Moments ago, the Oregon Senate passed HB 4134, also known as “1.25% for Wildlife,” marking its bipartisan passage in both chambers of the Oregon Legislature. This landmark bill now heads to Gov. Kotek’s desk to be signed into law.
A broad coalition of conservation, hunting, fishing, forestry, farming, ranching, and business stakeholders supports HB 4134, including more than 85 nonprofit groups and over 125 businesses across the state. About 85% of written public testimony collected by the legislature (1,991 of 2,360 comments) supports HB 4134.
“This landmark legislation is a labor of over a decade in the making and its success positions Oregon as a national leader in addressing species and habitat decline, many of which are also critical to the state’s tourism industry,” said Sristi Kamal, Ph.D., deputy director of the Western Environmental Law Center. “HB4134 is an investment in Oregon’s economy, its identity and our rich natural heritage. Over 300 of our most vulnerable wildlife species—from northern red legged frogs to western pond turtles and spotted bats—have a lifeline now. By advocating for this bill, Oregonians have made it clear that they value healthy wildlife and wild places because they are what make Oregon special.”
Through a modest increase in the statewide lodging tax, HB 4134 will fund wildlife and habitat conservation, primarily the implementation of the state’s Wildlife Action Plan, which has identified over 300 species as having the greatest conservation need.
“We applaud Oregon lawmakers for their efforts and recognize that this was not an easy vote for many—but it was the right vote,” said Danielle Moser, Wildlife Program manager for Oregon Wild. “With 1.25% for Wildlife, we are investing in our fish and wildlife, in the landscapes and communities that sustain us, in our drinking water, health, and safety. While HB 4134 is focused on wildlife and their habitats, it is really a commitment to future generations: that the Oregon we know and love today is the one we are determined to pass along to those who come next.”
Species with greatest conservation need include sea otters, Sierra Nevada red foxes, American pikas, spotted bats, North American porcupines, pygmy rabbits, western painted turtles, northern red-legged frogs, tufted puffins, great grey owl, desert horned lizard, Pacific lamprey, western bumblebee, and monarch butterflies.
The bill also includes support for fighting poaching, combating invasive species, funding wildlife coexistence, wildfire mitigation, and conservation workforce programs.
Contactos:
Sristi Kamal, Centro de Derecho Ambiental Occidental, 971-808-0775, kamal@westernlaw.org
Danielle Moser, Oregon Wild, 503-283-6343 x 226 (routes to cell), dm@oregonwild.org
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