February 14, 2026
Oregon’s 1% Idea Could Fund Wildlife Protections for Good
Wildlife across America is in crisis. But Oregon’s “1% for Wildlife” bill offers a concrete, commonsense solution that works — both for wildlife and for the communities that depend on healthy ecosystems.
HB 2977 — the 1% for Wildlife bill — would raise Oregon’s statewide lodging tax by just 1% and dedicate that revenue directly to conserving wildlife and habitat that are in decline. That modest change could generate roughly $30 million a year for the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife to restore habitat, protect at-risk species, and implement the State Wildlife Action Plan — a science-based road map for conservation that has long gone largely unfunded.
This idea is simple, fair, and effective:
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Tourists already pay lodging taxes when they enjoy Oregon’s forests, coastlines, rivers, and wildlife — now a small share of that money would go back into protecting those same natural treasures.
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Even with the increase, Oregon would still have one of the lowest statewide tourism tax rates in the country.
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Nearly 300 of Oregon's native species and 11 critical habitats would finally have dedicated, reliable funding for recovery and conservation.
Oregon lawmakers are proving what real leadership looks like — and now it’s time for Congress to step up and take this model national.
Because the truth is, wildlife doesn’t recognize state lines. Species migrate. Ecosystems connect. And the threats driving extinction — climate change, habitat destruction, and pollution — are national problems that demand a national response.
Right now, conservation is stuck in a broken system that forces state governments to scramble year to year for limited conservation funds while species slide closer to extinction. That’s unacceptable. We can’t keep pretending that the extinction crisis will solve itself with one-time grants and scraps of leftover budget.
Oregon’s 1% for Wildlife shows a new path — one that matches the scale of the crisis with real, sustained investment. Congress should follow that example by passing a long-term, dedicated national funding solution that gives every state the resources to protect wildlife before it’s too late.
Sign the petition to demand action in Oregon and across the country:
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Tell Oregon lawmakers you support passing HB 2977 and making this funding permanent
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Call on Congress to adopt a national, dedicated funding solution for wildlife conservation
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Urge federal leaders to match state efforts with serious, long-term investment — not temporary fixes
Congress has done this before. The Pittman-Robertson Act of 1937 created a dedicated funding stream for wildlife by taxing guns and ammunition. But today, most of that federal money is geared toward big game and sport fish, while other grants only kick in once species are already endangered. That leaves states with almost no funding to prevent wildlife from disappearing in the first place — which is exactly why Congress must pass a modern, nationwide solution now.
Healthy wildlife means healthy communities: cleaner water, thriving outdoor economies, and ecosystems resilient to climate chaos.
Oregon’s 1% for Wildlife isn’t just a bill — it’s a blueprint. Now Congress must act.
Sign this petition to demand real conservation funding that protects wildlife before it’s too late.
Thank you for all that you do,
Mitch w/ Animal Commons
Sources:
Sierra Club | This Simple Solution Could Fund Wildlife Conservation
