durable funding base.

Wolf Management Compensation and Proactive Trust Fund (0.050%): Dedicated funding for livestock loss compensation, nonlethal deterrence tools, and conflict reduction programs. For ranching families in Eastern Oregon who have borne the costs of wolf recovery with limited and uncertain state support, this delivers on a long-standing commitment.

Oregon Conservation and Recreation Fund (0.050%): Community-based conservation and recreation grants that engage Oregonians in hands-on outdoor stewardship. This fund, established by the legislature in 2019 but chronically underfunded, will finally have a sustainable revenue source.

Wildlife Stewardship Program (0.020%): Support for wildlife rehabilitation facilities and stewardship priorities statewide.

Invasive Species Response (0.005%): Resources for detection, prevention, and removal of harmful invasive species that threaten native fish, wildlife, and habitat.

Department of Justice Anti-Poaching (0.010%): Stabilized capacity within DOJ to support prosecution of wildlife crimes.

A Decade in the Making

The passage of HB 4134 is the product of persistent, bipartisan advocacy that stretches back more than a decade. Representative Ken Helm (D-Beaverton) and Representative Mark Owens (R-Crane) have served as the bill’s chief sponsors, building support across party lines in both chambers. The concept was first introduced as a legislative concept and advanced in varying forms through prior sessions. The TRCP has worked to advance this funding mechanism for three consecutive legislative sessions, helping to build the hunting and fishing coalition that gave the bill credibility with lawmakers in both parties and from every corner of the state.

The broader coalition behind HB 4134 spans more than 60 organizations, from the Oregon Hunters Association and Backcountry Hunters & Anglers to Oregon Wild and the Nature Conservancy, from the Oregon Cattlemen’s Association to the League of Women Voters of Oregon. More than 2,000 pieces of public testimony were submitted during the legislative process, with over 84 percent in support. That breadth of support reflects a simple truth: Oregonians across the political spectrum understand that healthy fish, wildlife, and habitat are the foundation of the state’s identity, economy, and quality of life.

What This Means for Oregon

Oregon’s outdoor recreation economy generates $16 billion in consumer spending, supports 192,000 jobs, and accounts for 2.6 percent of the state’s GDP. Ninety percent of visitors come to Oregon to enjoy the state’s natural landscapes and wildlife. HB 4134 ensures that those visitors contribute to sustaining the resources they come here to experience.

For ODFW, this bill represents the most significant new funding stream in the agency’s modern history. The TRCP thanks the representatives and senators who supported this bill, the conservation organizations that engaged their members and provided testimony, and the thousands of Oregon hunters and anglers who sent emails, made phone calls, and championed this measure. For all this work, a brighter future for our hunting, fishing, ranching, and outdoor heritage has been secured.

Feature Image: James Wicks

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