The 2026 Legislative Session: In Review

Oregonians Win the Fight for Wildlife Funding

The 2026 Oregon legislative short session convened on February 2nd and ended on March 8th, encompassing 35 fast and furious days for our state legislature. During this session, Oregon’s wildlife was on the line.  We  worked alongside the Oregon Ocean Alliance and others to advocate for the passage of the 1.25% for Wildlife bill (House Bill 4134) and we were thrilled to watch the final vote in the Senate that passed this bill on Wednesday March 4th, 2026. As of today (March 11, 2026), it’s on its way to the Governor’s office now to be signed into law. 

What is this bill?  

This legislation will raise the state-wide transient lodging tax (TLT) by 1.25% to provide dedicated funding for the conservation of Oregon’s at-risk wildlife and habitats identified in our State Wildlife Action Plan (SWAP). The list of at-risk species includes over 60 coastal and marine animals, like our Southern Resident Killer Whales, Humpbacks and Gray Whales, Snowy Plovers, Tufted Puffins, Chinook, Coho and Sockeye Salmon, Rockfish, Abalone, and Dungeness Crab, among others. Many of these species draw visitors to our coasts for wildlife spotting, while others are commercially and recreationally important for our coastal communities. For our ocean and coastal ecosystems, the investments this bill makes mean long-term stewardship of our iconic wildlife and their critical habitat that sustains not only our coastal tourism economy, but our working water fronts.  

Tufted Puffin. Photo Credit: Scott Carpenter

Why is this needed?

Currently, the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW), who is responsible for implementing the SWAP,  is not receiving any dedicated funds for the recovery and conservation of these at-risk species or their habitats. Previous efforts to fund wildlife conservation in the state budget have failed. This modest 1.25% increase in Oregon’s statewide TLT now establishes a new and sustainable funding source for ODFW to recover and conserve Oregon’s most imperiled species and habitats before declines become irreversible and far more costly to address. It offers a solution that ensures visitors who benefit from Oregon’s natural beauty help to support its long-term stewardship. The first funds are set to be realized in 2027.

What will this tax fund?

HB 4134 positions Oregon as a national leader in wildlife and natural resource stewardship by: 

• Providing an estimated $25-27 million annually for wildlife conservation, habitat restoration, and species recovery efforts;
• Establishing a wildlife stewardship program to improve public education on wildlife interactions, resolving wildlife conflict,  and supporting wildlife rehabilitation through a new grant program;
• Strengthening anti-poaching and invasive species management; and
• Supporting wildfire prevention and habitat resilience through investment in the Oregon Conservation Corps. 

How did we do it?

It was thanks to you! We couldn’t have built statewide support for our natural habitats and at-risk species on our own. 

By numbers, we saw: 

• Almost 2,000 supportive public testimonies (compared to ~350 neutral or oppositional)
• Business sign-on of 110 businesses from the recreation sector and more
• Organizational coalition sign-on of over 85 
• Over 20 meetings with state Representatives and Senators in Salem through the Oregon Ocean Alliance
• One brilliant “Love Your Ocean” Lobby Day to get our legislators excited about what this bill means for our oceans!

Thanks to your advocacy and persistence, Oregon is showing real leadership in choosing long-term stewardship for our wildlife. 

Gray Whale. Photo Credit: Eric Urdahl

What’s next?

The fight to protect Oregon’s wildlife is never truly over, but this is a victory worth celebrating!

The next phase is all about accountability: ensuring these new funds are directed to the coast and the species and habitats that need them most. We will work closely with state agencies and partners to support transparent implementation and measurable conservation outcomes.

This investment will translate to healthier ocean and coastal habitats, more resilient wildlife populations, and lasting benefits for both the people who depend on them and the tourists that visit our shores to experience Oregon’s extraordinary coastal wildlife. 

Now it’s time to ensure the promises made in this legislative session become real progress!